Entertainment
Enjoy free world-class musical performances, street festivities and more at great spaces throughout Lincoln Square! As you walk along the streets of the neighborhood, you will hear music resonating from the unique instruments and voices of a variety of talented performers as this Upper West Side neighborhood is transformed into a winter wonderland!Neighborhood Tree Lighting Ceremony with Arlo Guthrie
Last modified on 2011-11-19 18:02:59 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Winter’s Eve will kick off at 5:30pm with a neighborhood holiday tree lighting ceremony at Dante Park – Broadway & 63rd Street. Join legendary folk artist Arlo Guthrie, the Newark Boys Chorus, Mayor Ed Koch, WABC-TV Sade Baderinwa and others as we welcome the holiday season and light up the Upper West Side.
Thanks to a partnership with the American Folk Art Museum and Folk Arts Rajasthan, this year’s tree ornaments come all the way from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan India. The circular ornaments, called Phul or flower in Hindi, are made from recycled candy wrappers sewn together and are typically used to embellish Thar Desert homes. Joining these gleaming decorations of recycled packaging are ornaments by Artist Katharine Watson. Folk Arts Rajasthan is a non-profit committed to the empowerment of the Merasi community in Jaisalmer, India through education and cultural preservation of the Merasi traditional artistic legacy. This year’s 25 foot Norway Spruce was installed with the help of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. The tree will be on display through January 2012.
Location: Dante Park – Broadway between 63rd and 64th Streets
Time: 5:30pm
Dance the Night Away with The Klezmatics
Last modified on 2011-11-13 16:20:53 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
The Winter’s Eve Dance Tent will be back this year with the GRAMMY® Award winning band, The Klezmatics! Kick up your heels and join what Time Out New York calls “the best band in the klezmer vanguard…” for what promises to be an exciting evening of tradition and dance. This popular klezmer group performs a revival of the age-old, nearly forgotten art form that, in its first incarnations, flourished at Jewish weddings and other joyous occasions.
They have performed in more than 20 countries and released 10 albums to date—most recently the two-CD Live at Town Hall, recorded in their home base of New York and released in celebration of the band’s silver anniversary. The group formed in New York’s East Village in 1986 and today its members include Frank London, Matt Darriau, Lisa Gutkin, Lorin Sklamberg, Paul Morrissett and Richie Barshay. The Klezmatics are the best-known klezmer band in the world and we’re thrilled they are part of the Winter’s Eve line-up.
WFUV 90.7 FM Public Radio from Fordham University in New York City and some special guests will also take part in the fun at the Winter’s Eve Dance Tent.
Location: Winter’s Eve Dance Tent – 62nd St between Broadway and Columbus Ave
Time: 6:15pm – 7:05pm & 7:15pm – 8:10pm
Catherine Russell
Last modified on 2011-11-21 01:42:05 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Catherine Russell, a Native New Yorker, was born to Luis Russell, a pioneering pianist, bandleader, composer, and Louis Armstrong’s sidekick, and Carline Ray, an outstanding bassist and vocalist. Catherine’s professional life began early. After graduating with honors from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she embarked upon musical adventures with Carrie Smith, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Osborne, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, and Rosanne Cash.
A debut album for World Village, Cat (2006), garnered rave reviews, paving the way for her sophomore release, Sentimental Streak (2008), which led to appearances on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross. Ms. Russell won a prestigious “German Record Critics’ Award,” a Living Blues Magazine “2008 Critics’ Poll,” and a nod as “Vocal Album of the Year” in the “2008 Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll”. She has appeared on nationally syndicated shows like “Mountain Stage”, “JazzSet on NPR”, “Beale Street Caravan”, “World Café”, “Piano Jazz”, and “The Tavis Smiley Show”, and was a featured artist on an hour-long PBS-TV Concert Special, “Live at The Rochester International Jazz Festival.”
Catherine Russell’s third album, Inside This Heart of Mine (2010), reached #1 on JazzWeek and Roots Music Report’s radio charts, while also charting on Billboard and reaching #1 on I-Tunes jazz charts. Catherine Russell has performed her beguiling mix of jazz and blues on three continents. She’s been a hit at major Festivals including Chicago Blues, North Sea, JazzAscona, Montreal, Bern, Rochester International, Tanglewood, and at sold out venues like The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Scullers in Boston, The Dakota in Minneapolis, Dizzy’s Club in NYC, and Yoshi’s in San Francisco. All Music Guide says, “Russell emerged as a retro old school vocalist for the ages.”
