A Collective Tribute To Carly Simon and James Taylor At Waterford Beach Park

Some of the areas best musicians on the area have banded together for the second concert of the Summer Concert series at Waterford Beach Park to play a one-time only concert tribute to James Taylor and Carly Simon. The lineup alone makes the show worth seeing. 

The group, known as “The Collective,” includes Waterford bass player Bert Coburn, drummer Wayne Manca and guitarists Ron Apicelli (Azalea Drive), Eddie Aledia (Mind, Body & Soul), Tom Perrone (Shaded Soul Band), Bernie Santore (Five after Five), keyboardists Hilary Carboni (Meleana) and Joe Grieco (The Cartells), and the unmatched vocal talents of Andre Danford, Josi Davis, and Lisa Marien.

Coburn first had the idea for the concert last June. 

“These are all players I've worked with, or always wanted to. All musicians I've respected and loved for one reason or the other,” says Coburn. “Wayne Manca was first. I knew he would be the drummer, and I could build the best band from there. Rehearsals have been fantastic. It's remarkable – a testament to these professionals that the songs came together so quickly. The vocals knock me out the most. The harmonies fell right into step.”  

The concert will feature staples from Folk icon James Taylor and confessional songwriter Carly Simon, music spanning decades of additions to our American songbook. The two hour concert includes performances of favorites such as Taylor's “Fire and Rain”, “Shower the People”, and “Handy Man”, and Simon's “You're So Vain”, “Anticipation”, and “Coming Around Again”.

Coburn is excited about the possibility of more concerts like this one in years to come. “But who knows if we'll all have the chance to play together like this again. I am so pleased everyone was able to do it. The friendships and community being built around this make me so happy. This is what music is supposed to be!”

The concert will be Wednesday, July 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Waterford Beach Park off Great Neck Road. This concert FREE to the public, and picnics are welcome! Please note that if the event is rained out, the concert will be canceled and there are no rescheduled rain dates, so keep your fingers crossed!