It’s that time of year again when the music of New York moves from the clubs and concert halls to parks, rooftops and amphitheaters. Here’s a selective – and unapologetically biased – rundown of some of the things we’re looking forward to.
City Parks Foundation SummerStage – The summertime stalwart turns 40 this year, with most of the best shows taking place at Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield: an astroturf-covered concrete slab that’s always felt far inferior to the globetrotting acts that perform there, most for free. Things kick off tonight (6/10) with a trio of jazz-soul vocalists, including Ledisi (singing Dinah Washington), José James, and Spilata. Other highlights include Laurie Anderson with Sexmob (6/26), a Giant Step showcase featuring Shabaka (7/1), Spoon and Ratboys (7/8), Andrew Bird with the Wordless Music Orchestra (8/6), and a Verve 70th anniversary show with Samara Joy, Christian McBride and Mei Semones playing the music of Getz and Gilberto (9/2). Benefit shows include everyone from House music DJs The Martinez Brothers (6/13) to a triple bill of Blues Traveler/ Gin Blossoms/ Spin Doctors (8/15). And that doesn’t even include 20+ shows in other venues across all five boroughs.
NY Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks – Elim Chan, newly named music director of the San Francisco Symphony, conducts this week’s parks concerts (6/9-13), featuring retiring principal cellist Carter Brey playing the Saint-Saëns concerto, alongside chestnuts like Dukas’ “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and Ravel’s “Bolero”. With fireworks, of course.
Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series – 20 years ago, the Met performed full-length operas with big-name singers in the parks. Now, there are piano recitals (6/8-17) with “up-and-coming” singers most people have never heard of. Guess losing that Saudi money didn’t help.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! – Within walking distance of my apartment, I used to live at the Lena Horne Bandshell during the summer. A small sampling of acts I’ve seen there includes: Animal Collective, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Andrew Bird, David Byrne, Herbie Hancock, Ornette Coleman, Ani DiFranco, and Janelle Monae. But, ever since COVID – which coincided with the departure of longtime producers Jack Walsh and Rachel Chanoff – Celebrate Brooklyn has taken a nose dive, both in the quality and quantity of shows. Maybe it has something to do with the army of private security peeps they’ve hired? The only worthwhile things I can see on this year’s schedule are the 82 year old R&B singer Patti LaBelle (6/26) and Liz Phair with Sleater-Kinney (9/19). Both are benefit (paid) shows.
Carnegie Hall Citywide – While Carnegie Hall no longer goes dark during the summer, they have maintained a robust free outdoor schedule across the five boroughs. Highlights include a screening of Puccini’s Tosca (6/15), a performance by the intrepid chamber orchestra The Knights (7/3) and a series of string quartet shows in Madison Square Park on four consecutive Wednesdays in July (7/8-29).
Lincoln Center’s Summer For the City – With Mostly Mozart and the Lincoln Center Festival now distant memories, Lincoln Center has doubled down on wanting to be all things to all people. Especially if you enjoy wearing headphones. While Damrosch Park is being renovated, most shows will take place indoors or under the giant mirrored ball on Josie Robertson Plaza. There is a ton of stuff on offer, including a decent amount of jazz, rock, world music, and the aggressively diverse programming of the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center. with conductors including msuic and artistic director Jonathon Hayward, San Francisco Opera director Eun Sun Kim, and newcomer Chloé Van Soeterstède.
Forest Hills Stadium – Despite ongoing efforts of local residents to shut it down, Forest Hills is back for a 13th season of top-notch music in the decrepit former US Open tennis stadium, including Wilco wtih Yo La Tengo (6/20), Bob Dylan with Lucinda Williams and Jimmie Vaughan (7/21), and a 3 night stand by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard (8/20-22).
Warm Up | MoMA PS1 – The dance party is back for another summer – sadly still on Friday nights – of global DJ’s spinning to the masses in the former schoolyard. In addition to the beats, expect sound art and experimental music, along with PS1’s ongoing “Greater New York” exhibition.
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival – Technically part of City Parks Summerstage, this year’s festival coincides with the centennials of both Miles Davis and John Coltrane, so it’s only appropriate that Coltrane’s son Ravi will be headlining the closing show at Tompkins Square Park (8/30). Other acts on the three-day festival include Joshua Redman, Nat Adderley Jr. Catherine Russell, Kassa Overall, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. All free.