Musician to serenade ‘This Town’ in benefit Keyport’s Jon Caspi hosts CD-release party in Asbury Park Saturday BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer Keyport singer Jon Caspi’s album pays homage to people and places throughout the borough. KEYPORT — Jon Caspi wants to put “This Town” on the map. Professor by day, rock musician by night, Caspi has just self-released a CD titled “This Town,” the title track of which is a tribute to Keyport. Available at Keyport coffeehouse Espresso Joe’s, the album is an homage to the borough, with artwork and photos all done by Keyport natives. “I hope to sell a few CDs, but if I can sell Keyport, even better,” Caspi said in a telephone interview Sunday evening. Instead of a typical release party, Caspi and his band are scheduled to perform a benefit concert at Harry’s Roadhouse, Asbury Park, this Saturday night. Proceeds from the show will go toward Keyport’s Friends of the Arts program, a privately funded off-shoot of the Board of Education that encourages arts in the classroom. “I try to promote Keyport when I can,” Caspi said. “I think it’s a great place.” Caspi moved to the borough three years ago after finding work at Monmouth University as a Family and Child Studies professor. “It’s sort of a diamond in the rough,” Caspi said of the town. “It’s a small town with a real downtown and waterfront. It’s affordable and safe. There are very few places that are safe and have things going on, and where you can get a house for under $300,000.” Caspi estimates that he will raise $2,000 for Friends of the Arts. Coordinators for the group are grateful for the funding but are undecided on what to spend it on. “What I had suggested was to open it up to written requests [from teachers],” said Sharon Dorsi, a spokesperson for Friends. “Not just give out money arbitrarily.” Dorsi, a mother of three students currently in the Keyport school system, noted the need for an orchestra pit as well as the possibility of a student float for the tentatively scheduled Keyport Pride Day parade. Caspi chose Friends of the Arts because two of his bandmates, bassist Ken Kraut and drummer Jimmy Mizell, are graduates of Keyport High School as well as beneficiaries of the school’s arts programs. “The obvious thing was to do something for Keyport,” said Caspi, who penned the song “This Town” after being inspired by his new neighbors’ acts of kindness. “This guy in town died suddenly and everyone came together and raised money for his family. ‘This Town’ is about that event,” Caspi explained. Lyrics to the song mention such Keyport landmarks as Ricci D’s Front Street Café and the Seaport Diner, Broad Street. A real community collaboration, Michael Ricciarddelli, owner of Ricci D’s, co-wrote two songs on the album and merited a thank you on the liner notes. Caspi describes his music as “American rock ’n’ roll,” comparing his sound to that of the Goo Goo Dolls and Third Eye Blind, “with hints of Bruce Springsteen.” The benefit concert will take place Saturday, Jan. 29 at 10 p.m. at Harry’s Roadhouse, Asbury Park. A slide show presentation featuring Keyport will be projected on stage during Caspi’s performance. The cost is $10 at the door with all proceeds going to Friends of the Arts. “I was looking for a place that had potential and I think Keyport does,” Caspi said. For more information, visit Caspi’s Web site at www.joncaspi.com.