PROGRESSIVE ROCKLAND

Blue Vipers of Brooklyn to Play at Rockland Working Families Fundraiser

Rockland Working Families Party 2009 Fundraiser

Featuring the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn, playing early Jazz and Blues

Sunday, June 28th  2009
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
The Nyack Center
Corner of South Broadway & Depew Streets
Nyack, NY

Suggested donation - $65 per person / $99 for two

Catering by Nyack Gourmet
Open wine, beer, and soft drinks bar by  our friends at tavernator.com -  http://www.tavernator.com

What the press is saying about the Blue Vipers –

“The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn turned the whole damn (Big Tent at The Rochester Jazz Festival) into a swingin' Tin Pan Alley. The Blue Vipers' drummer apparently never graduated from the kitchen, as his whole set up was a lapfull of odds and ends that he binged, banged, whacked, and attacked with thimble digits like a Dixieland foley stage."
FRANK DE BLASÉ, ROCHESTER CITY NEWSPAPER, June. 15th, 2008,

"The Blue Vipers play old-timey jazz, swing and blues. Their songs are witty, bouncy and full of fun - visions of flappers and men in straw-boater hats. They are one of the most popular bands that busk in the New York subways."
CREATIVE LOAFING, TAMPA FL, MAY 2008

“Excellent musicianship and cool, New Orleans/Ragtime/Dixieland Jazz elements. Very Nice all around with a solid vocal performance, as well.”
TAXI "The World's Leading Independent A&R Company,"
October 5, 2007

New Jazz Series at Olive's, in Nyack, NY

After a successful two and a half year run, the weekly jazz series at Riverspace Arts in Nyack has been cancelled due to cost-saving programming cuts.

The series sponsor, Rockland County Jazz and Blues Society is moving the community jazz series across the street to Olive's (118 Main St., Nyack, NY).

The new series starts at Olive's on May 7th, with scheduled events on the first and third Thursday of each month.

RCJBS Continues the format started at Riverspace, most events will consist of a featured jazz artist joining the excellent house rhythm section for one set followed by a jam session.

Musicians get in FREE.

Music Charge only $5! Full Bar, Micro brews, Great Food & WiFi.

Olive's is an old-time Nyack establishment, (32 years in the business with the same owner), with a long wooden bar, booths along the wall, a stage at the back, and a gaming room off to the side. It has a real “vibe", as the jazz musicians like to say. With it's well-stocked bar and full food menu--and now top-notch live jazz every other Thursday--Olive's will be the perfect place for serious listeners as well as any hungry or thirsty soul who just likes good, soulful music... at an incredibly reasonable price $5 at the door.

JAZZ AT OLIVE'S

Thursday, May 7th GRAND OPENING CONCERT & JAM SESSION 9pm - 11pm featuring Dick Oatts, saxophone Scott Wendholt, trumpet

Thursday, May 21st 9pm - 11pm featuring Erik Lawrence, saxophone House rhythm section: Richard Sussman - piano Mike Holober - trombone Cameron Brown - bass Steve Johns - drums Music Charge: $5 Olive's 118 Main St. Nyack, NY

For more info: Call Preston Powell at 845-367-7454 Sponsored by Rockland County Jazz and Blues Society

The Phil Greenspan Film Festival - Caravan /Prague

HUDSON VALLEY FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION
announces
The Phil Greenspan Film Festival

Fellowship of Reconciliation, 521 N. Broadway, Nyack

Sunday March 29th  2:00-4:30pm  /

SUGGESTED DONATION:  $10.00

With follow-up Q&A by film maker Zack Winestine
CARAVAN/PRAGUE

ABOUT CARAVAN/PRAGUE:

A bicycle caravan -- with the theme, "Money or Life" -- travels 500 miles across Europe to join protests in Prague against the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.  The goal is to create a mobile utopian community which will be a living counter-example to the values of these powerful financial institutions.  The landscape is beautiful, and bicycles possess their own poetry.  But it's not always easy functioning without money.  The authorities have their own ideas about policing the intersection of utopia and everyday life.  And should the caravan succeed in getting to Prague, there's the matter of shutting down the World Bank/IMF meeting...

