Jazz today in Huntington

Just a reminder that Save Huntington’s Lighthouse Inc. is presenting The Lighthouse Jazz Fest today to help celebrate Huntington’s waterfront and the 150th anniversary of the original Huntington Lighthouse.

The free festivities kick off at 3 p.m. with a vintage aircraft flyover above the Huntington Lighthouse in Huntington Bay. The musical performances, on the lighthouse rooftop stage, will feature New York City alternative soul group Fusion and New School jazz-funk ensemble The Remedy.

At 8 p.m. Saturday Jared Scot and Friends will perform a free show at Indigo, 70 Gerard Street in Huntington Village.

Local yacht clubs, marinas, businesses and individuals are helping to sponsor the Jazz Fest, which will benefit ongoing restoration and maintenance efforts at the Huntington Lighthouse.

For more information visit: lighthousejazzfest.com or huntingtonlighthouse.org.

Huntington’s big screen goes old school

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

Following a rainout of “Grease” in late July, Huntington officials received swarms of phone calls and emails from disappointed fans.

“It became evident how many people were looking forward to a classic movie,” said Councilman Mark Cuthberston, who directs the town’s Movies on the Lawn program.

On Thursday night, the town is giving residents what they wanted when it presents a drive-in performance at Crab Meadow Beach in Northport of “American Graffiti,” George Lucas’s 1973 film about a group of teens on the final night of their post-graduation summer vacation. Prior to the 8:45 p.m. show time, a classic car display will take place at the beach.

“Since we began the program four years ago, we’ve been asked to present a movie like this,” stated Cuthbertson. “We thought we had that request covered this year when we included ‘Grease’ in the movie lineup, but unfortunately the weather wasn’t on our side.”

So far this summer, attendance to Movies on the Lawn has been somewhat spotty, due to weather. Specifically, the opening screening of “Curious George” attracted a modest 250 people and was shortened by rain, while “Grease” was rained out and moved indoors. Earlier this month, “Flushed Away” attracted a sizable crowd of more than 400 spectators.

In this case, “American Graffiti” will be shown outdoors rain or shine, officials say. Gates will open at 6 p.m. for those wishing to display and view vehicles.

“It won’t be a drag race, but I’m sure it’ll bring back memories to many viewers,” joked Cuthbertson, noting the American Film Institute voted the film to its 100-best list.

Parking is limited, so moviegoers wishing to display a car must call 631-351-3112. Overflow parking will be available at the Crab Meadow Golf Course on Waterside Road, and bus service will be provided back and forth to the beach.



Caption: Councilwoman Glenda Jackson and Councilman Mark Cuthbertson in front of some vintage cars.

Music on Main Street

Coolfish, a Long Island rock and blues band, presents an afternoon concert of classics, including Greatful Dead and Beatles music, today at 4 at St. John's Episcopal Church.

The concert, at the church's "Garden of Blessings" at Main and Prospect streets in Huntington, is free, although donations are accepted. For information, call 631-423-7404. The learn more about the band, visit their Web site.

Huntington festival goes out with a bang tonight

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

For most musicians, playing PVC pipes using flip-flops might seem a bit unusual. But for Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista, it’s as normal as playing a washboard using his fingernails, which he also does on occasion.


Tonight, Baptista and his high-energy multicultural ensemble Beat the Donkey will bring their unique show to Huntington as part of the town’s Summer Arts Festival. It’ll be the final summer concert for the two-month festival, which has hosted 51 music, theatre and dance acts since late June.

“We’re really going out with a bang,” explained Dianne Matus, public relations and development assistant for the Huntington Arts Council, which is producing the event.

According to Matus, the ensemble’s name, “Beat the Donkey,” emanates from a Brazilian expression that means, “Let’s go, let’s do it.” That description also reflects the band’s polyphonic sound, which is called a blend of jazz, funk, tap dance and martial arts.

From a visual angle, Baptista’s musicians are known to dress in elaborate costumes, while frequently leaving their primitive instruments to break into spontaneous dance.

“They’re fairly wild and crazy,” said Matus.

Born in Brazil, Baptista arrived in the U.S. in 1980. During his extensive career, he has performed on five Grammy Award-winning albums and toured with musicians, such as Yo-Yo Ma, Trey Anastasio, John Zorn, Herbie Hancock, Sting and Paul Simon. In July, he was named 2007 Percussionist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association.

Cyro Baptista and Beat the Donkey bring their rhythms to Chapin Rainbow Stage in Huntington’s Heckscher Park at 8:30 p.m. tonight. For more information, call the Huntington Arts Council at 631-271- 8423 or visit huntingtonarts.org.

