When I make my way downstairs in the morning, I am often singing, usually some show tune. This never occurred to me as being something special until now. But I recently read an article by Alexandra Moe in The Washington Post that “singing is good for you.” Since it’s always nice to learn that something you do is actually good for you, I am sharing this result of significant research with you. Perhaps now you will feel emboldened to sing beyond the shower.
In a study called, “Sing With Us,” conducted on members of a choir in a London suburb, tests performed before and after they sang indicated an increase in their physical and mental health. This was no ordinary choir, but rather one made up of cancer patients, and their singing “reduced stress hormones and increased cytokines, proteins that can boost the body’s ability to fight serious illness.” Ultimately the study involved 192 patients.
Other studies have found singing “lessened anxiety, stimulated memory for those with dementia, increased lung capacity and an easing of postpartum depression.” While singing in a group offers additional benefits, like social bonding and community, just singing because you feel like, if you are alone or with someone else, is calming and promotes a sense of well-being.
My mother would sing often when she was in the kitchen preparing meals. So did my dad, who would break into song at no particular time. I never thought about it then, but they did have nice voices, and they did sing on key. They didn’t sing together, just spontaneously. And they really were singing, not just humming along while they worked. No one thought it was strange, as far as I knew. It was in this way that I learned the lyrics to any number of World War I songs, which were popular when my dad was a teen. When, as a child, I would start to sing one of them, older people who might be sitting on a park bench, for example, would look surprised and ask where I had learned them.
And that is how my children learned Broadway show tunes. When we went on long car trips, in particular, we would spend much of the time singing together. I grew up amidst the Rogers and Hammerstein, then Rogers and Hart musicals of the 1940s and 1950s, the “golden age of musical theater,”and my children know those lyrics as if they had seen those magical shows, which were well before their births.
Some of our favorites were: “Oklahoma!” from the show of the same name, “Getting to Know You,” from “The King and I,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” from “The Wizard of Oz,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” from “South Pacific,” and “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better,” (a natural for our three boys) from “Annie Get Your Gun.”
All I had to do was start with, “Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry, When I take you out in the Surrey,” and they would all start singing from the back seat of the car.
While I loved all the melodies, my particular favorites were from “My Fair Lady,” including “The Rain in Spain,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” “Just You Wait, Henry Higgins,” “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “You Did It,” “Get Me to the Church On Time,” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.”
I share this with you so you will know what I am singing when I begin. It is, I’m afraid, not always apparent. On the other hand, I would encourage anyone to sing, even if you think you can’t carry a tune or have a terrible voice. A friend was asked to try out for a play when she was in junior high, and when she began to sing the required song, the teacher interrupted her with, “No, really.” He thought she was kidding. But it was “really,” and for many years, she never again sang until she met me.
Everyone should sing, softly if you must, but do it. And if anyone asks, it’s for your health.
Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Co. head to the Chapin Rainbow Stage on July 13. Photo by Darin Reed
Summer is finally here and that means the return of the Huntington Summer Arts Festival at the Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park, 2 Prime Ave., in Huntington. Now in its 58th year, the festival will offer four weeks of free, live performances Wednesdays to Sundays from July 1 to 30. Sunday performances start at 7 p.m., all others performances start at 8 p.m. unless noted.
Produced by the Town of Huntington and presented by the Huntington Arts Council (HAC), the festival clearly has something for everyone whether it be music, dance or theater. This year features festival mainstays such as the Huntington Community Band and The Huntington’s Men’s Chorus while highlighting new acts such as Tito Rodriguez Jr./Huntington Latin Night, Dr. K’s Motown Revue and Swing Sessions with Dudley Music and Guests.
Opening weekend sets the stage for this breakthrough season featuring Brooklyn based Sunny Jain’s Red Baraat on July 1 and the popular Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra on July 2. The Festival will go dark on Mondays and Tuesdays but ramp up again with the Huntington Community Band each Wednesday for the duration of the month.
The Englishtown Project is an exciting addition this year on July 7th. Followed by six-time Grammy winner Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, classic Motown sounds with Dr. K’s Motown Revue, The Hot Sardines’ take on classic jazz tunes, and the return of Huntington-born Chieli Minucci & Special EFX All Stars rounding out the weekend.
