Morgan Park Summer Music Festival Opens 2017 Concert Series with Swingtime Big Band
Series includes local favorites Richie Cannata and Antigone Rising
as well as tributes to Gloria Estefan, Dave Mathews, John Denver, expanded Folk Festival and music from Glen Cove’s houses of worship Season Begins on July 2 at 7:30 pm with Steve Shaiman and the Swingtime Big Band Morgan Park Summer Music Festival opens its 58th season of free concerts in Glen Cove’s Morgan Park on Sunday, July 2 at 7:30 pm with Long Island’s leading professional big band, Swingtime, and ends August 27 with a tribute to John Denver. MPSMF’s 2017 season promises a great series of music under the stars, overlooking the beautiful Long Island Sound!! Led by Steve Shaiman with vocalists Jerry Costanzo and Bobbie Ruth, Swingtime Big Band presents hits from the Great American Songbook, as made famous by Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Stan Kenton and other big band icons. A highlight of Swingtime Big Band’s Morgan Park opening concert is a salute to Dizzy Gillespie and Buddy Rich, each of whom would be celebrating a 100th birthday this year. Vocalists Costanzo and Ruth also pay tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Dean Martin, each of whom would have been 100 this year. This concert is sponsored in Memory of John S. Appleby. Every year MPSMF’s second concert is devoted to the winners of the Marguerite Suozzi Young Performers Competition. Sharing the stage this year with these talented youths will be Long Island’s own Antigone Rising. Other concerts this season will pay tribute to Gloria Estefan, Dave Matthews and John Denver. Returning this year is the ever-popular Andy Cooney who will accompanied by his touring partner Christopher Macchio for an evening of Irish and Italian music. This year’s Third Annual Folk Festival is bigger than ever! Starting at 2:00 pm, there will continuous music from folk stars such as Dar Williams, Amy Helm, Jill Sobule and Guy Davis as well as local favorites Gathering Time, dNa, Roger Street Friedman and Matt Grabowski. Also returning this year is Morgan Park’s Faith Festival featuring the musical talent that is found in Glen Cove’s many houses of worship. The community is fortunate to boast such diversity and the annual Faith Festival provides opportunity for the wider public to share in the rich traditions of the City’s religious and spiritual institutions. “I am very excited about the season this year,” said MPSMF Chairman Tom Suozzi. “We have a great variety of music. There is something for everyone. I am also excited that we are featuring so many of our locally talented residents – from Richie Cannata to Antigone Rising, Matt Grabowski and the talented winners of the Young Performers Competition.” Come on down to Morgan Park and enjoy this very special evening of music under the stars. Bring a blanket or chairs and picnic if you wish. Children are welcome. Morgan Park is located on Germaine Street at the end of Landing Road in Glen Cove. In the event of rain, the concert will be held in St. Patrick’s Parish Hall, Pearsall Avenue, Glen Cove. For further information, call (516) 671-0017, email [email protected], visit www.morganparkmusic.org or find us on Facebook at Morgan Park Summer Music Festival. Morgan Park Summer Music Festival is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that has been providing free concerts in the park for 58 years. The shows are completely funded through the generous donations that are received from businesses and individuals. Taxpayer money is not asked for nor received to bring this high caliber talent to the Festival. PHOTO CAPTION: Morgan Park Summer Music Festival will open its 58th Season on Sunday, July 2 with the Swingtime Big Band, Long Island’s leading professional band. The show, which is free to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Morgan Park. Come and enjoy a wonderful evening of musical entertainment under the stars. |
