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The Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel with two of the gowns that will be on display at the Ella Fitzgerald exhibit. Photo courtesy of The Jazz Loft
Tom Manuel shows off the prized gold record awarded to Tony Bennett for I Left My Heart in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of The Jazz Loft

The opening date for these exhibits has been moved from August to October 8.

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook, will be celebrating the First Lady of Song Ella Fitzgerald and legend Tony Bennett with exhibits of hundreds of items of memorabilia and archival materials. 

Fitzgerald will be celebrated not only with her music, but also with an exhibit of six of her spectacular gowns recently procured by The Jazz Loft Founder Tom Manuel. Other items in the Fitzgerald exhibit will include items spanning the mid 1930s to the end of her life in the 1990s, including letters, personal objects, awards and more.

The Tony Bennett exhibit will feature over 100 items, including several awards and Grammy nominations; letters from presidents, Louis Armstrong and Fred Astaire; and the Gold Records from his signature hit I Left my Heart in San Francisco.

The Fitzgerald exhibit of six Don Loper custom-designed gowns came to The Jazz Loft serendipitously. Manuel received a phone call one day from a young man in California stating that he had a collection of gowns from “someone named Ella Fitzgerald.”

“Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett were without question two of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century,” says The Jazz Loft Founder Tom Manuel. “To welcome such an extensive collection of their personal items to have on display in the museum and to celebrate their story at The Jazz Loft is amazing. I am so grateful to all who supported these two important acquisitions financially and I just know that everyone is going to be blown away by these exhibits.

The opening of the gown exhibit and the Tony Bennett exhibit is on October 8 at 6:30 p.m., with $25 for general admission tickets available here: https://www.thejazzloft.org/calendar

“Ella Fitzgerald is the reason I fell in love with jazz,” says Nicole Zuraitis. “Her voice, her phrasing, her personality and musicality all defined the genre for me and continues to do so.”

The Gowns

The Loper gowns include: A straight long-sleeved navy gown with a see-through fabric on the arms with wrist shapers. A high neckline with a grey bejeweled center piece of silvers and different blue tones with a shape wear belt; A flowing pacific blue long sleeved gown with a lower v-neckline with vertical sequined stripes from the waist and a wraparound belt; A short length and short sleeve turquoise double patterned dress with a u neckline having a silver overlap of x patterns and waves behind; A brown elegant gown with a long sheer skirt making a two piece illusion with the flower printed pattern from the waist up with brims of gold and a flattering neckline and shoulder cut off; A loose fitting long sleeve ocean blue gown with golden flower accents varied around the dress to highlight the cross fabric v neckline; and a midnight black ankle gown with a detailed trail of golden beaded buttons and a sleek bow tie around the waist highlighting the mesh black sleeves and silky texture. 

Loper was a famous American costume designer, as well as a screenwriter, producer, actor and choreographer. He designed for Lucille Ball, as well as Ella Fitzgerald and some of his pieces are featured in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the California African American Museum. 

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Billy Joel- My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey at LIMEHOF extended through Spring of 2025. Photo Credit: Myrna Suarez @myrnasuarezphoto
‘My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey’ draws in tens of thousands of visitors from near and far to celebrate legendary Long Island musician

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) has announced it will be extending the run of the first ever exhibit dedicated exclusively to LIMEHOF Inductee and Legendary Long Island Musician Billy Joel. The exhibit opened last November and is currently running at LIMEHOF’s Stony Brook Village location (97 Main Street, Stony Brook). It was initially planned to run through September 2024.

The exclusive exhibit, called Billy Joel- My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey spans Joel’s life and career from growing up in Hicksville to his legendary run at Madison Square Garden. It includes over 50 years of Billy Joel’s most cherished items including rare memorabilia, behind-the-scenes video, dozens of awards, rare audio and video recordings, vintage instruments and historic photos, many donated by Billy Joel himself.

