(PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ) -- West Windsor Arts is once again presenting its "Summer Music and More" series of three free concerts at Nassau Park Pavilion (behind Panera Bread) in Princeton. The series offers three distinct concerts, representing different genres of music, in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Each event also features art activities that both kids and adults will enjoy.

Save the dates for these three uniquely different concerts at Nassau Park Pavilion, with modern cellist Dan Kassel opening for each performance. Dan is a versatile cellist who performs in a variety of ensembles ranging from classical to electronica, jazz and rock. As a solo artist, Dan has made a name for himself with his innovative approach to live-looping technology. By tapping, plucking and bowing on his instrument and recording each layer to play back in real time, he’s built a career as a one-man-band who provides soulful, original music for weddings, fine restaurants, private parties, corporate events and more. Music will begin at 5:00pm with Dan’s opening sets, and the featured performances will begin at 6:00pm. All concerts are free and open to the public!

Saturday, July 13, 2024 - El Noordzo 5:00pm to 7:30pm (Rain date July 14).  El Noordzo will perform their instrumental, psychedelic, Afro-Cuban surf-jazz interpretations of classic rock, punk and alternative songs. The trio has been thrilling audiences in the tri-state area since 2013. They’ve released two records of original music on NACHT records in 2015, the self-titled debut and the infamous Shark Funeral Songbook in 2015. Band leader Mike Noordzy teaches privately at Rutgers University, Middlesex College, Hudson Music Studios and Speak Music Conservatory. Mike also composes music for film and runs the experimental music label NACHT records. He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Jazz Performance from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. Expect the unexpected when El Noordzo comes to town!

Saturday, July 27, 2024 - Rini 5:00pm to 7:30pm (Rain date July 28). Rini will perform her own version of Indian Jazztronica. Shifting South Asian classical elements toward pop and jazz sensibilities in a refreshing, organic way, New Jersey based, Chennai born singer, composer and violinist Harini “Rini” Raghavan draws from her formal training in Carnatic music and work at Berklee College of Music to bring together sounds and music of her birthplace in India and her home in the US. She leads a group of acclaimed NYC based musicians from different countries that add their unique musical influences to create ‘a powerful contemporary Carnatic/electronic fusion sound’ as described by Rolling Stone India. Rini received a 2023 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, is a part of the 2023 Grammy nominated record ‘Shuruaat’ by the Berklee Indian Ensemble and 2023 Global Music Awards Silver Medalist for her song ‘Magizhini’.

Saturday, August 10, 2024 - The Dukes of Destiny 5:00pm to 7:30pm (Rain date August 11). Dukes of Destiny will perform the blues. In 1985, five young, local musicians got together and began playing old blues songs in a rambling three-story house in Philadelphia. A couple of other people joined in, and they decided to take the act on the road as The Dukes of Destiny, a name they got from a matchbook cover urging the reader to “Be the Captain of Your Own Destiny.” There have been changes over the years, but today they are led by dynamic harmonica player and singer John Colgan-Davis with Adam Darer on keys, Richard Ray Adler on guitar and vocals, Mike Blair on bass, and Mike O’Rourke on drums. The Dukes continue to present an exciting mix of powerful original songs and unique arrangements of blues and soul standards. They remain Philadelphia’s longest lived and best loved blues band.

“We are really excited to be bringing our popular music series back for another year. We’ve been staging summer concerts at the Nassau Park Pavilion for several years, featuring a variety of musical genres. People look forward to them, and so do we!” says Green.

For more information about the summer music series, and other events at West Windsor Arts, click here.

The West Windsor Arts Council offers art and cultural events, workshops, and classes for all ages and in all disciplines at the West Windsor Arts Center and in the community.

 

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