WWII and NEW YORK CITY: CONNECTING TIME and PLACE

I recently returned from France, which included a two-day stop in Normandy. I was pursuing the story of a Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City born soldier, John R. Simonetti, the son of Italian immigrants, who was killed during the Battle of the Hedgerows, on June 16, 1944, in the fields of St. Germain d’Elle, France. (Photo attached.)  

John’s name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France since his body was not recovered from the battlefield where he died. It was a tragedy that the family lived with for generations. In the years that followed his death, the family was in contact with the Army and pursued various paths to determine what had happened to their son and uncle on that fateful day. Finally, in May 2009, while doing some minor excavation work, the skeletal remains of an American soldier, with his dog tags still around his neck, was unearthed in the center of the town. It was John Simonetti.

It’s stories like these that will be included in my show, “New York City and WWII: Connecting Time and Place,” on October 26, 27 and 28, 2020 at The Cell Theatre, which is part of the series, “Classically Exposed: Musical Crossroads.”

For more information on the series and to purchase a subscription for all eight events at 25% discount CLICK HERE.

“BENNY MEETS ARTIE” with the ANDERSON BROTHERS at THE CELL, APRIL 28

 

If you haven’t heard Peter and Will Anderson yet, you are in for a big treat. On April 28th as part of the 2020 series, “Classically Exposed: Musical Crossroads,” presented by Charles R Hale Productions and Musical Solis and produced by  Nancy Manocherian’s “the cell,” the brothers will perform “Benny Meets Artie.”

Raised in poverty in Chicago, Benny Goodman was a classical clarinet prodigy who sparked an international swing craze in the 30s, and premiered the first jazz concert at Carnegie Hall in 1938. Artie Shaw was a composer, author, and master clarinetist, pushing musical boundaries by blending American swing with European and Latin styles. Both swing-era bandleaders were among the first to racially integrate their bands, and their musical legacies have helped define the cultural identity of America. 

Here’s all you need to know about Peter and Will: “Virtuosos on clarinet and saxophone.” New York Times. And that is the truth. Have a listen: CLICK HERE

Peter and Will are two of the most extraordinary  jazz woodwind players on the scene today. Born and raised in Washington D.C., the Andersons moved to New York City to attend The Juilliard School.  They’ve performed with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Wycliffe Gordon, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Paquito D’Rivera, Wynton Marsalis, and can be heard on the 2014 Grammy-winning soundtrack of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire with Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks.  They’ve headlined at Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, New Orleans Jazz Festival, Feinstein’s 54 Below, Blues Alley, Birdland, and live on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion Radio Program.  The Andersons have performed in over 40 U.S. states, throughout Brazil, Japan, the U.K., and six times in NYC’s famed Highlights in Jazz series, alongside Lou Donaldson, Jimmy and Tootie Heath, Ken Peplowski, Steve Turre, Warren Vache, Frank Vignola, and Jimmy Cobb.

Individual tickets for all events, including  the Andersons’ show, will be on sale shortly. But a subscription–at a great discount–is on sale now. CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO ALL EVENTS and  CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO PURCHASE A SUBSCRIPTION

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ROSSANO SPORTIELLO and the ANDERSON BROTHERS at FEINSTEIN’S 54 BELOW

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I heard these three tonight at Feinstein’s 54 Below….Rossano Sportiello, William Reardon Anderson and Peter Reardon Anderson. If you’re looking for a fabulous evening of music…you couldn’t do better. Talented musicians and a wonderful program.
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We’re thrilled to announce that Charles R. Hale Productions and Musica Solis will be presenting these wonderful musicians in this season’s series “Classically Exposed: Musical Crossroads,” at The Cell.
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More series’ info to follow shortly.

CHARLES R. HALE’S UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Feb 13:       Charles R Hale Productions and the City and Humanities Program at Lehman College presents pianist/vocalist Nicole Zuraitis and songwriter/vocalist Clare Maloney. 12:30pm at Lehman College, Lovinger Theatre, 250 Bedford Park Blvd, Bronx, NY.

POSTPONED Mar 14:       A reading from Kathleen Bennet Bastis’ “As Ever”– Letters from 1936 to 1943. With Charles R. Hale, Renata Hinrichs, John Moran and Jack O’Connell. 7:00pm at First Street Gallery, 526 West 26thSt, New York City.

CANCELLED March 26:   Charles R Hale Productions and the City and Humanities Program at Lehman College presents violinist Jiin Yang, pianist Wayne Weng and narrator Charles R. Hale at Lehman College. 12:30pm, Lehman College, Lovinger Theatre, 250 Park Blvd, Bronx, NY.

CANCELLED April 16:      Charles R Hale Productions and the City and Humanities Program at Lehman College presents pianist Baron Fenwick, tenor Robert Anthony Mack and narrator Charles R. Hale at Lehman College. 12:30pm, Lehman College, Lovinger Theatre, 250 Park Blvd, Bronx, NY.

POSTPONED April 28:      Charles R Hale Productions and Musica Solis Series presents “Benny Meets Artie ” with the Anderson Brothers, part of the series “Classically Exposed: Musical Crossroads” at the Cell Theatre, 7:30pm, 338 West 23rdSt, New York City.

CANCELLED April 30:     Charles R Hale Productions and the City and Humanities Program at Lehman College presents guitarist Yuri Juarez and pianist Renato Diz. 12:30pm at Lehman College, Lovinger Theatre, 250 Bedford Park Blvd, Bronx, NY.     

POSTPONED May 15:        Musica Solis Series and Charles R Hale Productions presents “Bacharimba” with marimbist Mika Soltzman and clarinetist Richard Stolzman, part of the series “Classically Exposed: Musical Crossroads” at the Cell Theatre, 7:30pm, 338 West 23rdSt, New York City.

POSTPONED June 18:       Musica Solis Series and Charles R. Hale Productions presents “Port Mande” with the Mark Dover Quartet, part of the series “Classically Exposed: Musical Crossroads” at the Cell Theatre, 7:30pm, 338 West 23rdSt, New York City.

Sept 9:          Charles R. Hale Productions and Musica Solis Series presents “Stride Piano Master” Rossano Sportiello, part of the series “Classically Exposed: Musical Crossroads” at the Cell Theatre, 338 West 23rdSt, New York City.

SepT 25:       Musica Solis Series and Charles R Hale Productions presents pianist Igor Lipinski’s “Piano Illusions,” part of the series “Classically Exposed: Musical Crossroads” at the Cell Theatre, 7:30pm, 338 West 23rdSt, New York City.

Oct 28-30:    Charles R Hale Productions and Musica Solis Presents presents Charles R. Hale’s “WWII and NYC: Connecting Time and Place” with vocalist Robert Anthony Mack, vocalist Clare Maloney, pianist Baron Fenwick, violinist Sara Caswell and narrator Charles R. Hale, part of the series “Classically Exposed: Musical Crossroads” at the Cell Theatre, 338 West 23rdSt, New York City.

Nov 18:          Musica Solis Series and Charles R Hale Productions presents “Bach to Brazil” with the Bridget Kibbey Trio, part of the series “Classically Exposed: Musical Crossroads” at the Cell Theatre, 338 West 23rdSt, New York City.

Dec 11:           Charles R. Hale and Musica Solis Series presents an evening of “Soulful Americana Rock” with guitarist/vocalist “Walter Parks,” part of the series “Classically Exposed: Musical Crossroads” at the Cell Theatre, 338 West 23rd St, New York City