Sag Harbor Set To Groove This Weekend - 27 East

Arts & Living

Arts & Living / 1368941

Sag Harbor Set To Groove This Weekend

icon 3 Photos
Ada Rovatti  COURTESY ADA ROVATTI

Ada Rovatti COURTESY ADA ROVATTI

Randy Brecker  COURTESY KELLY CONNAUGHTON

Randy Brecker COURTESY KELLY CONNAUGHTON

authorMichelle Trauring on Sep 25, 2011

This weekend in Sag Harbor Village, musical performances will be waiting, literally, around every corner.

From rock and rollers to acoustic folk singers, musicians will take over local restaurants, stores and galleries on Saturday, October 1, for a day-long series of free concerts celebrating live music, according to organizer Kelly Connaughton, with an emphasis on what she says is arguably the most popular American style out there: jazz.

“We’re calling this the American Music Festival, right?” Ms. Connaughton said of the inaugural event during a telephone interview last week. “Well, the greatest American music is jazz. You can listen to music in your own home, and that’s great, but to be around other people and see how musicians interact with each other, especially in jazz where there’s lots of improvisation, it’s an energy that you actually feel.”

The festival officially begins the night before—Friday, September 30—with a main stage concert at Bay Street Theatre featuring Randy Brecker and the All-Star East End Band, and singer Monica Mancini in honor of her late father, composer Henry Mancini—who was a profound influence on Mr. Brecker’s career, he said during a telephone interview last week.

Jazz trumpeter Mr. Brecker first met Mr. Mancini during his days studying at Indiana University, he said, adding that it’s pure coincidence that his upcoming performance is a tribute to one of his earliest mentors.

“He’d use the band from the school, so I toured around the Midwest with him in my first two years of college,” Mr. Brecker recalled. “He was nice enough to feature me. He found out I could play and featured me on a lot of tunes. I remember signing my first autographs as a youngster—I couldn’t have been more than 20 years old—with him next to me.”

In 1966, Mr. Brecker settled in Manhattan as a freelance trumpet player. He immersed himself in the jazz and rock world, where he’s led a “long and varied career,” he said.

In May, he left his home of 45 years behind for East Hampton, where he now lives full-time with his 2-year-old daughter, Stella, and his wife, saxophonist Ada Rovatti, who will be performing with her husband on Friday night.

The band’s sound will travel in many directions, Mr. Brecker said, but he emphasized that it all emanates from jazz.

“It’s going to be kind of funky,” he said. “If I had one word to describe it, it would be jazz-funk, with a hyphen in between.”

Kicking off the day of village concerts on Saturday will be Escola De Samba Boom, a popular 30-piece percussion band, performing at 11 a.m. at the Sag Harbor Windmill.

“If anybody doesn’t know about this by then, they’ll figure out what’s going on,” Ms. Connaughton said. “Imagine driving over the bridge and seeing Samba Boom. It’s going to be quite a sight.”

Every half hour, there will be a different performer with a new sound taking the streets until 11 p.m. The only exception is a dark hour between 8 and 9 p.m., when concertgoers are encouraged to dine at local restaurants, Ms. Connaughton said.

Every act that can be outdoors will be outdoors, such as the Who Dat Loungers, who will play on the steps of Old Whalers’ Church. And the nine-piece New Orleans band plans to party, according to singer and bassist Joe Lauro.

“When they see us in the village, they’ll get Mardi Gras beads thrown at them and our horn section will weave through the crowd, getting people up to dance,” Mr. Lauro said during a telephone interview last week. “We’re not a cerebral experience. We’re a hip-shaking experience.”

The Sag Harbor-based musician was seduced at a young age by ragtime and vaudeville, which have played a vital role in his extroverted performances, he said.

“Some people really do like folk music and really personal music about human suffering and human love,” he said. “What I happen to like right now is getting people to move and dance and just have fun. I think they need that.”

Almost on cue, a woman who recognized Mr. Lauro from one of his recent performances interrupted the telephone interview and, unable to help herself, rattled off her praises. When she finished about 20 seconds later, Mr. Lauro modestly chuckled.

“It’s really pleasing to me to leave a show and people just want to thank you for making them have fun,” he said. “Life is tough and if you can escape through music, it can move you to another place for a while.”

