2012 Densmore Summer Series
All Concerts are Sunday Evening at 7 PM

June 24th - Dan Hammond, with guest singer Jessica Pierce
As the director of the River Rat Rhythm Project Steel Drum Band and the Alexandria Central School Mardi Gras Spirit Band, Daniel Hammond has made a career out of thinking differently and bringing the worlds best party music to the North Country. North Country Idol finalist Jessica Pierce is newer to the NNY music scene. She has been a frequent guest with area bands and is turning heads wherever she is heard. Together they are “Tongue and Groove” the newest duo on the music scene.

July 1st - Jordan Davidson accompanied by Toni Zydaglo
Hailing from Philadelphia, NY, tenor, Jordan Davidson recently graduated fro the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY with a Bachelors of Music degree in Music Education. Mr. Davidson performs frequently throughout the North Country for weddings, funerals, church services and community events, one being for the Secretary of the Army. Jordan has been awarded first place in NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) CNYFL Chapter Eastern Regional Competitions in both genres of classical and musical theatre. Not only does Jordan perform classically and music theatre, but he also sings pop, rock and R&B with the all male a cappella group, The Potsdam Counterpoints. In December Jordan sang the Evangelist in the first part of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with the Crane Choir and Symphony Orchestra. He plans on continuing his study at the Crane School of Music for his Master’s of Music degree in Vocal Performance and plans on moving down to the Washington D.C. area to continue study and work.

July 8th - Diane Dick
Diane Dick joins us performing solo hand bells. Diane Dick began her involvement with hand bells as an ensemble musician in 1989, and expanded her scope as a solo ringer in 1994. Since that time, she has performed extensively throughout Western New York including performances as a featured soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at their Christmas Holiday community concerts. She directed three bell choirs at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Lockport, NY from 1995 to 2000, and has served as an instructor for hand bell clinics sponsored by the local chapter of the American Guild of English Hand bell Ringers. Currently, she also performs frequently with the Royalton Ringers, a hand bell quartet.
Tim Socha, Diane’s accompanist, currently teaches vocal music at Nichols School (grades 9-12) and is organist and choir director at St. Joseph (RC) Cathedral in Buffalo. A graduate of Colgate University, he is a former dean of the Buffalo Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

July 15th - River Winds Quintet
River Winds, a quintet from the 1000 Islands area, was formed in 2009. The group began as a result of friendships formed in the Clayton Community Band. Three of the members are music educators in area schools and all the members have long, varied musical backgrounds and experience. The members are Kathy Wiley, Kathryn Ingerson, John Goloski, Martha Jablonski and Mary Eder.

July 22nd - Bristol Brothers
Once again we welcome back the Bristol Mountain Bluegrass Band and their delicious bluegrass music!! With a variety of authentic instruments they blend history and storytelling with their fantastic musical abilities. The group has championed old time mountain music and bluegrass so long you would think they started it! These fellas are a piece of Americana that routinely needs to be enjoyed or at least referenced so that musically and culturally we don’t forget where we came from.

July 29th - Sam Hopkins and Jim Burr Duo
Known as “the man with the velvet voice” and “ Smokin Sam Hopkins” the entertainer has played in countless venues and events including jazz festivals in Ottawa, Kingston, Morristown as well as in Oswego, Clayton and Alexandria Bay. Sam has recorded a Christmas album as well as a double CD titled “Dedicated to You” which was recorded at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton with the Knights of Blues and Jazz. Jim Burr has been a part of the Northern New York music scene for more than 30 years playing jazz piano at various functions throughout Ontario and the North Country. He started his musical career in New Jersey and New York City, played at the Catskill Hotel for many years and then moved to Northern New York.

Aug.5th - Seaway Swing
It wouldn’t be summer on the Island without an evening of big band music with Seaway Swing. . One of our most popular shows, we look forward every year to the return of Paul Buell and his group of talented musicians. With a huge repertoire loaded with swing standards they also take requests!!

Aug. 12th - The PHENOMINAL trio of Hope Grietzer, Tom Hodgson and Rick Manning.
Fiddler and mandolin player Rick Manning began playing music in college in Texas, and has focused on Texas contest fiddling, bluegrass, and swing fiddle and mandolin, as well as harmony singing, composing and song-writing. Guitarist Tom Hodgson has accompanied some of the great fiddlers of the Irish, New England and Midwest dance scenes, including Randy Miller and Martin Hayes. He has traveled extensively with the Vermont dance performing group, the Green Mountain Volunteers. Originally from Johnson City, N.Y., Hope Grietzer fell in love with fiddle music in college, playing for dances in the Geneseo String Band under the leadership of ethnomusicologist Jim Kimball. She studied with New York State Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame inductee Larry Downey while fiddling throughout New York State and Pennsylvania
Living now in the countryside of Owego, N.Y., Hope has recently been inducted into the New York State Fiddlers' Hall of Fame. She can be found fiddling at concerts and contradances across NYS.

Aug. 19th - Hymns and Hers
Joining us again this year is the gospel group Hymns and Hers. Formed at the Methodist Church in Alexandria Bay, this talented group of singers are from many local churches and love to perform and share their inspirational personal stories. Vicki Connor leads and inspires the members with her musical skills.

Aug. 26th - Roger James - Comedy and Music
What's "Comedy and Music?" - "O.K., I'm playing a song, if you're laughing it's comedy. If you're not, it's music".
An evening with Roger features humorous original songs,spontaneous off-the-cuff humour, social satire, and inventive tributes to songwriters such as: Shel Silverstein, Groucho Marx, Allan Sherman and Tom Lehrer.
A terrific banjo and guitar player, Roger also plays Bodhran (Irish drum). Combine this with musical styles as diverse as Bluegrass, Celtic, English, 50's& 60s, Blues,and Folk and and you have a entertaining collision of humour and musical skill.