July 2nd Free Levitt Amp Concert Series Moved Inside MWPAI

With the Excessive Heat Warning in effect until 10 PM tonight in CNY, the Free Levitt Amp Concert Series is still on as scheduled and has been moved to a more comfortable location. YES! AIR CONDITIONING!

Please spread the word! Get out of the oppressive heat tonight and step into the A/C at the Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute (MWPAI) for the Free Levitt Amp Concert. Series. MWPAI  is located at 310 Genesee St, Utica, across the street from Kopernick Park.

Tonights Line Up Includes:

"Doctuh" Michael Woods is a bassist, educator, composer, lecturer, and clinician. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious grants and awards for performance, education, composition, scholarship, and leadership. Doc has written more than 700 pieces in styles including choral, orchestral and chamber, jazz combo and big-band. His works have been performed by the Albany Symphony, Cleveland Chamber Ensemble, Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, Midland Symphony Orchestra, Utica Symphony, Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra, Little Rock Symphony, Anderson Symphony, North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Lafayette Symphony, Central New York Jazz Orchestra, Tulsa Philharmonic, Pro Musica Orchestra, Salt City Jazz Collective and the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble.

"Doc" Woods is the Leonard C. Ferguson Professor of Music at Hamilton College. Woods has taught at the university level since 1980 and joined Hamilton College in 1993. He is the musical director and bassist for the Zoe' Jazz Band and the Omniverse Jazz Ensemble.

16-year old singer Zachariah Perkett, who's auditioning for American Idol in Buffalo this August, will perform during the intermission.

7:30 PM Award Winning Jazz Singer and 'Utica Native' Laurie Dapice as the Laurie Dapice Quintet

Laurie Dapice started her training with Internationally renowned Tenor Pasquale Caputo, who happened to live in Utica. Laurie relocated to New York City in 1998 to follow her dreams to be a singer.

Laurie attended Mannes College of Music & The New School University of Jazz & Contemporary Music receiving a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in Performance & Music in 2006 & during her senior year, performed in her own weekly show Jazz Fever in Harlem & opened for Jazz Giant & Trombonist Benny Powell. In 2008 she was honored as one of New York City’s top 12 Jazz Singers to compete in the annual Jazz Mobile competition, founded by Legendary Jazz Pianist-Musician Dr. Billy Taylor & made it to the top final four. One month later she was on her way to Japan to perform as a headlining act six nights a week for performances at The Zenith Sky Lounge in The Marriott Hotels 56th-floor Penthouse. When Laurie returned to Manhattan, she recorded her first Album, “Parting the Veil.”

She has performed in the most well known Jazz Venues in New York City including The Dream Hotel –The Night Hotel- The Savoy- The Lexington Lounge- The Alhambra Ballroom, Sweet Rhythm formerly known as Sweet Basil, The Apollo Theater, Minton’s Playhouse, The Kitano Hotel & The House of Jazz in Montreal Quebec formerly know as Biddle’s. Laurie performed in July 2013 with Jazz Forum in the Ella Fitzgerald Celebration at The Hudson River Museum’s new outdoor amphitheater alongside the Hudson River in Yonkers where Ella grew up. Laurie was quoted in this concert as being “One Great Night in Jazz” by critically acclaimed award winning artist Theodore Berkowitz. She has also performed in her hometown of Utica NY at The Munson Williams Proctor Institute’s annual Art & Music Festival & opened the Spring Jazz Series at The Utica Public Library breaking a 20 year record in a sold out concert of 149 people. She has performed with & for Legendary Jazz Musicians Billy Harper, Barry Harris, George Mesterhazy, Michael Kanan, Rufus Reid, John DiMartino, Santi Debriano, James Weidman, Paul Lieberman, Elias Bailey, Benito Gonzalez & many others. Laurie Dapice is a Utica Native, a 10x award winning Jazz Singer, Lyricist & celebrated world class musician, winning awards from ASCAP, Billboard Magazine, ASCAP Plus awards & USA songwriting competitions. [lauriedapice.com]

Tonights Free Levitt Amp Concert Series is sponsored by Total Solutions and is partnered with The Other Side.

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