Lincoln Square BID's Summer Jazz Sensations

A warm summer welcome is headed to Lincoln Square as the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District (BID) today announced the return and expansion of its FREE lunchtime summer concert series - Lincoln Square BID's Summer Jazz Sensations - every Wednesday from Noon to 1:30 PM beginning on June 19 2024 and running through September 18 2024. The outdoor performances will be held in Dante Park Broadway between 63rd & 64th Streets in the heart of the Lincoln Square neighborhood.

The expansion of the summer concert series is also a celebration of the vibrancy of the Lincoln Square neighborhood which has seen 18 new businesses including restaurants open since 2023 with more to come. Several of Lincoln Square's eateries are partnering with the BID to provide concert goers with a taste of the neighborhood. Le Botaniste will join on opening day and four other dates throughout the summer (July 10 July 31 August 21 September 11) as will Café Paradiso (July 17 July 24) to offer some light fare for nominal cost. The Lincoln Square BID hopes to announce additional restaurant partners soon. Up to date information on participating eateries can be found on the Lincoln Square website lincolnsquarebid.org.

"The Lincoln Square neighborhood is full of cultural pizzazz new eateries and new businesses" said Monica Blum President of the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District "and we hope that locals and visitors alike will enjoy our expanded summer concert series featuring talented jazz musicians and some tasty treats at Dante Park well beyond Labor Day. Come and enjoy the best New York City has to offer right here in Lincoln Square."

In the event of rain concerts are scheduled to be held on Friday immediately following each Wednesday performance.

The full lineup of concerts and performers include:

June 19 Dave Stryker Trio Summer Jazz Sensations Kick-off

Growing up in Omaha Nebraska Stryker moved to New York City in 1980 becoming a local staple on the Big Apple music scene including a four-night a week gig at a local Harlem Venue. With jazzy tunes and expressive musical vocals Stryker has published more than 150 of his own compositions. Stryker has also performed with Freddie Hubbard James Moody Dizzy Gillespie Jimmy Smith Dr. Lonnie Smith Jimmy Heath Kevin Mahogany Eliane Elias Joe Lovano Steve Slagle and many others. His CD As We Are made Best of 2022 in Downbeat Readers Poll Jazz Times and many others and hit #1 for 2 weeks on the Jazz Week Radio chart. Groove Street is Dave's most recent CD and features Bob Mintzer on tenor sax along with his working trio of Jared Gold on organ and McClenty Hunter on drums. The trio recently opened up for Steely Dan's 2022 Summer tour.

June 26 Shirley Crabbe Quartet

A Native New Yorker and winner of the 2019 NY Bistro Award Winner for Outstanding Recording Shirley has appeared at some of Harlem's best Jazz rooms such as Minton's and the legendary Lenox Lounge along with Zinc Bar Metropolitan Room and at the world-famous jazz club Birdland. She draws inspiration from a wide range of genres native to North and South America and her Caribbean heritage. Through the art of song and story she creates a musical perspective that fuses these rich and enduring styles with the vibrant sounds of Jazz. In 2019 Bridges won the New York Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording.

July 3: Bill Ware & The Club Bird All-Stars

The Vibraphonist and Composer Bill Ware has performed with Steely Dan the Jazz Passengers Groove Collective Marc Ribot Deborah Harry Mavis Staples Elvis Costello Jimmy Scott Bob Dorough and many others. Born in East Orange New Jersey Bill has made inroads as a composer in both contemporary classical music composing three classical symphonies multiple concerti numerous soundtracks and several hybrid classical/jazz projects. In 2019 he composed an original score for the animated German silent film by Charlotte "Lotte" Reiniger The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) and in 2021 he composed and created a new original score for The Spanish Dancer (1923) released in 2023. 

July 10: Steve Kroon Sextet with Special Guest Carla Cook

Born in Harlem and raised in St. Albans Queens Kroon has been a musician for more than 50 years. Working with greats like Luther Van Dross Aretha Franklin Bette Midler and others Kroon's work has appeared on seven platinum albums across 15 world tours and has been featured on the Late-Night TV circuit. The experience of being raised in Queens was quite influential for him with many great Jazz and R&B artists living in his neighborhood including the legendary bandleader and pianist Count Basie and saxophonists Lester Young and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. He has released six CD's under his leadership with his latest In Your Dreams receiving great reviews and radio play. Steve's performing ensemble is a high-energy Latin jazz sextet that performs a blend of jazz Afro Cuban and Brazilian music. The ensemble also features special guest vocalist Carla Cook.

