Friday, July 5, 2013

New Yonkers Amphitheatre: Tonight: Free Jazz!

The new amphitheater. Photo by Frederick Charles.
Yesterday the Hudson River Museum opened up the new city amphitheatre right beneath the museum.  It's a 450 seat outdoor theatre, which will be programmed by the Hudson River Museum.

Last night before the fireworks, the Yonkers Philharmonic opened it up with a concert, followed by fireworks. 
(Of course, as it turns out, the fireworks were not visible from the Amphitheatre, as the band shell blocked it, so everybody had to get up and leave, but what the heck.)  And the concert ended late, so the fireworks started late.  

The theatre seems nice, although the sound system seemed a little underpowered.   It was difficult to hear the microphoned speaker from just above the theatre.

Next Generation Jazz Orchestra 
is playing in Yonkers July 5, 2013
The event was invitation only, (and I was surprised I wasn't invited!)  but there were plenty of seats available.  (And many people sat up on the hill and listened for free.  I expect that to be a constant)

Tonight, the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra will play some big band repertoire from 7-8:30 pm.  These are talented high school musicians who recently played at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Enter the Amphitheater at the bottom of JFK Memorial Drive. There is ample free parking in Kennedy Marina just beyond the entrance.

There will be more free jazz at the amphitheatre this summer

July 12: Rebecca Coupe Franks Quartet 7- 8:30 pm 
July 19: Laurie Dapice Quartet 7 - 8:30 pm
July 26: Teri Roiger Quartet 7 - 8:30 pm

Here's a full list of summer scheduled events.  And to help those that are not yet members of the museum, from July 5 through August 24, the Hudson River Museum will be open FREE on Friday and Saturday nights from 5 to 7 pm. thanks to Entergy. 



Jazz in July Fridays     7 – 8:30 pm
Friday, July 5 
Monterey Jazz Festival, Next Generation Jazz Orchestra
Exciting compositions from the contemporary big-band repertory, directed by Paul Contos and performed by highly-talented young musicians to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Monterey Jazz Festival.
Friday, July 12 
Rebecca Coupe Franks Quartet 
New York-based trumpet player Rebecca Coupe Franks plays jazz festivals around the world, among them Saratoga Springs and Detroit, and has worked with Bill Cosby, Herb Ellis, Joe Henderson, Lou Donaldson, Virginia Mayhew, and others.
Friday, July 19 
Laurie Dapice Quartet
A jazz vocalist, Laurie sings favorites from the American Songbook with a rhythm quartet. She has performed in New York City’s well known jazz venues, including the Dream Hotel, NYC's Night Hotel, the Lexington Hotel, the AlhambraBallroom in Harlem, and the Apollo Theater.
Friday, July 26
Teri Roiger Quartet

A jazz vocalist, Teri also plays piano, composes music, and writes lyrics, and shares her love of music with students at SUNY New Paltz.
Drama Saturday     7 – 8:30 pm
Saturday, July 13 
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival presents Othello 
One of Shakespeare's most-loved tragedies in an abridged version, performed by a young and talented company, illuminates the tragic story of a brilliant man manipulated by his most trusted confidant and driven to murder. Set in the present in and around two army bases in Venice and Cyprus, the production explores domestic life in the military. Seven actors play multiple roles to focus on the lasting consequences of jealousy, racism, and deceit.
Friday Night Films in August     8 - 10 pm
Friday, August 2
The Wiz

A spectacular movie version of the hit Broadway musical based on L. Frank Baum's classic The Wizard Of Oz. Diana Ross and Michael Jackson head an all-star cast in a lavishly mounted production driven by Quincy Jones' high energy music as Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion go to see the Wiz.
Starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Directed by Sidney Lumet. Universal Pictures. Rated G, 133 minutes. 1968.
Friday, August 9
Singin’ in the Rain
Considered by many to be the finest musical of all time, it tells the story about movies changing from silent to talkies and includes the famous songs "Make 'Em Laugh" to “You Were Meant for Me" and "Singin' in the Rain."
Starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donoad O’Connor. Directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. Turner/MGM. Not Rated. 102 minutes, 1952.
Friday, August 16
Annie

Little Orphan Annie dreams of the day when her parents will rescue her from evil but her dreams are dashed when she discovers her family was killed in a fire. Annie finds happiness with millionaire "Daddy" Warbucks , who falls in love with the precocious little red head.
Starring Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, and Aileen Quinn. Directed by John Huston. Columbia Pictures. Rated PG; 128 minutes; 1982.
Friday, August 23
Hairspray
 
In this screen version of the Broadway play of the same name, Tracy Turnblad is a plump teenager pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation.
Starring John Travolta, Queen Latifah, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Directed by Adam Shankman. New Line Cinema. Rated PG. 117 minutes. 2007.
August Alternative Music Saturdays     7 - 8:30 pm
Saturday, August 3Sonnyboy
A four-piece group, Sonnyboy, led by Shel Riser, is One of the best unsigned bands to come out of Minneapolis…” according to Rolling Stone. The high-energy band blends fun, R&B, hip-hop, and rock.
Saturday, August 10
Cliff Eberhardt

Known for his songwriting, expressive singing, and skillful guitar playing, plays a set of acoustic folk music. He released his first album in 1990 and composed original music for the Folger Shakespeare Library’s Folger Theater production of Taming of the Shrew.
Saturday, August 17 The Sweetback Sisters
Describing themselves as a “renegade retro band,” whose members play fiddle, guitar, upright bass and percussion. They mix country, swing, honky tonk, and rockabilly music for a unique sound.

Saturday, August 24 Cheick Hamala
Lecturer, storyteller, and choreographer, Cheick Hamala Diabate plays the n’goni, a West African lute and mixes traditional West African sounds with American ones. He has appeared at the Smithsonian Institute, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest. 

Family Summer Sundays     2 - 3 pm
Sunday, July 14 Arm-of-the Sea presents the Rejuvenary River Circus 
A story that features masks and puppets, a hand-made set, and live original music. Follow Malakai along his journeys where he encounters a host of creatures, and then his journey back to health with the aid of his granddaughter.
Sunday, July 21 Joey Berkley Trio
Saxophonist, composer, and educator, Joey Berkley co-founded the Westchester Jazz Orchestra and directed Bedford’s Fox Lane Middle and High School jazz ensembles.
Sunday, July 28 Spin, Pop…Boom! Mad Science
Witness amazing feats of chemistry and explore spectacular reactions and produce demonstrations with the use of catalysts! Be amazed while you learn.
Sunday August 4 Birds of Prey
Master Falconer James Eyring and his live birds of prey show history of falconry and the habits and adaptations of raptors. Audience invited to ask questions.
Sunday August 11 Family Talent Show!
Local talent curated by The Purple Crayon Center, host of the music series Live! @ TPC. Acts: music, comedy, dance, and more! Children, teens, and adults, 10 years and up, interested in performing, submit samples of their work (recording quality not important) to The Purple Crayon at info@purplecrayoncenter.org.

See the full schedule of events at:  http://www.hrm.org/amphitheater.html

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