Music

The Dogwood Hollow Amphitheater was once located behind Stony Brook Village Center. It was the place to see musical stars such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Liberace, Tony Bennett and more until 1970.

Now it’s the spot to celebrate music once again. The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame officially opened Friday, Nov. 25. On the night of Nov. 23, a ribbon cutting was held followed by a red carpet event,  preview of exhibits and performances by LIMEHOF inductees.

The 8,800 square-foot building is the first physical facility of the nonprofit organization and was previously used as the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s Educational and Cultural Center.

“We are thrilled our organization has found a permanent home in such a wonderful location,” said Ernie Canadeo, LIMEHOF chairman in a statement. “We’re excited to be able to share our world-class displays and unique memorabilia collection that showcases Long Island’s rich and diverse musical and entertainment history in new and exciting ways. We feature different and exciting exhibits, displays, videos and education
offerings that make the center a dynamic place for people to visit on a regular basis.”

The event was well-attended by entertainers, including members of Twisted Sister, Blue Oyster Cult, Zebra, Jen Chapin and Carole Demas and Paula Janis of “The Magic Garden.”  Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine (R), state Sen. Mario Mattera (R-St. James), state Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), county Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket), Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) and WMHO President Gloria Rocchio were on hand to welcome the inductees and LIMEHOF organizers.

Attendees were able to preview the nonprofit’s first exhibit, “Long Island’s Legendary Club Scene — 1960s-1980s.” Designer Kevin O’Callaghan created the exhibit, featuring many of the LIMEHOF inductees, to be like a club crawl through the 60s, 70s and 80s club scenes.

Demas and Janis said they were honored to represent family entertainment in the hall of fame. While the show “The Magic Garden” went off the air in 1984, the duo have performed on stage occasionally through the decades. Janis said the two have known each other since they were teenagers in Brooklyn. The hall of fame includes artists who have lived in Suffolk Nassau, Queens and Brooklyn.

“We never imagined ‘The Magic Garden’ would walk us into something like this,” Demas said.

Mark Mendoza, who played bass in Twisted Sister, was also impressed by the facility. He said while it has taken several years for the LIMEHOF to find a permanent home, the wait was worth it because it enabled more time to collect impressive memorabilia from various artists.

He said Long Island is finally being recognized as music hotspot and the hall of fame will help to recognize even further the talented musicians from the Island.

“It’s definitely going to be a place for tourists to come — a lot of people to come here because of the music,” he said. “It’s great because it’s so diverse. The music is so incredibly diverse, and it’s great seeing all the other artists here tonight. This is definitely going to be a destination for people to show up at.”

The Nov. 23 event ended with performances by Demas and Janis,  Harry Chapin’s daughter Jen,  Elliott Murphy and Zebra.

The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame is located at 97 Main Street, Stony Brook. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit limusichalloffame.org.

By Elaine Holmes

Comsewogue High School congratulates sophomore Elliot Jaklitsch on being named a Macy’s Great American Marching Band member.  

Honoring America’s finest high school musicians, color guard members and dancers, this marching band comprises select students from across the country.

Above, Elliot Jaklitsch, sophomore at Comsewogue High School. Photo courtesy Elaine Holmes

Jaklitsch will be one of 185 musicians chosen to perform for this year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan. This prestigious band will be positioned among the gigantic helium balloons, impressive floats and the nation’s top marching bands.  

“I am so excited to have this amazing opportunity,” Jaklitsch said. “I am looking forward to meeting musicians from all over the United States and marching in one of the best parades.”  

Stepping off from Central Park, the band will be cheered on by an estimated 3 million spectators lining the parade route. Arriving at Macy’s Herald Square, the band will perform for celebrity hosts, a grandstand audience and the usual millions of TV viewers watching the  broadcast live from home. 

“Elliot is an incredible young lady, and we are very proud of her accomplishment,” said Michael Mosca, Comsewogue High School principal.

To watch the Macy’s audition video with Jaklitsch playing the mellophone, see above video.

Elaine Holmes is the orchestra director at Comsewogue High School.

From left, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly sing 'Good Mornin' in a scene from 'Singin' In the Rain'

In honor of its 70th anniversary, Singin in the Rain will be screened at the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. with new digital restoration. The film will be introduced by film historian and NYS librarian Philip Harwood, who will explore the importance of the classic movie to the history of cinema.