The 17th Huntington Folk Festival, a collaborative effort of the Folk Music Society of Huntington and HAC, returns on July 22. The open mic session at 12:30 p.m. will be followed by L.I. based singer/songwriters swapping songs on the hill from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m., and on-stage from 4 to 6 p.m. The day culminates with co-headliners Lucy Kaplansky and Cliff Eberhardt, pre-concert at 8 p.m.
Additional regulars include the North Shore Pops Concert Band, and Plaza Theatrical Productions with a presentation of the Broadway Rock Musical RENT. Fabulous dance performances are highlighted once again by Sol Y Sombra Spanish Dance Company, and the L.I. Dance Consortium.
Closing out the Festival will be The Jazz Loft Big Band and Tom Manuel with Grammy nominated guest vocalist Nicole Zuraitis on July 29 and Orchestra L.I., conducted by Musical Director David Stewart Wiley, serves up a delightful “In Concert With Nature” with works by Handel (Water Music), George Walker, the Mendelsohnn siblings Fanny & Felix, and for this year’s Festival Finale, Pastorale—Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Opus 68 on July 30.
“Huntington Arts Council takes pride in being able to present an exciting, free summer series of live performances. This year in particular, I am happy that our selection of acts is more representative of the diversity in our community. Our goal is to make the festival relevant, entertaining and accessible to everyone. All are welcome to attend!” said Kieran Johnson, Executive Director, Huntington Arts Council.
Sunday, July 2 – Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra, 7:00PM start time
Wednesday, July 5 – Huntington Community Band, “All Around The World”
Thursday, July 6 – Huntington Men’s Chorus, “Seriously Sinatra”
– Northport Community Band 8:30PM, start time NPT Park
Friday, July 7 – The Englishtown Project
Saturday, July 8 – Arturo O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
Sunday, July 9 – RENT Jonathan Larson’s Broadway Rock Musical by Plaza Theatrical Productions, 7:00PM start time
Wednesday, July 12 – Huntington Community Band, “Viva Long Island”
Thursday, July 13 – Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Co.
– Northport Community Band 8:30PM, start time NPT Park
Friday, July 14 – Dr. K’s Motown Revue
Saturday, July 15 – The Hot Sardines
Sunday, July 16 – Chieli Minucci & Special EFX All-Stars, 7:00PM start time
Wednesday, July 19 – Huntington Community Band, “Una Celebracion de la Musica Latina”, 7:00PM Jazz Band start time; 8:00 PM Concert Band start time
Thursday, July 20 – North Shore Pops Concert Band
– Northport Community Band 8:30PM, start time NPT Park
Friday, July 21 – Huntington Latin Night: Tito Rodriguez Jr. Orchestra; Opening Act – ZapOte Band; DJ Acito; Salsa Demo – Star Ballroom Dance Studiio 7:00 PM start time.
Saturday, July 22 – 16th Huntington Folk Festival, Cliff Eberhardt & Lucy Kaplansky, pre-concert interview at 7:15, concert at 8:00PM. Daytime open mic session hosted by Toby Tobias at 12:30, is followed by L.I. based singer/songwriters swapping songs on the hill from 1:30 to 3:45 PM, and on-stage from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.
Sunday, July 23 – L.I. Dance Consortium, “Long Island Dances!, 7:00PM start time
Wednesday, July 26 – Huntington Community Band,”…and Home Again!”
Thursday, July 27 – Swing Sessions with Dudley Music & Guests, local emerging Artists. Performers include Gabi Rose; saxophonist/vocalist, alt-rock trio MJT; and bassist Andraleia, leader of Empathology. 7:30PM start time.
– Northport Community Band 8:30PM, start time NPT Park
Saturday, July 29 – Jazz Loft Big Band, Tom Manuel Conductor, Nicole Zuraitis, Guest Vocalist
Sunday, July 30 – Orchestra L.I., David Stewart Wiley, Conductor “In Concert With Nature”, 7:00PM start time, 6:15 PM pre-concert talk by Maestro David Stewart Wiley.
The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) has announced the return of Pop-Up Saturdays in Stony Brook Village. This seven-part series family-friendly event will take place on Saturdays July 8 to August 19 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is filled with animals, music, art and even magic!