Orchestra hopes to pack Heckscher tonight

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com


If the weather cooperates, up to 4,000 Long Islanders could flock to Heckscher Park for the powerful sounds of the Long Island Philharmonic, says Executive Director Steven Belth.

“It’s packed every year,” said an enthusiastic Belth of tonight’s free event. “Hopefully, the weather will be great, because people come out in droves for this show.”

According to Belth, the philarmonic’s “Music Under the Stars” program will include American favorites, such as John Philip Sousa’s traditional tune, “Star & Stripes Forever,” to classics from Richard Rodgers and Leonard Bernstein, such as “West Side Story” selections. David Wiley will also conduct a salute to the armed forces and a medley of movie music.

Other performances will include solo cellist Zuill Bailey and The Metronomes, a collection of 25 string-playing Long Island students.

“It’s music at its highest level,” said Belth, suggesting that spectators bring blankets. “It’s really the ultimate sound. And being outdoors, there’s no amplification used either. It’s just high-quality musicians playing high-quality music.”

In its 28th season, the 60-person Long Island Philharmonic is the region’s largest performing arts organization. It was founded in 1979 by folk singer Harry Chapin and is currently the resident orchestra of the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in Brookville.

The Long Island Philharmonic’s performance will take place at the Chapin Rainbow Stage in Huntington’s Heckscher Park at 8:30 p.m. For more information, call the Long Island Philharmonics’s office at 631-293-2222 or visit liphilharmonic.org.

In tune, in Heckscher Park tonight

Tonight’s the night for four-part harmony.

The Island Hills Chorus performs at 8:30 p.m. in Heckscher Park as the Huntington Arts Festival continues. The chorus, in existence for 40 years, is the Huntington-based chapter of the Sweet Adelines International, an organization of about 30,000 women worldwide who sing four-part harmony.

If singing with them seems like it might be fun, they welcome guests at their rehearsals every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Lawrence of Canterbury Church, 655 Old Country Rd., in Dix Hills.

We're talking tango tonight

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

The sweet and sexy sounds of tango will fill the air at Huntington’s Heckscher Park tonight as New York City-based band Grupo Greg Ribot dances into town.

The energetic concert, which is part of the town’s 42nd Annual Summer Arts Festival, will feature original and traditional tango and folkloric music with dance accompaniment. It will be the group’s first show in Huntington since playing at the town festival in 2005.

“They’re a really interesting group,” explained Diane Matus, public relations and development assistant for the Huntington Arts Council, which is producing the event. “This act appeals to both adults and children.”

Grupo Greg Ribot is the brainchild of composer and arranger Gregory Ribot, who constructs the band’s intimate rhythms using saxophone, clarinet, flute and panpipes. During his career, he’s produced three CDs and toured Japan, while also scoring a number of movie soundtracks. His most recent album, “Cumbria Y Mas,” was released in 2003.

Meanwhile, his lead guitarist Francisco “Pancho” Navarro has recorded with an array of Argentine musicians, including Willie Colon, Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco. He also performed all guitars on the 2002 movie, “Frida,” which starred Salma Hayek.

“They’ve really done a lot musically,” said Matus, noting that admission is free.

The music and dancing kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at the Heckscher Park’s Chapin Rainbow Stage in Huntington. The group is also hosting a “Meet the Artist” event at Huntington Public Library’s in Huntington Station at 2 this afternoon. For more info, call the Huntington Arts Council at 631-271-8423 or visit huntingtonarts.org.

Folk Festival Saturday at Heckscher

The second annual Huntington Folk Festival kicks off Saturday at 5 p.m. in Heckscher Park with free performances on the Chapin Rainbow Stage.

Steve Forbert (at left) is the featured performer of the event. The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter based in Nashville has a new album out, “Like There's Nothin’ to It.” Opening for him is Beaucoup Blue, a father-and-son team from Philadelphia. David and Adrian Mowry are to perform a mix of blues/roots originals and several covers.

Forbert and Beaucoup Blue begin at 8:30. From 5 to 8 there will be three one-hour “song swaps” showcasing artists from Long Island, from the city and beyond, and a group of “emerging and experienced artists.” In a song swap, all the performers will be on stage at once, according to Ira Perlman, president of the Folk Music Society of Huntington.

"Instead of each one of them at a time singing their own tunes," he said, "they be backing each other up, essentially."

