The Musical Storefronts pop-up concerts will return to the Upper West Side of Manhattan this winter. Musicians will perform in an empty storefront on the northeast corner of Broadway and West 62nd Street, playing to an audience standing on the sidewalk outside. The Kaufman Music Center will present the free concerts several days each week from February 3 to March 17.
Musical Storefronts will feature live performances in classical, jazz, Great American Songbook, rhythm and blues, gospel and experimental music. The 2022 performers include soloists, duos, string quartets, chamber ensembles, Broadway stars, and vocal ensembles. Many of these artists have appeared at Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall.
Each Monday at noon, the Kaufman Music Center website and social media will announce the artists and programs for the week. Each day, the first event will be at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m., followed by a different concert at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. The opening day events will feature the Grammy award-winning classical vocal group Harlem Quartet for the first three performances, followed by three later performances by a jazz trio comprised of vocalist Gabrielle Stravelli, pianist Art Hirahara and bassist Pat O’Leary.
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| Gabrielle Stravelli performed at Musical Storefronts in 2021 and will perform again on opening day in 2022 (photograph courtesy of Musical Storefronts) |
The Kaufman Music Center first staged Musical Storefronts early in 2021, while theaters were dark and cultural institutions were shuttered. The concerts played to an estimated 31,000 audience members and provided work to more than 200 artists. To maintain crowd control and social distancing, the daily concerts were announced with only a day’s notice.
“Kaufman Music Center has kept the music playing for everyone in our community,” Council Member Gale A. Brewer said in a statement. “The return of Musical Storefronts this winter will bring unexpected moments of joy and connection to residents on the Upper West Side. And we’ve never needed that more.”
Nikki RenĂ©e Daniels, a Kaufman Music Center Trustee who is currently starring in Company on Broadway, added, “Musical Storefronts is a wonderful outlet for artists to enjoy live performing opportunities, while giving passers-by the unexpected gift of music. Kaufman Music Center’s devotion to providing work for these artists, while also uplifting the community around them, are just a few of the reasons I’m so proud to be a small part of the organization.”
Musical Storefronts is made possible by the support of Con Edison as part of the company’s Arts Al Fresco Series, the Howard Gilman Foundation, and Ether Advisory Partners. Milstein Properties donates the storefront space.
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The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music developments as they happen. All photographs are by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise. For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, visit The Manhattan Beat's homepage on your desktop, swing the cursor to the right, and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music." For a list of upcoming concerts for live audiences, visit The Manhattan Beat's February calendar.
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