A corner of Peekskill will become a stage. During five Saturdays this summer, musicians, neighbors and visitors will share a common language: jazz. Between Brown Street and South Division Street, the space known as <\/span>Ray Blue Way<\/span><\/a> will host a new edition of the concert series organized by Bean Runner Caf\u00e9 and Cross Cultural Connection. It is a cycle that will not only bring together renowned artists of the genre, but will also keep alive the footprint of the musician whose name the outdoor space bears.<\/span><\/p>\n The program began last June and will continue through mid-August. The common thread running through the schedule is that all of the invited artists shared stages, recordings or a direct artistic relationship with <\/span>Ray Blue<\/span><\/a>, the tenor saxophonist, educator and cultural ambassador who for decades carried the name of Peekskill to stages around the world. This, in addition to promoting musical activities within his own community.<\/span><\/p>\n The series began June 27 with <\/span>T.K. Blue<\/span><\/a> and his project <\/span>Planet Bluu<\/span><\/i>. Recognized by <\/span>Downbeat Magazine<\/span><\/i>, the saxophonist and flutist has participated in festivals and performances in countries such as Senegal and Morocco, in addition to appearing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. <\/span><\/p>\n The program will then continue this Saturday, July 18 with the Latin Jazz of <\/span>Bobby Sanabria<\/span><\/a>, a nine-time Grammy nominee and one of the genre\u2019s most prominent figures, whose career includes collaborations with legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente and Mongo Santamar\u00eda.<\/span><\/p>\n July 25 will bring the <\/span>Sharp Radway Quartet<\/span><\/a>, led by the pianist and prot\u00e9g\u00e9 of the celebrated Randy Weston. Throughout his career, Radway has shared the stage with musicians such as Randy Brecker, Yusef Lateef, Diane Schuur and Bennie Golson. His work, deeply influenced by gospel music and church traditions, has been recognized by the specialized publication <\/span>All About Jazz<\/span><\/i> for the spirituality and authenticity of his artistic expression.<\/span><\/p>\n The program will continue Aug. 8 with <\/span>Winard Harper and the Jeli Posse<\/span><\/a>. Considered one of the most outstanding drummers of his generation, Harper has worked alongside essential names in jazz history, including Dexter Gordon, Betty Carter and Pharoah Sanders. His music, according to specialized biographies, moves from African and Caribbean traditions to Afro-Cuban sounds, without losing the hard bop core that defines much of his work.<\/span><\/p>\n The series will culminate Aug. 15 with a special concert dedicated to Ray Blue\u2019s birthday. Guitarist <\/span>Jeff Barone<\/span><\/a> will lead the performance alongside members of the Ray Blue Band, interpreting part of the Peekskill saxophonist\u2019s repertoire. The evening will begin with a performance by the <\/span>Cross Cultural Connection<\/span><\/a> ensemble, composed of former students of Blue who continue developing the educational and musical legacy of their mentor.<\/span><\/p>\n For the organizers, the main goal of the series is to bring jazz to new audiences and turn it into a tool for community gathering. \u201cWe are pleased to be able to bring the joy of jazz to people,\u201d said <\/span>Riitta Blue<\/span><\/a>, executive director of Cross Cultural Connection and the musician\u2019s widow. \u201cMy late husband Ray Blue traveled the world performing and teaching jazz,\u201d she added while highlighting that these concerts represent one of the spaces where his cultural legacy remains most alive.<\/span><\/p>\n Randy Klein, a member of the organization\u2019s board of directors and chief executive officer of the Jazzheads Records label, noted that the series makes it possible to once again bring together musicians who shared stages and recording studios with Ray Blue. \u201cIt is great to see so many of the artists who recorded and performed with Ray Blue coming together in this summer series,\u201d he said. He also explained that the organization seeks to use music as a gateway to artistic creation, education and cultural appreciation for audiences of all ages.<\/span><\/p>\n For her part, Mayor <\/span>Vivian C. McKenzie<\/span><\/a> underscored the significant impact the program could have on downtown during the summer months. \u201cDowntown Peekskill is friendly and accessible, and we hope this jazz music series brings visitors and local people together for some good summer fun and listening enjoyment,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n All concerts are scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. and will take place outdoors at Ray Blue Way, although they may be moved inside Bean Runner Caf\u00e9 in the event of inclement weather or technical requirements from the artists. For more information about the series or to make a reservation, readers may contact 914-737-1701 or visit the website <\/span>www.beanrunnercafe.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source peekskillherald.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A corner of Peekskill will become a stage. During five Saturdays this summer, musicians, neighbors and visitors will share a common language: jazz. Between Brown Street and South Division Street, the space known as Ray Blue Way will host a new edition of the concert series organized by Bean Runner Caf\u00e9 and Cross Cultural Connection. 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