“The Billy Joel – My Life exhibit continues to attract enthusiastic audiences from throughout world, exceeding our expectations as his legions of fans experience every facet of Billy’s incredible career in this extraordinary exhibition,” said Ernie Canadeo, LIMEHOF Chairman. “We are thrilled that our visitors and the media have rated us one of the best Music Hall of Fame’s in the country, as we showcase rare memorabilia from our Long Island Inductees representing every musical genre from rock, pop, jazz, blues hip-hop and more.”

The exhibit was created by renowned designer and LIMEHOF board member Kevin O’Callaghan with direct feedback from Billy Joel himself. Upon touring it in an advanced VIP preview before it opened, Joel himself was so emotionally moved and impressed with the exhibit that he kept saying “Where did you get all of this stuff?” The exhibit has been featured in People, American Songwriter, Billboard, The New York Post, Newsday, NY1, Pix 11, News 12, NBC 4, Fox 5, and many more local and music industry news outlets.

Ticket sales have been in the tens of thousands. The opening weekend alone attracted visitors from other states including New Jersey, Massachusetts and the Carolinas. Since then, visitors have traveled in from far and wide and even from overseas to see this once in a lifetime exhibit. The Hall of Fame itself was even listed on Grammy.com as one of the top Halls of Fame in the country to visit.

The exhibit remains a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Billy Joel’s life-spanning career from his roots in Hicksville and Levittown through his albums, tours, inspirations, and personal experiences. There will be more items added including rare photos, awards and other memorabilia from Billy Joel’s life and career.

Tickets are available now at www.TheBillyExhibit.com  or are available to be purchased in person at LIMEHOF. This is a timed entry exhibit so tickets will be sold by time block availability, or you can purchase VIP “any time” tickets good any time for the duration of the exhibit.  For more information about LIMEHOF visit https://www.limusichalloffame.org/museum/

About LIMEHOF

Founded in 2004, the Long Island Music Hall of Fame 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 Island music 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 offers education programs, scholarships, and awards to Long Island students and educators.

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Supported by Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta
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Legislator Rob Trotta introduces Nicole Garguilo, Smithtown Public Information Officer, to sing the National Anthem.
Known as the “Singing Attorney,” many people in the audience recognized John Zollo when he took to the stage.
The audience was very impressed by the singing of Giuliana Gallone, who is starting her freshman year at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Cherie Stawecki, a music teacher, opened the concert series with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. Pictured right is Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta.

This year, the “Summer Concert Series at the Smithtown Library” celebrated its 20th year of bringing entertainment to the residents and neighbors of Smithtown. In 2021, the name of Dennis Cannataro, former Legislator Lynne Nowick’s late brother, was added to the title, as it was his idea for her to do such an event while she was a Legislator.

When Legislator Rob Trotta succeeded Nowick in office, he continued the concerts and invited residents from his legislative district to sing the National Anthem before each show. This year they were Cherie Stawecki of Kings Park, Nicole Garguilo of St. James, John Zollo of Smithtown and Giuliana Gallone, who attended the School of Rock.

A relatively new addition to the series is having students who attend the School of Rock and Musicology perform before the scheduled tribute bands

Trotta receives funding from the Suffolk County Office of Economic Development for the concerts. He is pleased that so many people attend the shows and support the downtown business community. “Julie Delaney, the Smithtown Library’s Director of Community Relations, did an excellent job of coordinating and organizing the concerts, as well as selecting the bands,” said Legislator Trotta.

Captions:
Cherie Stawecki, a music teacher, opened the concert series with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. Pictured right is Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta.

Legislator Rob Trotta introduces Nicole Garguilo, Smithtown Public Information Officer, to sing the National Anthem.

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The audience was very impressed by the singing of Giuliana Gallone, who is starting her freshman year at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Known as the “Singing Attorney,” many people in the audience recognized John Zollo when he took to the stage.

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LIMGC rehearsing at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Courtesy Danny Schrafel

By Lauren Feldman

The Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus held its first rehearsal for the 2024 holiday season on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in East Northport. 

The chorus aims to entertain audiences with high-quality choral performances, while affirming the contributions of Long Island’s LGBT+ community. Programs include challenging contemporary music, and performances of an ambitious, traditional repertoire alongside music from various world cultures. 

