Free Lunchtime R&B Concerts Return To MetroTech On Thursday, June 7

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN – For more than two decades, BAM has livened up lunchtime each summer with its popular R&B Festival concert series at MetroTech Commons.

This year’s series of ten free afternoon shows kicks off on June 7 at 12pm, and will run every Thursday until August 9. Now in its 24th year, the R&B Festival continues to feature musical legends as well as emerging new artists performing R&B, jazz, soul—and even tap dancing.

“The summer concerts kick off on June 7th celebrating Bernard Purdie (aka ‘Pretty Purdie’)—the most recorded drummer in pop history,” Producer Danny Kapilian said in a statement announcing the season. “The concerts continues with Vivian Green bringing her great contemporary soul hits, and PJ Morton delivering his original pop-R&B from New Orleans. I’m also happy to introduce new artists Delgres, Ranky Tanky, and Jupiter & Okwess, each presenting their distinct new styles from France, South Carolina, and Congo.”

See the full BAM R&B Festival at MetroTech 2018 lineup below.

June 7 – Bernard Purdie’s All-Star Shuffle with guests Bobbi Humphrey and Quiana Lynell (the Hall of Fame drummer and creator of “the Purdie Shuffle” will be joined by the Grammy Award-winning jazz/R&B flutist, Humphrey, and the New Orleans-based jazz/blues/gospel vocalist Lynell)
June 14 – Savion Glover featuring Marcus Gilmore (the Tony Award-winning tap dancing star, Glover, performs with jazz drummer, Gilmore)
June 21 – PJ Morton (Grammy-nominated keyboard player, singer, and songwriter)
June 28 – Vivian Green (adult contemporary R&B recording artist best known for her 2002 album Vivian and the song “Gotta Go Gotta Leave”)
July 5 – Delgres (Parisian trio featuring Pascal Danae on guitar and vocals, Rafgee on sousaphone, and Baptiste Brondy on drums and vocals, performs contemporary Creole blues with an African flair)
July 12 – Amalgarhythm with Kris Davis and Terri Lyne Carrington (pianist/composer Davis is joined by the 3-time Grammy-winning drummer Carrington, who has worked with Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding, Valerie Simpson, and more)
July 19 – Jupiter & Okwess (the Congolese band performs a unique combination of traditional Congolese rhythms, Afropop, funk, and rock, with politically and socially-charged lyrics)
July 26 – Terence Blanchard featuring the E-Collective (Blanchard, a Grammy-winning trumpeter who has scored several Spike Lee films, will be accompanied by E-Collective, featuring Charles Altura on guitar; Fabian Almazan on piano and synthesizers; Oscar Seaton on drums; and David DJ Ginyard on bass)
August 2 – Ranky Tanky (the Charleston quintet featuring Quentin Baxter, Kevin Hamilton, Charlton Singleton, Clay Ross, and Quiana Parler, combines jazz, blues, and gospel with songs from the Gullah culture of America’s Southeast)
August 9 – Marcus Miller (two-time Grammy-winning composer/producer, Miller, is a legendary multi-instrumentalist who has performed and recorded with Miles Davis, Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross, and many more)

The free performances will be held Thursdays (rain or shine) from noon to 2pm at MetroTech Commons at MetroTech Center (at the corner of Flatbush and Myrtle Avenues) in Downtown Brooklyn.

Go to BAM.org for more info.