Blue Curtain to Offer Free Concerts in Princeton's Pettoranello Gardens Next Month

Blue Curtain will host two free July concerts in Princetown's Pettoranello Gardens, including Honduran singer Aurelio and American sacred steel guitar gospel group The Campbell Brothers.

SATURDAY, JULY 11 - 7PM

AURELIO [https://aureliomusic.bandpage.com/]

Torch-bearer of the Garifuna tradition and the first black member of Honduras's National Congress, the soulful singer, guitarist and percussionist Aurelio has come a long way from the tiny fishing village in which he was born. He assumed the lead in preserving the culture's unique language and extraordinary sound after the passing of its first musical ambassador, Andy Palácio. He's been casting the warm glow of the Caribbean uponaudiences ever since, enchanting all with his bittersweet vocal style, guitar-accompanied paranda ballads and hypnotic percussion. The New York Times says, "He sings with a sustained fervor akin to the Senegalese songwriter Youssou N'Dour."

Aurelio's latest album, Lándini, was released in the UK/Europe on September 15, 2014 and in the USA on September 16, 2014 by Real World Records. Lándini was named to multiple 2014 year-end critics lists, including: #3 on The Sunday Times Ten Best World Music Albums of 2014, #3 on fRoots Critic's Poll New Albums of 2014, one of Songlines magazine's 10 Best Albums of the Year, and on Curious Animal's Best Albums of 2014. In March 2015 The Garifuna Coalition, USA, Inc. in association with Garifuna Afro-Latino Entertainment presented a Musical Tribute to Aurelio Martinez and honored the 30th anniversary of Martinez's career.

REGIONAL DE NY [http://choronyc.com/]

Regional de NY performs the beautiful and authentic Brazilian instrumental music known as "choro," rich with lyrical melodies and contrapuntal harmonies, alive with Brazilian rhythms. The ensemble play traditional and original arrangements of Brazil's oldest popular music with deep groove and a love for improvisation. The group features virtuoso musicians including Israeli flutist Hadar Noiberg; César Garabini on 7-string guitar and Vitor Gonçalves on accordion, both from Brazil; and the swinging rhythm section of Kahil Nayton on cavaquinho, and Ranjan Ramchandani on pandeiro.

SATURDAY, JULY 18 - 7PM

THE CAMPBELL BROTHERS [http://www.campbellbrothers.com/]

The Campbell Brothers present a unique, African American blend of vocals and steel-guitar gospel music called "sacred steel." This tradition is just now emerging from the House of God Keith Dominion Church, where for over sixty years it has been an integral part of worship and a vital, if little known, American tradition. As the music moves from sanctuary to concert hall-including the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center, and Brooklyn Academy of Music-secular audiences are now able to appreciate a performance both devoted and rocking.

Pedal steel guitarist Chuck Campbell and his lap steel-playing brother Darick are two of the finest in this tradition. Rounding out the band, which has been playing together for nearly two decades, is a high-energy rhythm section featuring brother Phil Campbell on electric guitar and his son Carlton on drums. Katie Jackson's classic, gutsy gospel vocals bring the ensemble to a level of energy and expression that defies description.

The Campbell Brothers present a compelling, rich variety of material from the African-American Holiness-Pentecostal repertoire with a new twist: the growling, wailing, shouting, singing and swinging voice of the steel guitar, played as you have never heard it played before.

MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON "SPIRIT SIGNAL STRATA" [http://www.michaelgregoryjackson.com; http://www.michaelgregoryjacksonspiritsignalstrataepk.com/]

Michael Gregory Jackson is one of the most influential and innovative guitarists to emerge during NYC's avant-garde loft scene in the 70s, has embraced everything from avant-garde, creative music, jazz, blues, rock and electronica soundscapes to harmonically rich and lyrically deep vocal tunes. Jackson has been called "one of the most lyrical musicians working today...singularly personal and arresting and one of contemporary music's few genuine poets" (Down Beat). Jackson paved the way for the Black Rock movement of the 1980s, recorded for Arista and Island and headed the power trio Signal. He has worked with the likes of Carlos Santana and Patti LaBelle.

Michael Gregory Jackson's Spirit Signal Strata is music built around the adaptation of the guitar to contemporary sonics, grooves and extended improvisational techniques. Jackson composed this music specifically with two master musicians in mind: Kenwood Dennard on drums and Keith Witty on bass and electronics. According to Jackson, "We draw on the history and origins, socio-political significance, the heart and soul to be uncovered within extended blues forms, the rhythms, harmony, power and joy found inside the rich deep strata of African-American music."

ABOUT BLUE CURTAIN

Blue Curtain concerts are free to the public and include free refreshments. Showtime is at 7:00 p.m. at Pettoranello Gardens, located in Princeton Community Park North at Mountain Avenue and Route 206.

Concert-goers are encouraged to come early and enjoy the beautiful outdoor setting and amphitheater at Pettoranello Gardens. The concert series is presented to the community by Blue Curtain and Princeton Recreation Department.

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