Pop-Up Saturdays are free to the public and will take place in Stony Brook Village’s Inner Court (by Crazy Beans and/or the Waterfall Garden). 2023 Pop-Up Saturdays Lineup includes Uncle Tony’s Reptile Shack: an interactive, fun and educational presentation where the public will meet snakes, lizards, tortoises, and more on July 8; live R&B, Roots, Blues and Contemporary Acoustic music from Brenda & Burke, as well as Caricatures by Marty on July 15; Magic of Amore and Last Chance Animal Rescue on July 22; July 29 attraction TBA; Radical Reptile Entertainment: a fun and educational interaction with reptiles on Aug. 5; the Silly Magician and Caricatures by Marty on Aug. 12; and Brenda & Burke will close the series on Aug. 19.
The 2023 Pop-Up Saturday are generously sponsored by Armor Pest Control and Dr. Rocco Morelli, DDS. For. more information, call 631-751-2244 or visit www.wmho.org.
Located at 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook, The Jazz Loft offers a month of great music in July:
Wednesday, July 5
Young at Heart: Requests! at 1 p.m.
Tom Manuel and the Jazz Loft Trio will take requests from the audience for this month’s Young at Heart. Young at Heart is a monthly themed afternoon jazz concert series to help seniors enjoy and remember familiar tunes.
Tickets: $10
Wednesday, July 5
Jazz 101: Long Island Jazz Legends with Darrell Smith
6 p.m.
Tickets: $15
Wednesday, July 5
Jam Session at 7 p.m.
Jam Sessions are led by Keenan Zach Jazz and musicians of all ages are invited to play on stage along with fellow Jazz enthusiasts.
Tickets: $10, after 8 p.m. $5
Thursday, July 6 at 7 p.m.
Viva Cuba!
17 piece Latin Big Band directed by Tom Manuel celebrating the music of Prez Prado, Xavier Cugat, Machito, Tito Puente and others
Jam Sessions are led by Keenan Zach Jazz and musicians of all ages are invited to play on stage along with fellow Jazz enthusiasts.
Tickets: $10, after 8 p.m. $5
Thursday, July 13 at 6 p.m.
Summer Swap
The Jazz Loft will be holding four outdoor Summer Swap concerts on the Jazz Loft front lawn throughout the summer. This show will feature the Equity Brass Band and is FREE!
The Summer Swap series is sponsored by Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn, Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Medicine.
FREE on the Jazz Loft lawn
Tuesday, July 18 at 7 p.m.
Jazz Loft Bottle Launch Wine Tasting
The Jazz Loft will be offering concert goers the option of purchasing wine by the bottle at performances. To get a taste of the wine list, The Jazz Loft Bottle Launch will give attendees an opportunity to taste the new selection of wines, with wine specialist Paul Yolango of Opici Wines and Laura Landor of the Jazz Loft. The evening includes a tasting of each wine and discussion of the flavor profiles.
Tickets are $25 and $10 for Friends Circle members.
Wednesday, July 19
Jam Session at 7 p.m.
Jam Sessions are led by Keenan Zach Jazz and musicians of all ages are invited to play on stage along with fellow Jazz enthusiasts.
Tickets: $10, after 8 p.m. $5
Thursday, July 20 at 7 p.m.
The Bad Little Big Band
The 12-member Bad Little Big Band led by pianist Rich Iacona and featuring vocalist Madeline Kole presents fresh and new arrangements.
(L-R) LIMEHOF 2023 music scholarship winners Jacob Leshnower (Half Hollow High School East High School), Alexis Pabebianco (Mineola High School) Chris Hummel (Harborfields High School), Coleman Schubert (Babylon, Babylon Jr-Sr. High School) and Luca Alexandru (Syosset High School).
For the first time since opening the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) Museum in Stony Brook last fall, LIMEHOF recently awarded its annual music scholarships to five graduating students from across LongIsland in a special ceremony held in the main exhibit hall.