The chorus affirms, by example and through song, the worth and dignity of a cross-section of the diverse population that is reflective of Long Island and the nation as a whole.

LIMGC rehearsing at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Photo courtesy of Danny Schrafel

Christian Cederstrom, chorus treasurer and member of the baritone section, joined the group around eight or nine years ago. “This group is so special because it really is the culmination of a brotherhood coming together to create something beautiful. The people are here for that shared mission,” he said. 

“You never know what someone’s life is like,” he added. “Being able to retreat into a safe space, especially a queer safe space, makes it all the more lifesaving. It’s a means of survival for some people, and even having that one or two hours a week where they can just be is so important. The climate out in the world is so dog eat dog, but here it’s about creation and beauty.”

Michael Conley, a tenor 1 and founding member of the LIGMC over 17 years ago, said the chorus holds a lot of value as an LGBT+ space on Long Island. “We’re in the shadow of New York City. And yes, we have Fire Island, we have the village, but Long Island is a conservative place. So it’s nice to have these spaces where we can come together. And then by practicing and having something really special, we’re able to go out and share it with others.”

Practices are led this year by Jeanette Cooper, artistic director and accompanist of the LIGMC. Cooper will also lead the chorus through its concert series, as she has for the past few years. She is looking forward to an exciting season, the first half of which is themed after the joy of singing and the second half around Christmas. 

She is glad to return for another series after a break following the chorus’ summer series. Of all her hats to culminate a season, Cooper said she enjoys working directly with the members of the chorus most. “My favorite part of them is them. Because they are a group of wonderful men. No matter who joins us, they seem to fit right in. They are a delight, they are the reason I come back every week.”

The partnership with St. Paul’s has been ongoing for four years, and members of both the church and chorus have celebrated its success. Cederstrom said, “I’ve been very thankful to be housed by different churches in the community who have been really affirming to the queer community. St. Paul’s of East Northport has been very supportive of our mission here, and I’m very thankful that we are able to have a safe queer space to create music.”

Cederstrom’s father, Bob Cederstrom, has served as an associate pastor at St. Paul’s for 18 years. He said it has been a blessing to house the chorus over the last few years. “This is a very generous congregation, who opened their doors and welcomed [the chorus], and they’ve been here now for four years. They’re a blessing to have here. And we’re blessed to have them.”

For the elder Cederstrom, welcoming the Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus is simply following his faith. “Jesus welcomed everybody. He didn’t say ‘but’ or ‘if’ or ‘maybe.’ Everybody is welcome. … This is a wonderful, inviting congregation here.”

The group will continue practicing weekly at St. Paul’s. Rehearsals will lead up to the Sunday, Oct. 27, afternoon fall cabaret and concerts in December.

Interested singers can follow LIGMC on Instagram and Facebook or email LIGMC’s board of directors at [email protected]  for more information. 

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From left, Assistant Library Director Ryan Gessner, adult services librarian Jim Ward, Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa, Library Director Sophia Serlis-McPhillips, coordinator Elizabeth Malafi, adult services librarian Gilda Ramos, and coordinator Lori Abbatepaolo. Photo courtesy of MCPL
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From left, Assistant Library Director Ryan Gessner, adult services librarian Jim Ward, Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa, Library Director Sophia Serlis-McPhillips, coordinator Elizabeth Malafi, adult services librarian Gilda Ramos, and coordinator Lori Abbatepaolo. Photo courtesy of MCPL
The band Guilty Pleasures performed during Music Under the Stars concert series at MCPL-Centereach. Photo courtesy of MCPL

The MCPL Music Under the Stars summer concert series will take its final bow when The Men of Soul take the stage on Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m., at Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd. in Centereach. A dynamic Soul and R&B cover band, this talented ensemble transports audiences back in time with their electrifying renditions of classic hits from iconic soul bands of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning provided an Omnibus grant to Middle Country Public Library to support the Music Under the Stars summer concert series. Sponsored by Legislator Nick Caracappa, this year’s event featured 1980s cover band Guilty Pleasures and Country and Bluegrass band The Longhorns. 

