It may be a cliche on the radio, but around the piano at a Circuit avenue barroom sing-along on Monday night, the audience sang the old Billy Joel lyrics with nuance and exuberance: “Sing us a song, you’re the piano man, sing us a song tonight.” David Crohan was playing his Kurzweil electric piano.
What could be better? Well, soonafter Mr. Crohan was accompanied by his old friends Hugh Taylor and Merrily Fenner and more.
On a Tuesday afternoon, voice trills bounced around the grounds at the Yard off Middle Road in Chilmark. Some performers relaxed their diaphragms, lying on yoga mats on the floor of the barn studio. No dancers in tights or leotards ran in and out of the theatre on this day; opera singers have taken over the Yard for the next two weeks for the annual Yard Arts Opera performance.
The Chappaquiddick Summer Music Festival continues on Thursday, August 12 with a recital by soprano Jeanine De Bique, accompanied by pianist Keun-A Lee, at 8 p.m. at the Chappaquiddick Community Center.
Miss De Bique’s recital will include Cinq Mélodies Populaires Greques by Maurice Ravel, songs by Hugo Wolf and Fernando Obradors, Ah! non son io che parlo by Mozart, and selected spirituals. A reception follows the concert and everyone is invited to attend.
It’s hard to believe that in their 25-plus years of existence local fiddling legends the Flying Elbows have never released an album. That is, until now: on Sunday, Nancy Jephcote will lead the Elbows in a release concert at the Grange Hall for their boisterous new album, Pokedelic.
After weeks of stifling heat, Dave Brubeck brought relief to Edgartown society types on Sunday night with his eminently cool brand of jazz in a performance at the Field Club. One of the pioneers of West Coast jazz in the 1950s, Mr. Brubeck led his quartet through an evening of stylish standards and thrilling improvisation to help raise money for the new YMCA.
“This guy doesn’t just play music, he is music,” said Kate Taylor in her introduction.
Twelve years ago, Marsha Winsyrg staged a small-scale effort to help a small group of Zambian artisans make a profit from their work. While in Africa visiting her daughter, Ms. Winsyrg saw the effects of poverty and AIDS “wrecking the fabric of the whole culture.” Upon her return to the States, she hauled back the handmade crafts to sell on the Island. The proceeds would go back to the struggling artisans.