Eric Person's Soul Saturation, Brian Charette Trio & More Set for Lincoln Square Lunchtime Summer Concert Series

A warm summer welcome is headed to Lincoln Square with the return and expansion of Lincoln Square Business Improvement District's FREE lunchtime summer concert series - Lincoln Square BID's Summer Jazz Sensations - on summer Wednesdays from Noon to 1:30 PM from June 21 to August 30, 2023.

The outdoor performances will be held in Dante Park, Broadway between 63rd & 64th Streets, in the heart of the Lincoln Square neighborhood, with the free concerts running for two additional weeks.

The expansion of the summer concert series is also a celebration of the vibrant cultural legacy of the neighborhood, which has seen more than a dozen new businesses and restaurants come to the neighborhood in the last 18 months and as overall visitation inches closer to pre-pandemic levels.

Summer Jazz Sensations are bigger and better than ever, serving as the perfect lunch break from the office or a family day in the neighborhood. The BID is also working with local Lincoln Square eateries to provide light refreshments and snacks available (for purchase) during each concert - up to date information on participating eateries can be found on our website, www.lincolnsquarebid.org.

"The Lincoln Square neighborhood is full of cultural pizzazz, which we love to celebrate each summer with musical jazz as our outdoor lunchtime Summer Concert Series celebrates the beautiful sights and sounds of our community, including its artistic talent. We hope New Yorkers and visitors alike will enjoy our expanded summer concert series with a number of local and talented jazz musicians gracing the Dante Park stage." said Monica Blum, President of the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District. "Whether taking a lunch break, visiting the neighborhood with friends or looking to enjoy our beautiful public spaces, everyone is invited to experience the classic tastes of Lincoln Square."

Summer Jazz Sensations is sponsored by the Lincoln Square BID. In the event of rain, concerts are scheduled to be held on the Friday immediately following each Wednesday performance.

The full Summer 2023 lineup includes:

June 21 - Eric Person's Soul Saturation

Renowned Saxophonist and composer Eric Person presents his latest band entitled Soul Saturation. Eric's music has been featured at venues and festivals around the world, including New York's Blue Note Jazz Club, Montreal Jazz Festival, Detroit/Montreux Jazz Festival, Portugal's Guimaraes Jazz Festival and more. He has 11 CD releases as a leader to his credit, including 2022's Blue Vision, which charted high on the college and Jazz Week charts.

June 28 - Cilla Owens and Smooth Sailing

Cilla Owens has been called "as smooth as Nancy Wilson, as authoritative as Sarah Vaughan, and as informed as Carmen McRae" by JazzTimes Magazine. She has performed throughout Europe and the Caribbean and has performed at Lincoln Center, the Blue Note Jazz Club, Symphony Space, and other prestigious New York venues. Cilla is the director of the Hunter College Jazz Vocal Workshop and the Adelphi University Jazz Ensemble.

July 5 - Brian Charette Trio

NYC Organist and Pianist Brian Charette has established himself as a leading voice in modern jazz. He was the winner of the 2014 Downbeat Critics' Poll "Rising Star for organ." Brian has released twenty albums as a leader, many have been on the Jazz Week and iTunes top 20 charts. His latest release is titled Jackpot.

July 12 - Mike Jackson Trio

The musical magic started for Mike on his 12th birthday when he received his first guitar. While in his teens, Mike backed up popular artists of the day as The Marvelettes, Marvin Gay, and many others. In the late 60s, Jackson turned his attention to jazz, performing with many greats like Jack McDuff, Milt Jackson, Johnny Hartman, Billy Hart and others.

July 19 - Neil Alexander and Mr. Gone

Neil Alexander's Mr. Gone is a four-piece ensemble exploring the groove-based music of early electric jazz fusion, focusing on the groundbreaking music of Weather Report and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters & Mwandishi bands, as well as original compositions.

July 26 - Tony Jefferson Quartet

Tony Jefferson is known by many as a stellar drummer on the jazz scene, but he is also a renowned singer. After encouragement from his musical peers, Tony decided to take singing much more seriously, performing solely as a singer in concerts and club performances.

August 2 - Bryan Carrott Quartet

Vibraphonist Bryan Carrott is a native New Yorker, a graduate of LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and William Paterson University. Over the last 30 years, Bryan has been featured with renowned artists in over 20 countries and has appeared on over 70 recordings. He has performed with David "Fathead" Newman, Muhal Richard Abrams, Steve Kroon, Ralph Peterson, Dave Douglas, Jay-Z and many others.

August 9 - Marcus Persiani Trio

Pianist Marcus Persiani has performed and recorded with a wide variety of musicians such as Willie Colon. Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Savion Glover, Vanessa Rubin, and James Carter. He was also pianist and arranger for Mario Bauza's Grammy nominated Afro-Cuban azz Orchestra. Before moving to New York City in 1988, Persiani toured with R&B soul masters The Impressions and Curtis Mayfield.

August 16 - Kent Miller Quartet

Bassist Kent Miller, a native from St. Louis Missouri has studied the acoustic bass with some of the best in jazz including Milt Hinton, Rufus Reid, Wendell Marshall, and Ron Carter. He has performed with Stanley Cowell, Lynne Arriale, John Hicks, Benito Gonzalez and many more. His debut CD release is The TNEK Jazz Quintet Plays the Music of Sam Jones.

August 23 - Ron Jackson Trio

Seven string jazz guitarist, composer, and arranger Ron Jackson has performed, recorded, and taught music in over 30 countries. As a leader, he has performed around the world and has been featured at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, AAPI Jazz Festival in Newark NJ, and the Super Jazz Ashdod in Israel. Jackson has released ten albums, with his most recent release "Standards and My Songs," landing in the Top 10 on the Jazz Week radio charts.

August 30 - Bronte Roman's Latin Jazz and Pop Band

Bronte Roman is a Brooklyn native who attended Berklee School of Music in Boston. From the age of five, her love of singing was inspired by her father who was a touring gospel performer. Her love of her Hispanic heritage gives her the ability to sing Latin pop hits alongside contemporary songs and jazz standards.

For more information on the Lincoln Square BID, neighborhood activities, openings and offerings, please visit www.lincolnsquarebid.org.

About the Lincoln Square BID:

The Lincoln Square BID is a not-for-profit tax-exempt organization whose mission is to make Lincoln Square cleaner, safer, and more beautiful, and to undertake various improvement projects. Efforts are focused on supplemental sanitation and security services; the beautification of public spaces, malls, and parks; and the promotion and marketing of the area's diverse business and cultural offerings. The Lincoln Square BID acts as a catalyst working with business, community, and City partners to promote positive change in Lincoln Square. The BID's programs and initiatives are designed to foster tourism and to showcase the rich and varied resources of this vibrant Upper West Side neighborhood. For more information, please call (212) 581-3774 or visit www.lincolnsquarebid.org.