LIVERPOOL — The 35th annual Liverpool Is The Place Summer Concert Series climaxes with a riveting performance by guitarist Mark Doyle & The Maniacs at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9.
Recordings released by Doyle’s British-style blues band has won three Syracuse Area Music Awards over the years. Doyle himself has been inducted into the Sammys Hall of Fame.
While the Maniacs play the final concert for LITP, three additional concerts have been booked in the park this month by independent producers.
JASS Jam Session (Aug. 11)
Dixieland takes center stage at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, when the Jazz Appreciation Society of Syracuse stages an open jam session. JASS President Bobby Morris, a Liverpool-based trombonist, will coordinate the two-hour session.
All musicians and vocalists — including students — are invited to check in with Morris and sit in with the JASS rhythm section. In case of inclement weather, the jam session will be rescheduled to Wednesday, Aug. 18.
“We’re going to hearken back to the days of the summer JASS picnics that were held outdoors,” Morris said.
The musicians will improvise on New Orleans standards such as “Bourbon Street Parade,” “Bill Bailey” and “Basin Street Blues.”
The Jazz Appreciation Society of Syracuse was founded 49 years ago to promote New Orleans-style jazz in Central New York. The JASS jam sessions traditionally conclude with the tune “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
For JASS info, visit jasscny.org or call Morris at 315-439-3435.
Power of Two (Aug. 15)
The Power of Two — the eclectic combo formed by Patrick McCarroll and Gwen McCarroll — are calling their event “a celebration of life.” When they plug in at Johnson Park at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, they’ll celebrate the return of live music and mass gatherings, but they’ll also celebrate Patrick’s successful liver-transplant operation last year.
Donations will be accepted for DonateLife NY to encourage awareness of transplant organ donations, Patrick said.
“We’ll play a mix of rock and country, old and new, covers and originals, vocals and guitars, bass and harmonica,” he added.
The husband-and-wife duo will be accompanied by band members Chuck Eagan, Mike Russ and L.E. Ott.
The audience can expect to hear tunes such as “Ring of Fire” and “Jackson,” as well as some originals such as “Roller Coaster,” “Ride Like the Wind” and “Tamarack Blues.”
Mario DeSantis Orchestra (Aug. 23)
When the venerable Mario DeSantis Orchestra takes the stage at Johnson Park at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23, vocalist Keith Condon — who was raised in Liverpool — will celebrate 44 years of singing with the big band.
The orchestra has been actively performing for an amazing 74 years, and is now led by Maria DeSantis, vocalist daughter of the late bandleader.
As a singer, Condon coolly complements DeSantis’ vibrant vocals making their duets highlights of their concerts.
“Singing barbershop harmonies with my brothers as kids really helped me to be able to sing duets with Maria,” Condon says.
Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway’s “Where is the Love?” is one of the songs Condon and DeSantis often sing together as well as “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” popularized by James Ingram and Patti Austin.
“Singing in front of this orchestra made up of the best players in the area,” Condon said, “well, it just doesn’t get any better.”
Several other talented singers will appear with the orchestra here on Aug. 23. They include Gary Branch, Mike Ranalli and opera singer Nick Blaney, who happens to be a member of the Liverpool Central School District Board of Education.
