Music

Historic All Souls Church, 61 Main Street in Stony Brook Village presents monthly Saturdays at Six concerts, Second Saturdays poetry readings, and Native American Drumming to the community. Each of these programs brings its own unique mix of visitors to the Stanford White-designed national landmark chapel. Their latest event, Conversations on the Sacred on Saturday, July 6, will combine, music, poetry and drumming into one unique performance.

Local poet Carolyn Emerson selected the sacred readings for the program and assigned them to local poets. She also collaborated with Stony Brook University Director of Concerts Ford Fourqurean, All Souls organist Dan Kinney, and Native American Elder and Drummer Ric Statler on the musical interludes that follow each reading. The tracker organ at All Souls, built by Henry Erben of New York in 1854, will be part of the program, responding to readings with appropriate hymns.

One of the poets that will be reading is Suffolk County Poet Laureate Deborah Hauser. She shared “I’m grateful to All Souls Church for the invitation to join this sacred conversation and am looking forward to a transcendent evening.”

The selection of poems and religious texts includes works that are widely regarded for their technical virtuosity and lyrical beauty.  Each reading includes a specific conversation with the sacred but offers at the same time a way into the life and sensibility of the poet. Christian and Judaic religions are in conversation with Taoism, Zen Buddhism, Islam, and the Native American tradition.

One of the poets that will be reading is Suffolk County Poet Laureate Deborah Hauser. She shared “I’m grateful to All Souls Church for the invitation to join this sacred conversation and am looking forward to a transcendent evening.”

From a Native American perspective, sacred conversations are ongoing.  This is because all life (be it two-legged, four-legged, winged, finned, slithering, crawling, plant people, earthly matter, heavenly mater) is sacred and valued. The most often missed of sacred conversation is the listening part of the conversation. Native American culture recognizes the listening to nature, wind, animals, heavens, people’s hearts, as they all have something to say.   Drummer Ric Statler states “when we listen to what God/Creator says, shows or makes us feel, we can respond from a holy place within us, and conversation becomes sacred.”

All Souls organist Dan Kinney observes “Music and poetry are often bound together in sacred conversations. This can be seen in the iconography of King David singing psalms and accompanying himself on the lyre. David is represented as a poet, composer, and musician. The organ has played a role in sacred music for centuries–witness the traditional image in art of St. Cecilia, patron saint of music, seated at the organ conversing musically with heaven.”

“Conversations on the Sacred brings together a wide variety of poetry from different cultures, ideologies, and styles and the music we pair it with will reflect so many different eras from Saint Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) to more contemporary composers like Linda Catlin Smith,” commented Fourqurean. “The audience is invited into so many different artistic sound worlds.”

The concert will begin promptly at 6 p.m. will include a 15-minute intermission and conclude by 8 p.m. The event is free. For further information please call 631-655-7798. 

The community gathers for free outdoor concerts at the Stony Brook Village Center every summer.
The Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) has announced the much-anticipated return of the Summer Concert Series. The concerts will be held at 7 p.m. every Sunday from July 7 to August 18 in front of the Stony Brook Post Office.
Concert Lineup:
•     July 7th: Just Sixties – Enjoy the timeless tunes of the longest-running sixties tribute band in the United States.
•     July 14th: Martini Garden – Described as the Eagles meeting Stevie Wonder, this band offers an eclectic mix of Rock and Roll, Blues, R&B, Jazz, and Country.
•     July 21st: Common Ground – Travel back in time with classic hits from the 1980s MTV Generation.
•     July 28th: The Equity Brass Band – A vibrant six-piece ensemble performing in the tradition of New Orleans Brass Bands.
•     August 4th: One Step Ahead – A high-energy band with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry.
•     August 11th: The Precisions – Relish the golden age of rock and roll with this vintage rock group.
•     August 18th: The Rustlers – A dynamic group delivering classic and contemporary country and rock and roll hits.
In the event of rain, the concerts will be canceled. Concerts are generously sponsored by Tantillo Auto Group, Camco Services of NY, Inc., Realty Three LLC, Affordable Cesspool Sewer & Drain, and Stony Brook Harbor Kayak and Paddleboard Rentals.
Join WMHO for a summer filled with music, community, and fun. For more information, visit wmho.org or contact 631-751-2244.

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson will hold an open cast call for strong singers/actors/dancers ages 8 to 13 (must be under 5 feet tall) for roles in Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical on Sunday, July 7 at 6 p.m., and Monday, July 15 at 7 p.m. Rehearsals begin on Sept. 2 and performances will be held from Sept. 14 to Oct. 20. For full details, please visit https://theatrethree.com/auditions-page.

