July Music Highlights

Falcon ridge Folk Festival: Hudson Valley fans of acoustic music should find themselves well sated in the month of July. Falcon Ridge gives us another four-day weekend at the end of July, this time a bit closer to the Massachusetts border, just between Hudson and Great Barrington MA. Among the many fine performers: Arlo Guthrie, John Gorka, Marshall Crenshaw, Mary Gauthier, Eddie From Ohio, The Rowan Bros., Red Molly, and Ellis. The dance tent features a wide variety, including Charivari, The Sevens, and The Clayfoot Strutters. 4-day camping passes on premises, ample lodging in the area. 44 County Road 7D, Hillsdale NY, 866.325.2744, www.falconridgefolk.com. Music on 4 stages: Th-Sa 7/26-28, 10 AM-12 midnight, Su 7/29, 11:30 AM-7:30 PM

Maverick Concerts: “Woodstock Legends: Mr. Tambourine Man- Mahler, Bob Dylan, and Beyond”: Nancy Allen Lundy, soprano, and Pedja Muzijevic, piano, perform an extraordinarily diverse group of songs, ranging between Mahler (featured composer of the month)/Friedman’s “What The Wildflowers Tell me,” from Minuet from Symphony No.3, and John Cage’s notorious “4’33,” a piece widely known as the most minimalistic ever composed. In between are gems from Grieg, Sibelius, Mark Adamo, Ned Rorem, and a collaboration between John Corigliano and Bob Dylan based on “Mr. Tambourine Man.” Maverick Rd., just off Rt. 375, Woodstock, 845.679.8217, www.maverickconcerts.org, Sa 7/28, 6 PM.

Dr. John/ Hazmat Modine at Belleayre Music Festival: If there’s anyone in this country who can be declared a national treasure, it has to be Mr. Mac Rebennack, AKA Dr. John, who brings his timeless hoodoo and gris-gris to Bellayre this year. An integral part of the New Orleans sound since the 1950’s, the good doctor just keeps getting better and better, while reminding this country of how important saving New Orleans really is. New York-based Hazmat Modine brings a cornucopia of styles to the table: Gypsy, Klezmer, Country, Reggae, etc. Led by two distinctly different virtuoso harmonica players, this group makes the elements come together into a unique, yet somehow ancient and timeless sound. Belleayre Mt, Rt. 28, just west of Pine Hill, 800.942.6904, festival@catskill.net, Sa 7/14, 8 PM.

Evening of Jazz- Bethel Woods Center For the arts: Jazz lovers don’t want to miss this early August show, out at the original site of the Woodstock Fetival in ‘69. Dave Brubeck (performing here with his Quartet) has had an enormous impact on jazz piano and composition, notably his classic Take Five, on of the most recognizable motifs in jazz. Still fresh, well into his 80’s. Ex-Crusaders Randy Crawford (vocals) and Joe Sample (keyboards) matched up in 1979 on the hit “Street Life.” Look for a smoky combination of jazz, R&B, soul, and pop. Earl Klugh is a master of fingerstyle jazz guitar, highly sought after by just about everyone, most recently Bob James, Bill Frisell, and Al Jarreau. 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel NY, www.bethelwoodslive.org, 866.781.2922, Sa 8/4, 6:30 PM.

Pianosummer: SUNY New Paltz- Piano lovers have much to celebrate this July, starting with a faculty gala performance of Romantic favorites (with extra Chopin) by Vladimir Feltsman, Robert Hamilton, Susan Starr, Phillip Kawin, Alexander Korsantia, Paul Ostrovsky, and Alexander Slobodyanik, Sa 7/14, 8 PM. World-reknowned Russian pianist Valery Kuleshov features works by Schumann, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninoff, Sa 7/14, 8 PM. Special guest artists Robert Hamilton and Susan Starr appear Sa 7/28, 8 PM. The festival closes with a performance with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, featuring the winner of the 2007 Jacob Flier Piano Competition, with works by Elgar and Prokofiev, Fr 8/3, 8 PM. McKenna Theater, SUNY New Paltz, Rt. 208, W entrance, 845.257.3880, www.newpaltz.edu/piano/concerts.