The “Kid From Red Bank” — global jazz legend and hometown hero William “Count” Basie — will be celebrated throughout Red Bank in events surrounding what would have been his 119th birthday on Aug. 21.
On Sunday, Red Bank’s Jazz Arts Project will celebrate Basie as part of the borough’s summer-long Westside Jazz Concerts series at Johnny Jazz Park on Shrewsbury Avenue. The Charnee Wade Quintet, Timothy Ogunbiyi Quartet, Julius Tolentino & The Next Wave, and the Eddie Allen Aggregation Big Band will perform. The free festivities begin at 1 p.m.
From 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 21, the Count Basie Center for the Arts will formally dedicate a statue of The Count, which was recently unveiled at the organization’s summer gala. Master sculptor Brian Hanlon will lead the dedication, along with remarks from Wayne Winborne, executive director of the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University-Newark, and performances of Basie jazz pieces by pianist Phil Bingham.
Those interested in attending the event, to be held outdoors at the Basie Center’s William and Catherine Basie Arts Plaza, must RSVP at info@thebasie.org. Refreshments will be served, including a commemorative birthday cake to conclude the ceremony.For more information on William “Count” Basie, visit https://thebasie.org/countbasiebio/.
Here are other things to do at the Jersey Shore and beyond this week:
Celebrate National Coaster Day at Six Flags
Since 1986, National Roller Coaster Day has been celebrated on Aug. 16. Why Aug. 16? It seems on Aug. 16, 1898, Edwin Prescott of Arlington, Massachusetts, received a patent for the first vertical roller coaster.
There are plenty of coasters to choose from at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson. What's your favorite? The Jersey Devil? Nitro? Kingda Ka?
CaptainCoaster.com provides a world ranking of roller coasters, and El Toro is No. 12 on the list. Earlier this year, 10best.com ranked Kingda Ka the ninth best coaster in the U.S.
Want more coasters? More than 453,000 people have viewed this video of the top 25 coasters in the world. And a few years ago, USA Today paid tribute to some classic coasters across the country.
Go: Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Way, Jackson; 732-928-2000, sixflags.com/greatadventure.
Top coasters:National roller coaster day: Here are the top 10 roller coasters in New Jersey
NJ Fringe Festival in Hammonton
The New Jersey Fringe Festival returns this weekend to Hammonton. The three-day outdoor event curated by the Eagle Theatre features live theater performance, music, art vendors, food, craft brews and wine, plus outdoor yoga for the family.
The Friday to Sunday event aims to celebrate creativity and artistic expression, bringing together artists and performers from the region to showcase their work in venues throughout downtown Hammonton. Performances run anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes, in both intimate and more expansive performance spaces.
The Fringe schedule includes Atlantic City Theatre Company’s production of "The Profession" by Walter Wykes; The Hotspurs! improvisational presentation of "Fringe Unhinged"; Colleen Renee Lis’ "Destigmatized: Our Bodies, Our Rights, Our Stories"; The Melodymaker’s presentation of Carole King’s "Tapestry"; and Joey Novick’s autobiographical comedy show "Comedian Elected to Town Council in New Jersey."
In addition, theater artist Jenna Kuerzi performs her solo piece "Johnny Depp! (A Retrospective on Late Stage Capitalism)" at 10 p.m. Saturday at Eagle Theatre.
The festival kicks off Friday with a free outdoor party to bring artists and audiences together. There will be food trucks, Eagle Theatre’s HUB of wine & brews, live music, plus mini sneak-peek performances of what to expect throughout the weekend. At 10:30 a.m. Saturday there will be a free yoga class from Forged Soul Fitness & Yoga Studio.
Single tickets for individual indoor performances are $15. Day passes are available for $24, and a Weekend Pass is $39.
Go: New Jersey Fringe Festival, Friday to Sunday, various venues, downtown Hammontown; njfringefestival.com.
Hear the Golden Age of Disney in Middletown
"With a Smile and a Song: The Walt Disney Songbook" is a 90-minute celebration of the songs immortalized by the animated and live-action films produced by Walt Disney during the Golden Age.
The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Old First Church sanctuary. Broadway performers Jeanne Montanto, Linda Moshier and James Patterson will tell background stories of the songs and the films that inspired them.
Tickets are $25. Refreshments follow the performance.
Presented by the Old First Church Arts Initiative, this is the fourth offering of a series of concerts and events. Dr Robert Cioffi, the music minister of Old First Church, directs the shows.
Go: "With a Smile and a Song: The Walt Disney Songbook," 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Old First Church, 69 Kings Highway Middletown, $25; https://oldfirstchurchnj.org/.
Sunflower Festival at Argos Farm
Celebrate nature and spend the day outside at Argos Farm's Sunflower Festival.
