Raissa!

Back to “Cool”

by rosslacy on August 25, 2011

Back to "Cool"

 

THE CONCERTS AT TUDOR CITY GREENS CONTINUES ON SEPTEMBER 7
 
“BACK TO COOL” IS FOURTH IN SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
 
JOINING HOST RAISSA KATONA BENNETT ARE JOHN DIPINTO, NATALIE DOUGLAS, KEVIN DOZIER, KENNETH GARTMAN, TERESE GENECO, SEAN HARKNESS & MIKE HERRIOTT, AND JIM VAN SLYKE
 
The Concerts at Tudor City Greens, the free outdoor concert series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, continues on Wednesday September 7 at 6:30pm. (Rain date: Thursday September 8 at 6:30pm.)  “Back to Cool,” features a diverse group of prominent singers and instrumentalists from the worlds of jazz, Broadway, and cabaret, including John DiPinto, Natalie Douglas, Kevin Dozier, Kenneth Gartman, Terese Genecco, duo Sean Harkness & Mike Herriott, and Jim Van Slyke.
 
Hosted and produced by the Broadway and cabaret veteran Raissa Katona Bennett, the series’ mission is to increase new audiences for live music while encouraging public and private organizations, and individual citizens to support and protect New York green spaces.
 
On August 4, Bennett announced a songwriting contest of songs celebrating New York’s parks and green spaces, and the different roles they play in the lives of New Yorkers.  Serving as judges for the contest, for which submissions will be accepted through December 31, 2011, are Neil Sedaka, Amanda McBroom, Ann Hampton Callaway, David Friedman, Michael John LaChiusa, and MTV executive Matthew Parillo.  The contest’s eight semifinalist songs will be performed throughout the 2012 summer season, and the finale, at Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency in the fall or winter of 2012, will showcase the contest’s top three songs. For contest information visit www.raissakatonabennett.com
 
 
The guest stars for “Back to Cool” on September 7 include the singers Natalie Douglas, and Kevin Dozier; the composer/singer Kenneth Gartman; big band innovator Terese Geneco; the jazz instrumentalists Sean Harkness and Mike Herriott; the ASCAP Award-winning songwriter Jim Van Slyke, and the jazz pianist John DiPinto. The concert’s guest accompanists are David Caldwell on piano and Cindy Gooden on bass.
 
The free outdoor series takes place at the South Park of Tudor City Greens Park (enter at Tudor City Place, between 41st & 42nd Streets, and 1st & 2nd Avenues). The series’ concludes, weather permitting, on Wednesday October 5 at 6:30pm.
 
Tudor City Greens is one of a small number of privately maintained public spaces in New York.  In May Bennett (Broadway in “Phantom of the Opera” national tours of “Cats” and “Parade”) won the 2011 MAC Award for hosting “The Concerts at Tudor City Greens.”
 
Tudor City, built in the late 1920′s, featured two neighborhood parks that were threatened by Helmsley developers in the 1970′s.  A successful grass roots campaign to preserve the parks was mounted by the residents to save their green spaces.  Today, the Tudor City Association and the non-profit tenants group, Tudor City Greens, www.tudorcitygreens.org continues the tradition of park preservation.
 
For more information visit: www.raissakatonabennett.com

 

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By checking this box, participant grants THE CONCERTS AT TUDOR CITY GREENS (TCATCG) full, unlimited rights to perform/record/post on website/publicize and promote the submitted song(s) in connection with this Contest, in all media, in all territories and in perpetuity. Authors grant these rights freely, without financial consideration. Ownership of submitted songs is retained by the authors, and all proceeds from the publication, performance and recording of these songs (outside of Contest) may benefit the authors, and be assigned by the authors, without prejudice to the Contest, and no such agreement or sale can supercede this agreement. Authors grant TCATCG the right to fundraise for itself, and other third parties. using the submitted song(s). Authors indemnify TCATCG against any claims arising from the voting, performance, and or publication of these songs, by its representatives or by third parties, in connection with the Contest. Authors agree to make every best effort to appear in the Contest, make themselves available for interviews, and or perform their song (if asked), and that there will be no financial remuneration for such appearances, and that all performances and/or appearances associated with TCATCG and the Contest are voluntary and for the benefit of TCATCG.
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Neil Sedaka
Rock 'n Roll legend, Songwriters Hall of Fame member, 2004 recipient of the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Popular Music, Brooklyn native Neil Sedaka has written countless #1 hits in a career spanning six decades.
Amanda McBroom
Concert performer, actress and award-winning songwriter, Amanda McBroom, is the author of the Golden Globe Award-winning song "The Rose," made famous by Bette Midler in the film of the same name. Besides Midler, Leanne Rimes, Barry Manilow, Judy Collins, Harry Belafonte, Betty Buckley, Barbara Cook, Stephanie Mills, Donny Osmond, and the Chipmunks have recorded her songs. With Michele Brourman she wrote the songs for "Land Before Time."
Ann Hampton Callaway
Multiplatinum-selling singer, songwriter and pianist, Callaway has composed songs for television, Broadway, Off-Broadway and numerous major singers, including Barbra Streisand ("Higher Ground," "I've Dreamed of You"), Liza Minnelli, Patti LuPone, Michael Feinstein, Carole King, and her sister Liz Callaway. Her TV themes include The Nanny, Day's End, Cabaret Beat, and The Jim J and Tammy Fay Show.
Michael John LaChiusa
The Tony-nominated Broadway and opera composer/lyricist and librettist responsible for "Hello Again," "Marie Christine," and "See What I Wanna See." In the 1999-2000 season, he had two shows on Broadway, "Marie Christine" and "The Wild Party," both of which received Tony nominations for Best Book and Best Original Score. His early success, "First Lady Suite," was produced by The Public in 1993. He wrote the book, with Graciela Daniele and Jim Lewis, of "Chronicle of a Death Foretold," for whish he received a Tony nomination for Best Book.
David Friedman
For the Today Show, this prolific songwriter writes a new song every month based on stories submitted by viewers for the "Everyone Has a Story" series. He's written hundreds of songs with Kathie Lee Gifford, with whom he co-produced two children's CD's, one of which is now a children's musical "Party Animals." His song "Your Love" went quadruple platinum when Diana Ross recorded it. His multiplatinum selling "Open Your Eyes to Love" was featured on the soundtrack of "the Lizzie McGuire Movie," and Allison Krauss sang his opening song on Disney's "Bambi" sequel.
Matthew Parillo
Vice president of production at MTV Studios, Matthew oversees the production of live events, concerts, reality series and documentaries, including MTV Live, Beach House, Spring Break, The Hills Live, House of Style and the Video Music Awards. In 15 years at the company he's worked on over 350 productions.
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