Newburgh Jazz Series relocating this summer

By Jennifer L. Warren

Montgomery – “One door closes and many more open.” It’s a fitting mantra, spoken by a woman, Aquanetta Wright, who is determined to take full advantage of those openings.

It was the end of August, 2011, and yet another Newburgh Jazz Series had just wrapped up a very successful summer of free, outdoor concerts. Wright, or the more aptly titled “Ferry Godmother,” and brainchild behind the grassroots music venue, had just been delivered the blow: The Newburgh Waterfront could no longer provide the backdrop setting for her six week, popular summer series. The infringement on parking rationale did little to ease her sadness and frustration. What did deliver a ray of sunshine were the five e-mails sitting in her in-box the very next day. Each one offered an alternative location for her 2012 Series.

Now, eight months later, since that Newburgh Waterfront door was closed, the Series has officially relocated to two designated spots: the Thomas Bull Memorial Parks’ Arboretum in Montgomery and the Town Field in the Center of the Village in Highland.

Mark your calenders music lovers: the Montgomery locale will feature music three nights a week. Tuesdays will be dubbed “Newburgh Pop Rock and Doo-Wop,” while Wednesdays and Thursdays will carry the “Newburgh Jazz Series” title. Meanwhile, Highland’s venue will also run on Thursday, billed “Highland Pop Rock and Doo-Wop.” All concerts will run from 6:30-8:30, and will include top musicians in their field, surrounded by beautiful Hudson Valley landscapes. It’s a magical summer tour of music that will be entering its eighth season.

Flashback to 2007. “The Ferry Godmother” had recently “earned her wings,” after serving free coffee to commuters in Newburgh taking the ferry over to the Beacon Train Station. The gesture, was just one of many involving her passions: politics and community building. The Newburgh Jazz Series included her third: the arts.
“I started the Series because I was involved in politics in Newburgh and wanted to make a real difference, while bringing people together.”

It wasn’t long before she was to witness the fruits of her labors. Each year higher quality musicians played, greater numbers of people attended and the venues increased from two to three nights a week. Those attendees and Ferry Godmother lovers came from all over the county, region and even state. amongst them was Eddie Diana, the County Executive, who recently gave his priceless seal of approval to the Montgomery site.

“Eddie and his entire staff were extremely instrumental  in helping us secure the Thomas Bull Memorial Park site, as it is a county facility,” said Wright. “He recognizes what a great, visible project this is and how it is good fro the entire county.”

Another regular concert attendee from Highland suggested the Highland site, one that was immediately receptive.

The support is testimony to a mission whose perks cannot be denied.

“These free, outdoor concerts are an economic engine, especially during these tough times, when people barely have money to eat,” explained Wright. “They need something to relax and enjoy themselves, and these concerts also fuel the local economy by bringing people into the county and having them buy things in the surrounding area.”

This summer, those music lovers will enjoy the same concert format as the past. However, a couple of other additions are in the works. A registration desk will now be visible, where attendants will be compiling contact information to provide year round updates. Also, there will be two more theme days: Senior Day and Human Resources Day. Earth Rhythms Day and Veterans Day will once again return; while a youth group performance possibility is being considered.

Despite the roadblocks, nothing appears to be slowing down the Series or the woman who leads it. In fact, quite the opposite is the case.

“It has become so big, I have even been contacted by the governor’s office,” said Wright. “He is willing to help, so the pressure is on; I really want to make this all happen.”

And that vision is no longer limited to Orange County. It extends to four counties, where Wright is hopeful of adding at least one concert  to Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester this summer. The name for the project has already been designated: “The Ferry Godmother Circuit.” The support has been solidified; ten municipalities have expressed an interest in having the music come to their city and volunteers are lining up. One woman’s unwavering love for community and music has stirred up that level of excitement.

“The very fact that she (The Ferry Godmother) has been able to pull off what most people would have given up on when faced with so many obstacles is amazing,” said Bill Morris, who will be lending his sound expertise to the Arboretum’s concerts this summer. “I’m very impressed with what she has done, and am so excited to have the opportunity to help such an amazing person.”

Although manpower is available, funding remains an issue in order for these concerts to truly flourish. If you are interested in contributing in any way, you can contact the Ferry Godmother by calling (225) 366-2442 (Do Magic) or e-mailing her at: info@ferrygodmother.com.