This year’s Distinction in Music scholarship winners include Chris Hummel (Centerport, Harborfields High School), Jacob Leshnower (Dix Hills, Half Hollow High School East High School), Alexis Pabebianco (Williston Park, Mineola High School), Luca Alexandru (Syosset, Syosset High School) and winning the Pat DeRosa Scholarship was Coleman Schubert (Babylon, Babylon Jr-Sr. High School). The Pat DeRosa Memorial Scholarship was created to honor the memory of LIMEOHF inductee Pat DeRosa and was awarded specifically to a High School Senior to continue their studies in Music on the saxophone or woodwind instrument.
“We are immensely proud of our scholarship winners who have been granted the opportunity to pursue their passion for music through higher education,” said Tom Needham, LIMEHOF’s Educational Programs Director. “Their talent, dedication, and commitment to their craft inspire us all. We believe that their journey will not only shape their own futures but also contribute to the rich musical legacy of our community and beyond.”
Both Patricia DeRosa Padden, the daughter of LIMEHOF inductee Pat DeRosa and her daughter, Nicole DeRosa Padden (Pat’s granddaughter), were in attendance to present the scholarship in his name to Coleman Schubert. Afterwards they were presented with Pat DeRosa’s LIMEHOF inductee award trophy by LIMEHOF Chairman Ernie Canadeo. Pat DeRosa had been inducted during the Covid lockdown restrictions and unfortunately, he passed away in March of 2023 before the official in person presentation ceremony could be held.
About Christopher Hummel (Centerport, Harborfields High School, Violinist)
Christopher Hummel
Christopher Hummel has a passion for music which has brought him from Germany to Oregon. Equally comfortable leading an orchestra (he is currently serving as concertmaster of the Long Island Youth Orchestra), playing in chamber groups (he is the violinist in the HBK Piano Trio), and as a soloist (he has performed at the Majestic Theatre, and was a featured soloist during the Long Island Youth Orchestra’s 61st season), he has had the opportunity to work with some of today’s leading teachers.
Christopher has won national accolades (3rd prize in the 2021 Charleston International Baroque Competition, and 2nd in the 2021 New York MTNA Senior Performance Competition). He currently studies with Ann Setzer and Jennifer Frautschi. When not with his violin in hand, you will find him swinging a tennis racquet or spending time with his wonderful family.
Christopher is incredibly grateful to receive this scholarship from the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. This generous scholarship will enable him to pursue his passion for music at Juilliard, taking the next step towards his dream career of being a soloist. He would like to thank the scholarship committee, his teachers, and his parents for supporting him on his journey to becoming a professional musician.
About Jacob Leshnower (Dix Hills, Half Hollow High School East, Percussion and Piano)
Jacob Leshnower
Music has played a unique role in shaping Jacob’s academic and professional pursuits. Jacob began playing piano when he was two years old and chose percussion in fourth grade after being wowed by the timpanist at a Carnegie Hall concert. In high school, he played percussion in the All-District Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Symphonic Orchestra, and Marching Band, and piano in Jazz Band and Pit Orchestra.
Jacob also has had the amazing opportunity in recent years to perform as a percussionist in All-County, All-Eastern, and All-National ensembles, as well as the featured pianist in the All-State Symphonic Band. These experiences have provided him with an opportunity to meet like-minded people and confirm my commitment to pursue music as I enter college and beyond.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jacob participated, by audition, in the Juilliard Summer Percussion Masterclass Series, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and the NYU Sandbox Percussion Seminar. In addition, he has conducted original research into complex and important aspects of the intersection of music and psychology that has been accepted for presentation at international science competitions. Jacob plans to continue this music-related research in college and beyond, and he would like music performance to be a major part of his career. Jacob looks forward to attending Yale University in the fall, participating in ensembles while taking lessons at the Yale School of Music. “I am honored to receive the Long Island Music Hall of Fame scholarship because it is a testament to my passion for music and a source of great encouragement as I embark upon a musical career.”
About Luca Alexandru (Syosset, Syosset High School, Guitarist, Singer-songwriter)
Luca Alexandru
Luca Alexandru is a guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer. In addition to his selection as the jazz guitarist of the 2022 All National Jazz Ensemble, Luca was also selected as the jazz guitaristfor the 2022 All State Vocal Jazz Ensemble, a Bass for the 2022 All State Mixed Choir, a jazz guitar alternate for the 2021 All State Jazz Ensemble, and a finalist in the 2023 All Eastern Composition Symposium. In his free time Luca likes to write and perform music with his band, play soccer on his travel team, and teach guitar lessons.
