Two Weeks Left of Tuesday Night Asser Levy Concerts

With the announcements of the free summer concerts happening around Southern Brooklyn, one series got lost in the shuffle — the swing shuffle, that is.

New York City Council Member for the 47th District, Domenic Recchia, Jr., also hosts concerts at Asser Levy Park. Like the Thursday night Seaside  concerts, the Tuesday night concerts are a lot of fun. But the Tuesday night version is on a much (much, much) smaller scale than the Thursday counterpart.

The events listing encourages attendees to “come early so you can get a seat near the front.” Actually, based on last week’s turnout for the MAS Swing Band on August 18, it’s pretty safe to say that you can come as late as you want and still get a seat close to the bandshell.

The season is drawing to a close, but tonight the Latin-influenced Funk, Jazz, and R & B group, the Brawner Brothers Band is scheduled to perform. Tuesday, August 25, would have been the last event for the summer, but inclement weather this past July 21 caused the performance of Kenny Vance and The Planotones to be postponed until September 1, 2009. Consider that a bonus performance.

At the Tuesday concerts there are no posted signs or warnings about not taking pictures, so when the M.A.S. Swing Music band’s namesake, Marie Stack, invited everyone up to be added to the mailing list, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to get a close-up of the conductor, Dave Bennett, in action.

The 16-piece band (the band might have been minus a few performers that evening) entertained the appreciative crowd with Jazz and Swing classics like Gene Krupa’s “Sing, Sing, Sing“. There were a few couples taking advantage of the live entertainment by dancing on the concrete near the bandshell.

This summer the following performances were also scheduled: George Gee Swing Orchestra; Alessandra Guercio; Rhapsody Players “Mostly Motown”; Eddie & The Starlites; and the Ray Rivera Jazz Sextet. So, keep the Asser Levy Park Tuesday lineup in mind for next year and shuffle  on over tonight to see the Brawner Brothers Band and next week to see one of the founding members of Jay and the Americans — the band that brought “This Magic Moment” to gold record status.