The first-ever Sag Harbor American Music Festival will kick off on Friday, September 30, with a concert featuring singer Monica Mancini and Randy Brecker and the All-Star East End Band at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30. VIP backstage packages are also available. Pre- and post-concert receptions are open to all. A free, day-long concert series featuring more than 20 acts will be held on Saturday, October 1, at various locations in the village. A $10 donation buys admission to the after-party from 9 to 11 p.m. at Dodds & Eder. For tickets to the Friday night show, or for additional information, call 725-9500 or visit sagharbormusic.org.

You May Also Like:

Springs Artist Fitzhugh Karol Debuts Outdoor Sculpture Show at Duck Creek

The Arts Center at Duck Creek will present “Fitzhugh Karol: On the Grounds,” a site-specific ... 8 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

La Goulue Sur Mer Arrives in Southampton, With a Dash of Chaos and a Side of Style

“Is it true?” said the anxious DM on my Instagram account. “Is La Goulue really ... by Steven Stolman

Art on a Line: Guild Hall’s Clothesline Sale Hangs Tough for 2025

Guild Hall’s beloved Clothesline Art Sale returns on Saturday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The annual event, a Hamptons tradition since 1946, transforms the museum’s lawn into a sea of original artwork — hung on clotheslines — and offers visitors the chance to purchase local art at accessible prices. Jackson Pollock once sold a painting at the sale for $250, and past participants have included Lee Krasner, Alfonso Ossorio, Elaine and Willem de Kooning and other art-world icons. The event continues to offer a rare opportunity for the public to view and purchase work by East End ... by Staff Writer

The Climate-Friendly Fitness Routine

“Live simply so that others might simply live” — Mahatma Gandhi The first time I ... by Jenny Noble

Joy Behar Gets the Last Laugh in ‘My First Ex-Husband' at Bay Street Theater, July 14-19

Emmy Award-winning comedian and co-host of “The View,” Joy Behar stars in “My First Ex-Husband,” a bold, funny and heartfelt new play based on true stories from her life. The limited engagement runs July 14 through 19, at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. With razor-sharp wit and no filters, “My First Ex-Husband” explores the messy, hilarious truths of love, sex and relationships. Adapted from Behar’s personal experiences, the show is both deeply personal and widely relatable. Behar will appear on stage on July 14, 18 and 19. Also appearing nightly, July 14 through 19, are Veanne Cox, a Tony-nominated ... by Staff Writer

Experience the Rhythms of Brazil With Nilson Matta’s Voyage Quartet

Grammy-nominated bassist Nilson Matta will lead his Brazilian Voyage Quartet at The Church on Friday, July 25, at 6 p.m. The concert is part of Hamptons JazzFest. The group features acclaimed guitarist Chico Pinheiro and offers a rich exploration of samba, bossa nova and modern Brazilian jazz. Matta, a founding member of the renowned Trio da Paz and longtime collaborator with Yo-Yo Ma on the Grammy-winning “Obrigado Brazil” project, is known for blending traditional Brazilian rhythms with contemporary jazz. His lyrical bass playing and deep rhythmic connection have earned him international acclaim. Guitarist Chico Pinheiro, recognized as a leading voice ... by Staff Writer

At the Galleries for July 10, 2025

Montauk The Depot Art Gallery, at the Montauk railroad station at the corner of Flamingo ... by Staff Writer

Round and About for July 10, 2025

Fireworks Shelter Island Fireworks The Shelter Island fireworks will be held on Saturday, July 12, ... by Staff Writer

Curtis Institute of Music Alumni and Faculty To Perform in East Hampton on July 22

Talented alumni and faculty from the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music will tour the East Coast this summer, with a concert scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton. The event is presented by Music for Montauk. The program features beloved melodies ranging from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” to works by Brahms and de Falla. Performers include mezzo-soprano Katie Trigg, violinist Elissa Lee Koljonen, pianist Hanchien Lee, and Curtis Institute President and violist Roberto Díaz. The concert program includes: Manuel de Falla’s “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” performed by Díaz (viola) and Lee (piano); ... by Staff Writer

'Bonnie & Clyde' Cast and Crew Announced for Bay Street Musical

Bay Street Theater has unveiled the complete cast and creative teams for its pulse-pounding musical ... 7 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer