This & That (Aug 11-16)

Summer Sounds series, sponsored by the City of Middletown Commission on the Arts, continues this Tuesday with Bange's Jazz Jents playing music from the 40s and 50s at 7 p.m. in Union Park/South Green. The event, as always, is free and open to the public and, in the case of rain (always possible this summer), the event moves indoors to South Church.

Wednesday & the weather is supposed to be very nice. Good, because it's the evening of the 4th Annual Motorcycle Mania, held on Main Street from 5 - 9 p.m. The street will be filled with hundreds of motorcycles of all shapes and sizes, there will be live music from the Southern Comfort Band, plenty of food and fun for the entire family. Should there be rain, the event will be held on August 19. For more information, call the hard-working Cathy Duncan at the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce - her number is 347-6924.

The Cypress Restaurant & Grill continues its Patio Concerts series this Thursday evening at 7 p.m. with Basically Blues, a septet whose repertoire lives up to its name. This particular gig will be a little different as the ensemble will be joined for part of the evening by jazz vocalist and Middletown resident Kitty Kathryn. Sounds like fun - call 346-3367 for more information.

Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. in Yerberg Chapel on the campus of CT Valley Hospital (56 Holmes Drive), the Excellent Way Ministries presents the "Youth Hip Hop Explosion" featuring the "Rap Evangelist" Living Proof as well as Blood Brought, Diamond D.O.G., Dream Grizz and other local groups. For more information, call Pastor Lucille Clegg at 346-9451.

Boney's Music Lounge has a busy weekend planned. Friday evening, the Hartford area ensemble known as Nudirexion brings its smooth jazz/funky sounds to town. Formed by the trio of Lionel Lee (bass), Edmund Peart (drums, lead vocals) and Winston Fisher (guitar), they often add a keyboard player, saxophonist and/or second vocalist to fill out their already impressive sound. The music starts at 8:30 p.m.


Saturday evening, bassist Joe Fonda returns to town as part of the quartet known as KLARO!. The band is built around the trio of Karolina Strassmayer (pictured left, saxophone), Cary DeNigris (guitar) and Drori Mondlak (drums.) The Austrian-born saxophonist and DeNigris are long-time associates of legendary drummer Chico Hamilton and also perform in Mondlak's quartet. Ms. Strassmayer has worked with the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, Five Play, and trombonist Wycliffe Gordon. The quarter will be going into the studio 2 days after their Middletown appearance to record KLARO's 2nd CD. The music starts at 8:30 p.m. and goes until 12midnight. For more information, call 346-6000.