Children are introduced to Jackie the raccoon puppet
Jeff Sorg with his replacement, Noah Packard
Book Revue hung a thank you banner
SONGS SAY SO MUCH
It was bittersweet as the Book Revue in Huntington said goodbye to Jeff Sorg on Jan. 23. The singer/songwriter hosted his last Toddler Time at the bookstore, after performing there for 16 years. While he will continue to write music, Sorg said he plans to spend some time traveling with his wife, who recently retired. Parents and children joined Sorg for songs, some dancing and a puppet show and then met his replacement, Noah Packard (pictured on the right with Sorg) who’s first day is on Feb. 20. Thank you Jeff for the joy you have brought to so many children over the years. You will be missed.
The Harmonic Tides Quartet. Photo by Chris Beattie
They’re back! Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Harbormen, the local choral group affiliated with the national Barbershop Harmony Society, will be available in groups of four to sing in homes, offices, restaurants, hospitals, schools and more for the romantically inclined.
“A great home video memory,” as one satisfied customer said, not to mention a good Instagram story with each quartet in bright red blazers and bowties.
Love songs have great histories and each has its own way of getting to the heart. Some evoke longing, others celebrate the object of affection. “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” one of the songs that the Harbormen quartets sing to Valentines, was written in 1910 by Leo Friedman and Beth Slater Whitson. It went on to be recorded by Bing Crosby, the Mills Brothers, Pat Boone and was sung every year for decades by Yankee Stadium public address announcer Bob Sheppard on Mother’s Day. Bette Midler sang the song in “The Rose” and Shirley McLaine sang it in “Downton Abbey.” It even ended up on the recent TV hit, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”
Quartet members include scientists, salesmen, engineers, an air traffic controller, a chef, author and policeman, among others.
Fred Conway, a retired math teacher with the group since 1966, has sung in all kinds of situations. “I remember showing up at an overcrowded bowling alley to deliver our songs to a bowler, and trudging through eight inches of snow to sing to a secretary and her audience of fifty amused colleagues.”
Herb Mordkoff, another member, remembers being hired to sing with his quartet to a waitress in a diner near MacArthur Airport one year, then being hired to return when her husband proposed. “Not a dry eye in the whole diner,” he said. A year and a half later, his quartet was singing for the couples’ child’s first birthday party.
The package for $75 includes two songs, a box of chocolates, personalized card and a signature rose. To book a quartet for a singing Valentine or any occasion, call 631-644-0129 or email [email protected]. A portion of the proceeds go to the Good Shepherd Hospice in Port Jefferson.
The Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus invites you and your friends to join them in their first rehearsal of the season at the H. Lee Dennison Building, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge on Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. No formal audition required. Unite with them in song and friendship. For more information, visit www.LIGMC.org.
The North Shore Chamber Choir will hold open auditions for all sections at the Caroline Church of Brookhaven, 1 Duke Road, Setauket on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, call 631-504-0165 or email [email protected].
The interior of Alls Souls Church. Photo from Daniel Kerr
All Souls Church, 61 Main St., Stony Brook has added Gregorian Chant/Music of Taizé to its monthly programs, providing a time for quiet meditation to clear the mind and rest the soul. The historic chapel will be lit with candles and alive with mystical chants and songs. This is a unique opportunity for reflection and/or silent prayer for people of all faiths (or no faith) searching for a spiritual connection in their lives. Next session will be held tonight, Thursday, Jan. 16 from 8 to 9 p.m. For more information, please call 516-607-9111.
Northport Arts Coalition welcomes wife and husband duo Annalyse and Ryan (Americana) in concert at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 270 Main St., Northport at 7:30 p.m. Preceded by an open mic. Tickets are $15 in advance at www.northportarts.org, $20 at the door.
The critically acclaimed Canta Libre Chamber Ensemble returns to the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport for a fall concert featuring music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets for adults are $20 online at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org, $25 at the door; $15 for children ages 15 and under.
The Staller Center for the Arts presents Ensemble Español in Flamenco Passion for Hispanic Heritage Month on Oct. 26. Photo by Dean Paul
A MOSAIC OF WORLD CULTURES
Come see Spanish culture come alive at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook on Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. with Ensemble Español, the premier Spanish dance company in the United States. With 40 dancers, singers and musicians, Ensemble Español fills Staller Center’s Main Stage with a magnificent mosaic of world cultures – Latin, North and South America, Asia, Middle East, and Europe. Tickets are $48. To order, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.
