Midsummer Swing Continues At Lincoln Center: Week Three

Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing, now in its 20th Anniversary season, concludes its season with a thumping third week of dancing under the stars with performances by orchestras from around the world.  Because of the ongoing construction on Josie Robertson Plaza, this program will take place in Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park, W. 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.

The Harlem Renaissance Orchestra starts off the week on Tuesday, July 22nd with the swinging sounds of the Big Band Era.  Sax player Ron Allen leads a core of veteran musicians giving rousing life to the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and more.  The Orchestra will perform a tribute to band leader, trumpeter and Midsummer Night Swing veteran, the late Illinois Jacquet.  Joining them will be jazz vocalist Mary Stallings, who came of age in the Big Band Era and whose stunning voice is one of its most gifted interpreters. This is Stallings first time collaborating with the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra and it marks a rare East Coast appearance by her.

On Wednesday, July 23rd the tempo shifts to the sultry rhythms of samba.  Coming directly from Rio will be Mart'nália (photo above), the samba singer extraordinaire who is the daughter of samba king Martinho da Villa.  But don't get too comfortable with the tropical heat.  Next up, on Thursday, July 24th, is Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers.  Lavay and her boys play the jump blues and swing of the 1940s and 50s, brassy and bold, guaranteed to get you dancing.

Two giants of the Barcelona music scene – La Troba Kung-Fú and Peret – scorch the summer night on Friday, July 25th. La Troba Kung-Fú, making its US debut, is the brainchild of Juan Garriga, the accordionist and singer who performed in Dusminguet, one of most popular mestizos bands of Barcelona.  La Troba plays a fusion of rumba, cumbia and dub, and their name pays tribute to both the traveling los travadores (traveling minstrels) of a bygone era and the kung-fu-like mastery of their instruments.   And making his long-awaited New York debut will be the great Peret, known as the "Rey de Rumba."  Peret made the rumba the national sensation in Spain in the 1970s and he keeps the genre alive through his sizzling performances and many hit recordings. Among the many artists who have paid tribute to Peret over the years are Ojos de Brujos and David Bryne.

On Saturday, July 26th the series concludes its season for 2008 with the Grammy-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra.  Recently the orchestra collaborated with Paul Simon on a concert of music from his musical, Capeman.  On the 26th, Oscar Hernandez and his gifted salsa players will lead Midsummer Night Swingers to a blistering dance floor climax. Caliente!

Midsummer Night Swing's evenings of dance are ticketed events.  Each evening begins with a dance lesson at 6:30 pm for all levels with some of New York's foremost instructors. Lessons are included in the price of admission. Live music and dancing begin at 7:30 pm and runs until 10 pm.   All events take place on an elevated dance floor in Damrosch Park.

 
Tickets and passes are on sale now. Multi-evening Swing Passes are priced at $78 for six nights, and $135 for the full season.  Tickets for individual evening events are $15, and Kids Day! events are $5, with children under 5 free.

 
The Swing box office is located in the lobby of Avery Fisher Hall, Broadway and 65th Street. Tickets for individual events and passes can be purchased in advance or on the night of the event at a box office in Damrosch Park.  All major credit cards will be accepted.  Tickets and passes can also be purchased through CenterCharge, 212-721-6500, or by logging on to www.LincolnCenter.org.

 
Rain Policy If it rains before 8:30, Swing staff waits to see if it stops; if it does, they go on with the lesson or show.  If steady rain continues past 8:30, the show is cancelled and ticket holders may bring their bracelet or ticket for a future evening of dancing, or they may receive a refund.  If rain starts after the completion of the first set, Lincoln Center is unable to make refunds or exchanges.