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Community Corner

Dixie and Jazz Draw Music Lovers to The Common Ground

Wednesdays in the Park series continues with Linda Ipanema and the Dixie Cats.

The Queen of Dixieland headlined this week’s show at The Common Ground. Linda Ipanema and the Dixie Cats gave a toe tapping, finger snapping performance for the Wednesdays in the Park concert series on August 17.

Featuring Tom Olon on saxophone, flute and clarinet; Don Edmonds on keyboard; David Shake on bass; and Art Miller on drums, Linda got the crowd dancing and clapping from the first beat. They started with “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” and shifted quickly to “Hit the Road Jack,” by Ray Charles. “We are going to give you a diversified hour and a half of music so get ready to shake what your momma gave you Sayville,” Linda said.

“Mambo Italiano,” by Rosemarie Clooney was followed by “It’s a Good Day” by Peggy Lee, ending with Doris Day’s “Sentimental Journey.” The band dedicated the next song to the children. They all gathered front and center to dance to “Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah.” The dancing continued with “The Banana Boat Song” by Harry Belafonte, with the audience answering the Day-O calling. A wartime medley followed with “In the Mood,” “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans,” and “Sweet Georgia Brown.”

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“Gimme That Old Time Religion” got the audience clapping their hands and tapping their feet. The band played a few Caribbean-inspired tunes included “Hot, Hot, Hot” and ended the show with “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

The Common Ground volunteers gave away $131 in the weekly 50/50 raffle which raises money for all the events at the park. Next week’s Wednesday in the Park show will be a summer celebration of dance performance by the American Dance Theatre of Long Island.  Other upcoming events include a night on Broadway on Sept. 2; a viewing of a 9/11 film about first responders on Sept. 14; and the 250th anniversary of Sayville celebration on Oct. 1.

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