Local Events

Summer Jazz Festival at Mills Pond House

The Smithtown Township Arts Council presents its third annual Summer Jazz Festival Saturday, July 12 from 5-10 pm. The concert will take place in the festival tent on the grounds of the Mills Pond House. Admission $15 ($10 by Advance Reservation) and $5 for students with ID. For more information, call 631-862-6575, or visit our Web site at www.stacarts.org

Headliners:

Legendary Bill Crow
Bill Crow has gained an international reputation as one of the finest double bassists of the genre. During his nearly six-decade career he is best known as a bassist but is also an accomplished trumpeter, saxophonist, trombonist and drummer. The list of musicians that Bill has worked for reads like a virtual who’s who in the history of the art form: Gerry Mulligan, Benny Goodman, Marion McPartland, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Duke Ellington, Stan Getz and many others. Bill is also an accomplished writer and has authored two widely read books Jazz Anecdotes and from Birdland to Broadway. Bill will be performing selections that reflect some of the important musical relationships of his vast career, interspersed with his recollections and humorous anecdotes in what promises to be a delightful musical experience. He will be performing with an all-star quintet for this event which includes; percussionist Nick Scheuble, Trumpeter Randy Sandke, Baritone and Alto saxophonist Carl Maraghi, and guitarist James Chrillo.

Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
Hendrik Meurkens, a virtuoso on both the chromatic harmonica and the vibraphone, is considered the most important jazz harmonica player since Toots Thielemans. Marcela Breton of Jazz Times refers to Meurkens as “…one of the world’s leading exponents of the jazz harmonica.” German-born but now based in New York, Meurkens' recordings and performances garner worldwide acclaim. Hendrik Meurkens’ profound involvement in both jazz and Brazilian music resulted in a very personal and instantly recognizable version of Samba jazz.

 

Latin Jazz Master Chico Mendoza
Grammy-nominated musician Chico Mendoza is a composer, arranger, vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and host of the famed Manhattan Latin Jazz club “The Village Gate” as well as a D.J. on WBGO “Jazz 88”. Mendoza has perfomed at such venues as Club Birdland, Madison Square Garden, The Village Gate and was elected to the N.J. Music Hall of Fame in 2004. Chico will lead a celebration of the musicians and bandleaders of the “golden age” of Latin Jazz including Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente and Cal Tjader. Under the musical direction of percussionist, Nick Scheuble, this “fiery” small group also includes Tito Puente’s former bassist, Mike Vinas. So get your dancing shoes on because as Chico points out, “Here comes the rice and beans!”.

Smithtown Township Arts Council
Mills Pond House Gallery
660 Route 25A St. James, NY 11780
Phone: 631-862-6575 Web site: www.stacarts.org
Press contact: press@stacarts.org

 

Smithtown Township Arts Council is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization.
Sponsored in part by Suffolk County under the auspices of the Office of Cultural Affairs,
Steve levy, County Executive and Town of Smithtown