Summer concerts return to Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Ave., Northport this July.  No registration is required. Seating will be provided, or you may bring a blanket and find a spot on the Library Courtyard lawn. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will take place on the rain date listed. Visit www.nenpl.org for updates.

Ed Travers Band 

Tuesday, July 2, 7:00 p.m. (rain date: Wednesday, July 3)

Come enjoy a taste of Margaritaville with one of Long Island’s premier Jimmy Buffet tribute bands.

Dave Clive’s Nawlins Funk Band 

Tuesday, July 9, 7:00 p.m. (rain date: Wednesday, July 10)

Experience the best of New Orleans party music from the 1950s to the sounds of today, featuring traditional rhythms combined with modern blues, jazz, and funk

‘Pure Joy’ with Paige Patterson 

Tuesday, July 16, 7:00 p.m. (rain date: Wednesday, July 17)

Restore your faith in the timeless power of music as you listen to songs from Sinatra to Santana, Bon Jovi to Broadway, ’70’s rock, classic soul, and much more.

The Dedications 

Tuesday, July 23, 7:00 p.m. (rain date: Wednesday, July 24)

Led by singer John Zollo, this vocal group performs ’50’s and ’60’s harmony, rock and roll, and ballads, as well as classic rock of the ’70s and ’80s, all with great musical accompaniment.

The Rustlers 

Tuesday, July 30, 7:00 p.m. (rain date: Wednesday, July 31)

This talented country band takes the stage to deliver an unforgettable evening of the best classic and contemporary country music.

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The Jazz Loft

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook will present three special performances of Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite on Thursday, July 11, Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13. All three concerts begin at 7 p.m.

Duke Ellington, Courtesy The Jazz Loft, Burt Goldblatt Archives

The Far East Suite is a 1967 concept album by Ellington, inspired by his group’s 1963 tour of Asia. Ellington and longtime collaborator Billy Strayhorn wrote the compositions. The album won the Grammy Award in 1968. The concerts are sponsored in part by the Olivia and Harlan Fischer Concert series and a grant from New York State Council on the Arts.

“Here at the Jazz Loft, we are always striving to bring our audience unique and significant works of Jazz and to keep those works alive and well,” said Tom Manuel, founder of the Jazz Loft. “Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite is the result of an ambitious tour that the band undertook in 1963. Syria was Duke’s first stop on a State Department sponsored “hearts and minds” tour of the Near and Middle East and India that took the band to Jordan, Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Turkey in no particularly sensible order. Ellington’s ability to communicate points of contact and conflict between cultures, assimilating the blues to Eastern modes… never sounds unduly self-conscious. This remains a post-war peak and we are excited to be sharing this work nearly 60 years after it won a Grammy award for the album it produced.”

For tickets, visit www.thejazzloft.org or click Tickets.

This summer, don’t miss Musical Masterworks: John Monteleone’s Guitars and Other Instruments — a must-see exhibition for any music lover! Currently on view at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook, this major retrospective and groundbreaking show celebrates the life and work of one of America’s most talented and renowned makers of archtop guitars, John Monteleone.

John Monteleone in his workshop in Islip, New York. Photo from LIM

From his 2,400-square-foot workshop in Islip, Monteleone has crafted one-of-a-kind masterpieces of functional art, coveted by leading rock, jazz, and folk guitarists of the late-20th and early-21st centuries: Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Ben Harper, Julian Lage, and Anthony Wilson, to name just a few. Monteleone also has lifelong connections to Long Island, growing up in Islip and maintaining his workshops here, initially in Bay Shore, in 1976, before opening his current shop in Islip, in 1990.

Renowned for his perfectionism and his intense concern for materials, and for facilitating versatile performance, Monteleone has made an extraordinary lifetime journey as a craftsman of his signature guitars, mandolins, and other instruments. The master luthier has garnered international acclaim for his exquisite craftsmanship and innovative designs. 

Musical Masterworks is the largest-ever exhibition of John Monteleone’s musical art assembled and offers visitors a rare opportunity to explore the artist’s extraordinary journey, beginning in the early 1970s as a repairer and maker of mandolins, to producing some of the most sought-after guitars in the world.

Featuring nearly 50 guitars, mandolins, and other instruments crafted by Monteleone between 1971 and 2023, the exhibition showcases the stunning beauty and unparalleled craftsmanship of his creations. 

