Summerstage 1996

Below is a list of all the SummerStage sponsored FREE events this summer. Everything is happening at the Rumsey Playfield on East 72nd Street. From the East Side,enter the park at 72nd Street and follow the road towards the center of the park. From the West Side, enter the Park at 72nd Street and head towards the center of the park.

For more information, call the SummerStage hotline number (212)360-CPSS aka (212)360-2777.

Shortcut to events in July | August

June

 

Saturday, June 15, 3:00 PM
Pharoah Sanders
Ernest Ranglin
Monty Alexander
The 11th season jumps off with the reggae soaked guitar & piano of JAMAICA JAZZ legends Ranglin & Alexander and tenor sax jazz giant Sanders. A presence on classical recordings of the ska and rock steady era, Ranglin juices his licks with the fluidity of the born jazz man. Renowned for his versatility & ire rhythms Alexander, a piano virtuoso, will give a great set of mad swing. Every excursion with Sanders delivers an innovative blend of Afro-Asian modes, saxual intensity & playful melodies that inspire and funk the music world. 

Sunday, June 16, 3:00 PM
Latin Legends with Johnny Pacheco,
Larry Harlow, Yomo Toro,
Carlos "Patato"Valdez,
Adalberto Santiago, and
Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez
On a special Father's Day Concert, legendary salsa music greats have gathered in a unique partnership for a staggering day of descarga latina. 

Sunday, June 22, 3:00 PM
The Dixie Hummingbirds
The Arc Gospel Choir
The Grammy Award winning, Hummingbirds are the oldest gospel singing group. Known as the "Gentlemen of Song", this premiere quartet celebrates their melodious legacy in the sun. Critically acclaimed Harlem based ARC Gospel Choir make a joyful noise. 

Sunday, June 23, 3:00 PM
Ryuichi Sakamoto
with special guest
Caetano Veloso
Caroline Lavelle
Sakamoto Japan's greatest composer, arranger and master musician, is famous for his brilliant scores. He is joined today in a rare collaboration woth Veloso. Veloso is to Brazil what both Marley and Dylan are to their homelands, an unimpeachable musical poet laureate, a one of a kind. Lavelle her orchestral belnd of classical strings, electronic ambience, and Celtic dance-pop to her NY debut. Presented in partnership with the Brazilian Music Festival. 

Saturday, June 29, 3:00 PM
Joan Armatrading
Bill Perry
Susan Werner
Armatrading was ahead of the curve twenty years ago and has continues her amazing streak as one of our greatest, singer-songwriter performers. Perry is a modern blues newcomer, Werner a promising singer songwriter. 

Sunday, June 30, 4:00 PM
Master Musicians of Jajouka
Klezmatics
Morocca's Master Musicians, the revered 4,000 year old musical outfit which has influenced everyone from William S. Borroughs to the Rolling Stones, make their only US appearance this year. New York City's own Klezmatics radicalize the Jewish song tradition of Klezmer like only downtowners would. In a major commission, the two groups will collaborate to create a unique Judeo-Islamic performance that will be presented exclusively at Central Park SummerStage. An event not to be missed! 







July





Saturday, July 6, 3:00 PM
Yoko Ono with Ima
Cibo Matto
John Zorn's Masada



With her first new music in a decade, Ono has
reestablished herself as a radical songstress and vibrant elder
influence of a new generation of avant combos.  Ono is joined by Ima
with Sean Lennon.  Cibo Matto use sampled sound and offbeat vocalizing
to boldter brave new songs about food and love.  Masada is thenew
passion of avant-garde composer John Zorn, blending elements of
klezmer and modern jazz to expand upon the Hebraic tradition.


Sunday, July 7, 3:00 PM
Marley Magic



An afternoon celebrating the first family of Reggae, including
Rita, Julian, Damian p.k.a. Junior Gong, Ziggy and The Melody Makers
and Yvad.A SummerStage exclusive!


Monday, July 8, 8:30 PM
E. Annie Proulx
Richard Ford



A special Monday night event as Pulitzer Prize-winning author of
The Shipping NewsProulx reads from her new novel, Accordian
Crimes, which brilliantly portrays the immigrant experience in
America, accompanied by a live accordian performance.  Ford reads from
his Pulitzer Prize-winning Independence Day, an indelible
portrait of a middle class America and the masterful sequel to the
highly acclaimed 1986 novel The Sportswriter


Wednesday, July 10, 7:30 PM
New York Grand Opera



The New York Grand Opera begins its third season of the seven year
"Viva, Verdi!" Festival.  As always, the opera is led by
founder/director Vincent La Selva.  Verdi's eighth opera,
Alzira, based on Voltaire's play Alzire, will have its
first fully-staged, professional performance in New York.


Friday, July 12, 8:30 PM
Lula Washington Dance Theatre
Marlies Yearby's Movin' Spirit Dance Theatre



Washington and her L.A. based company dynamically represent
African American narratives and world historical fables in elegant and
exuberant dances.  Yearby's dances investigate the interconnectedness
of African American, Haitian, and West African cultures with swift
fluidity and true conceptual depth.


Saturday, July 13, 3:00 PM
Bill Laswell with...



Laswell orchestrates a colassal day of his unique brand of new
music that embraces senations of every stripe and sonic pallette with
Jah Wobble, Nicky Skopelitis, The Last Poets, Liu Sola, Bernie
Worrell, Anton Fier, DJ Qbert, DJ Disk, Short Kut, Mix Master Mike and
Praxis, Laswells's mind-boggling avant-power trio, with Buckethead and
Brain, and many more guests.