This outdoor concert is free and open to all – just bring your lawn chairs and dress for the weather. Food trucks All American Wontons and Jeff’s Jolly Ice Cream will have snacks available for purchase. 

For more information, please call Middle Country Public Library at 631-585-9393. 

 

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Pete Caldera

The Jazz Loft, located along the charming Stony Brook waterfront and nearby historic village, presents the 9th annual Harbor Jazz Festival from Sept. 18 to 21. The four celebratory days of Jazz will feature  internationally-known acts, including vocalist Pete Caldera and the Sinatra Project Sextet; the Ray Anderson Group; Akiko Tsuruga Organ Quartet; Carlos Jimenez Mambo Dulcet; Bill Crow Trio and Mala Waldron Quartet along with a parade with the Equity Brass band through Stony Brook Village. 

“The year’s 9th Annual Harbor Jazz Festival line-up promises to deliver an extraordinary experience and unique opportunity to hear performances from some of the finest Jazz artists in the world,” said Tom Manuel, founder and president of The Jazz Loft.  “Many of the acts booked for this year’s festival perform at some of New York’s top venues and clubs. It’s amazing for our Long Island community that this years’ festival brings them all right here in our own backyard.” 

Much of the festival will take place outdoors on two stages overlooking Stony Brook Harbor, as well inside The Jazz Loft at 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook.

This year’s outdoor concerts on September 21 will take place throughout the day on two stages: one on the Jazz Loft’s front lawn, and the second location across the street on the Stony Brook Village Green. All concerts on Saturday are free to the public. Just bring a lawn chair or blanket. Shows for Sept. 18 through Sept. 20 are ticketed events.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The Jazz Loft

Sept. 18  at 7 p.m. — Opening reception & jam session with the Keenan Zach Trio. All tickets are $10.

Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. — The Bad Little Big Band, featuring guest artist trumpeter Joe Magnarelli. Tickets are $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students, $15 children ages 5 and up.

Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. — The Sinatra Project with vocalist Pete Caldera backed by The Sinatra Sextet. Tickets are $40.

Sept. 21 from noon to 8 p.m.  

Village Green Stage

Traditional Jazz Parade with Equity Brass Band at noon; Ray Anderson Group at 1 p.m.; Akiko Tsuruga Organ Quartet  at 4 p.m.; and Carlos Jimenez Mambo Dulcet at 7 p.m. Free.

Jazz Loft Lawn Stage

Bill Crow Trio at 3 p.m.; Mala Waldron Quartet at 6 p.m. Free.

In the case of rain, all events will be held inside The Jazz Loft.

For more information, call 631-751-1895 or visit www.thejazzloft.org.

This article originally appeared in TBR News Media’s Harvest Times supplement on Sept. 12. 

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The Northport Chorale

The Northport Chorale will hold open auditions for all voice parts, especially basses and tenors at the Union United Methodist Church, 1018 Pulaski Road, East Northport on Wednesday, Sept. 11 and at the East Northport Middle School, 1075 5th Avenue, East Northport on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Prior experience a plus, but not required.

Established in 1982 as a part of the Northport Continuing Education Department, the Northport Chorale has been bringing the gift of song to the area for over 40 years. A mixed-voice chorus of approximately thirty members, the Chorale attracts singers of varied ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience. Under the direction of Matthew Ho, the Chorale performs several times during the year, often with additional accompaniment, from guest soloists.

Regular rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings at the East Northport Middle School from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.northportchorale.org.

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Mark your calendars! Three Village Rotary will host a Light Up Main Street fundraiser at the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main St., Setauket on Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The evening will feature live music, food, drinks and raffles. All proceeds will go towards funding lighting up Main Street in Setauket for the holidays. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to make a difference while having a great time! Ticket includes one complimentary drink, food, coffee and dessert. To purchase, visit threevillagerotary.eventbrite.com.

The event is sponsored by The Bench, Main Street Properties, Revival by Toast, Makenzie Moeller of Howard Hanna Coach Realtors, Grace Leyhane of Howard Hanna Coach Realtors, Sweet Mama’s Restaurant, Invaiatura, and Relancer Capital. For more information, call 631-988-9564.