Caravan/Prague, a feature-length documentary, is a first-hand account of this journey and the historic 2000 Prague protests.  Filmmaker Zack Winestine rode the entire trip with the caravan, filming from his bicycle as events unfolded.  He recounts his hopes, fears, and questions, conveying the experience of participating in a community trying to bring about change that is both visionary and concrete.

Dick Voigt's Big Apple Jazz Band to Perform at Rockland Working Families Fundraiser

Dick Voigt’s Big Apple Jazz Band will be providing entertainment for the Rockland County Working Families Party fall fundraiser, which will  be held Sunday, September 21st from 2:00PM to 5:00 PM at the Nyack Center in Nyack.

On cornet is John Bucher.  John has played with Woody Allen at Michael's Pub for more than 20 years. He often leads his own groups in the NY- NJ  jazz clubs and festivals.  He is a regular with The Big Apple Jazz Band.

The trombonist is Tom Artin.  Tom is the band"s official "lefty". Tom leads his own big band and smaller combos, as well as brass ensembles.  He's the proprietor of Artin Arts and is a world-class photographer. He was the house trombone player for years at Eddie Condon's on 54th Steet in NYC.

Joe Licari is on clarinet.   He is one of the hottest clarinet player among the classic jazz reed men.  He has subbed for Woody Allen. for years.  He played with Rockland's own Big Chief Russell Moore and other jazz greats for more than 50 years. He's on more than a dozen CDs.

On upright bass we have Bill Crow.  Bill is every bandleader's "first call" bassist.  He started with Marion McPartland at the Hickory House in NYC more than a half-century ago.  He has played with every major jazz star over the years.   His "day job"?  Three days a week at Local 802 in NYC to make sure the musicians get their paychecks and residuals.

Steve Little is on drums. He has played with all of the top jazz players and vocalists  ... Duke Ellington, Peggy Lee, Brubeck, you name 'em and with many of the "big bands" as well as Broadway Shows and at Radio City Music Hall. .  He even played for Sophie Tucker!  Steve has been playing with DickVoigt for more than 50 years.

And on piano, Dick Voigt, founder and leader of The Big Apple Jazz Band.  He has played with most of the Eddie Condon and Jimmy Ryan's Dixieland regulars for more than 50 years.  He performs regularly in NYC’s jazz clubs and regional jazz festivals.  His band has played for almost every Rockland County not-for-profit agency's benefits for more than 20 years.

Honorees for this year’s fundraiser are Burt & Emily Shachter and Glenn & Dorothy Patterson.

Food is by Nyack Gourmet -  there will be an open wine, beer & soda bar

The suggested donation is $65 per person, or 2 for $100.

For reservations, please call Tom Stoner at 504-220-3766

Working Families Party Fundraiser
Sunday, September 21st, 2008
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
The Nyack Center
Corner of Depew & South Broadway
Nyack NY

 

Rockland County Working Families Fundraiser - September 21st

Please save the date for our annual Working Families / Progressive Rockland fundraiser, an afternoon of good music, good food and good drink, to be held Sunday, September 21st from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Nyack Center.

This year we will be honoring 2 couples who have been an integral part of the Working Families Party in Rockland:  Glenn & Dorothy Patterson and Burt & Emily Shachter.

The Pattersons are well known in Rockland progressive circles.  In addition to their support of Working Families, they have also been involved with other worthy causes:  Glenn as a board member of the Coalition for Freedom & Democracy and Dorothy with the Mental Health Association, to name just two.

The Shachters have been life-long political and social justice activists.  Following World War II, Burt, as a member of the American Veterans Committee, took part in the occupation of the NY State Legislative Building in Albany by returning GIs who were demanding action on affordable housing for veterans.  Emily was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the Rockland Mental Health Center, where she served as director of Children’s and Adolescent’s Services.  Both were active in the American Labor Party, New York’s first labor and community based political party.

Both couples are founding members of the Rockland Chapter of the Working Families Party. Burt & Glenn are members of our steering committee.

You have all seen them at the vigil at the corner of Route 59 and Middletown Road.  You have seen them at Living Wage rallies.  You have seen them wherever people gather to speak for social and economic justice.

Please join us as we honor them.

Dick Voigt and his Big Apple Jazz Band will be providing music.  Dick is also well known in Rockland progressive circles.  The former chairman of the Liberal Party, he
has been active in just about every important social justice issue in the county,

Catering will be by Nyack Gourmet.

