‘100 Days Of Jazz’ Swings On The North Fork

The Sound View Greenport, a hotel on the North Fork, has instituted “100 Days of Jazz,” a new music residency program that’s bringing the sounds of New York City musicians to the East End this winter, transforming the property into a creative playground for practicing and performing.

The residency will host 10 separate 10-day residencies in the coming months for jazz performers or groups. The invited performers were discovered by the Sound View Greenport team who spent weeks exploring the streets of New York City in search of unique talents to invite to partake in this experience. With a particular focus on sensational street performers, the program’s featured musicians were each chosen for their unique sounds, stories and perspectives.

During their residencies, the musicians will use every corner of the hotel as their practicing stations. Then, on Friday and Saturday evenings, they will perform two full-out sets for guests at Sound View’s Halyard Restaurant Piano Bar between 7 and 9 p.m.

The first residency, which ran January 25 through February 3, featured The Kidwell Sisters. Classically and theatrically trained singers and actors, The Kidwell Sisters have been able to use their experience to bring professional quality performances to the streets of Manhattan. Out of work through the beginning of the pandemic, they married their necessity and creativity to create an unconventional career. Working together for the first time, they have put together a show that has stopped many New Yorkers in their tracks, reminding them that if they can make it there, they can make it anywhere.

The next residence, running February 6 to February 15, will bring Sammy Buttons and Bernell Jones to the North Fork. A fourth generation piano/keyboard player, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, grandfather, father and his siblings, Sammy Buttons has loved music all his life. From jam sessions in the 1980s to working pre-production for local artists in the back of his courier service office, music has been a lifelong passion. When the pandemic began, Sammy made the decision to change his path and realized he could make a living playing music. As the city began to reopen, he had to choose between reopening his courier business, or delving into a new journey in his life. He chose the latter.

In the short time since he began busking, Sammy has met a variety of talented musicians, including Bernell Jones who is joining him for the residency.

For details on “100 Days of Jazz” visit soundviewgreenport.com or call 631-477-1910. Sound View Greenport is at 58775 County Road 48, Greenport.