Music, modern dance, marionettes

NORWOOD — The 36th annual Norwood Village Green Concert Series features a performance by one of the country's most respected bluegrass artists and the appearance of an act booked years ago for the series but forced to cancel by the Kosovo war.

"I'm always trying to find highlights that will excite the audiences and myself," said Joseph M. Liotta, founding program director of the series. "Not everything is for everybody. But there are certain concerts here that nobody can say they don't like."

The diverse lineup includes Latin, big-band and world music; modern dance; family programming; acoustic, rock, vocal and symphonic styles, and street music.

The series will get its traditional kickoff from 5 to 9 p.m.May 28with theSt. Lawrence County Music Educators Association's Pop/Choral Stage Band Festival.

All concerts are at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

June 4: Sabbatical—This five-member Canton-based band was formed in 2000. It was selected to receive a four-song recording contract with North Country Public Radio and its UpNorth Music Project. The band has also recorded three songs for a compilation CD produced by the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.

June 11: the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Ensemble— This modern-dance troupe is the resident company of the Egg Center for the Performing Arts, Albany. The company also tours, hosts residencies and leads workshops in venues around the Northeast.

In addition to the 7 p.m. performance, there will be a 1 p.m. show for Norwood-Norfolk Central School students.

June 18: Babik—Before booking this Gypsy swing quartet, Mr. Liotta traveled last summer to Sackets Harbor, where the group performed at that village's jazz festival.

"A lot of times, a band's recordings don't really reflect on a group as much as seeing them in person," Mr. Liotta said. "They might sound good in recordings, but not have a great stage presence. Babik has both."

Buffalo-based Babik (pronounced Bah-beek) is named after a son of legendary Belgian Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt (1910-53). After Mr. Reinhardt's left hand was injured in a fire, he developed his own style of playing using a thumb and two fingers.

June 21: Sounds of Summer Festival— The Rustic Riders, the Yellow Moon Jazz Quartet and Cullen's Cross will perform from 5 to 9 p.m.

The Rustic Riders, based in Tupper Lake, consist of songwriter and guitarist Lisa Meissner, percussionist Klaus Meissner and multi-instrumentalist Bill Chamberlain. The band recently released its debut CD, "Hearing Hearts."

Yellow Moon Quartet is a north country group formed in 2004 featuring Kathy Sommer on violin, Paul Knowles on drums, Walt Zabriskie on bass and Jim Burr on piano.

Cullen's Cross is Northern New York-based Irish rock band. It infuses traditional jigs and reels with elements of rock, jazz, funk, blues and reggae music.

June 25: MacTalla Mor— This five-piece family group, whose name is Gaelic for "great echo," is a hard-driving Celtic roots band that has been packing festivals throughout North America. The group uses a mix of great highland bagpipes, piano, vocals and bodhran for its selections of traditional Celtic, roots rock, calypso, blues and jazz styles. MacTalla Mor has appeared at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and on all major TV networks.

June 28: the Marigolds— This female Canadian trio consists of Gwen Swick, Suzie Vinnick and Caitlin Hanford. As solo artists and with their other groups, each has toured across Canada and the United States, appearing at folk festivals and on radio and television. They all have solo recordings.

July 2: the Wally Siebel All Star Big Band with Latin jazz trumpeter Ray Vega—The local big band will be joined by Mr. Vega, a native of the South Bronx who has played with the bands of Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, Mario Bauza and others. Mr. Vega is also a noted composer and arranger. He is a lecturer at the music conservatory at SUNY Purchase.

"He does Latin jazz to symphony stuff," Mr. Liotta said.

July 3: the Brass Firemen— The Norwood Fire Department band will be featured at the village's pre-block dance concert.

July 5: Northern Symphonic Winds— The 46-member group, formed in 1998, is based at the Crane School of Music.

July 12: Merita Halili and the Raif Hyseni Orchestra— This husband and wife team had been scheduled for an appearance in 2001 but canceled because of repercussions of the war in Kosovo.

"They canceled all of their concerts," Mr. Liotta said. "They went back to Kosovo to find out what happened to their family."

Mr. Liotta noted that the Brass Firemen played at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Mr. Liotta was a member of that band and he got interested in Balkan music during that trip.

"I'm doing this concert to mark the 25th anniversary of that visit," he said.

Ms. Halili is a native of Albania, and Mr. Hyseni is from the Republic of Kosovo, which has a large Albanian majority.

July 16: the Claire Lynch Band— Ms. Lynch has two Grammy nominations and was named female singer of the year by the International Bluegrass Music Association. She will be accompanied by Jim Hurst, two-time IBMA guitar player of the year; Mark Schatz, two-time IBMA bass player of the year; and Jason Thomas, Canadian open mandolin champion and two-time Florida mandolin and fiddle champion.

Ms. Lynch's songs have been recorded by Patty Loveless, the Seldom Scene, Cherryholmes and Kathy Mattea. Her latest CD is "Crowd Favorites."

"Ms. Lynch joins Alison Krauss and Rhonda Vincent as one of the pioneering women who have redirected the genre away from the salt-and-vinegar male image cemented by bluegrass legends Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley," Mario Tarradell of the Dallas Morning News wrote last year.

July 19: Peter Phippen plays the flutes of the world— Originally from Potsdam, Mr. Phippen resides in Eau Claire, Wis. He has spent more than two decades playing, collecting and researching flutes from around the world. His recordings have brought his flute-playing skills to the attention of critics and flute enthusiasts worldwide. He is a frequent performer and lecturer at universities, schools, museums, festivals and conventions throughout the United States.

July 23: the Debt— This band, which plays classic and modern rock, consists of north country residents Andy Van Duyne, his son Geoff Van Duyne, Jon Hunkins and Greg Jadlos.

July 26: the Tanglewood Marionettes present "Cinderella"— This is a nationally touring marionette theater based in New England. Its repertoire consists primarily of classic tales performed by veteran puppeteers.

July 30: the Brass Firemen's Annual Hometown Concert—Favorites from the Norwood Fire Department band.

Aug. 2: the Jamcrackers with Dan Berggren, Dan Duggan and Peggy Lynn—These three solo performers together have released more than 20 albums. Their debut CD, "Jamcrakers," was released last year and features Adirondack-themed music.

Mr. Duggan, Red Creek, is a nationally touring performer and teacher who is acknowledged as one of the finest dulcimer players and composers in the country.

Ms. Lynn, also of Red Creek, has recorded four solo CDs and another four with either or both Mr. Duggan and Mr. Berggren.

Besides his Adirondack-themed music, Mr. Berggren, Ballston Spa, was recognized in 2001 by St. Lawrence University, Canton, as a distinguished alumnus. He is a recipient of the Heritage Award given by the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks and recently received the Adirondack Mountain Club's Education Award.