Reeves-Reed Arboretum Awarded Grant from The Summit Foundation for Summer Concert Series
REEVES-REED ARBORETUM AWARDED GRANT FROM THE SUMMIT FOUNDATION FOR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
SUMMIT, NJ Summer performances will be in full swing at Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit, New Jersey thanks to a $5,000 grant from The Summit Foundation in support of its 2023 Sounds of a Summer Night performing arts series. “We are pleased to support the Reeves-Reed Arboretum concert series providing the public with memorable evenings of music throughout the summer amidst their extraordinary gardens,” stated Dana Turk, President of The Summit Foundation. The performances are on select Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and will begin July 12.
Upcoming schedule:
July 12 – Get jazzed in the garden with the MRB Jazz Project! The trio, Michael Alan Pasqua (piano), Bruce Riccitelli (drums), and Justin Lee (bass), will perform contemporary interpretations of the Great American Songbook to sultry bossa novas and classic jazz standards. The trio has been providing classic jazz since 2005, performing in a wide variety of venues. From romantic ballads to up-tempo swing tunes, be-bop to jazz waltzes, MRB Jazz Project weaves a diverse tapestry of music to appeal to a wide variety of musical tastes.
July 26 – Country rocker Nikki Briar will get your boots stompin’ and hands clappin’ in the garden this summer, guaranteed! This proud Garden State Cowgirl has the heart of a country music superstar and has had the honor of performing with or opening for national southern rock and country acts including Lindsay Ell, Blackberry Smoke, Tim McGraw, Keifer Sutherland, Jerrod Niemann, the Marshall Tucker Band, Lorrie Morgan, the Outlaws, Blackhawk, Steven Lee Olson, Big Country, and many more.
August 23 – The Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre will bring the garden to life with Spanish culture and the history of its traditional dances in this special performance in the Azalea Garden. Through dance, drama, and music, Alborada’s passionate artistry reveals the many diverse and historical threads that comprise the multicultural fabric of dance culture. Both entertaining and educational, the variety of its repertoire runs the artistic gamut from Spanish Gypsy Flamenco and Spanish classical and regional dances to cross cultural programs celebrating Hispanic, Celtic, and Moorish influences and beyond. The Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre is a non-profit organization in New Jersey that is committed to sharing the rich diversity of Spanish cultural heritage through fully staged theater productions, Arts-in-Education programming, and outdoor festivals. The theatre is also a member of Dance New Jersey, an association of leading dance companies promoting dance arts in the Garden State.
August 29 – The Arboretum welcomes back singer-songwriter Sahara Moon who will serenade you in the garden with her silvery song and indie flair. Inspired by artists Norah Jones and Brandi Carlile, Moon incorporates a mix of folk, jazz, blues and vulnerability within her lyrics and acoustic guitar techniques. Hailing from the Jersey Shore area, Sahara Moon has been busy making a name for herself in the NY/NJ/Philadelphia region and more recently in Nashville. She kicked off 2020 with two single releases, "Everything Will Be Alright" and "Beauty In A Rose," off her debut album Worthy. She has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with national acts, including Blackberry Smoke, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, Nick Perri & The Underground Thieves, Stephen Kellop, and the Robert Cray Band.
September 13* - One Fine Tapestry is a tribute concert to one of the true legends in pop music – Carole King! She made history with her milestone album, Tapestry, and with the multitude of timeless classics she wrote for many musicians of the 1960s and 1970s. Gerard and Diane Barros’ performance will include Carole King’s own hits, as well as a selection of chart toppers she composed for popular artists including the Drifters, Beatles, Shirelles, Monkees, Chiffons, James Taylor and more.
Concertgoers are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets and arrive at 6 pm to enjoy the gardens and picnic before each concert begins at 7 pm sharp (*with the exception of the September 13 concert that will begin at 6 pm with the grounds opening at 5 pm). All performances are rain or shine and will move indoors if there is inclement weather. Reeves-Reed Arboretum members and children under 3 are free. The cost for non-members is $15 and $5 for students. For details, visit reeves-reedarboretum.org.
The Summit Foundation serves the community by growing and granting philanthropic resources to address local needs. In the past 10 years, it has invested $9.6 million through grants, scholarships, community-supported funds, and donor-advised distributions.
Celebrating over 40 years as a historic public garden and education resource, Reeves-Reed Arboretum engages, educates, and enriches the public through horticulture and environmental education, and the care and utilization of the gardens and estate. Open 7 days a week, the Arboretum is listed on both the National and New Jersey State Historic Registers. Funding for RRA has been made possible in part by the NJ Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State, through a grant administered by the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Dept. of Parks & Community Renewal.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum....a place to grow, for everyone!