“It is always my great honor and pleasure to create the resonating sonic beauty of these instruments and to hear them finally sing and speak to me,” says Monteleone. “From the trees in the forest to pulsating maple and spruces on my workbench, it is my way of giving process to unleashing the songs within the wood.”

Highlights include the famed Four Seasons guitar quartet (2002-2006), on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and pictured above; Monteleone’s groundbreaking Rocket Convertible guitar (1997); his beautifully ornamented Radio Wave (2004); and many examples of special model guitars and mandolins: Eclipse, Radio City, Grand Artist, the Train series, and more. Featuring guitars from private collections in Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Vermont, the exhibition will also be displaying iconic and historic guitars from Gibson, John D’Angelico, James D’Aquisto, and Selmer-Maccaferri.

“This exhibition showcases the artistry of an American original, a luthier with deep Long Island roots,” says Joshua Ruff, Co-Executive Director and curator of this exhibition. “John is an innovator, an artist craftsman with the needs of the guitarist and music listeners truly at heart, and our visitors are in for a treat to see all these beautiful instruments up close and all together for the first time ever.” 

Musical Masterworks: John Monteleone’s Guitars and Other Instruments be on view in the History Museum at the Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook through October 13. Major support for this exhibition was provided by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of musical craftsmanship.

For more information, visit www.longislandmuseum.org.

This article originally appeared in TBR News Media’s Summer Times supplement on June 20.

Fill your summer evenings with rock, country, jazz, classical, and gospel music, dance performances, cover band greats, and theatrical productions, all at the 59th annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival at Heckscher Park in Huntington. 

Opening on June 21, the 10-week festival runs through August 24. With well over 40 FREE, live performances, some never before seen on the Chapin Rainbow Stage, there is something for the whole family with Broadway stars, national and local talent, inspiring young performers and more.

Produced by the Town of Huntington, and presented by Huntington Arts Council, the events are held Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and  Sundays at 7 p.m. Grab your chair and head down for an unrivaled good time with friends and family!

June

June 21:  Rodgers and Hammerstein’s A Grand Night For Singing by Plaza Theatrical Productions

June 22: Lez Zeppelin

June 23: Vance Gilbert

June 27: Huntington Men’s Chorus

June 28: The Oyster Bay Music Festival When Nature Calls” OBMF has Got2Go! 

June 29: The Bob Band

June 30: The Spirit of Huntington Art Center’s ArtABILITY Tour 24’

July

July 3: The Huntington Community Band presents Spirit of America 

July 5: An Evening with Brooke Moriber featuring Lauren Davidson

July 6: EastLine Theater presents Hamlet 

July 7:  Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra

July 10: The Huntington Community

Band  presents Music of Stage and Screen

July 11: The Swing Sessions presented by

Dudley Music, Part 1

July 12: That 70’s band, Harold Melvin’s

Blue Notes, The Trammps present 70’s in

the Park

July 13: Little Wilson Band

July 14: Tovah Feldshuh in Aging is 

Optional (‘Cause G-d I Hope It Is!)

July 17: The Huntington Community Band 

July 18: Albums We Love performing

Born in the USA (40th Anniversary)

July 19: Sol y Sombra presents El Ritmo

July 20: Dan + Claudia Zanes with 

Tyree Austin

July 21: Just Wild About Harry tribute concert

July 24: The Huntington Community

Band  presents A Musicians Inspiration

with a pre-Concert performance by the

HCB Brass Ensemble at 7 p.m.

July 25: The Swing Sessions presented by 

Dudley Music, Part 2

July 26: Ally Venable 

July 27: The Clusters

July 28: Damien Sneed

July 31: The Huntington Community Band 

August

August 1:  FUMOS

August 2: Dominic Carbone “The New

Blue Eyes” Sinatra in the Park

August 3: The Men of Soul (FKA The 

Gentlemen of Soul)

August 4: Long Island Dance Consortium

August 7:  Sarah Gross and The Belle

 Curves featuring Allie Sandt

August 8: The Swing Sessions presented 

by Dudley Music, Part 3

August 9: School of Rock

August 10: Tito Rodriguez Jr. Orchestra

August 11: Joe D’Urso/Stone Caravan 

with special Guest Adam Ezra Group

August 14: NYC Ska Orchestra

August 15: D’Addario 

August 16: Horns at Heckscher presents

Make Me Smile, A tribute to Chicago

August 17: Eglevsky Ballet

August 18: School of Rock

August 21: Hillary Gardner & Lonesome

Pines featuring The Northfolk Band

August 22: Mahanaim School of Music

August 23: Rob Eberle & Iridesense 

August 24: Face To Face

Heckscher Park is located at 2 Prime Ave.,  Huntington. For more information, call 631-271-8423 or visit www.huntingtonarts.org.

