Summer Sounds Concert Series at Hudson Park

The band shell at Hudson Park is New Rochelle’s summer concert venue, with free concerts that give music lovers the chance to enjoy the cool breezes off Long Island Sound all summer long. The Emil Paolucci Summer Sounds Concert Series, created by the New Rochelle Council on the Arts, is in its 10th season and this year’s concerts will feature an eclectic menu of musicians performing everything from mellow jazz to opera to bluegrass, Motown and hip-hop.

This year the popular dance band Alive N Kickin will open the season performing Motown, R & B, Disco and Swing favorites at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, June 28^th, and international singing sensation Alfio will provide a fitting finale on Wednesday, August 30^th. In between concert goers will hear exciting live music on 10 consecutive Wednesdays, plus four Friday concerts in July and August.

The Summer Sounds concert series is presented by the New Rochelle Council on the Arts, in partnership with the New Rochelle Dept. of Parks and Recreation, and co-sponsored by Webster Bank and People’s United Bank. Last year NRCA upgraded the sound system, thanks to an anonymous donation, and provided state-of-the-art restroom facilities. NRCA also reached out to local food trucks, and the same vendors have been invited this year.

Bill Zimmerman, Commissioner of New Rochelle’s Dept. of Parks & Recreation, says the city is proud to continue the summer concert tradition. “The support of Webster Bank and People’s United Bank has made it possible for us to continue to bring free concerts to the community.” Theresa Kump Leghorn, President of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts, adds “Our sponsors are generous supporters of the arts with a true commitment to the community they serve.” For more information visit the NRCA website at www.newrochellearts.org or telephone the Dept. of Parks and Recreation at 654-2087.

The full Summer Sounds Concert Series schedule includes:

• June ^28th: Alive N Kickin  Known for their chart-topping hit Tighter & Tighter, this dance band remains one of the East Coast’s most-requested, playing pop favorites                                 guaranteed to get everybody on their feet.

• July 5^th: The Nat Osborn Band  The Brooklyn based seven-piece band, flanked by a powerful three piece  horn section, takes the best elements of soul, funk, indie-rock, and jazz   and weaves them around songwriter Osborn’s infectious and clever songs

• July 12^th: 3D Rhythm of Life A bilingual dance band for the 21^st century playing a Latin Tropical mix of funky salsa and Caribbean soul with a New York attitude.

• July 19^th : David Gerald Band  Detroit’s David Gerald has been called “one of the top blues musicians of  our era”; his band plays a distinctive blend of blues, soul and rock
• July 21^th : Greetings From Anywhere  This group mashes folk, blues, bluegrass and country into a unique roots- rock hybrid, performing original compositions alongside reinterpreted feel-good covers. with the gritty, impromptu abandon of a good-old-time garage band.
• July 26^th : What It Is  Horn-driven funk, soul, rock, jazz, pop, country, R&B band playing the best of Steely Dan, Bruno Mars, Springsteen, Chicago, Tower of Power, James Brown, Paul Simon, George Strait, Ray Charles and way more!
• July 28^th : Rocky Middleton Jazz Ensemble Local favorite Rocky and some of the finest jazz musicians around.

• August 2^nd : New Rochelle Opera Performing favorites from opera, operetta and Broadway.
• August 4^th: Kay Boyd and Acts of Faith  Back by popular demand, a night of outstanding gospel music.

• August 9^th: Lynette Washington & Dennis Bell Jazz NY   Vocalist Lynette Washington, winner in the Jazzmobile Anheuser-Busch Jazz Vocal Competition in 2005, teams with award winning pianist, producer, composer and conductor Dennis Bell’s Jazz NY ensemble.

• August 11^th: Rising Musicians Night Featuring Ivan Polanco and the Jacob Harelick Ensemble
•  August 16^th : Franco Morillo Band Playing Latin favorites
• August 23^rd : The Barons  Featuring r & b music from the 1950s and 1960s
• August 30^th: Alfio  Charismatic Australian singer/songwriter Alfio has one of the greatest     voices in contemporary music today, captivating his audience with equal                                      parts music journey, powerful vocals and comedic banter.

.  Hudson Park is located at 1 Hudson Park Road in New Rochelle.

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA) was created by the New Rochelle City Council in 1975 to stimulate and encourage the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts. For four decades NRCA has worked to fulfill that mission by sponsoring art exhibitions, theatrical productions, dance recitals, film screenings, lectures, and concert series. In addition, NRCA has sponsored public art — like the popular Fleur-de-Lis sculptures downtown — and created ArtsFest, while helping to build relationships between the arts, the business community and city government. The NRCA website www.newrochellearts.org  is the “go-to” place for information about the arts. Membership in NRCA is open to artists and non-artists alike, with members receiving invitations to networking events and studio tours. For more information visit NRCA on the web at www.newrochellearts.org.  NRCA’s programs are made possible, in part, by ArtsWestchester with funds from Westchester County Government, the City of New Rochelle, and the support and participation of NRCA’s  membership.