Festivalgoers can take sunflower photos, pick sunflowers ($2 each, $10 for six or $30 for a bucket), and visit the farmers market, cafe, bakery and coffee shop.
Listen to music from Predator Dub Assassins on Friday, Stringbean Blues on Saturday, and Joah Blume on Sunday
There also will be a hay slide, an obstacle course, cow train rides, a zip line, a jumbo air pillow for jumpingand more.
Go: Sunflower Festival, 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Argos Farm, 1250 Lacey Road in theForked River section of Lacey, $14.95 for attendees 2 and older when purchased in advance ($19.95 at the gate), no charge for children younger than 2; argosfarm.com.
The Dales play the Wonder Bar
Expect this Southern California-based trio to deliver a blast of soaring harmonies and bright melodies as they return to the Wonder Bar at 8 p.m. Saturday in Asbury Park.
The show is a homecoming for vocalist Jacqueline Tozzi, who grew up in Spring Lake. Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 at the door.
The Dales — also guitarist/vocalist Preston Pope and vocalist/keyboardist Drew Lawrence — are touring behind their second release, "Multi Trick Pony." This set of songs taps Lawrence's interests in rough-hewn country rock, Pope's affection for polished classic rock, and Tozzi's deep love for soul music.
The funky barnburner "Hold Me Back" was featured on an episode of the CBS show "Fire Country."
Go: The Dales, 8 p.m. Saturday, Wonder Bar, 1213 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park, $20; 732-445-3767; thedalesband.com.
Laurel Canyon Band pays tribute to CSN&Y at Axelrod
The Axelrod Performing Arts Center presents the Laurel CanyonBand at 8 p.m. Thursday. An acoustic tribute to the music ofCrosby, Stills, Nash & Young,the group consists of Grammy Award-winning writer/producerMark Hudson, Hall of Fame songwriterGary Burr, and singer/songwriterMark Mirando.
Hudson has worked with Ringo Starr, Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Cher, Bon Jovi, Carole King and Celine Dion. He learned music production from Phil Ramone, and began producing and writing songs for a variety of top artists.
Burr has more than 20 songwriting awards and was one of the most successful Nashville songwriters of the 1980s and 1990s. He earned Songwriter of the Year awards from ASCAP, the Nashville Songwriters Association International, and Billboard magazine, having penned hits for Kelly Clarkson, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Ricky Martin and Michael Bolton.
Mirando is a singer/songwriter who has produced his own albums, co-written songs and performed on recording sessions for others, most notably Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson.
Tickets are $38 to $58.
Go: Laurel Canyon Band, 8 p.m. Thursday, Axelrod Performing Arts Center, 100 Grant Ave., Deal Park; 732-531-9106, ext. 14, AxelrodArtsCenter.com.
Acclaimed Irish trio comes to NJ
Traditional Irish music trio Socks In The Frying Pan performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Roy’s Hall in Blairstown.
This award-winning group from County Clare has been praised for its modern traditional style and energetic approach to music. The band features Aodán Coyne on guitar and vocals, Shane Hayes on accordion, and his brother Fiachra Hayes on fiddle and banjo. Their 2019 album, "Raw And Ril," captures Socks In the Fraying Pan live.
Tickets for Blairstown are $32 and can be ordered here. You can also catch the group at Hill Country in New York City at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21.
Go: Socks In The Frying Pan, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Roy's Hall, Blairstown, $32; 908-362-1399, https://royshall.org/.
Coming next week: Asbury Park Dance Festival
Now in its fourth year, the Asbury Park Dance Festival brings world-renowneddancers to the Jersey Shore.
Co-founded by VJ Carbone and Paul Taylor Dance Company alums Laura Halzack, Michelle Fleet and Michael Trusnovec, APDF will take place at House of Independence on Saturday, Aug. 26. Ticket proceeds from the festival supportArts Ed NJ, which aims "to provide a unified voice for a diverse group of constituents who agree on the educational benefits and impact of the arts."
While the event is sold out, you can join the waiting list at apdancefest@gmail.com.
Among the performers this year are Georgina Pazcoguin, a former NYC Ballet soloist and Broadway performer, in a reinvented rendition of "Whatever Lola Wants" from "Damn Yankees."
Alvin Ailey American Dance TheateralumsSamuel Lee Robertsand Michael Francis McBride perform Robert Battle's explosive"Strange Humors," while Martha Graham Dance Companysoloist Lorenzo Pagano dances a solo by Tony Award-winning choreographer Sonya Tayeh.
In addition, "Pilobolus" dancers Casey Howes and Jake Warren will perform a self-choreographed New Jersey premiere.
Go: Asbury Park Dance Festival, 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, House of Independents, 572 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park; apdancefest.org.
Sarah Griesemer contributed to this story.
