The Bean Runner Cafe and Cross Cultural Connection collaborate to bring top jazz artists to “Ray Blue Way,” an outdoor performance space at Esther Street and 201 S. Division Street, in the heart of downtown Peekskill. Five Saturdays this summer… all concerts are from 6-8PM.
The Concerts Are As Follows:
Saturday, June 27: T.K. Blue presents “Planet Bluu.” Acclaimed by Downbeat Magazine, saxophonist and flutist T.K. Blue has performed at jazz festivals in Senegal, Morrocco, Jersey City, and The Kennedy Center in Washington DC, to name a few.
Saturday July 18: Bobby Sanabria Latin Jazz. A nine-time Grammy nominee, Bobby is a noted drummer, percussionist and band leader of Puerto Rican descent who hails from the South Bronx. He has performed with Latin jazz greats Dizzie Gillespie, Tito Puente, and Mongo Santamaria to name a few.
Saturday July 25: Sharp Radway Quartet. A protégé of Dr. Randy Weston, pianist Sharp Radway has worked with many luminaries in the genre, including Randy Brecker, Yusef Lateef, Diane Schuur, Bennie Golson and several others. With roots in gospel and the church, Sharp’s artistic expression, devotion to faith, and pure spirit have been acclaimed by All About Jazz.
Saturday August 8: Winard Harper and the Jeli Posse. A drummer extraordinaire, Harper has worked with many jazz legends including Dexter Gordon, Betty Carter, and Pharoah Sanders to name a few. Acclaimed by Downbeat and JazzTimes, his music has been described as “African and Caribbean to Afro-Cuban, wrapped around a core of Hard Bop jazz.”
Saturday August 15: Ray Blue Birthday Show — Jeff Barone and the Ray Blue Band. Guitarist Jeff Barone has performed with the Vanguard Orchestra, jazz greats Jack Wilkins and Tom Farrell, and other artists including Linda Lavin, Lucy Arnaz, and Jimmy “Precher” Robbins, and Reuben Wilson. He has recorded and performed with Ray Blue and will lead members of Ray’s band performing some of Ray’s music. The Cross Cultural Connection (CCC) Ensemble, former students of Ray Blue, will open up this show.
All showtimes are 6-8pm and the location will be outside at “Ray Blue Way” unless weather or the artists require the shows to be inside at The Bean Runner Café. For reservations call The Bean Runner at (914) 737-1701.
The concert series is made possible by funding from Arts Westchester and M&T Bank, which support the nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization Cross Cultural Connection, Inc., an organization founded by Ray Blue, the late tenor saxophonist, educator, recording artist, and global jazz emissary called Peekskill home and who organized many jazz events in the community over his lifetime. This series continues and builds upon Ray Blue’s cultural and musical legacy with a line-up of renowned jazz artists who all have a musical connection to Ray Blue.
“We are pleased to be able to bring the joy of jazz to people,” said CCC Executive Director Riitta Blue. “My late husband Ray Blue traveled the world performing and teaching jazz. Thanks to support from the Westchester County Board of Legislators, Legislator Colin Smith, ArtsWestchester, and M&T Bank, this is where his cultural and musical legacy lives on most poignantly through these regional jazz events” she added.”
“It is great to see so many of the artists who recorded and performed with Ray Blue coming together in this summer series,” said Cross Cultural Connection (CCC) Board member and Jazzheads records label CEO Randy Klein. CCC is committed to sustaining the momentum and excitement that this series, and other programs of CCC, will generate to engage audiences in music creation, education, and appreciation.”
“Downtown Peekskill is friendly and accessible, and we hope this jazz music series brings visitors and local people together for some good summer fun and listening enjoyment,” said Vivan C. McKenzie, Mayor of Peekskill.
For more information, and to donate to this 501(c)(3) charitable organization, visit www.cccjazz.org