Gene Kelly in ‘Singin’ In the Rain’

On a short list of the greatest screen musicals ever made, Singin’ in the Rain began with legendary MGM producer Arthur Freed giving screenwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green a stack of songs he’d written early in his career (with partner Nacio Herb Brown) – including “Broadway Melody,” “You Are My Lucky Star” and the title song – with the simple request to weave a story around the numbers.

What emerged was a sublime marriage of song and dance, innocence and nostalgia, heart-tugging romance and surreal comedy (especially in co-star Donald O’Connor’s show-stopping “Make ’Em Laugh” routine). Co-director Gene Kelly shines as silent-movie idol Don Lockwood, whose career (and leading lady, hilariously played by Jean Hagen) is imperiled by the coming of sound – until he hooks up with lovely ingenue Debbie Reynolds. The brilliant supporting cast includes Millard Mitchell, Douglas Fowley and the great Cyd Charisse, whose long-legged “Broadway Melody” ballet with Kelly nearly steals the show!

Tickets are $15 per person at: https://bit.ly/SinginintherainCAC

For more information, call 631-423-7610.

The Whaling Museum and Education Center is announcing a first-time end of year fundraising event celebrating the rowdy history of Cold Spring Harbor’s Main Street through food, drink, and other activities in the lively event, Bedlam Street Bash. 

Calling back to the 1850s when Main Street (Route 25a) was nicknamed “Bedlam Street,” this event will take place on Thursday, December 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Museum at 301 Main Street and is for adults age 21+. Inspired by the rambunctious spirit of the village during its whaling heyday, guests will travel through the museum to enjoy delicious bites from local restaurants, rum tastings, historic then & now presentations, craft-making, and live music. 

 “A whaleship arriving home to our coastal village could generate a commotion, and was cause for a community celebration,” says Nomi Dayan, Executive Director of the museum. “The blast of a cannon would first alert locals, who would watch Main Street fill with whalers who had not been home for 2-4 years. Local merchants would prepare to serve men who dreamed of a good meal. Cold Spring Harbor was, for a time, a rowdy place! We invite locals today to fall into this story and enjoy the evening with us in support of our museum.”

The museum is collaborating with Cold Spring Harbor Village eateries to offer guests delicious tastings throughout the evening. Participating eateries include Sandbar, Harbor Mist, Sweetie Pies on Main, Cold Spring Harbor Plaza Deli and Grasso’s Restaurant. In addition, guests will enjoy live music, activities, a folk-art craft, raffles, and special “Then & Now” presentations.  

Special guest and Town Historian, Robert Hughes, will transport visitors back to the waterside village in the 1800’s with his “Then & Now” presentations of Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor. He will focus on the history of the locations for the five eateries that are offering tasting for this event; Sandbar, Harbor Mist, Sweetie Pies on Main, Cold Spring Harbor Plaza Deli and Grasso’s Restaurant.

Special guest Dr. Jennifer Anderson will present a session about the history of rum during her informational and fascinating chat, “Get Your Grog On.” Tastings of different island-style rums, the “true sailor’s drink,” will also be served courtesy of Bottles and Cases in Huntington. 

Participants can gather details about historic Main Street in a special scavenger hunt, which culminates in cracking a code to receive a prize from our treasure chest. 

Guests will get creative when trying their hands at the signature craft of whalers, scrimshaw, also known as one of America’s first folk art crafts.  Guests will sketch and carve their designs into scrimshaw-style keepsake boxes.

Throughout the night, guests will hear live sea shanties, high-spirited and bawdy work-songs of sailors performed by Scuttlebutt Stu. Guests can join in these repetitious renditions.

The Whaling Museum & Education Center is selling advance tickets to the event at cshwhalingmuseum.org/bedlamstreetbash. Advance tickets are $40 per person, $20 for museum members. A limited number of advance tickets will be offered. At the door tickets will be $50 per person, $25 for museum members. Tickets are offered first come, first served. All evening activities are included in admission.    