And there’s even more!

In conjuction with the Huntington Summer Arts Festival, the Northport Community Band will present free concerts at the Robert W. Krueger Bandshell at Northport Village Park on select Thursdays this summer starting at 8:30 p.m. In the case of rain, the concert will be held at  Northport High School.

July 4: Families and Flags on the Fourth!

July 11: Comedy Tonight

July 18: Long Ago and Far Away

July 25: Blues in the Night

August 1: Cannons and Kids

 

Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Chamber of Commerce will host an Open Mic Concert at the Train Car Park, corner of Route 112 and Nesconset Highway, Port Jefferson Station on Saturday, July 20 at 4 p.m. Bands and singers are welcome to sign up. PA System and drum shell pack will be provided. Rain date is Sunday, July 21. Contact Paul Perrone, Chamber V.P., at 631-759-8850 to get on the schedule.

Jon De Lucia

Saxophonist Jon De Lucia brings Brubeck’s music to life with his ‘Brubeck Octet Project’ 

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook will present saxophonist Jon De Lucia and his all-star New York City Jazz octet in concert on Friday, June 28 at 7 p.m. for a tribute to legendary jazz visionary Dave Brubeck. Brubeck was one of the most famous and prolific jazz musicians of the 20th century. Brubeck “Restored and Reimagined” is the result of years of archival work by De Lucia, who has brought Brubeck’s arrangements back to life for the first time since the 1950s. The Brubeck Octet Project will be performing songs from De Lucia’s latest album, The Brubeck Octet Project, which will be released on July 12, 2024, with CD’s available for sale at the performance.

“The impact Dave Brubeck had on Jazz is astounding,” said Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel. “His long and successful career and life well lived made an indelible mark on how we communicate this music. To be able to hear again what Dave was composing in the vein of the west coast/cool Jazz scene is something really exciting. This is going to be a performance not to be missed!”

The Brubeck Octet features Jon De Lucia, Tenor Saxophone; Jay Rattman – Alto Saxophone; Becca Patterson – Trombone; Andrew Hadro – Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone; Glenn Zaleski – Piano; Daniel Duke – Bass; and Keith Balla – Drums.

Tickets are $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students and $15 for children. For more information, call 631-751-1895 or visit www.thejazzloft.org.

Offering four Tuesday evenings of music on the lawn

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook, in partnership with Stony Brook University, Stony Brook Medicine and community businesses will present the 2024 Summer Stage With A Purpose (Summer SWAP), on a series of Tuesday evenings throughout the summer. The events are FREE to the community. 

Summer SWAP will offer visitors a relaxing and scenic outdoor venue on the front lawn of the Jazz Loft to listen to an impressive lineup of performers.

“This series was born from the desire to have the Jazz Loft collaborate with Stony Brook University, and Stony Book Medicine as a way to invest in the community and especially to nurture cultural development,” said Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel.

“This summer concert series was born from the desire to give back to our community, to offer high quality performances to everyone without charge, and also to expand our collaborative projects with Stony Brook University, and Stony Book Medicine,” said Tom Manuel, founder of The Jazz Loft. “Summer SWAP is the perfect way to invest in our community and an especially real and genuine way to nurture cultural development.”

The Jazz Loft will be offering a variety of refreshments for sale in the Basie Garden which is adjacent to the Jazz Loft. Attendees are welcome to bring their own chairs and blankets to set up on the lawn.

The series performers will include:

Tuesday, June 18: 

Skye Hamilton-Carranza Septet:

Skye Hamilton-Carranza, bandleader/saxophone; Isaac “ALGONZO” Ketter, saxophone; Dekko Mills, Piano; Andrew Brett, bass; Ian Dennis, drums; Lo Wood, Bari sax; SPECIAL GUEST: Kristina Well, vocals

Tuesday, July 9: 

Arta Jekabsone Quartet

Arta Jēkabsone will share her original music, some Latvian Folk music, and an arrangement of one or two, well-known songs. The evening will be filled with positivity, smiles and laughter. Arta Jēkabsone – voice; Kengchakaj – piano; Hannah Marks – TBD; and Connor Parks – drums

Tuesday, July 23: 

Aubrey Johnson (vox) Quartet:

Aubrey Johnson, voice; Randy Ingram, piano; Sam Weber, bass; Jay Sawyer, drums

All performances are from 6 to 8 p.m.

For more information contact the Jazz Loft at: 631-751-1895 or visit www.thejazzloft.org.