“I am so incredibly grateful to receive this scholarship. I would like to thank all of my music teachers and mentors for their guidance and for inspiring me to be the best musician I can be every day.”
Luca is very excited for his future in Boston as he plans to attend Berklee College of Music and major in Music Production and Engineering.
About Alexis Panebianco (Williston Park, Mineola High School, Voice and Trumpet)
Alexis Panebianco
Alexis’s passion for music grew stronger after taking part in middle and high school musicals, choirs, and marching band. There was no greater honor in her music career than being Drum Major of the Mineola Mustang Marching Band. The band achieved 1st Place in New York State Championships for three years during her tenure. Participating in the marching band gave her the opportunity to learn important life skills, such as leadership, resilience, and accountability.
Alexis has also participated in the ACDA All National Chorus, the NAFME All Eastern Chorus and NYSSMA All County and All State Chorus’s as a soprano vocalist. Alexis’s positive experiences with music solidified her plans to major in Music Education at Hofstra University.
Her family has lived on LongIsland for three generations, and she looks forward to using her education and experience to help students on Long Island grow, mature, and expand their minds in the same way the resources of Long Island and music have helped her to grow into the student and musician that she has become.
“Thank you to the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame for awarding me the 2023 Student Scholarship! I knew that music would help me find my voice and purpose from a very young age.”
About Coleman Schubart(Babylon, Babylon Jr-Sr. High School, Oboe and English Horn)
Coleman Schubart
From a large musical family, Coleman Schubart is the fifth of six siblings and has a twin sister. Coleman studied piano and cello between the ages of 6 and 10 and then picked up the saxophone in the fourth grade. By the eighth grade, his school band was drowning in saxophone players, and his band director asked him to switch to oboe. Since then, Coleman has studied oboe with Dr. Terry Keevil, the Chamber Music Director at Stony Brook University.
Coleman began participating in NYSSMA at the age of six and consistently received score of A+ each year. In the 10th and the 11thgrade, he received scores of 100 on his oboe All-State auditions. He was an All-State alternate in 11thgrade and was selected for the All-State Band in 12th grade. Coleman is a member of the Tri-M Honor Society and has played in the pit orchestra of three high school musicals, covering clarinet, saxophone and oboe parts. Throughout high school, he has been selected for many orchestra and band festivals, and in 11th grade, he was the winner of the Eastman School of Music Award.
Outside of school, Coleman is first chair oboist in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, through which he has performed at the Tilles Center, the Staller Center, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall.
He has volunteered as a parish musician in three Long Island parishes. Under the baton of his conductor father, he has been afforded countless opportunities to play with graduate school and professional musicians in ensembles ranging from quartets to symphonic orchestras. Coleman has been engaged over the last year as a featured oboe soloist for several recitals. His most recent appearances were at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington and St. Patrick’s Church in Bay Shore.
Coleman will enter Michigan State University in the fall and will study with Dr. Nermis Mieses as a dual oboe performance and music education major. He looks forward to someday sharing his love of music with future students as his father did with him.
About the Pat DeRosa Memorial Scholarship
Pat DeRosa
Mr. Pat A. DeRosa performed for many years from Manhattan to Montauk and beyond. He taught music in Huntington and South Huntington and in 2018 the Guinness Book of World Records named him the “World’s Oldest Professional Saxophone Player”. (101 years old and still playing in 2022). Additionally, he was inducted into the Long Island Hall of Fame and the South Huntington Hall of Fame.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in South Huntington, Pat picked up a saxophone in the Bowery with his mom at the age of 12. After High School, he worked at Grumman before he was drafted into WWII where he played with the Glenn Miller Army/Air Force Band.
After the war, he played at The Latin Quarter and the Copacabana as well as other NYC clubs while attending the Manhattan School of Music where he received a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in English Horn and Oboe. He played with Tommy Tucker, Tex Benecke, Lionel Hampton amongst others while on the road stopping to make a movie in Hollywood where he was invited to have lunch with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. When he returned home, he was introduced to John Coltrane and they played duets together for three years.
