Exactly two weeks after the Blackout of 2003 caused the cancellation of the first-ever scheduled concert produced by the Hudson Riverfront Performing Arts Center, legendary jazz saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera made everyone forget Thursday night what had happened two weeks prior.
In a perfect setting at Weehawken’s Lincoln Harbor Park, with a cool breeze coming off the Hudson River, the energetic and effervescent D’Rivera and his ensemble thrilled an audience of 800 spectators with a free concert that featured all of the varieties of Latin jazz that he performs all over the world.
Township officials called it the biggest turnout ever for a waterfront concert.
No one could have ever anticipated just how perfect a night it would be. The weather cooperated, with temperatures feeling fall-like and the oppressive humidity a distant memory.
"The weather definitely helped us," said D’Rivera, the four-time Grammy Award winner who lived many years in Weehawken before recently moving to North Bergen. "It was beautiful."
The turnout was another pleasant surprise. People were spotted sitting on blankets, enjoying a picnic dinner, eating fried chicken and sipping wine. It was a festive, relaxed setting.
Before the concert, Hudson River Performing Arts Center executive director Bruce Sherman was hoping for a crowd of perhaps 500. Well, the turnout for D’Rivera easily topped that number.
"I’m exceptionally pleased," Sherman said.
Plus, the audience was diverse. It was anticipated that the crowd might be exclusively Hispanic, considering D’Rivera’s Cuban ancestry and his Latin style of music.
But the audience was incredibly mixed, with concertgoers ages eight through 80 of all ethnic backgrounds.
"What made it particularly wonderful was the extreme diversity of the audience," Sherman said. "All ages, ethnicities. They were also so appreciative and so attentive. It was terrific. They truly appreciated that they had one of the world’s greatest artists in their presence."
D’Rivera was pleased with the way the audience gave him their full attention.
"I usually don’t like doing outdoor concerts, because they are generally noisy with people talking out loud," D’Rivera said. "But this time, they were so attentive. When I stopped playing, there was silence. Conventionally, that doesn’t happen. I was really impressed. It wasn’t a conventional jazz-listening audience, but they seemed happy to be here."
The concert was held as a way to draw attention to the fact that there is no performing arts facility on this side of the Hudson River, something that the HRPAC expects to do in the future, building a 500-seat center somewhere on the waterfront, if the HRPAC can raise the necessary funding.
"Hopefully, the next time I play here, there will be a roof," said D’Rivera, who also serves on the HRPAC Board of Directors.
Everyone in attendance, from town officials to D’Rivera fans, agreed that it was a perfect evening.
"You can’t beat this," said Weehawken township manager James Marchetti, who has been running the township in the absence of Mayor Richard Turner while Turner is on vacation. "It’s a beautiful night. It’s a good feeling to know we can have these events in Weehawken. I think it’s a great thing for the future of Weehawken."
Third Ward Councilman Robert Sosa agreed.
"I went around the crowd before the concert and I couldn’t believe the excitement," Sosa said. "People were here from all over the place, from New York, from all over New Jersey. I spoke with people who know what concerts are like in Central Park, and this had the same feeling. They were amazed and told me they wanted to come back to Weehawken."
Added Sosa, "This was a crowd that wasn’t of one ethnic origin. These people wanted to come see someone like Paquito who plays all over the world. He’s brought to Weehawken a nice mix of people, a very diverse audience. I think it typifies what Weehawken is all about. I’m getting a kick out of seeing the kids in the audience, paying attention, dancing. They’re oogle-eyed. It exposes the children to more of a variety of music that they would normally listen to."
Most of the people in the audience were thrilled to have a chance to see D’Rivera for free, when his concerts at Lincoln Center, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center or his upcoming show at Carnegie Hall with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma can become very costly.
"I just went to see him in Lincoln Center, and I paid about $45," said Weehawken resident Aura Buzhberger. "It’s unbelievable that he’s right here in Weehawken. I enjoy his music so much. He’s so famous and he’s right here. I’m originally from Colombia and love Latin music. This was a great opportunity to see someone big."
Union City resident Ulysses Vargas was so impressed with the concert that he was purchasing two D’Rivera CDs after the show.
"I am Cuban like Paquito," Vargas said. "And I love jazz and love his music. I think having a concert like this in this area is fantastic, and I was glad that I had the chance to see it. I think there’s a lack of culture here, and I would like to see more concerts like this here."
Agatha Coggins of Jersey City thought the evening had more of an astronomical effect.
"Mars had nothing on tonight’s performance," said Coggins, referring to the recent closeness of the planet, the best viewing of Mars until 2037. "It was marvelous. What a perfect setting and the perfect ending to the summer. And it was free, which was the cherry on the sundae."
Marcelle Jackson came all the way from Hillside to see D’Rivera.
"This is the best of summer when you get a chance to do this," Jackson said. "This is what summer is all about, so when the winter comes, you can remember that night in the summer to get you through the winter. I’ve followed Paquito all over the place, the Blue Note, Lincoln Center, for years and years, and this was just perfect. For many years, I’ve paid to see him perform, and here, he’s for free."
D’Rivera is hopeful that the concert brought more attention to the eventual goal, namely the performing arts center.
"That’s what this is all about," D’Rivera said. "Everybody came out to support the idea and we’re going to get it. We can’t afford not to have a place like this. I can’t understand that there are people who don’t understand the beauty of the idea. Well, this is proof. We need this."
After the trials and tribulations that came with putting the concerts together, then having the Zydeco concert of Nathan & The Zydeco Cha-Chas scrapped because of the blackout, Sherman was overjoyed that his long-time friend D’Rivera finally kicked off the series.
"You give all the time, the effort, the sweat, and then you’re disappointed when it doesn’t go off," Sherman said. "Most of the time, you don’t get a chance to feel redeemed in just two weeks, but this makes it all worthwhile."
Thanks to the energetic force playing the saxophone, a man who has delighted millions over the years and had a chance to delight a summer audience in his own backyard.