CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE MAP TO RUMSEY PLAYFIELD.

“GMA’s Summer Concert Series” begins off this Friday, May 21 with the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato performing songs from the highly anticipated “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.”  Fans interested in joining “GMA” in Central Park are encouraged to arrive at Summerstage Rumsey Playfield via the 72nd Street entrance on Fifth Avenue at 6 a.m., when the park opens to the public.

All concerts are free and open to the public and will take place live during “Good Morning America,” Fridays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET. Additional dates and acts will be announced throughout the summer. Concerts scheduled-to-date include the following:

May:
May 21 — Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, Camp Rock 2
May 28 — Sugarland

June:
June 4 — Diddy– Dirty Money
June 11 – Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan
June 18 — Miley Cyrus
June 25 — Alicia Keys

July:
July 2 – Mary J. Blige
July 9 – To Be Announced
July 16 – The GO-GO’S
July 23 – Sheryl Crow
July 30 — Black Eyed Peas

August:
Aug. 6 — To Be Announced
Aug. 13 — Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, Camp Rock 2
Aug. 20 — Rihanna
August 27 — Lady Antebellum

Hosted by the National Parks Conservation Association and PBS, “Feel Free: A National Parks Celebration in Central Park”  featured highlights from Ken Burns’s new PBS documentary, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” (premiering September 27 on PBS) and musical acts by an array of talented performers. The live show from East Meadow in Central Park was shared via satellite to PBS affiliates and other partners assembled in various locations around the country.

Feel Free: A National Parks Celebration in Central Park

Pavement performing at SummerStage in 2010

A benefit concert to support the full season of free programs at Central Park SummerStage.

After years of speculation, the most important American band of the Nineties is returning to the stage with the lineup of Mark Ibold, Scott “Spiral Stairs” Kannberg, Stephen Malkmus, Bob Nastanovich and Steve West reuniting for dates around the world in 2010. Please be advised this tour is not a prelude to additional jaunts and/or a permanent reunion.

Described in their own Wikipedia entry as having experienced “moderate commercial success,” Pavement’s catalog for the Matador, Domino, Drag City and Treble Kicker imprints has come to define in the eyes of many the blueprint for independent rock over the past generation. An evidentiary compilation release is planned to coincide with the touring sometime in 2010.

The first show announced is a New York performance on September 21, 2010 at Central Park SummerStage. The general on-sale is slated for 10:00 AM EDT on Friday, September 25, 2009. Please note that tickets will be available without surcharges from the Nokia Theatre box office in Times Square and from Earwax at 218 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg.

While Bettye Lavatte‘s career may have taken a number of unexpected turns along the way – but her performance in Central Park’s SummerStage last Friday clearly proved that she taken that life experience into a formidable repertoire of vocal skills.  She can belt out a big number with all the exuberance of any of the great soul divas – and then bring the crowd close to tears with a civil rights anthem.  Her ability to combine musical sensibilities and styles, while taking the audience with her every step of the way,  is a tribute to not only her huge talent – but also a heart just as big to go along with it.

The first set featured Nathan Gunn with an assured and evocative vocal interpretation of Copland’s “Old American Songs”.  As the light waned the crows settled back and enjoyed the music, gray skies notwithstanding.  By the beginning of the second set, Mahler’s First Symphony, the sun had set.  The slow build up of the orchestral work was mirrored by the dropping pressure and rising wind.  One dramatic crescendo was reached almost simultaneously as a impressive bolt of lightning cracked across the south end of the Great Lawn.  Unfortunately this also heralded the coming onslaught of summer showers and soon afterwards Mr. Gilbert was forced, grudgingly to give o’er to the growing storm.  This also meant no fireworks, besides those provided by nature.

The event, as ever, amazed me by the almost effortless manner in which 40,000 plus people enter the park, settle themselves and share one of New York City’s most special traditions.  Special kudos also to the New York Philharmonic  organization for their brilliant management of the event.

The 55-year-old – a Bethesda Fountain fixture whose real name is Stephen Kaufman – was apparently the target of a Central Park Conservancy crackdown on music played at “quiet zones” that include the fountain plaza.

Clad in loincloth, sandals and headress Thoth combines violin, percussions and an eerily eching voice to create what he calls a “prayformance.” He’s in the tunnel by the Angel of the Waters Fountain every afternoon from Wednesday through Sunday, year-round.  After park police officers told Thoth to move along Sunday, he and his assistant Zoe Harkin, 21, aka Pink Angel, decided to at least perform their opening prayer, Anya.

Singing in a trance, they ignored cops’ orders to stop. When the song was over, they were summarily hauled off and charged with disorderly conduct, area use restriction and failure to comply with an officer. They’re due in court Aug. 27.

While I can certainly understand the Conservancy’s point, it is a crowded area and the masses of people that collect for the performances make visiting the Fountain much like a rugby scrum on weekends.  I also don’t much care for the rather arch histrionics of Mr. Kaufman’s performance.  On the other hand – you can’t help but think that there might have been any number of better ways that this could have been dealt with, besides leading the man away in handcuffs.  He’s been a fixture in the park for years, surely some accommodation could have been made that didn’t include police intervention.  After all, it’s not as if he had a major wardrobe malfunction – that is if you accept the fact that his costume doesn’t constitute a misdemeanor in the first place.

Alan Gilbert, Music Director Designate- the Philharmonic in Central Park

The orchestra will be performing Copland’s Old American Songs, with the second set featuring Nathan Gunn and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. There will not be any Mozart Arias. The Philharmonic is also inviting audience members to “Vote for Your Encore” via text message. The winning selection will be announced by Alan Gilbert and performed for the conclusion of the concert. As always the fireworks display will immediately follow.

It was the Duke Ellington Center for the Arts that hosted the  unprecedented event featuring the Duke Ellington Big Band and the 14 grand pianos on the Great Mall. Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of the Duke and the shows producer, performed brilliantly as the show’s MC.  The event also paid personal tribute to Bobby Short, the famous pianist who, 14 years ago on the same date, unveiled the Duke Ellington Statue at Fifth Avenue and 110th Street.