Most recently he could be seen playing with his daughter, Patricia DeRosa Padden of Montauk, on piano and his granddaughter Nicole DeRosa Padden, also of Montauk, on vocals and flute as well as sitting in with numerous bands on the East End and Western Suffolk. Pat retired from teaching in 1978 but his students continued to contact him often.
This Memorial Scholarship has been set up for a High School Senior to continue their studies in Music on the saxophone or woodwind instrument. The criteria includes a 95 or above in Music and a 90 overall average. An essay should also be provided by the student to show why they would like to continue to pursue music.
Founded in 2004, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall Of Fame (LIMEHOF) is a 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to the idea that Long Island’s musical and entertainment heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. The organization, which encompasses New York State’s Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings (Brooklyn) Counties, was created as a place of community that inspires and explores Long Islandmusic and entertainment in all its forms. In 2022, LIMEHOF opened its first Hall of Fame building location in Stony Brook Village. To date, the organization has inducted more than 120 musicians and music industry executives, and also offers education programs and scholarships, and awards to Long Islandstudents and educators.
Mt. Sinai Congregational Church kicked off its UCC Steeple Showcase Concert Series featuring local musicians on June 24 with Steve Subject playing favorite soft rock classics including a Beatles playlist. The series continues on July 29 with Cactus & the Kia Acoustic duo, Aug. 26 with Bluegrass Buddies, and Sept. 30 with vocalist Vickie Solomon. All concerts are held in the church parking lot at 233 North Country Rd. Mt. Sinai (inside if it is raining) from 4 to 6 p.m. Bring a chair, a snack, take a chance on a raffle and sit back and relax! 631-473-1582
From left, Joshua Landress of J. Landress Brass and Tom Manuel with the gold-plated cornet recently acquired by The Jazz Loft. Photo courtesy of The Jazz Loft
The Jazz Loft’s Museum contains more than 10,000 pieces of jazz relics, including sheet music, instruments, recordings, artwork and furniture once owned by some of the Jazz greats. The Jazz Loft’s memorabilia come from as close as New York City and as far away as Europe! How does it get to Stony Brook? Look no further than Jazz Loft founder and President Tom Manuel, who is always on the lookout for something fresh and unique that can fit inside a rented van.
Recently, Manuel has been scouring the streets of New York City in search of something with a great story behind it…and he found it at the J. Landress Brass store on 38 West 32nd Street Suite 908 which is owned by Joshua Landress. The latest Jazz Loft acquisition—a 1978 gold-plated King Super 20 cornet that was used by Wild Bill Davison—came all the way from Europe, and serendipitously made its way to New York City. A defining feature of the cornet is that it’s highly engraved and even has Wild Bill Davison’s name on it.
Davison was an American Jazz cornet player who had a career that lasted 70 years. Throughout his career he worked with over hundreds of bands and made more than 20 albums between the years of 1965 and 1975.
Davison was known for his astounding playing and musicianship and always knew how to amuse the audience with his uncanny ability to play while chewing gum, without missing a single note and is best remembered for his association with Eddie Condon, with whom he worked and recorded music with from mid 1940s until Condon’s last concert. One of his most well-known songs was “Blue and Broken Hearted” that he played alongside Condon and Edmond Hall. Davison got to play with bands such as the Ohio Lucky Seven, The All-Star Stompers, George Wettling’s All Stars, and Art Hodes’ Hot Five.
“I am thrilled to be adding this outstanding item to the Jazz Loft’s museum holdings,” Manuel said. “Wild Bill Davison’s gold-plated cornet is not only a beautiful work of art visually, but an instrument that represents one of the early practitioners of Jazz.”
The gold-plated cornet is not only on display at The Jazz Loft, but Manuel is very excited to get the chance to use the cornet in future performances.
Located at 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook, the museum is open Thursdays to Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission fee is $10. For more information, visit www.thejazzloft.org.
The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook kicks off summer with a Guitar in the Garden concert on Wednesday, June 21. Enjoy an evening of guitar performances, a glass of wine and a chance to take in the beautiful Count Basie Garden. The performance starts at 6 p.m. Friends Circle members get the first drink on the house!