The suggested contribution is $65 per person / $ 100 for 2

Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to campaign for progressive candidates and causes here in Rockland County

Working Families / Progressive Rockland 2008 Fundraiser
Sunday, September 21sr from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Nyack Center
Corner of Depew & South Broadway in Nyack

please call Tom at 504-220-3766 for reservations or information

Working Families Fundraiser June 23rd

It's just 3 weeks until the 2007 Working Families Party Fund raiser.

This year we will be honoring Kenneth Zebrowski Sr, for his lifelong commitment to social justice.

Entertainment is by the Stephane Wrembel trio - an up & coming gypsy jazz ensemble

Catering is by Nyack Gourmet

Proceeds from the fund raiser will be used to campaign for progressive candidates in this year's elections.

Working Families 2007 Fund raiser
Saturday, June 23rd from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Nyack Center
at the corner of South Broadway & Depew Street in Nyack

Donations are:

$60 a person / $100 a couple

Click here to purchase a single ticket

Click here to purchase a pair of tickets

Click here to make a contribution

For information, please call Tom at 504-220-3766

STEPHANE WREMBEL TO APPEAR AT ROCKLAND COUNTY WFP FUNDRAISER SATURDAY, JUNE 23RD

The Rockland County Chapter of the Working Families will hold its 2007 fundraiser on Saturday, June 23rd from 2:00 PM to 5:00

In continuing its “bread & roses” tradition of combing progressive politics and art, the Rockland WFP chapter’s fundraiser will feature gypsy jazz guitar virtuoso Stephane Wrembel and his ensemble.

In previous years artists such as Dick Voigt’s Big Apple Jazz Band and the Spiritual Echoes have performed at the fundraiser.

Saturday, June 23rd – 2:00 PM
The Nyack Center
Corner of Broadway & Depew Street
Nyack, NY   10960

For more information please contact Tom at 504-220-3766

Dick Voigt & The Big Apple Jazz Band

Dick Voigt & The Big Apple Jazz Band will be playing at the new jazz cafe at "Riverspace" in the transformed lobby of the Helen Hayes Theater in Nyack.  They're playing two sets:  the first one at 4PM and the second one at 5:15 PM, ending in time to let the Super Bowl fans get to their TV sets for the game.  The not-for-profit sponsor charges $8 at the door, which  works out to about 50 cents per tune   ....

Special guest Charlie Caranicas will be on cornet, with Tom Artin on Trombone, Joe Licari on Clarinet, Steve Little on Drums and Dick Voigt on the new donated Yamaha upright. 

Hope that you can join us on the first Sunday in February at 4PM at Riverspace.  Please pass the word on to your friends by forwarding this message to those who might be interested.

Thanks, and hoping to see you next Sunday   ----

Dick Voigt And The Big Apple Jazz Band

Martin Luther King Center Annual Jazz Concert

January 15, 2007
Rockland Community College
Cultural Arts Theater
College Road, Suffern, New York
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Joseph Vincent Tranchina Trio with vocalist Gabriella

Paul Speziale & The Spring Jazz Society of New Jersey

Ron Figueroa & The Latin Jazz Ensemble

&

Stella Marrs ~ One Woman Show “I  A Black Woman”
accompanied by Anna Vargas ~ Puppeteer & Joseph Vincent Tranchina ~ Piano

New Orleans Benefit

Friday December 15, 8 pm RIVERSPACE - NYACK, NY

Photo by Lilah Larson Stories, Scenes and Music of New Orleans A unique tribute to benefit music and arts education at the Lusher School in New Orleans. Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme will present clips from Right To Return, his documentary-in-progress on Katrina. Broadway actors Kathleen Chalfant (Wit), Michele Hurst (The Story) and others will read New Orleans stories, dramatic renderings of the "Big Easy" as seen through the eyes of its illustrious sons and daughters including Tennessee Williams, Louis Armstrong, Zora Neale Hurston, and William Faulkner. Photography by Arnold Roufa, Susanna Styron, Pasqual Perich, and Lilah Larson. Kathy Reidlinger, principal of Lusher Schools, will host the event. Crescent City music and food in the cafe. "They lost every musical instrument they had. It's inconceivable for a public school in New Orleans not to have instruments. It's like not having a lunch program" See The Journal News article on A Tribute to New Orleans. Tickets $20. Click here to order or call 866-811-4111