With the first day of summer on June 21 came the opening installment of Free Summer Jazz Sensations at Dante Park. Located right across the street from Lincoln Center at Columbus Avenue and West 63rd Street, every Wednesday through August will feature a free jazz performance from noon to 1:30 p.m., presented by the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District (BID).
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When Eric Person’s Soul Saturation took the stage on Wednesday, a crowded scene ranging from toddlers to tourists, to people working through their lunch break on their laptops, to the senior citizens and plenty of passersby captivated in the moment, were all ready to go.
The band led by Eric Person on saxophone celebrated the summer solstice by playing classic jazz standards including “Black Velvet” by Illinois Jacquet and “Dear Old Stockholm” by Miles Davis. They also worked in a Willie Shaw number before playing an Eric Person original, “I’ll Be Just Fine,” off his 2007 album, Rhythm Edge. At one point, Person announced it was drummer George Gray’s birthday. The crowd burst into cheers giving Gray an ear-to-ear smile. Person also announced that his keyboardist, Brian Charette, would be performing here on July 5.
“It’s the first day of summer, but it feels like fall,” said Person jokingly as the day was cool, borderline chilly during the Soul Saturation performance. You might say it was perfect weather as Eric Person’s Soul Saturation warmed attendees’ spirits, even as fire trucks and ambulances wailed on by. The beat played on the crowd’s delight.
To see the full summer lineup, click here.
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