Aug. 8, 2015 By Christian Murray
The sound of 1920’s big-band jazz will resonate throughout the Sunnyside shopping district Saturday.
Sunnyside Shines is hosting the 15th annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival tomorrow (August 8) under the Arch, which will feature a number of local bands and dancers.
The annual concert, which kicks off at 2:00 pm, is in recognition of Bix Beiderbecke, a highly-acclaimed jazz musician who grew up in Davenport, Ohio, before living out his final days at 43-30 46th Street.
Beiderbecke, who struggled with alcoholism, died on August 6, 1931, at the age of 28.
The Sunnyside Wolverines, a pickup band, comes together each year for this festival. Paul Maringelli, a Sunnyside resident and jazz fanatic, is the band’s organizer.
Maringelli founded the event in 2001, after discovering Biederbecke’s connection to the neighborhood after viewing a Ken Burns’ PBS documentary on jazz.
Marringelli, who plays the drums with the Wolverines, was able to document Beiderbecke’s history in the neighborhood after he tracked down the jazz great’s great nephew.
The concert was held at the All Saints Church courtyard in its earlier years, before Maringelli joined forces with Sunnyside Shines and moved it to the Arch.
Today, there is a plaque outside the Sunnyside building where Beiderbecke lived, which Maringelli advocated for.
Tomorrow’s event will include groups such as the Street Beat Brass Band, Sunnyside Drum Corps, the Sunnyside Social Club, and the Sunnyside Wolverines.
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11 Comments
Harley?
I don’t like the anti-Hispanic sentiments expressed in this article. It’s disgusting! Latin women are the prettiest women.
Celtic Park is an imbecile. Actually I went and many people were happy to see me. I took my family. Myself, my son El Jr., brother Al, wife Ellie. I was the guy in the tank top dancing and stumbling around. It was great. Will there be one next week? Thanks.
Harley?!
Waste of time. I would rather sit at home and write in to the Sunnyside Post.
I’m sure anybody attending the show today would also prefer that you sit at home.
Jazz on the south side of Queens blvd?..Wouldn’t a Mariachi band be more appropriate
Get it? Get it? Cause of lot of Hispanic people live there!
They’ve had those too.
He’s soooo funny! How long did it take you to come up with that witty remark? Would have taken me days. I’m in awe.
Always a fun event.