Celebrate St. James invites all singers – good, bad and really bad – to participate in World Singing Day at Burke Veterans Memorial Park, 463 Lake Ave., St. James on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. The giant sing-a-long celebrates “the global family through the international language of music.” Rain location is the St. James Firehouse. Call 631-862-4615 or visit www.celebratestjames.org for more information.
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams. Photo by Tom Moore
By Melissa Arnold
At Benner’s Farm in East Setauket, there’s a sense of going back in time. The 15 acres that make up the private family farm have been cared for by local families since the 1700s, and current owners Bob and Jean Benner have worked hard to maintain that historic atmosphere. Along with growing organic produce and hosting a variety of educational events, the farm is also well-known for its seasonal festivals held throughout the year.
Quarter Horse
This weekend, Benner’s Farm will tune up for the 8th annual Fiddle & Folk Festival, offering guests a chance to experience traditional folk and bluegrass tunes along with modern spins on the genre. Emceed by Bob Westcott, the program includes performances by the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Quarter Horse, Eastbound Freight Bluegrass Band, Taylor Ackley and the Deep Roots Ensemble.
The festival is a revival of a similar event held for many years at The Long Island Museum in Stony Brook, said farm owner Bob Benner.
“I used to play violin when I was a kid, and my wife and I were involved with the Long Island Traditional Music Association for a long time,” said Benner. “The farm has been around since 1751, and back then, people made their own music and danced in barns for socialization and entertainment. We try to keep that same ambiance today by offering opportunities to come out and hear live music of all kinds.”
Taylor Ackley and the Deep Roots Ensemble
The event barn’s Backporch Stage will serve as the main stage for the festival, while the Shady Grove Stage will offer workshops and Q&A opportunities with headlining musicians, allowing audiences to get to know them on a deeper level. In addition, the Jam Junction Stage will play host to musicians of any skill level who want to take a turn on the platform alone or with friends.
“The Fiddle & Folk Festival is one of the nicest ways you can spend a Sunday on Long Island, and you get to hear an entire day of music you might not otherwise experience,” said Amy Tuttle, program director of the Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council, which sponsors the event along with Homestead Arts, WUSB and Times Beacon Record News Media. “We have a broad reach, and use our contacts to bring in nationally-known performers and people in the community to entertain,” she added.
Taylor Ackley and the Deep Roots Ensemble from Stony Brook bring together classical musicians from the area to play old-time mountain music with unique instrumentation, Tuttle said. Ever heard bluegrass played on a French horn? Now’s your chance.
Eastbound Freight Bluegrass Band
The Eastbound Freight Bluegrass Band is the longest-running bluegrass ensemble on Long Island with all of its founding members still performing. The close-knit group has played together for more than 20 years, and it’s evident in their sound, Tuttle said. “They have a tightness in their music that can only come from being together for such a long time.”
Eastbound Freight will offer a fiddle workshop during the afternoon for anyone interested in learning more about the instrument and playing in the folk genre.
Quarter Horse, a local six-man ensemble, blends traditional folk sounds with elements of rock, alternative, blues, jazz and country music. The band, which formed five years ago, offers a younger take on folk music, Benner said.
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams
Known as pioneers of Americana, the Slambovian Circus of Dreams has been recognized in publications around the globe for its unique sound and showmanship. The whimsical group from Sleepy Hollow is known for its classic rock influences and varied instrumentation, from mandolin to cello and theremin. Benner said that they’ll be working Eastern European music and yodeling into their set this year. “They’re a fantastic group and so much fun to watch,” he said.
Children will enjoy the event as well as the festival offers a Kids Corner with storytelling and music, a chance to feed the farm animals and a ride on the Big Swing.
As the day draws to a close, stick around for a traditional barn dance with live music and a caller and bring home some organic produce.
“People don’t want to leave because it’s such a peaceful and fun atmosphere. You can forget about the rest of the world for a day, get out in nature and let your stress go,” said Tuttle.
The 8th annual Fiddle & Folk Festival will be held at Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, E. Setauket on Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets in advance are $15 adults, $13 seniors and children; tickets at the door are $18 adults, $15 seniors and children. There is no rain date. Bring seating. For more information, call 631-689-8172 or visit www.fiddleandfolk.com.
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