The Concerts for City Greens Series Presents a Tribute to Ann Hampton Callaway, 9/12

The Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor concert series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, dedicates the fourth concert of this year's summer series to the singer-songwriter and actress Ann Hampton Callaway, on Wednesday September 12 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens. (Rain date: Thursday September 13 at 6:30pm.) With a special guest appearance by Callaway, "Finding Beauty" stars the singer-actress Christina Connors; the MAC, Bistro and Nightlife award-winner Scott Coulter; The Magic Garden's Carole Demas & Paula Janis; the MAC- and Bistro-winning jazz vocalist Shaynee Rainbolt, and the Julie Wilson Award-winning Broadway veteran T. Oliver Reid.

Callaway, the multi-platinum tunesmith, Tony-nominated actress, accomplished jazz pianist, singer and TV and film star, makes her 54 Below debut with a string of primetime dates from September 25 to 29.

A Broadway veteran (Christine "Phantom of the Opera") and Bistro & MAC award-winning cabaret artist, Raissa Katona Bennett is the evening's creator host and producer. Returning as series regulars are Bennett's side-kicking drummer -- multiple MAC and Bistro award-winning little big band innovator Terese Genecco; the MAC and Bistro award-winning Windham Hill recording artist Sean Harkness on guitar, and the MAC Award-winning composer-pianist Bill Zeffiro. The concert's featured instrumentalists are Kenneth Gartman and Ian Herman on piano, and Matt Scharfglass on bass.

Making a special guest appearance to premiere one of the eight semifinalist songs competing in The Concerts for City Greens songwriting contest are Carole Demas (original Sandy in Broadway's "Grease") & Paula Janis of the hit TV show The Magic Garden, who will premiere "Village Green of New York City" by Lauren McCall a music educator and composer from Georgia.

The semifinalist tunes, all of which celebrate the different roles green spaces play in the lives of New Yorkers, are being performed by prominent guest artists from the worlds of Broadway, jazz, cabaret and classical music. The contest's finalists, chosen after the summer, will be showcased at a special gala concert at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, in the fall or winter of 2012. (TBA)

Conceived and developed by Raissa Katona Bennett, Concerts for The City Greens is dedicated to exposing diverse audiences of all ages to free, professional live music in city settings, while linking with other community groups and organizations to promote effective dedication to the "greening" of cities. Bennett won the 2010 Bistro and 2011 MAC Award for hosting the concerts

The series' current 5th annual season concludes on Wednesday October 3, at 6:30pm. Four of this summer's concerts are being dedicated to the music of four of the song contest judges: Amanda McBroom (May 30), Neil Sedaka (August 1), Ann Hampton Callaway (September 12) and Michael John LaChiusa (October 3). (The other judges are the quadruple-platinum songwriter and Today Show regular David Friedman, and the two-time Emmy Award-winning MTV executive Matthew Parillo). For information visit www.raissakatonabennett.com

The concerts take place at the South Park of Tudor City Greens Park (between 41st & 42nd Streets, and 1st & 2nd Avenues).