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About The Whaling Museum & Education Center

The Whaling Museum & Education Center is the only museum in the world open year-round which explores the whaling history of the Long Island region. The Museum engages the community in exploring the diversity of our whaling heritage and its impacts to enrich and inform our lives. The museum is located at 301 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724. Visit cshwhalingmuseum.org and follow The Whaling Museum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @cshwhalingmuseum

The Jazz Loft

The following are events scheduled at The Jazz Loft for December 2022:

Thurs. 12/1, Friday, 12/2 and Saturday 12/3:    Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker at 7 p.m.                              For three evenings the 17 member Jazz Loft Big Band will present Duke Ellington’s Jazz Nutcracker. Vocalist Danny Bacher accompanies the band. Tickets: $35 adults, $30 seniors, $25 students, $20 children, children 5 and under free

Monday 12/5  Marty Isenberg, bassist , performs a recital for his Doctor of Music Degree from Stony Brook University at 7 p.m. Tickets: $10 Adults, $5 Seniors ,Children and Students, Free for Stony Brook Students, Staff and Faculty with ID.

Wed. 12/7: Young at Heart: It’s The Holiday Season at 1 p.m. The Jazz Loft Trio performs music of the season. Young at Heart is a monthly jazz themed concert series for those that like their jazz in the afternoon. Tickets: $10

Wed. 12/7:  Jazz Loft Trio and Jam at 7 p.m. The Jazz Loft Trio performs at 7 p.m. followed a jam at 8 p.m. Tickets: $10 at 7 p.m., $5 at 8 p.m.

Thurs. 12/8:  Jazz Dispatch at Madiran Wine Bar in Setauket at 7 p.m.  Jazz Loft regulars, Tom Manuel, trumpet and Steve Salerno, guitar, take their performance to Madiran Wine Bar.

Thurs. 12/8: Bad Little Big Band Holiday Show  at 7 p.m. Pianist Rich Iacona leads his 12 member band in performing music of the season. Tickets: $35 adults, $30 seniors, $25 students, $20 children, children 5 and under free

Fri. 12/9: Ray Anderson’s Seasonal Solstice Party at 7 p.m. Trombonist Ray Anderson brings on the holiday spirit with Tommy Campbell on drums and Mark Helias on bass. Tickets: $35 adults, $30 seniors, $25 students, $20 children, children 5 and under free

Sat. 12/10: Interplay Jazz Orchestra Family Show at 1 p.m. The 17 member jazz big band co led by Joe Devassy, trombone and Gary Henderson trumpet perform their annual family holiday concert. Tickets:$ 35 adults, $30 seniors, $25 students, $20 children, children under 5 free

Sat. 12/10:  Tom Manuel’s Eggnog Romp at 7 p.m. Trumpeter and Jazz Loft founder, Tom Manuel performs seasonal music with his quintet. Tickets: $35 adults, $30 seniors, $25 students, $20 children, children 5 and under free

Mon. 12/12: Stony Brook University Jazz Combos Concert at 7 p.m. Combos of graduate music students perform under the direction of trombonist Ray Anderson and trumpeter Tom Manuel. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 seniors & students, Free for SBU faculty,staff & students with ID

Tuesday 12/13 Moshe Elmakias, pianist, performs a recital for his Doctor of Music Degree from Stony Brook University at 7 p.m. Tickets: $10 Adults, $5 Seniors ,Children and Students, Free for Stony Brook Students, Staff and Faculty with ID.

Wed. 12/14:  Jazz Loft Trio and Jam at 7 p.m.  The Jazz Loft Trio performs at 7 PM followed by a jam at 8 p.m. Tickets: $10 at 7 PM, $5 at 8 PM

Thurs. 12/15, Friday, 12/16, Saturday, 12/17: Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker at 7 p.m.  For three nights the 17 member Jazz Loft Big Band will perform Duke Ellington’s jazz Nutcracker. Trumpeter Tom Manuel directs and narrates and vocalist Danny Bacher accompanies the band. Tickets: $35 adults, $30 seniors, $25 students, $20 children, children 5 and under free

Sun. 12/18:  Jazz Nativity  at 6 p.m. The candlelight jazz nativity featuring the Biblical Christmas story is performed by a jazz sextet. Tickets: $35 adults, $30 seniors, $25 students, $20 children, children 5 and under free

Wed. 12/21: Jazz Loft Trio and Jam at 7 p.m. The Jazz Loft Trio performs at 7 p.m. followed by a jam at 8 p.m. Tickets: $10 at 7 p.m., $5 at 8 p.m.