July 17: Pat Bianchi Trio

Playing the organ since he was seven-years-old Pat is originally from Rochester New York and after a stop in Denver Colorado has called New York City home for the last 15 years. Pat also hosts a weekly show on Sirius XM Radio called 'Organized' featuring the greats of Jazz Organ. As a leader Bianchi has toured extensively through the United States and Europe. Recently on three east coast tours. his trio has opened for the Steely Dan Band. In addition to being a prolific bandleader Pat has also enjoyed membership in the bands of some of the most revered artists in jazz including; Pat Martino Lou Donaldson Ralph Peterson Jr. and Chuck Loeb. Pat's latest CD release is titled Three.

July 24: Eric Walentowicz Group with Special Guest Bronte Roman

Originally from Detroit Michigan Eric Walentowicz started playing saxophone professionally at age 13. Eric keeps a busy performance schedule leading his own bands and performing with others along with legends like Johnny Mathis. In addition to his instrumental work Eric is a celebrated songwriter. He was a finalist in the 2019 and 2020 international/USA Songwriting Competition in the Jazz Category. Eric's ensemble will feature special guest vocalist Bronte Roman. 

July 31: Lezlie Harrison Quartet

As a vocalist Lezlie Harrison is both bold and subtle her vulnerability attends to the fragile matters of our collective human affairs while her optimistic momentum inspires us to rise above any tribulation and to rejoice. Whether it is Jazz Blues Gospel Soul the great American song book original compositions or any other song form Lezlie will imbue it with her distinctive voice and make a very personal delivery to the listener. Lezlie can also be heard on her regular radio spot on WBGO where she is the host of her Come Sunday radio show. Lezlie along with Janis Siegal host Singers Unlimited where her love and pride for America's only musical art form is on display. Her latest release is titled Let Them Talk.

August 7: Gabriele Tranchina Band  

A Jazz vocalist with Latin and Global influences that inspire her funky sounds Gabriele will bring that global flare to Lincoln Square. With roots in Germany where she was born and being exposed to other cultures throughout her travels in Europe and Asia Gabriele thrives in a multi-cultural environment like New York and inspires her work as an artist.

August 14: Kenny Davis Quartet       

A veteran of the Chicago and New York jazz scenes if you're a fan of Late-Night talk shows you may recognize Kenny as a member of the Tonight Show Band from September 1999 to March 2022. After moving to New York in 1986 he played with the band Out of the Blue and began appearing with artists ranging from Cassandra Wilson (who helped arrange a song on her Grammy-award winning CD) to Abbey Lincoln and Diane Reeves.

August 21: Ronald Jackson with Special Guest Ashley Pizzotti

Seven string jazz guitarist composer and arranger Ron Jackson has performed recorded and taught music in over 30 countries. He has performed around the world and has been featured at the North Sea Jazz Festival Edinburgh Jazz Festival AAPI Jazz Festival in Newark NJ and the Super Jazz Ashdod in Israel. Jackson has released ten albums with his most recent release "Standards and My Songs" landing in the Top 10 on the Jazz Week radio charts.

August 28: Duane Eubanks Quartet   

A master trumpeter composer and producer Duane is the brother of Kevin Eubanks the former band leader of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Duane has performed at world-renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall Kennedy Center and the Hollywood Bowl and has played with an A-list roster of talent from Alicia Keys to Mos Def and the Wu-Tang Clan. Duane spends a lot of his time giving back to those with an interest in jazz to inspire future generations.

September 4: David Janeway Quintet

A staple on the NYC Jazz Scene David has graced many stages including Madison Square Garden and the Detroit Jazz Festival. David's musical journey and inspirations flourished in Detroit where he was deeply influenced by the sounds of Motown in the 1960s. David moved to New York City in 1978 where he has since collaborated with the greats like the Supremes.

September 11: Cynthia Scott with Special Guest Houston Person     

For three decades the vocal artistry of the multi-talented Arkansas-born vocalist Cynthia Scott has encompassed the swing of jazz the soul of blues R&B and the sacred stirrings of gospel music. She is loved by audiences from New York to Africa Europe and Asia; by musicians from Wynton Marsalis to Ray Charles - who discovered her - and by jazz critics like the Chicago Tribune's Howard Reich who called her "a mesmerizing vocalist."

September 18: Eric Person & Rhythm Edge (Final Summer Concert) 

Closing out Summer Jazz Sensations is Saxophonist and Composer Eric Person who returns to Dante Park to celebrate the release of his twelfth CD Rhythm Edge. For this performance Person has decided to name the ensemble after the new album and will also play music from his 2022 release Blue Vision. Eric's body of work as a leader and sideman is stylistically diverse and intrepid. He has performed and recorded with leaders within the vanguard of the jazz world including McCoy Tyner Dave Holland and Wallace Roney to name a few.

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