Don’t miss the WBGO Jazz 88.3 table!
Location: American Folk Art Museum – Columbus Ave between 65th and 66th Streets
Time: 6:30pm – 7:15pm & 7:30pm – 8:15pm (2 Sets)
Dennis Lichtman’s Brain Cloud
Last modified on 2011-11-21 01:41:17 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
“My brain is cloudy, my soul is upside-down… When I get that low-down feeling, I know the blues must be someplace around,” says Bob Wills – the King of Western Swing. The Brain Cloud’s exuberant take on “western swing” revolves around the pairing of mastermind multi-instrumentalist Dennis Lichtman with inimitable vocalist extraordinaire Tamar Korn. The sextet’s springboard is the New Orleans-meets-Texas, strings-meet-horns, jazz-meets-country sonic mishmash that Bob Wills perfected on his mid-1940’s radio broadcasts. In addition to Lichtman and Korn, the Brain Cloud includes Skip Krevens (guitar and vocals), Raphael McGregor (steel guitar), Kevin Dorn (drums), and Andrew Hall (bass).
Location: David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center – Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets
Time: 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Live at the Apple Store: Christian McBride and Inside Straight
Last modified on 2011-11-21 01:40:44 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Accomplished composer, arranger, and jazz bassist extraordinaire Christian McBride will wow the Winter’s Eve crowds at the Apple store, located on Broadway at 67th Street. Although he is not yet 40, Christian McBride has become one of the most important and renowned jazz figures of the past 20 years. He began his career in 1989 at Juilliard, and shot to stardom. Aside from being a star in his own right, Christian has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the Jazz, R&B, Pop, and hip-hop worlds. He will perform with his quartet, Inside Straight, at 7:00 p.m., showcasing tracks from his new album, “Conversations with Christian.”
Location: Apple Store, Upper West Side – Broadway at 67th Street
Time: 7:00pm
Opera Collective
Last modified on 2011-10-27 02:36:11 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Opera Collective was founded in August of 2005 and currently consists of 9 core members, with rotating singers and pianists on their roster. Opera Collective is an active part of the Music Under New York program, and performs twice weekly at various spots throughout Manhattan. They have been featured three times in the “Summer Sundays Series” at Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island, and have done educational outreach in NY, NJ, and CT, and hope to continue to teach students about opera. They gave their Manhattan debut concert in 2006 in collaboration with Kids & Dreamers Productions, and in 2007 collaborated with them again in a scenes program based on the 7 Deadly Sins. Opera Collective has also been featured on NHK’s documentary series “New York Streets,” and on a live broadcast from Battery Park. Their mission is to make opera accessible and affordable to the general public by presenting engaging performances of vocal music, including opera, art song, operetta and musical theatre.
Location: Richard Tucker Park – Broadway and 66th Street
Time: 6:00pm – 6:30pm, 7:00pm – 7:30pm & 8:00pm – 8:30pm (3 sets)
Select Blendz
Last modified on 2011-10-27 02:36:01 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Select Blendz is comprised of a cappella, soul, R&B and gospel singers Raisin Harvey Cain, Rome Jerome Cohen, George Ellington, Billy William Chavis, Tommoraw Mortimer, and bass play Todd Grunder, who among them have performed with The Soul Shakers, Andre Williams, The Commodores, Black Ivory, The Delfonics, The Continental Four, Wynton Marsalis, Nora Jones, Jason Mraz, and more. In addition, performance movie credits include Married to the Mob and Everyday People.
Location: Richard Tucker Park – Broadway and 66th Street
Time: 6:30pm – 7:00pm, 7:30pm – 8:00pm, & 8:30pm – 9:00pm (3 sets)
World Dance presented by Dance Parade, Inc.
Last modified on 2011-11-13 16:28:26 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Dance Parade, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to promoting dance as an expressive and unifying art form. They celebrate diversity and educate the public about the opportunities to experience dance in New York City. On Winter’s Eve, Dance Parade will present the following: Bolivian Tinkus Dance with Incallajta New York , Brazilian Samba Dance with Manhattan Samba , the New York City Stilt Walkers, and Asian Indian Bhangra Dance from NYC Bhangra (pictured).
