Category Archives: Music

Band Shell Concert at Sunset Park, Port Washington

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
July 27, 2014

It felt like stepping into a Norman Rockwell painting when I attended the John Philip Sousa Memorial Band Shell concert, complete with a friendly greeting from Port Washington’s Lions Club mascot, at Sunset Park, on Manhasset Bay, during a vibrant  July 11th sunset.

Port Washington, New York, U.S. July 11, 2014. Wearing a Lions Club  mascot costume, a Port Washington Lions Club member greets visitors before the outdoor band concert at John Philips Sousa Memorial Band Shell, in Sunset Park in n the North Shore village on Long Island Gold Coast. (© 2014 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Port Washington, New York, U.S. July 11, 2014. Wearing a Lions Club  mascot costume, a Port Washington Lions Club member greets visitors before the outdoor band concert at John Philips Sousa Memorial Band Shell, in Sunset Park in n the North Shore village on Long Island Gold Coast. (© 2014 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

The Port Washington Community Summer Concert Band, with Conductor AARON PRINDEL, presented the program “Red, White, and Youth” – including iconic patriotic songs and ones younger audience members easily recognized, such as the theme from Daft Punk’s Tron movie soundtrack.

Port Washington, New York, U.S. - July 11, 2014 - Audience gets ready to leave at end of night time outdoors band concert at John Philips Sousa Memorial Band Shell, at Sunset Park on Manhasset Bay in the North Shore village on Long Island Gold Coast. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Port Washington, NY, U.S. July 11, 2014. John Philips Sousa Memorial Band Shell concert, at Sunset Park on Manhasset Bay. (© 2014 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)


  • UPDATE

Port Washington Manhasset Bay Shores, 6/26/2015: PHOTO GALLERY

Port Washington, New York, USA. 26th June 2015. A young man, wearing cap backwards, is fishing as sunset approaches, on the Town Dock on the shores of Manhasset Bay in the North Shore village on Long Island Gold Coast. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Port Washington, New York, U.S.. June 26, 2015. A young man is fishing as sunset approaches, on the Town Dock on the shores of Manhasset Bay in the North Shore village on Long Island Gold Coast. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)


Band Shell Concert, Port Washington:  PHOTO GALLERY

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2011 Sweet Suzi & SugaFixx

Sweet Suzi & SugaFixx

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
November 1, 2011

Sweet Suzi & Sugafixx – Long Island’s scorching blues group starring vocalist SWEET SUZI SMITH – performed at the recent Merrick Street Fair.

Having stepped down as head of publicity for the MBCCA concert association, I expected to take a break from covering the performing arts, but Sweet Suzi & SugaFixx’s raw, powerful, emotional performance on stage outside RS Jones stopped me in my tracks.

Merrick, NY, USA. November 22, 2011. Blues singer Sweet Suzi Smith & guitarist John Puglisi

Merrick, N.Y., U.S. November 22, 2011. Blues singer SWEET SUZI SMITH & guitarist JOHN PUGLISI of ‘Sweet Suzi and Sugafixx’ at Merrick Street Fair. (© 2011 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

You never know what you’ll get at town fairs, where musical groups can be more notable for their enthusiasm than talent, but – Wow! – the passion, musicianship, and stage presence of Sweet Suzi & SugaFixx blew me away.

Curbdogs Guitarist JOHN PUGLISI (from right here in Merrick), bassist JOE PAGANO, and drummer RONNIE SCIASCIA are the sizzling SugaFixx in SWEET SUZI SMITH’s band.

And back at home, when googling them for caption info for their photos, I made to sure check their schedule of upcoming performances in the area.


Sweet Suzi & SugaFixx:  my photo GALLERY

Sweet Suzie Blues videos: @SWEETSUZIBLUES

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Merrick, N.Y., U.S. Nov. 13, 2010. Clarinetists Stanley Drucker and Naomic Drucker take curtain call after performing in concert presented by Merrick-Bellmore Community Concert Association. (© 2010 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

Stanley Drucker Concert 2010

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
November 20, 2010

Last Saturday, world-famous clarinetist STANLEY DRUCKER gave a concert presented by the Merrick Bellmore Community Concert Association at Calhoun High School. NAOMI DRUCKER, his wife and fellow clarinetist; and pianist MARILYN SHERMAN LEHMAN also performed, to the added delight of the audience.

