Sparta Summer to Rock

2006 summer concert schedule announced Sparta - The Sparta Cultural Affairs Committee announced its plans for this summer’s concert series. The committee, directed by Karl Latham, professional musician and educator, is made up of six members ranging from artists to business experts. The 2006 season opener, Friday June 23, will feature Dave Samuels, multiple Grammy winner and Concord Picante recording artist. Samuels is a former member of Spyro Gyra (five-time Grammy nominated Contemporary Jazz Artist and named Contemporary Jazz Group of the 80’s by Billboard magazine). He was named “best vibes player” by both Jazziz and Modern Drummer magazines. Samuels established himself as a top mallet player of his generation, performing and recording with artists including Gerry Mulligan, Oscar Peterson, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Carla Bley, The Yellowjackets, Pat Metheny, Bruce Hornsby, Frank Zappa, The Fantasy Band and The Caribbean Jazz Project, in addition to Spyro Gyra. He received a Grammy in 2003 for “Best Latin Jazz Recording” with the Caribbean Jazz Project’s, CD, The Gathering, and was nominated for Grammy’s in 2004 for the group’s Birds of a Feather CD and in 2005 the group’s Here and Now - Live in Concert CD. Also featured this season will be jazz artist Don Braden, who will perform on June 30. Braden has toured with jazz greats Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Tony Williams, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Haynes, and others. He spent four years as composer for the CBS sitcom Cosby and works extensively as an educator, teaching for Litchfield Performing Arts, the N.J. Performing Arts Center (where he is the musical director of the popular “Jazz for Teens Program”), the North Netherlands Conservatory in Groningen, Holland, and at William Paterson University. Mark Egan, a leading electric bassist and fan favorite in the Sparta summer concert series, will be featured on July 21. Egan has three platinum and three gold albums to his credit and has recorded with the likes of the Pat Metheny Group, Sting, Arcadia, Roger Daltry and Joan Osborne. He has performed with the Gil Evans Orchestra, Marianne Faithful, David Sanborn, John McLaughlin and Sophie B. Hawkins. R&B artist Nick Rolfe will perform on July 28. Aside from his recognition as a musical performer, Rolfe is featured in a principal role in the new film, Bernard and Doris, starring Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes. He has performed with Frank Foster, Eddie Gomez, Billy Harper, Buster Williams, Steve Turre, Benny Golson, Bobbi Humphrey, T.S. Monk and others. Rounding out the season are N.J. blues favorite, Billy Hector, on July 14, and Nashville singer/songwriter Peter Karp. The committee is still working on a special guest rock artist performance as well. For information, log on to spartaarts.org. Funding for the Sparta Cultural Affairs Committee events and the Sparta Summer Concerts is provided by the township and through the support of local businesses and patrons of the arts. Tax deductible donations can be sent to the Sparta Cultural Affairs Committee, 65 Main St., Sparta, NJ 07871. Donations may also be made on line at spartaarts.org. The concerts will be held Friday evenings from June 23 through the end of July in George Dystra Park (behind the Sparta Public Library). In the event of inclement weather, the concerts are held in the Mohawk Avenue School auditorium, adjacent to the park.