What I Did Over Summer Vacation

Friends back home on the prairie occasionally like to compare my Manhattan rent to their mortgages, as if people in New York pay astronomical fees to stay inside. This summer has been a good one for going outside, with a trove of free concerts to bask in. Two great WFMU-sponsored shows - Sonic Youth and The Feelies at Battery Park on the Fourth of July and The Ex with Getatchew Mekurya at Lincoln Center Out of Doors on August 20th - topped the list

Four days after the Ethiopunk explosion, punk and jazz fused with country on the same stage with a great set by The Knitters, followed by bassist Charlie Haden's new country revue, featuring an off-the-hook band including Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush and Jim Mills, with vocals by the Haden triplets (including FMU fave Petra), his son Josh (of the band Spain). Douglas and Bush also joined Patti Smith and her band (including son Jackson - it was family night) for "(Smells Like) Teen Spirit." This is why we live in New York.

Also this summer: Fennesz and Ryuichi Sakamoto at the World Financial Center Winter Garden; Gang Gang Dance, Black Dice and Battles at Central Park's Summerstage; the Fiery Furnaces at East River Park; Susie Ibarra at the Museum of Modern Art; and Deerhoof at the Prospect Park Bandshell in Brooklyn. To name a few. It's been a good summer.

But the equinox isn't until September 22, and Arts for Art / RUCMA is hosting a series of shows in community gardens over the next two weeks, including many of New York's best improvisors. Hold on to the summer, friends. Follow the jump for two dozen more free concerts.

Patti Smith photo by Kevin Yatarola. 

    SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

12:30 to 3:30 pm: Manhattan (LES)
Parque de Tranquilidad: 4th St. between Ave. C & D
-Workshop led by Daniel Levin
-Improvising Strings led by Cristian Amigo (guitar) with
Daniel Levin (cello), Francois Grillot (bass) and David Moss (bass)
-Cooper Moore Solo

2:15 to 4:45 pm: Manhattan (LES)
6BC Botanical Garden: 6th St. between Ave. B & C
-Diana Wayburn (flute), Ken Silverman (guitar) and
Kevin Ray (bass)
-Workshop led by Jason Kao Hwang
-Jason Kao Hwang (violin), Todd Nicholson (bass) and
Zen Matsuura (drums)
-Rob Brown solo

3 to 5 pm: Manhattan (Hell's Kitchen)
Clinton Community Garden: 48th St. between 9 & 10 Ave
        -Dave Sewelson (bari sax) and Darius Jones (alto sax)
        -Brad Farberman (guitar) and Chris DiMeglio (trumpet)
        -Open Jam!

2 to 5 pm: Brooklyn (Bedford-Stuyvesant)
Target Community Garden: Bedford Ave. & Dekalb Ave.
-The Firefly Collective: Ophra Wolf, Tatyana Tenenbaum &
Danica Holoviak (movement), Lorenzo Sanguedolce (tenor sax), Chris DiMeglio (trumpet), Tom Zlabinger (bass) and Tim Bulkley (drums)
-Ahmed Abdullah (trumpet) and Monique NGozi Nri (poetry)
-Workshop

    SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

12:30 to 4 pm: Manhattan (LES): 6th Street and Avenue B Garden
-Workshop led by Steve Swell
-Charles Gayle (alto sax) / Jackson Krall (drums)
-Dom Minasi (guitar) / Steve Swell (trombone)

2 to 5 pm: Manhattan (LES)
El Jardin del Paraiso E. 4th and 5th Streets betw. Ave. C & D
-Steve Dalachinsky, Miriam Parker and others

2 to 5 pm: Brooklyn (Bedford-Stuyvesant)
Hattie Carthan Community Garden:  Clifton Ave. & Marcy Ave.
-Workshop led by Fay Victor
-Kyoko Kitamura (vocals), Khabu Doug Young (guitar + ukelele)
+ Special Guest
-Fay Victor (vocals) & Anders Nilsson (guitar)

2 to 5 pm: Brooklyn (Crown Heights)
Walt L. Shamel Garden: Dean St. betw. Bedford and Franklin Ave.
-Despers USA (Steel Drum Group)
-Sabir Mateen (reeds), Hilliard Greene (bass) and Zen Matsuura
-Soundpainting workshop: Lorenzo Sangueldolce and Eric Eigner

2 to 5 pm: Brooklyn (Red Hook)
Red Hook Community Farm: Corner of President & Van Brunt St.
-Two Sisters: Dave Sewelson (bari sax), Claire Daly (bari sax),
Dave Hofstra (bass)
-Otic Band: Dave Sewelson (bari sax), Todd Nicholson (bass),
Mike Golub (drums)
-Peoples Revolutionary Party: James Keepnews (guitar),
Daniel Carter (reeds), Ras Moshe (reeds), Tom Chess (reeds),  Matt Lavelle (trumpet), Nick Gianni (bari sax), Welf Dorr (alto sax), Ted McEvoy (el. bass), Mike Golub (drums)

2 to 5 pm: Brooklyn (Windsor Terrace)
East Fourth Street Community Garden
East 4th Street between Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue
-Gerald Cleaver (drums)
-Roy Nathanson (reeds)
-Jean Carla Rodea (vocals) and David Moss (bass)

For more info, check the RUCMA orVision websites.