Fans are looking forward to this year's Animal Crackers Concert Series
By Lee B. Roberts
lroberts@journaltimes.com | Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:00 am
Hearing the music of jazz and blues greats such as Ahmad Jamal, Wes Montgomery and Etta James in his home as a youngster gave Morris Reece an early appreciation of jazz.
"My mother was a jazz enthusiast and I was just 10 or 11 years old when I first learned about jazz," said the director of Fair Housing for the City of Racine. "Never in my wildest dreams, though, did I think I'd have an opportunity to work with and serve such people in the capacity I did."
The capacity Reece speaks of was the many years he spent volunteering with the team that runs the Racine Zoo's Animal Crackers Concert Series, which has brought a wide range of jazz and popular music performers to Racine for the past 22 summers. This year's series will feature four Wednesday night concerts in July and August.
Reece, who worked as director of the Dr. John Bryant Community Center when the series started, was one of the people who made sure all of the visiting musicians had whatever they needed both before and after each performance. His duties included accompanying them to and from the airport; making sure they got to their hotels and sound checks; and seeing that they were fed and entertained.
During that time, Reece said he met many wonderfully talented musicians, who were also outstanding people - including Ahmad Jamal, Joe Williams, Maynard Ferguson and Joe Sample. The one who stands out most in his mind, however, is Nancy Wilson.
"She was one of my top favorites as a young person," Reece said.
Getting to know such performers was a real treat, and so was being able to hear them play right here in Racine, said Reece, who has been attending the Animal Crackers series with his wife, brother and friends since its inception. While he gave up his volunteer position with the series when he took the Fair Housing post several years ago, Reece has continued to attend the lakefront concerts, which he describes as "a great experience."
To be able to sit and enjoy such music under the umbrella of the zoological gardens is a wonderful opportunity, he said. "I'm happy to see it is still flourishing."
Music and moreThe atmosphere of the Animal Crackers concerts - from its candle-lit picnic spreads to the sailboat regattas on the backdrop of the lake - is an important part of the whole experience, says Anne Meredith, who has been attending the events with a large group of family and friends since year one.
"It couldn't be better, I just love it," said Meredith, whose family owns and operates Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home.
"The music is always good, but I also love the social opportunities of the evening," she said. "I feel like I get to see so many people I haven't seen in a while."
Being able to attend the outdoor concerts is something Meredith said she really appreciates at this time of year. The weather has been very kind to Animal Crackers throughout its 22 years, and even on the few rainy nights that have occurred, people still seem to have fun, she said.
"Everyone had their umbrellas and was dancing around."
Both Meredith and Reece are especially excited to see saxophonist David Sanborn in this season's Animal Crackers line-up. Sanborn will play the second concert (July 22) in the series, which opens July 8 with clarinetist Ken Peplowski and his band. The complete line-up is as follows:
July 8: Ken Peplowski's Benny Goodman Centennial Celebration. Not long out of college, Peplowski was invited to join the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and he's been wowing audiences with his clarinet playing ever since. His performance in Racine will be a tribute to Benny Goodman featuring the big band sound. For more go to: http://www.kenpeplowski.com
July 22: The David Sanborn Group. On his way up the musical ladder, saxophonist David Sanborn played and toured with a range of musicians from Stevie Wonder and David Bowie to James Taylor and Paul Simon. Since striking out on his own in the late 1970s/early 1980s, he's released more than 20 solo albums and won two Grammys. You may already be familiar with his work, but if not, go to: http://www.davidsanborn.com
Aug. 5: Shemekia Copeland. The daughter of the late Texas blues guitar legend Johnny Clyde Copeland, Shemekia has been singing her heart out since she was a child. While in her 20s, she opened for the Rolling Stones, headlined at the Chicago Blues Fest and shared the stage with B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Taj Majal. Listen to her at: http://www.shemekiacopeland.com
Aug. 19: Randy Brecker. Chances are you've heard the talent of this Philadelphia-born musician whether you know it or not. Brecker's trumpet and flugelhorn playing have graced hundreds of albums by musicians from James Taylor and Bruce Springsteen to David Sanborn, Steely Dan, Horace Silver and Frank Zappa. Half of the critically-acclaimed Brecker Brothers, he has shaped the sound of jazz, R&B and rock for four decades. Go to: http://www.randybrecker.com
Food and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be available for sale during the concerts, Food carry-ins are allowed, but city ordinance prohibits any person from bringing alcoholic beverages into the zoo, which is a city park.
All proceeds from the Animal Crackers series benefit the Racine Zoo. Over the last 23 years, funds totaling nearly $585,000 have been raised by this event. The money has been used for improvements to the zoo grounds, as well as care of animal inhabitants, according to officials at the zoo.
If You Go
WHAT: Animal Crackers Concert Series
WHEN: 7 p.m. July 8 and 22 and Aug. 5 and 19. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Racine Zoo, 2131 N. Main St.
COST: Season tickets are $60 for all four concerts. Three-concert packages are $50. Single-concert tickets are $20.
INFO: Tickets can be purchased online at: http://www.racinezoo.org , by calling (262) 636-9189 or at Racine Johnson Bank locations.