The Hippo Playground Project Presents: Hippo Playground Summer Concert Series!
August 9th – MIL’S TRILLS
Amelia Robinson is a Brooklyn-based children’s music project dedicated to creating positive inclusive experiences that strive to empower and embrace young audiences and families through music. www.milstrills.com
For up-to-date information about the performances follow:
Esther Crow is a NYC award-winning singer, songwriter, kids’ entertainer, puppeteer and member of the Recording Academy. She has been writing and performing music for many years (including with her rock band, The Electric Mess), but after her son’s birth, she became inspired to write music for children.
The Hippo Playground Project Presents: Hippo Playground Summer Concert Series!
Joanie Leeds is a Grammy-award winning musician best known for her work as children’s musical artist. Over the past decade, Joanie has won 1st place in the USA Songwriting Competition, an Independent Music Award, a GOLD Parent’s Choice Award, NAPPA GOLD Award, Family Choice Award and is a John Lennon Songwriting Competition Finalist and International Songwriting Competition Finalist.
Music, storytelling, and theater for young audiences up to age 7. Wear sunscreen. Stroller parking in designated area is mandatory.
July 13:MISTER G
MISTER G has released 12 albums of original, multicultural music and received numerous accolades including a Latin GRAMMY Award and five Parents’ Choice Gold Awards. He tours internationally headlining performing arts centers, festivals, and theaters, and his concerts weave together a wide variety of musical styles and languages, with original songs and stories inspired by his love of the natural world.
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
Bassist Cucho Martinez, originally a specialist on the maracas, has long made a name for himself in Latin jazz, having worked with many important artists including Horace Silver and Mongo Santamaria. He is perhaps best known for his 50-year partnership with the late, great percussionist Ray Mantilla. This concert features a sextet of longtime members of Mantilla’s groups.
Supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and by the Howard Gilman Foundation.
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
Music, storytelling, and theater for young audiences up to age 7. Wear sunscreen. Stroller parking in designated area is mandatory.
July 6:Divi Roxx Kids
A Divi Roxx Kids live show is a celebration of self-love and positivity for kids and families. The upbeat and sunny music is filled with powerful messages that encourage kids to become the best versions of themselves. Divinity Roxx has gained attention in the family music scene with her infectious bass beats and unique approach to meaningful music for kids and families, especially with her Grammy nominated debut family music album Ready, Set, Go!
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
Make Music New York is a unique festival of free concerts in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Celebrate the longest day of the year with free performances in Riverside Park South.
Philadelphia native Nick Marziani is a rising force in today’s music scene. Drawing inspiration from all sides of his musical upbringing, Nick’s songs combine the soulfulness and colors of jazz with the upbeat grooves of dance, pop and R&B music. Influenced by the improvisational prowess of Michael Brecker to the funky grooves of Grover Washington, Jr., Nick’s playing brings a fresh, unique perspective to the saxophone in the Philly and New York jazz scenes.
Under the tutelage of saxophone legends Donny McCaslin and Jaleel Shaw, Nick graduated in 2022 from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, and in the same year won the DownBeat Magazine Award for Blues, Pop and Rock Soloist. Nick’s bright, soulful saxophone can be heard at venues throughout the NYC/Philly areas and is available to stream on all platforms.
Krystofer Maison (he/they) is a New York City based entertainer, songwriter, and activist in the LGBTQ+, substance use, and mental health spaces. He is a classically-trained singer, most influenced by theater and the androgynous rock icons of the ’80s. Known for his soaring range and precision vocal control as well as comedy between sets, Krystofer brings audiences on a memorable emotional journey.
Krystofer produced and released his EP Libera Me in 2021, featuring songs about the queer experience and self-acceptance. They are currently in development of their alt-rock album CORONATION, a love letter to Krystofer’s mental health journey and living unapologetically yourself.
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
Get out to the park and kick off the weekend with some local sounds at this monthly musical get-happy hour.
May 26: Austin Zhang Austin Zhang is a jazz saxophonist, electronic musician, and composer based in New York City. Zhang graduated from the Manhattan School of Music on scholarship and went on to perform with giants of jazz music: Terri Lyne Carrington, Wycliffe Gordon, the Mingus Big Band, and others. Zhang’s saxophone has been heard at such venues as Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Newport Jazz Festival. Austin uses his music as a communication medium to further social and environmental causes.
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be cancelled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
Get out to the park and kick off the weekend with some local sounds at this monthly musical get-happy hour.
Hailing from Harlem, Troy Weekes is a singer/songwriter, actor, dancer, and MC, and performing since the age of 14. When not working on his own project, he can be seen performing with his band Ji- Groove and hosting events all across America. He is currently working on his first EP project, Not yet titled, under the new genre and style he created called *Soul & B. Blending gospel, neo-soul, and R&B, Troy Weekes has a story to tell and he pulls you right in with him each and every time he performs.
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
Enjoy vibrantly-danceable live music accompanied by spectacular sunsets over the Hudson River! Amplified Sundays take place each Sunday in July.
Itai Kriss, a Grammy nominated recording artist praised by Jazzwax as “one of the most exciting new flutist-composers” on the scene, commands a variety of musical genres with an eclectic style infused with Jazz, Latin and Middle Eastern sounds.
After spending the past 20 years working at the forefront of New York City’s Jazz scene while performing, recording and touring with some of the world’s top Afro-Cuban, Latin and Salsa artists, flute virtuoso Itai Kriss fuses the sounds of his native Israel with those of his adopted homelands in the Americas to create TELAVANA. From the desert shores of Israel to the tropical beaches of Cuba, TELAVANA bridges the musical spheres of the Middle East and the Caribbean by combining Timba, Soul, North African music and Jazz to create a unique and lively mix of rhythms and textures.
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
Enjoy vibrantly-danceable live music accompanied by spectacular sunsets over the Hudson River! Amplified Sundays take place each Sunday in July.
July 9th: Falsa
Based in New York City and under the “Falsa” banner, a diverse array of improvisational World musicians rooted in 14th century Sufi music (Indian/Persian classical mysticism similar to Rumi’s elevating poetry) offer experiences that range from Minimalist Meditative to Raga Jazz Fusion to high energy World Improvisation that gets you moving. Through music, Falsa communicates reverence for the most magical aspects of experience that are gifts and not acquisitions, as Sufi music is not about means to ends, but about meaning and transcendence.
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
Enjoy vibrantly-danceable live music accompanied by spectacular sunsets over the Hudson River! Amplified Sundays take place each Sunday in July.
Aboubacar Dembele, bass player/percussionist son of renowned Malian musician Bamba Dembele, traveled to the United States in 2000 to record music and made his home in New York City. Danaya Band was founded by Aboubacar in 2017; its body of music is steeped in the energy and rhythms of Malian, Bambara, Mandingo, Afrobeat, Reggae music and more.
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
