BookHampton readers were treated to a trip back in time via talented pianist Michael Striffler's selections from the American Songbook in East Hampton Saturday afternoon.
Featuring the romantic, silly and wonderful songs of composers Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin and George Gershwin, listeners hummed and sang along while the multifaceted Striffler played. Between songs, he described the times and lives of the composers, postwar America's prosperity, the relaxed morals that led to Prohibition and the influence of a burgeoning African American musical culture that caught the ear of many a New York musician.
Striffler, who hails from Long Island and studied music at SUNY Stony Brook, has played at many local venues. He'll return to BookHampton this Saturday the 11th at 4 PM to pick up where his musical timeline left off, featuring Broadway hits (and more) from the 1950's and 1960's.
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Also this weekend, join us as we help celebrate HarborFrost, Sag Harbor's winter festival of ice, music, and fireworks.
Our Winter Lecture Series schedule, and all of our upcoming events, are listed on our website.