 

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Scenes from the Huntington Music Fest. Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo and the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society
Scenes from the Huntington Music Fest. Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo and the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society
Scenes from the Huntington Music Fest. Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo and the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society
Scenes from the Huntington Music Fest. Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo and the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society
Scenes from the Huntington Music Fest. Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo and the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society
Scenes from the Huntington Music Fest. Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo and the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society
Scenes from the Huntington Music Fest. Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo and the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society
Scenes from the Huntington Music Fest. Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo and the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society

By Toni-Elena Gallo

Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society held its 15th annual Music Fest on Saturday, Aug. 31. The event takes place each year between Huntington Bay and Lloyd Harbor and brings together lovers of the sea and lovers of rock ’n’ roll.

In 1985 the lighthouse was scheduled for demolition, but the nonprofit HLPS took it over and has worked to preserve and restore it ever since.

A variety of bands, ranging in genre from reggae to classic rock, played from 11 a.m. to dusk, at the top of Huntington Lighthouse, a historical landmark that has existed in its current incarnation since 1912, and housed the families of keepers from the 19th- to the early 20th century.

The unique design of this festival — it is only accessible by taking a boat for about a 10-minute ride out of Huntington Harbor — adds to the excitement it generates among boaters.

“We’ve got 1,500-plus boats here from Connecticut, New Jersey, Westchester, Rhode Island. They come from all over the place,” said Pam Setchell, president of the preservation society. “There is no music fest, anywhere in the world, that is performed on top of a working lighthouse. That’s the ace in the hole. As long as my roof is in good shape, we’re good,” she said with a laugh.

The Next Level, one of the festival’s acts, was thrilled to be back performing for the third time.

“It is awesome. We love playing here,” said Althea, the group’s lead singer.

And, to top off the day of festivities, lights illuminate the small lighthouse as dusk approaches, creating a colorful spectacle.

The festival was free to attend, and all proceeds from the 50/50 raffle went toward lighthouse restoration.

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The Jazz Loft Founder Tom Manuel and Hofstra intern Rachael Hajec stand in front of the new Ella Fitzgerald exhibit. Courtesy The Jazz Loft

Rachael Hajec, a Hofstra University journalism student, just completed a summer internship at Stony Brook’s famed Jazz Loft. There, she delved into marketing, media relations and all things journalism.

During her internship, Hajec worked on a range of projects, including creating documentaries for The Loft’s social media and website, managing event promotions and producing video and audio packages for the John Monteleone: Art of the Guitar Festival, as well as the Loft School of Jazz Summer Camp. She, also, developed graphics for event promotion, conducted interviews and maintained connections with local businesses and officials for future collaborations.

“There are students who are hard workers and dedicated professionals, and then there are those who embody the intangible,” said The Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel. “Rachel has that intangible quality. It was a joy to work with her, and I’m confident she’s destined for great things.”

Hajec hails from Spartansburg, Pennsylvania, and has been residing in Hempstead for the past four years. She is set to be a senior at Hofstra, this fall, where she has been serving as the Program Director of Music at award-winning radio station 88.7FM WRHU, as a passionate student of The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication.

“Working at The Jazz Loft was one of the most beneficial experiences of my early journalism career,” Hajec said.

Hajec worked under the supervision of The Jazz Loft’s media director Carole Trottere — a woman who served as a mentor to the aspiring journalist.

“Rachael is one of the most creative and enthusiastic interns I’ve ever worked with,” Trottere said. “She brought such energy to her role, and offered many new ideas for marketing our events.”

The Jazz Loft offers internships in public relations, marketing, archival research and stage production. Interested candidates can view opportunities on Handshake.com.

“When I saw the Jazz Loft’s internship listing, I knew I had to apply,” Hajec said.

“The work was rewarding, and the relationships I built…made it even more special. I highly recommend The Jazz Loft to anyone who loves jazz and values a sense of community, and I hope other eager journalists will enjoy their time there as much as I did.”

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