June 28
The Blawenburg Band
Founded in 1890 in Blawenburg, NJ, The Blawenburg Band is one of the oldest community bands in the state. The 75 members of the Blawenburg Band range in age from their teens to their nineties and include teachers and students, research scientists and computer specialists, and homemakers and active retirees. Some players have years of training and professional experience, others learned to play as children and are dedicated amateurs.
July 5
The Jazz Lobsters
One of the busiest big bands in the tri-state area, The Jazz Lobsters swing hard, featuring the timeless music of Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Quincy Jones, as well as hip new arrangements— everything from 40s swing to fiery Latin and salsa to ballroom dance numbers. Led by keyboardist and arranger James Lafferty, the big band is filled with cutting edge musicians, many of whom have toured with top bands throughout the world. The featured jazz vocalist is dynamic Carrie Jackson, who evokes the swinging spirit of Ella Fitzgerald and Carmen McCrae. Clarinetist Audrey Welber-Lafferty (“Mrs. Lobster”) rips up Benny Goodman favorites. The power and energy of the live big band will knock your socks off!
July 12
Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band
With 15 national awards for excellence in children’s entertainment including a Parents’ Choice Recommendation and Approval and Best Song for Children from the Independent Music Awards, Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band uplift and engage audiences of all ages with their interactive and world-music infused performances. Audiences sing, clap and dance with the band which includes guitar, keyboard, bass, drums and a female vocalist who leads the audience in movement and dance.
July 19
Riverside Bluegrass Band
A five-piece acoustic string band from Princeton, New Jersey, they combine traditional bluegrass music with bluegrass-style interpretations of classic and newer pop and country songs by the Beatles, the Byrds, Steve Earle, Ricky Skaggs, Buddy Miller and many others. Check out our band members’ bios and photos on each of their pages, a sampling of our songs on our “Tunes” page and our upcoming gigs on our “Schedule” page.
July 26
“Amazin' Grace” and the Grace Little Band,
"Amazin' Grace" Little, from Trenton, NJ, has wowed audiences with her powerful R&B and gospel vocals since she won the adult category of the famous Apollo Theater talent competition—at the age of 12!!! After that she joined the national touring companies of Dreamgirls, Oh Calcutta, and The Wiz. Her group, “Amazin' Grace and the GLB Band,” performs regularly at Warmdaddy's in Philadelphia and also for private parties. Grace released an album entitled “Amazin' Grace” under Philadelphia International Recording Studios in Philly, and has many other exciting projects in the pipeline. She & her band are simply amazing.
August 2
The Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra
was founded in 2003 by Joe Bongiovi (Jazz teacher at Princeton High Schoo), Rob Reeve and Yorgo Papadakis. The concept behind the band is to keep motivated and talented students playing their instruments during the summer. The Band had no intentions of ever performing, just rehearsing. At the end of the summer, a few parents suggested a fund raising performance at a Pizza Hut in Buck's County, PA so that Mr. Bongiovi could be reimbursed for the money he had spent on music. As the "great pizza gig" approached, the band was forced to come up with a name. After being put on the spot with about 30 seconds to think about it, Mr. Bongiovi gave the band the hideous name of "The Summer Swing Fling Big Band". This name would obviously be changed later.
August 9
The Klez Dispensers
are juicy, fresh and daring. Audiences can't get enough of their exciting performances, impeccable arrangements and versatile improvisations. The band's repertoire includes classic klezmer, Yiddish swing and original compositions. Individually, each Dispenser is an accomplished musician contributing skill, personality and artistry to the group. Their sensitive blend of old world and downtown appeals to all generations.
August 16
Andrea Brachfeld and Phoenix Rising
Flutist Andrea Brachfeld, a South Brunswick Township resident, shares her musical talents and passion for teaching in the Central Jersey region. Originally from Rockland County New York, she began playing piano at the age of six and flute at the age of 10. Andrea graduated from the High School of Music and Art and Manhattan School of Music and has since recorded more than a dozen CD's with many artists including Noel Pointer, Africando, Bobby Carcassés, and Timbalaye. Her breakthrough performance as the flutist for the popular Latin band Charanga '76 catapulted her into Salsa history and fame as the first female flutist to play this music in the United States. She currently leads Phoenix Rising and has five CDs out as a leader. Her latest CD, "Into the World: A Musical Offering" features Mike Longo, Paul West and Brian Lynch.
August 23
John Henry Goldman and the StraightJazz Quartet
A resident of Princeton and West Windsor for over 35 years, Mr. Goldman is known to many locally as both a jazz trumpeter and a teacher of music, Pilates, and basketball. His musical heritage is rooted in years of study and friendship with three 20th century jazz greats, lead trumpeter Jimmy Maxwell, pianist Nicolas 'Rod' Rodriguez, and bassist Lisle Atkiknson,
with whom he continues to perform. John Henry will be joined for this concert date by one of Philadelphia's finest bassists Jason Fraticelli, a most highly respected drummer Joe Falcey, and a phenomenal young jazz pianist, Spencer Caton, currently studying and playing at Princeton University. The music program includes original arrangements of well-known jazz standards as well as some of the more challenging compositions found in the now 100 year history of jazz.
Past concerts 06
Past concerts 08
past concerts ?
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The Blawenburg Band
The Jazz Lobsters
Riverside Bluegrass Band
“Amazin' Grace” Little
The Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra
The Klez Dispensers
Andrea Brachfeld
John Henry Goldman and
the StraightJazz Quartet
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