MERRICK - NOV 13, 2010: Stanley Drucker, world famous Clarinetist formerly of New York Philharmonic for 60 years, performing during MBCCA concert (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. Nov. 13, 2010. Clarinetist STANLEY DRUCKER performs during concert presented by Merrick Bellmore Community Concert Association. (© 2010 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

While dropping off concert flyers at the Drucker home the week before the concert, I told Mrs. Drucker I’d like to take photos during concert night.

She looked up, smiling. “Since you’re a photographer,” she said, “you might enjoy our photos.”

What an understatement!

And suddenly I was on a fun and moving tour of photos, posters, and other artwork throughout their home, including guest bathroom – all which helped bring to life the professional musical careers of the Drucker family: dad Stanley and mom Naomi, classical musicians; son LEON, double bassist Lee Rocker for The Stray Cats; and daughter ROSANNE DRUCKER, alternative country singer.

Naomi Drucker is an enchanting wood sprite come to life, which made me look forward to the concert not only for the music, but for the chance to photograph such warm, charismatic Long Islanders.

Stanley Drucker, world famous clarinetist and former member of New York Philharmonic for 60 years, and Naomi Drucker, clarinetist and her wife, performing at MBCCA Concert, New York, November 13, 2010 (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. Nov. 13, 2010. L-R, Clarinetist NAOMI DRUCKER, pianist MARILYN SHERMAN LEHMAN, and clarinetist STANLEY DRUCKER perform at MBCCA Concert. (© 2010 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

It can be quite challenging to capture concert photos of instrumentalists, where about 95% of the photo is dark costumes, grand piano, and stage curtains and the rest is face, hands, and a tuxedo shirt that all seem to be about 9-light-stops away.

MERRICK - NOV. 13: Marilyn Sherman, pianist, after performing with Stanley Drucker and Naomi Druciker in concert presented by Merrick-Bellmore Community Concert Association, November 13, 2010, in Merrick, NY, USA (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. Nov. 13, 2010. Pianist MARILYN SHERMAN LEHMAN performs at concert presented by Merrick Bellmore Community Concert Assoc.  (© 2010 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

I used my Nikon D200 with Nikkor 18-200mm zoom lens, and did my best – including 1600 ISO and exposure compensation – but it’s motivated me to seriously consider getting the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, so I can use my Nikon D700 for similarly extreme lighting situations in future.

MERRICK - NOV. 13: Stanley Drucker, clarinetist; with (R) wife Naomic Drucker, with bouquet of flowers during curtain call after performing in concert presented by Merrick-Bellmore Community Concert Association, November 13, 2010, in Merrick, NY, USA (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. Nov. 13, 2010. Second from right, Clarinetist STANLEY DRUCKER signs autographs for young fans, and second from right is clarinetist NAOMI DRUCKER, after concert presented by Merrick Bellmore Community Concert Assoc. (© 2010 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Though Mr. Drucker retired last year after a stellar 60 year career with the New York Philharmonic, he remains an active international performer.

When I think about how our Merrick Bellmore Community Concert Association* was formed a few years after Mr. Drucker joined the NY Philharmonic, I’m in awe of his legendary career.

FYI from Long Island:  *MBCCA was founded in 1953 by Betty Mordoff Hendrix, my mother Mary Ann Parry, Leon Summit, and Bertha Winter.


FEATURE PHOTO (at top of post):  Merrick, N.Y., U.S. Nov. 13, 2010. Clarinetists Stanley Drucker and Naomi Drucker take curtain call after performing in concert presented by Merrick-Bellmore Community Concert Association. another view


Stanley Drucker Concert: my PHOTO GALLERY 

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