Some days, nothing sounds more blissful than time spent relaxing at a park. The pairing of a lush, green lawn and a tall shade tree create the perfect setting for a restful hour under a blue sky. Add a little live music to the this idyllic scene, and you would find yourself at Music in the Park, a free weekly concert series put on by the North Augusta Arts Council and held at Maude Edenfield Park. This was the exact scene that awaited Dean and me on the evening of Thursday, June 2.
Earlier in the week, I received an email about that week’s performer at Music in the Park. We’d not seen Augusta’s Empress of Cool in a hot minute, so after we ate dinner we grabbed our lawn chairs and hopped in the car for an evening with Karen Gordon.
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We arrived a bit early to stake out the perfect place to sit. The trees lining the back of the lawn offered a buffer from the hot late afternoon sun. Fingers of sunlight snaked across the grass and filled the covered stage as Karen prepared for her show. Folks began to arrive after we’d gotten there, and by the time the show started, a sizable crowd had gathered and seated themselves behind us. Funny for us, we found ourselves all alone in the front row.
A superb vocalist and entertainer extraordinaire, Karen treated the audience to a mix of jazz standards and R&B classics from yesteryear, opening up her set list with “It’s Gonna Be a Lovely Day” by Bill Withers. Accompanied by keyboard wizard Jordan Deshong, Karen engaged the crowd from the start and kept the momentum going throughout her show. Her smooth, sultry voice rolled over us like warm honey. With joyful dancing, playful banter and a call/response performance, Karen brought a comfortable intimacy to her show. A consummate performer, she made us feel like we were at home. And in a way, we were.
Other songs Ms. Gordon performed were Duke Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” “Sunny” by Bobby Hebb, a Bill Withers two-fer including “Just the Two of Us” and “Ain’t No Sunshine,” followed by the jazz standard “My Funny Valentine.” Her rendition of “What’s Going On?” by Marvin Gaye sent chills down my arms. The words to that song are just as relevant today as they were when they were written, and the way she carried the lyrics added an extra punch.
As we sang along with her, the vibe between performer and audience radiated peace and love. It was almost like being in church.
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Karen Gordon is a performer you simply cannot miss in concert. You may find her online at www.gardencityjazz.com.
Get your weekend started early on Thursday nights this summer at the Music in the Park series at Maude Edenfield Park in North Augusta. The concert series ends July 14, so make plans now to attend one of the upcoming concerts. The free shows begin at 7 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will be held inside the Community Center behind the park. Whether rain or shine, the show will go on! For more information, visit the North Augusta Arts Council website at https://www.naartscouncil.org/music-in-the-park.
Summer heat is in full swing, and so are live music events across the area. On Friday, Blue Lava brings classic rock hits to the patio at Cantina Locale. Show begins at 7 p.m. On Saturday, stop by Stay Social Tap + Table for the funky and grooving sounds of The Brownstown Gritty. Show starts at 7 p.m. If karaoke is your thing, you won’t want to miss Karaoke Night at the Highlander.
Francie Klopotic is an author, artist and music aficionado living in Augusta. She writes The Night Beat column the first and third Fridays of each month.