Thurs. 12/22:  Nicole Zuraitis Jazz Christmas Party at 7 p.m. Grammy nominated vocalist, pianist and composer, Nicole Zuraitis, appears backed by a big band ensemble to present holiday favorites. Tickets: $35 adults, $30 seniors, $25 students, $20 children, children 5 and under free

The Jazz Loft is located at 275 Christian Ave in Stony Brook Village. Tickets are available at www.thejazzloft.org and if available, in person prior to events. For more information, call 631-751-1895.

The Jazz Loft
Grant will help fund more concerts, more music and community outreach

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook, is a recipient of $10,000 in New York State Council on the Arts grant funding, part of $32 million that has been awarded state-wide to more than 1,000 groups. The funding will assist arts, music and cultural organizations to make a strong comeback from the pandemic.

Tom Manuel, founder and president of the Jazz Loft, said the funding will allow the music venue to program three to five additional shows during the upcoming 2023 season.

“This grant funding will allow the Jazz Loft to present some innovative and diverse performances during our 2023 season which I’m quite excited for,” said Manuel.  “Funding like this enables us to stay true to our mission and to continue to advocate for Jazz; be it by employing young, up and coming artists, honoring our elder statesmen and stateswomen in Jazz, or presenting to our community factions of Jazz that might not be so well known such as influences from Cuba, China, Brazil or other parts of the world.”

The Jazz Loft is located just 90 minutes from New York City and is the only music venue on Long Island that features exclusively Jazz music. For more information about The Jazz Loft, visit their website.

The Homegrown String Band

The Port Jefferson Free Library, 100 Thompson St., Port Jefferson presents The Homegrown String Band in concert Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.

The Homegrown String Band™ celebrates the American tradition of families making music together. This family band’s repertoire includes a healthy portion of early country music classics by the likes of The Carter Family and Delmore Brothers, along with a tasty sprinkling of original material inspired by the rural American string band and folk traditions of the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries. Comprised of husband and wife plus daughter, this dynamic trio adds their own musical DNA to an American tradition, taking you on a musical journey from ancient ballads of the British Isles to blues and bluegrass of the twentieth century.

The family has been performing together for twenty-five years, playing such venues as The National Theatre in Washington DC to the Festival of American Music in Branson Missouri.

Open to all. Pre-registration is necessary to keep the music flowing. Sign up at portjefflibrary.org, or call 631-473-0022 to reserve a seat.

Two bastions of commerce and culture joined forces on Saturday, Oct. 22, for a night of fright and fun at Port Jefferson Station’s Train Car Park.

The Spooktacular Music Festival was a three-hour production co-hosted by the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce and the local affiliate of the School of Rock, the largest music school franchise nationwide. The event showcased the talents of local student musicians while bringing community members together for a night out.

Tracie and Jaime Smith have owned the Port Jefferson-based franchise of the School of Rock for 12 years. They described the music school as a place connecting like-minded youth with a shared passion for music.

“A lot of the kids that come to the School of Rock don’t quite fit in in public school,” Jaime Smith said. “When they come to our school, they are exactly who they are, and they’re accepted for that, regardless of age, race, it doesn’t matter.” He added, “They all share that common goal of art, and they do a heck of a job expressing that on stage.”

This sentiment held on Saturday night as the student performers entertained hundreds of spectators on the Train Car Park’s main lawn, playing songs across various genres, such as classic rock and punk rock. 

Tracie Smith offered her perspective on the evening, saying that the event closely aligned with the music school’s organizational principles.

“We pride ourselves on getting the kids on stage,” she said. “It’s not just taking a guitar lesson in your basement and never doing anything with it. We get the kids on stage multiple times per year, and they get to rock out,” adding, “It helps them build their confidence and meet other like-minded kids.”

While the School of Rock has held the event in years past, this marked the first year the performance was held at the Train Car Park. Jennifer Dzvonar, president of PJSTCC, was also present during the event and discussed how it all came together. 

“We’re trying to get some more community events over here at the Train Car Park, so together we said, ‘Bring it here, and we’ll do it in collaboration with the chamber,’” she said. “We have some chamber members here setting up some tables. It’s open to the community, free admission, and with live music and fun.”