Location: Broadway at 66th Street in front of Alice Tully Hall
Time: All Evening
Sister Act – A Divine Musical Comedy
Last modified on 2011-11-01 02:13:07 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
SISTER ACT is the feel-amazing Musical Comedy that takes the beloved film to hilarious new heights! Audiences of all ages will adore this high-energy hit, which features an uplifting new score by 8-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Enchanted) mixing the sounds of disco, soul, funk, R&B and Broadway. SISTER ACT tells an inspiring story about the true meaning of sisterhood and friendship that will leave you jumping for joy… don’t miss this special free Winter’s Eve performance!
Location: Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle, 2nd Floor
Time: 6:00pm
Morgan James presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center
Last modified on 2011-11-08 15:37:40 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
At home on the Broadway, concert and rock stages Morgan James is one of the country’s most sought-after singers. She is a versatile vocalist, easily maneuvering between genres. As a solo artist, she has played to sold-out crowds throughout New York City with her seven-piece soul band, and her smaller ensembles. Morgan James’ Broadway credits include the first-ever Broadway revival of Godspell (singing “Turn Back, O Man”), and the original casts of Frank Wildhorn’s Wonderland (where she covered, and closed the Broadway cast playing, Alice), and The Addams Family. Regional theatre credits include leading roles at Barrington Stage Company, Paper Mill Playhouse, The O’Neill Theatre Center, and Arizona Theatre Company. She was a featured soloist in Bernstein’s MASS with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Marin Alsop) at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center and has also sung with the Utah Symphony. With her rock n’ soul band she has sold out performances at popular NY nightspots such as Birdland, Dominion, Joe’s Pub, Le Poisson Rouge, and Rockwood Music Hall.
Location: Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle, 2nd Floor
Time: 7:30pm
Even More Music at Winter’s Eve
Last modified on 2011-11-22 23:00:13 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
The Yaz Band - Performing at various venues throughout the New York Metro Area, including MTA’s “Music Under New York” series and Lincoln Center Out of Doors, the four-piece Yaz Band was formed by Yasuyiki Takagi in 1992. A native of Osaka, Japan, “Yaz” and his band play classic R&B songs (including works by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Earth Wind & Fire), as well as original instrumental tunes. Based in Brooklyn, Yaz has amassed a collection of original, buzz-worthy smooth jazz tunes. Location: Gracious Home, 1992 Broadway at 67th Street, 6:00pm, 7:00pm, and 8:00pm
Lorenzo Laroc – A native New Yorker who began playing the violin at age eight, Lorenzo Laroc’s signature trademark – a custom made, five string plexi-glass electric violin/viola – and the passion with which he plays expresses both his musical versatility and his deep love for music. Along with the electric violin, Laroc plays, composes, and arranges jazz, rock and Latin music and other styles. He has formed a group of New York City musicians, Masterpiece, and seeks to bring the electric violin to popular audiences everywhere. Location: Century 21 Department Store, 1972 Broadway at 66th Street, 6:15pm and 7:15pm
Bach Vespers - From the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Bach Vespers offers audiences the unique historic experience of hearing full Bach cantatas steeped in the German Baroque tradition. Catch them on Winter’s Eve, and if you’d like to attend Bach Vespers in their original setting at Holy Trinity, please note that they are free and open to the public every Sunday at 5:00pm through April 29. These lovely candlelit vespers feature organ music, choral motets, chamber music and hymn singing, all under the direction of Cantor Rick Erickson. Location: Bed Bath and Beyond, 1934 Broadway between 64th and 65th Streets, 7:00pm- 8:30pm
Stephane Wrembel Trio - Josh Baron of Relix Magazine calls French- born jazz guitarist Stephane Wrembel “One of the greatest guitar players I’ve ever seen…,” David Fricke of Rolling Stone Magazine raves “A REVELATION,” and All About Jazz urges, “Don’t miss [the] opportunity to see a truly astonishing
talent in action…” Wrembel, who performs solo and under the name The Stephane Wrembel Trio, has issued several albums, and his works have been included on the soundtrack for numerous Woody Allen films. Heavily influenced by world music, Wrembel is perhaps best known as a composer and performer of gypsy jazz. Location: The Empire Hotel Rooftop, 44 West 63rd Street between Broadway and Columbus Avenue, 6:30pm – 9:30pm - To access the rooftop, enter the Hotel Lobby and take the elevator to the 12th Floor. The views will be beautiful and the music promises to be spectacular!