The first Summer of 2023 Guitar in the Garden will feature Steve Salerno. Salerno is an active performer of Jazz and Classical music. He has performed in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, China, Malaysia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Cuba, Haiti, Russia and throughout the United States. He is a member of the Ray Anderson Organic Quartet (with Gary Versace and Tommy Campbell), Paul Smoker 4-Tet (with Drew Gress and Phil Haynes), Mala Waldron Quartet (with Miriam Sullivan and Michael T.A. Thompson), Blue Pipa Trio (with Min Xiao-Fen & Dean Johnson) a duo with the MET’s lyric soprano, Susanna Phillips, a duo with NY Philharmonic’s principal percussionist, Christopher Lamb and leads a variety of groups, including his Jazz quartet, Exiles.
The community gathers for free outdoor concerts at the Stony Brook Village Center every summer.
The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMOH) has announced the long awaited return of the Summer Concert Series on the Village Green. These free concerts will take place in front the Stony Brook Post Office at 7 p.m. on Sundays from July 9 to August 20.
Performances include: Just Sixties, the longest running sixties tribute band in the United States, on July 9; Country Rhythms, a country music line dance instruction group, on July 16; Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks, the premier barroom troubadour and house band, on July 23; The Rustlers, a high energy group performing southern rock songs on July 30; The Bob and Tony Band, Covering your favorite hits of the 50s, 60s, 70s & beyond on August 6.; The Equity Brass Band, a six piece ensemble performing in the tradition of the New Orleans Brass Bands on August 13; and the Long Island Sound Symphony, an orchestra comprising of about 50 pieces, will perform a combination of light classical songs, movie themes and Broadway tunes on August 20. In the case of rain, the concerts will be cancelled.
The 2023 Summer Concerts Series on the Village Green is made possible by the following sponsors: Tantillo Auto Group, Camco Services of NY, Inc., Realty Three LLC., and Michael Ardolino – Realty Connect USA.
For more information, call 631-751-2244 or visit www.wmho.org.
From left, JVC Force's AJ Rok, The Fat Boys' Kool-Rock Ski, Son of Bazerk and Ralph McDaniels Photos from LIMEHOF
From left, Jazzy Jay, Public Enemy’s DJ Johnny Juice and Leaders of the New School’s Dinco D and Milo In De Dance
By Rita J. Egan
In the early 1970s, a new genre of music came out of the Bronx called hip-hop. Through the years, the music’s popularity grew and among the hip-hop artists were Long Islanders. On Sunday, June 11, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the genre and those local entertainers, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook will host a special concert along with a discussion panel featuring several artists who began their careers in Suffolk, Nassau, Queens and Brooklyn.
Members of Son of Bazerk, Kool Rock-Ski (of The Fat Boys), DJ Jazzy Jay and DJ Johnny Juice Rosado (of Public Enemy) are scheduled to perform. A panel discussion will also take place with Rosado, AJ Rok (of JVC Force), Dinco D and Milo in de Dance (both of Leaders of the New School), and special guest Ralph McDaniels (of Video Music Box). In addition to the performances and Q&A, the hall of fame will unveil a statue of hip-hop artist and actor LL Cool J and induct The Fat Boys.
Tom Needham, LIMEHOF vice chairman, said the event aligns with the organization’s ultimate goal to represent and present different types of music. He added there is so much talent in the area, including hip-hop artists, some who have already been inducted into the local hall of fame.
“I think a lot of people, when they think of music on Long Island, simply think of Billy Joel, but there are so many hip-hop artists who lived here, who made music here,” Needham said. “I think sometimes the average Long Island resident just doesn’t even know it.”
Rosado, who has been involved with LIMEHOF since its early days and was inducted with Public Enemy in 2008, said the idea to include the panel came from a tour he took part in during 2012. He and his fellow artists came up with the idea to have a press conference with a panel before shows. He said he feels concerts should have some kind of context and a Q&A helps to provide that.
“I think that it’s important, especially with something like this, a museum and a hall of fame, to kind of know the artists, what they’re about, and why Long Island was such an incredible incubator for these types of acts,” he said.
The event will give several entertainers the opportunity to visit the venue for the first time, including AJ Woodson, a.k.a. AJ Rok from JVC Force. Now the editor-in-chief of Black Westchester Magazine, Woodson said he was happy to hear about the event from Rosado.