For Dzvonar, this event marks just the next chapter in a string of recent positive developments for the Greater Comsewogue area. According to her, boosting recreational use at the Train Car Park has been the chamber’s priority for years. 

Now, with the availability of public funds and political will, those plans are bearing fruit. “We have always been trying to get this up and running,” she said. “Phase one is trying to get the park usable for the community, so they’re going to be making a walking path in here, we’re getting a parking lot and we’re going to get a playground.” She added, “Hopefully, that should be completed by the end of this year. If not, then the beginning of next year.”

After these improvements are executed, the chamber plans to use the historic train car on-site for community tourism. In addition, plans are in place to repurpose some of it as office space, providing chamber members with new headquarters.

“Our vision is coming to fruition finally,” Dzvonar said. “This is exactly what we wanted for the community — a place to come, a place for kids and adults, a place for anybody. Basically, the motto of the chamber is to bring local businesses and the community together. This is a hub for that.”

Jaime and Tracie Smith have observed a gradual shift in the area throughout their time running the music school. For them, the arts will continue to play a central role in the area’s burgeoning cultural renaissance.

“What we’ve seen in the over a decade that we’ve been here is a movement toward families and the arts and a dedication to the community,” Jaime Smith said. “There has been a real movement forward toward creating something different here … and music always brings people together.”

Tracie Smith added to this perspective, touching upon how the COVID-19 pandemic has brought more families from New York City onto Long Island. Given these trends, she sees reason for optimism.

“We’ve seen such a nice bump in our enrollment post-COVID,” she said. “We’ve seen a lot of new families, a lot of resurgences, a lot of people moving from the city to come here, so we’re looking forward to the future for sure.”

— Photos by Raymond Janis

Townes Van Zandt and Nanci Griffith

WUSB’s Sunday Street series returns to the Long Island Museum’s Gillespie Room in the Carriage Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook on Sunday, Oct. 23 with a concert titled Nanci & Townes: Remembering Two Texas Troubadours at 5 p.m.

WUSB’S Sunday Series returns to live performances  by continuing its tradition of honoring seminal singer-songwriters with an evening devoted to the songs of Nanci Griffith and Townes Van Zandt, two Texas-based artists.

Participating are Gene Casey, Delaney Hafener (of the Belle Curves), Caroline Doctorow, Bryan Gallo, Ray Lambiase, Mary Lamont w/ Jim Marchese, Pete Mancini, Gerry McKeveny, and Quarter Horse.

Pete Mancini will emcee the evening which will benefit the Sunday Street Series and WUSB.

The event is co-produced by Pete and Charlie Backfish and a collaboration of WUSB’s Sunday Street Series, The Long Island Museum, and The Greater Port Jefferson Art’s Council.

Nanci Griffith’s passing on August 13, 2021 was universally mourned in the music world. This Austin native received critical acclaim for a career that included sixteen original studio albums as well as two ‘covers’ collections, paying homage to songwriters who influenced her own writing. On the first of those two collections, ‘Other Voices, Other Rooms, she included her version of Townes Van Zandt’s ‘Tecumseh Valley.’ Her song, ‘Up Against the Rain’ is about Van Zandt.

Townes Van Zandt, from Fort Worth, has been considered influential not only by Nanci Griffith but by countless artists cutting across several musical genres. Many of his songs are regarded as masterpieces of songwriting with Steve Earle recently recording an entire album of them. Van Zandt passed away on New Year’s Day, 1997, at age 52. In the 2000’s, extensive interest in him resulted in two books and a documentary film.

                                            Tickets are $ 20.00 at www.sundaystreet.org

Artoberfest

Save the date! Join Preservation Long Island and the Long Island Museum for an Artoberfest, an afternoon of food, beer, music by Buddy Merriam & Backroads, arts and crafts, and games at the Sherwood-Jayne Farm, 55 Old Post Road, East Setauket on Saturday, Oct. 22 from noon to 5 p.m. The event is a celebration of the art of Edward Lange (1846-1912), whose works are currently on view at the Long Island Museum through Dec. 18.  Rain date is Oct. 23. Tickets are $20/over 21, $10/under 21, free for ages 5 and under. To order tickets, visit www.preservationlongisland.org. For more information, call 631-692-4664.