69th Street Band - Bringing some local talent to Winter’s Eve, the 69th Street Band will play at Ollie’s Atrium throughout the evening. A self-proclaimed “American roots and African rhythm” band, these Upper West Siders are not to be missed! Location: Ollie’s Atrium, 1991 Broadway between 67th & 68th Streets, 6:00pm, 7:00pm & 8:15pm
Caleb Dolister Jazz Trio - Warm up from the cold at First Republic Bank at Time Warner Center, where you can enjoy live jazz musical styling while munching on holiday treats. Location: First Republic Bank, Time Warner Center, Ground Floor, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
On the Street
Last modified on 2011-11-14 01:45:29 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Enjoy the sounds and styles of the Hungry March Band, The Hot Sardines, The High & Mighty Brass Band, Mariachi Real De Mexicos, Raya Brass Band, and much more. As you wander from venue to venue, be sure to catch these amazing entertainers as they perform at outdoor locations throughout the evening!
Outer Borough Brass Band - Formed by Sousaphonist Joe Scatassa and featuring a rotating cast of NYC musicians, the Outer Borough Brass Band delivers a dynamic mix of funk, traditional jazz and New Orleans second line grooves to the New York City boroughs. Members of the band have played with some of jazz and funk’s biggest names- and together, have shared the stage with the Crown Prince of Treme- Glen David Andrews, Rebirth Brass Band and the Joe Krown Trio. Still a relatively young band- debuting on Mardi Gras 2011 in Manhattan’s Lower East Side- this collection of promising musicians will surely get the crowd grooving on Winter’s Eve. Check them out at the Dante Park Main Stage at 6:00pm & 7:00pm!
The Hungry March Band - A Winter’s Eve staple and crowd favorite, this Brooklyn-based brass marching band (pictured) is sure to get event-goers moving with their spontaneous energy and theatrical style. The Hungry March band cites the Latin flavor, punk rock noise, hip-hop beats and music of the Brooklyn streets as its inspiration, and seeks to share this influence with the world! Self-proclaimed as the “music of the people,” this free-spirited, experimental parade is an eclectic, multi-cultural celebration of music from all genres. The Hungry March Band will perform all evening throughout Lincoln Square.
The Hot Sardines - Foot-stomping blues troupe The Hot Sardines- whose members include a trumpeter, clarinetists/saxophonist, drummer and tap-dancer, in addition to a vocalist and pianist- will bring their jazzy sound to Lincoln Square on Winter’s Eve! Throughout the evening, The Hot Sardines will energize the crowd with their wartime-Paris-meets-20th century- New Orleans sound, which incorporates both French and English lyrics. The Hot Sardines are unique in their ability to perform music that is nearly a century old yet still holds wide appeal to today’s audiences. Their outdoor performance at Broadway and 62nd Street are sure to heat up the night!
The High & Mighty Brass Band - This 7-member “party in progress” will offer audiences a dynamic and inspired mix of classic New Orleans Funk, R &B, Afro-Beat and hip-hop sounds throughout the evening at various outdoor locations. All members of this brass group participate in both the singing and playing, both in solos and together.Their percussion-heavy horn sounds will offer every audience member a chance to connect and groove with the band- this is another Winter’s Eve performance not to be missed! Especially, their Dante Park Main Stage performance at 6:45pm.
Mariachi Real De Mexico - Founded in 1991 by Ramon Ponce and his son, Mariachi Real De Mexico is proudly celebrating it’s 20th anniversary. The group, one of the best-known mariachi bands in the Northeast, has performed at some of New York’s best-loved venues and events, including Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Rockefeller Center, and Radio City Music Hall, as well as celebrity birthday parties and more! They will return again this year to Winter’s Eve, performing their lively and traditional mariachi music.
Raya Brass Band - A funky mix of Eastern European and American dance tunes, the Raya Brass Band draws in all types of audiences- not just folk music aficionados- with their dynamic and engaging show. Playing instruments such as reeds, trumpet, accordion, tuba and drums, their Balkan and Gypsy melodies bring the organic and joyous experience of Eastern European village brass bands to New Yorkers. Catch this traveling music troupe as they perform all over the Lincoln Square streets during Winter’s Eve!