Sunday, July 14, 3:00 PM
Johnny Clegg featuring Juluka
Mahalthini and the Mahotella Queens



Clegg reconnects with his original backing band Juluka in a day
celebrating the great music of South Africa.  Mahlathini, the
godfather and godmothers of the mbaqanga township jive,
continue to dazzle as one of Africa's great musical treasures.  A
South African celebration!


Wednesday, July 17, 7:30 PM
New York Grand Opera




Verdi's Attila


Thursday, July 18, 8:30 PM
Suzan-Lori Parks
Tony Kushner



Parks is one of America's finest young playwrights.  Her latest
play is Venus; recently she saw her script Girl 6 become
a major motion picture directed by Spike Lee.  Kushner is the Pulitzer
Prize-winning author of Angels in America, the ground
breaking, two part, Tony Award winning Broadway drama.


Friday, July 19, 8:30 PM
Dance by Neil Greenberg
Sarah East Johnson with
Babe the Blue Ox



Greenberg devises energetic, complex dances as poignant as diary
entries and as topical as a downtown weekly.  Greenberg performs his
critically accalimed "The Disco Project".  Johnson performs
dazzling acrobatic dances inspired by the wonders of the natural
world.  Joining Johnson is rising downtown rock trio Babe the Blue Ox.


Saturday, July 20, 3:00 PM
Throwing Muses
Luna
Cornershop



Kristin Hersh's band of over a decade resurfaced in 1994 as a
trenchant alterna-rock trio and has been rocking clubs and concert
halls tirelessly ever since.  Luna, the sly and morose scenesters are
as classic as alt-rock gets; an exquisite noise always on the verge of
disintegration.  English band Cornershop delivers an ardorous
bhangra-punk.


Sunday, July 21, 3:00 PM
Burning Spear
Papa Jube



Legendary reggae prophet Burning Spear brings his majestic spirit
out for a historical performance.  Haitian maven Papa Jube helps to
raise the heat.


Thursday, July 25, 8:30 PM
Jim Carroll
Richard Hell



A walk on the wild side with two of the city's legendary street
bards.  Since his teens, Carroll has in memoir and poetry and later
rock lyrics, documented a legendary low-life with unflinching honesty,
humor and artistry.  Hell, archetypical punk and founder of the Blank
Generation, left an uncompromising and unassailable legacy with his
band the Voidoids.  As a writer, he brings the same unflinching vision to bear.


Friday, July 26, 8:30 PM
Pearl Ubungen Dancers and Musicians
Robert Henry Johnson Dance Company



Ubungen navigates serious social issues by creating multi-layered
dances brimming with theatre, texts, and pop culture.  Johnson's work
seeks to bridge the socio-economic barriers between classical art and
popular culture, specifically as it relates to the African-American
community.


Saturday, July 27, 3:00 PM
Koko Taylor
Son Seals
Carey Bell



A blues blowout to celebrate three modern Chicago blues great
showstopping veterans.


Sunday, July 28, 1:30 PM
Brazilian Capoeira Dance Class



Capoeira class and demonstration with the Axe Capoeira
Association.  Developed around the 1500s, and still celebrated today,
join us for an hour of Capoeira, Brazil's martial art and dance.
Presented in partnership with the Brazilian Music Festival.


Sunday, July 28, 3:00 PM
Timbalada
Kali



In their US debut, Bahia, Brazil's most spectacular ensemble
brings powerful percussionists, stirring seductive vocals and a
colorful troupe of dancers to the Park.  Kali, Martinique's banjo
picking star, mixes traditional Caribbean styles with
funk-reggae-dancehall to create a politically powered message.
Presented in partnership with the Brazilian Music Festival.


Wednesday, July 31, 7:30 PM
New York Grand Opera



Verdi's Macbeth.






August





Thursday, August 1, 8:30 PM
Mutabaruka
Oku Onuora and Lillian Allen
with AK7



A one night dub poetry festival.  Mutabaruka, a revoluyionary poet
and music maker, raises inimitable outcry.  Onuara and Allen are among
dub poetry's first virtuosos and are joined by reggae's cultural roots
band AK7.


Friday, August 2, 8:30 PM
David Dorfman Dance with special guests
Dan Froot and Stuart Pimsler



Dorfman brings his athletic brand of globetrotting dancers back to
the Park.  Pimsler's bare soul joins with Dorfman in the East Coast
premier of the work-in-progress "Menne Awn Frauen" (Men Without
Women).  Inventive Froot performs a short piece with Dorfman.


Saturday, August 3, 3:00 PM
A Tribe Called Quest
Bass Is Base



A Tribe Called Quest is one of rap's most substantial outfits,
forever keeping pop and rock in check.  Juno Award winning Bass Is
Base bring their dynamic funk, rap, soul and pop out to the Park and
invite you to enter the SoulShack for a day.


Sunday, August 4, 3:00 PM
The Safari Boys
DCS



Bhangra Bacchanal.  From their raves in the UK to this much
awaited US debut, two of the greatest groups go back to the Punjab and
bring an old qawwali bang up to date.  DJ's Rehka & Joy spin a deep
set of bhangra before the show. Arrive early!


Wednesday, August 7, 7:30 PM
New York Grand Opera



Verdi's Masnadieri
 

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