Summer Heat

Princeton Forrestal Village will serve up heaping portions of BBQ and jazz.

By: Allison Musante

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Andrea Brachfeld will lead Latin jazz band Phoenix Rising during Jazz Celebration at Princeton Forrestal Village in Plainsboro.


   Get ready for some heat when Princeton Forrestal Village lights up the grills and steams up the airwaves with a barbecue and sultry jazz at its BBQ and Rib Festival and Jazz Celebration.
   The finger-lickin’ weekend-long party will begin July 28 at 10 a.m. with a cook-off welcoming barbecuers from around the country.
   The contest is sponsored and judged by Memphis in May, an international barbecue association. Although the food cooked by the contestants won’t be for sale, festival goers can get sauce-faced by one of the many barbecuing vendors.
   In addition to "pigging out," guests can enjoy listening and dancing to live music provided by a variety of performers. Saturday will be a family-friendly day full of New Jersey pride when three musical ensembles take the stage, each with an interesting connection to Asbury Park native Bruce Springsteen.
   Mr. Ray will kick off the musical lineup from noon to 4 p.m. His music has been described as "kids’ music," but he considers it "music for the kid in all of us." With his signature black-rimmed glasses and colorful guitar, Mr. Ray sings about friendship, "creepy crawlers," "boo-boos" and all the thrills and wonders of growing up.
   Originally from West Orange, Mr. Ray has performed with Meat Loaf, toured with Matchbox Twenty and jammed with Springsteen off-tour. He’s also been featured in Parenting Magazine, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
   In addition to the family-friendly performance from Mr. Ray, the Sonny Kenn Band will perform from 2 to 6 p.m. Sonny Kenn has been praised as a Jersey Shore legend and a major influence for many of the rock ‘n’ roll groups that emerged in the 1960s, including Springsteen. Now a classic blues and blues-rock act, the Sonny Kenn Band will be followed by the B-Street Band from 6 to 9 p.m.
   The B-Street Band claims to be the world’s longest-running tribute band, performing the best of Springsteen for nearly two decades. The band, formerly known as BackStreets, also plays the best of Billy Joel, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty and others.
   The party continues Sunday with more barbecue and an outdoor celebration of jazz sponsored by Salt Creek Grille. The musical talents include William Hart Strecker, a blues ensemble, and Jerry Topinka with vocalist Janel Nissim performing classic jazz.
   No matter how spicy the food, guests are in for some real heat when Phoenix Rising takes the stage at 2 p.m. The five-piece Latin jazz band is led by flutist Andrea Brachfeld, who has played and recorded with Latin musicians such as Tito Puente.
   She has worked with Phoenix Rising for nine years and composes all of the music. "For composing music I think about using a rhythm, thinking about different people I’ve known, using specific instruments, all the different places I’ve been," she says. "To compose, you have to be still in yourself and be in a positive environment. I just hear music."
   Ms. Brachfeld’s Latin, Afro-Cuban style of music has been praised by music critics as passionate, fiery, rhythmically vibrant and irresistible to dance to.
   Ms. Brachfeld stands out in the music world as a pioneer. According to her Web site, Ms. Brachfeld was the first female flutist to play salsa-style music in the United States and she is one of very few female Latin music composers.
   Despite Ms. Brachfeld’s world-renowned musicianship, however, she says she still enjoys and continues to play many local events.
The BBQ and Rib Festival will be held at the Princeton Forrestal Village, Route 1 and College Road West, Princeton, July 28, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Performances: Mr. Ray, noon-4 p.m.; Sonny Kenn Band, 2-6 p.m., B-Street Band, 6-9 p.m.; (609) 799-7400. Jazz Celebration will be held outside Salt Creek Grille, 1 Rockingham Row, Princeton Forrestal Village, July 29, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Performances: William Hart Strecker, noon-1:45 p.m.; Phoenix Rising, 2-3:45 p.m., Jerry Topinka, 4-6 p.m.; (609) 419-4200; www.saltcreekgrille.com. Admission for both events costs $4, $2 children, under 5 free. Money raised will benefit the Plainsboro Public Library.