“Long Island rap needs to be celebrated more, and it doesn’t get celebrated the way it should, but it was a very strong region as far as it had a lot of contributions to hip-hop,” the journalist said.
A bit of history
Rosado, in addition to being part of Public Enemy, whose “Fight the Power” was featured in the 1989 movie “Do The Right Thing,” has worked with various artists and composed film scores. He remembers the early days of hip-hop as being similar to jazz’s trajectory.
“A lot of it wasn’t accepted by the established greats of the time or what have you, and because of that, it was a hard time trying to get it launched,” he said. “But, along the way, there were some breakthrough moments like when Run DMC did ‘Walk This Way.’”
The 1986 hit was a cover of Aerosmith’s 1975 song, and the hip-hop version did better on the charts than the original. Rosado added that many artists, such as Aerosmith, had a resurgence when hip-hop artists would sample classics.
Woodson said hip-hop started out as a way to express oneself and now it has touched “every form of entertainment at this point.”
As for Long Island artists, Needham said in the early days of hip-hop, many, during interviews, were made to feel as if they had to say they were from New York City.
“It was actually a thing in the record companies,” he said. “Their strategy years ago was — if somebody was from Long Island — they would kind of rewrite their history slightly and make it sound like they were from New York City. They didn’t think it was cool to say they were from Long Island with a lot of different artists, not just hip-hop.”
During the June 11 panel, attendees can find out how many of these entertainers first formed their groups.
Woodson said he moved from Mount Vernon to Central Islip when he was 7. After his parents divorced and his father moved back to Mount Vernon, Woodson decided to attend high school there. He would visit Central Islip often and, after graduation, was back on Long Island. One day his neighbors told him about William Taylor (B-Luv) and Curtis Andre Small (DJ Curt Cazal), who were young DJs starting out, and a friend told him about a party they were having. When he attended, a friend asked if Woodson could have a mic.
“Me and B-Luv were on the mic and going back and forth,” he said. “Not really a battle but we were going back and forth, exchanging rhymes and everybody talked about how great we sounded.” The party was a turning point in Woodson’s life as he joined the group and soon after they were making demos. JVC Force is responsible for the song “Strong Island” in 1988, which sampled Chuck D from Public Enemy saying the phrase on Adelphi University’s radio station. The song helped drive home the fact there were hip-hop artists from Long Island, including Public Enemy and Erik B. and Rakim.
Cassandra Jackson, also known as ½ Pint from Son of Bazerk, will be performing on June 11 with her fellow group members Tony Allen “Bazerk” and Gary Pep Stanton “Daddy Rawe” as well as DJ Johnny Juice. The performance will be in memory of Son of Bazerk member Jeff “Almighty Jahwell” Height who passed away a few months ago.
Jackson’s musical journey began in Freeport. She said before her sophomore year of college, she and her friends were playing basketball at the park and “thrash talking” when someone approached her and said, “Sounds like you can make records.” While she was surprised someone would approach her on a basketball court and say that, she gave him her number and he met with her grandparents. It turned out to be Hank Shocklee, a member of the producing team The Bomb Squad, and he introduced her to Townhouse 3, which eventually became Son of Bazerk. She said she remembered the guys growing up in Freeport.
Becoming part of the group and performing she said “was so surreal for me.”
“It was the epitome of what it was to be hip-hop,” she said. “Banging on the tables in the lunch room, back of the bus rhyming, those things, and then to be able to actually go into a studio and do those things that I’ve practiced with my friends and then to actually be on stage to convey those things and perform.”
Jackson said preserving the history of hip-hop is important. She is still making music and working on a documentary. An administrator of the Alternative Learning Academy with Roosevelt High School, Jackson runs an alternative program where she incorporates hip-hop into the curriculum. “More than just the music, hip-hop stands on the shoulders of movements before, and the music is a way to express that — how we feel and who we are and what we’re trying to convey.”
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The 50th anniversary of hip-hop concert and panel discussion event will be held on Sunday, June 11 at 2 p.m. at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main Street, Stony Brook. The event is free with admission ($19.50 for adults, $17 for seniors and veterans, and $15 for students with ID). For more information, call 631-689-5888 or visit www.limusichalloffame.org.
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