Jazz with Bill O’Connell and Book Signing with Diane Tuft at the Parrish

[caption id="attachment_67753" align="alignright" width="451"] Bill O’Connell. Courtesy photo.[/caption]

The Parrish Art Museum will continue its outdoor music series with jazz veteran, Bill O’Connell on Friday, August 18 at 6 p.m. and present a talk by environmental photographer, Diane Tuft followed by a book signing of her timely monograph, “The Arctic Melt: Images of a Disappearing Landscape,” on Sunday, August 20 at 11 a.m.

“I am pleased to offer yet another diverse and rich summer weekend program at the Museum,” Curator of Special Projects, Corinne Erni said. “From relaxing jazz tunes on the terrace to an engaging talk and book signing on climate change — something that affects us all.”

Bill O’Connell has a nearly 40-year career as a band leader, soloist, arranger, musical director and accompanist for some of the most celebrated names in jazz and Latin music including Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Mongo Santa Maria, Dave Valentin and Gato Barbieri as well as vocalists Jon Lucien, Astrud Gilberto and Kenny Rankin.

O’Connell has earned a reputation as a piano virtuoso and his compositions earned him the “Jazz Writer of the Year” award from SESAC four times.

Attendees are invited to a bring lawn chair or blanket for the Mildred C. Brinn Terrace and Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley Foundation Event Lawn with food and beverages available for purchase.

Diane Tuft will discuss her new book, which reflects her journey to capture Arctic landscapes before global warming renders them unrecognizable. The monograph shows photographs of the North Pole, mountain glaciers of Svalbard, Norway and the icebergs and ice sheets of Greenland.

With more than 50 photographs, “The Arctic Melt” chronicles Tuft's passage through the tundra as millennia of ice thaw at a faster rate than ever before. Guests are invited to meet the author at a book signing in the lobby following the talk.

Both events are $12 and free for members, children and students with advanced reservations strongly encouraged. The Parrish Art Museum is located at 279 Montauk Highway in Water Mill. For more information, please call (631) 283-2118 or visit parrishart.org.