Here’s the schedule:

5:00pm — Long Island Acoustic Artists: Ken “The Rocket” Korb & Bruce MacDonald, Steve Robinson, Glen Roethel and Denise Romas. Emcee: Karen Finkenberg, FMSH co-chair of the Huntington Folk Festival.

6:00pm — Talents from the Boroughs and Beyond: Meg Braun, Anthony da Costa, Lara Herscovitch and Paul Sachs. Emcee: Richard Cuccaro, Editor-Publisher of AcousticLive!

7:00pm — Emerging and Experienced Artists: Phil Minissale – “The Long Island Blues Boy,” Danielle Miraglia – with Tom Bianchi on bass, and James O'Malley. Emcee: Michael Kornfeld, Editor-Publisher of AcousticMusicScene.com.

There will be a break from 8 p.m. through 8:30pm and members of the audience are free to bring their own picnic supper.

The festival is produced by the Folk Music Society of Huntington as part of the 42nd Annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival.

Tonight, "Trout Fishing" comes to Heckscher

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

Looking to “hook” families with its infectious melodies, Grammy-nominated duo Trout Fishing in America will perform a mix of folk and pop at Heckscher Park tonight. According to town officials, the acoustic show is expected to attract over 1,200 spectators.

“We try to bring Trout Fishing in America to play once every three years or so,” explained Diana J. Cherryholmes, executive director of the Huntington Arts Council, which is producing the event. “We like to book artists that not only appeal to the children, but that adults can enjoy as well.”



The Texas group, who took their name from an early Richard Brautigan novel, features guitarist Ezra Idlet and bassist Keith Grimwood and was founded back in 1979. Their influences include Latin, blues, jazz, reggae and even classical music, and their songs cover topics from alien nose invasions to snowflakes named Bob.

The most captivating element, Cherryholmes says, is the duo’s size disproportion. Idlet stands at six-feet, nine-inches tall, while Grimwood is five-feet, five-and-a-half inches.

“Visually, it’s interesting,” laughed Cherryholmes, who noted the concert is free. “We may lose some audience due to the heat, but the show will still be amazing.”

Show time is 7:30 p.m. at the Harry Chapin Rainbow stage in Heckscher Park. For more information, call the Huntington Art Council at 631-271-8423.

Huntington's "Movies on the Lawn"

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

Six-year-old Kayla Johnson of Huntington has seen “Curious George” five times, but it felt like the first time at Dix Hills Park several weeks ago.

“The screen was really big,” explained Kayla with an excited twinge in her voice. “And I could see the clouds and stars. I think I liked it better than seeing a regular movie.”

Little Kayla isn’t alone. The Town of Huntington’s “Movies On the Lawn” program, which kicked off its fourth season on June 27, has seen more and more families flock each year to watch their favorite flicks on an inflatable screen equipped with surround sound.

Last night, “Flushed Away” headlined a lawn performance at Heckscher Park that the town estimated drew at least 400 people. The Academy Award-winning comedy, “Happy Feet,” will conclude the town’s summer series with a drive-in screening at Crab Meadow Beach on August 23. The shows start at sundown and town officials suggest that moviegoers pack lawn chairs, even for drive-in performances, in the event that the parking lot fills up early.

“Parking is a challenge, because 80% of families bring large sport-utility vehicles,” said Huntington Councilman Mark Cuthbertson. “But there’s still plenty of room for viewing.”

While weather limited this year’s opener, “Curious George,” to a modest 250 spectators, the town is poised to fill every inch of grass with baskets and blankets in the coming weeks.

“Turnout has really gone up each year, as word has spread among local residents,” stated Cuthbertson, who launched the free program in 2003. “The first year, we must’ve gotten 400 calls from people asking if it was an actual drive-in. Since then, it’s gained steam and the crowds have consistently gotten bigger and bigger.”

Cuthbertson, who chooses the movies, says he generally gears his picks to families, although he’ll occasionally toss in a more dicey film selection—like “Jaws” in 2003—which attracted the town’s biggest audience at over 1,000 people. For extra enjoyment, the town also employs a special simulcast for drive-in viewers to access on their car radios, while providing popcorn to everyone in attendance courtesy of Northport’s LaCasa Café.

“Every year, I order 300 pounds of popcorn, and we’ve only had a bag or two left,” said owner Joe Celano, who attested that the lawns and lots are packed for each screening. “Since we’re the main concessionaires down here, we’re more than happy to be involved.”

Inclement weather moves the movies to the John Glenn High School Auditorium. In those instances, show times will be scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Caption: Above, a scene from "Flushed Away"