Music Fridays at The Dolphin Café

There’s a new spot in town to wind down on a Friday and hear some of Port Washington’s most talented musicians.

This summer is offering a series of diverse performances starring local musicians. Many of the progams feature and are organized by Port Washington resident Solomon Hoffman, a Columbia University student.

“It’s a new café and a nice environment to listen to music, relax and unwind," Hoffman said, noting that admission is free.

Local residents may know Hoffman as the conductor of the – he’s conducted the show for the last six years – or perhaps as a counselor at ATLAST.

When attending , Hoffman enrolled in the Juilliard Pre-College Division. His works have been performed at a New York Philharmonic school day concert, and at the Kennedy Center. Most recently, he co-wrote the music and lyrics for "The Varsity Show," produced at Columbia.

The summer music program at Dolphin, Hoffman said, is varied.

On Friday evening at 7 p.m., for instance, Hoffman will perform a variety of classical, klezmer and original compositions for clarinet with Ethan Usoskin, a Schreiber student. Then at 8 p.m. recent Schreiber graduates Jesse Weil and Bobby Katz – members of the award-winning band, Decadence – return to play acoustic arrangements of favorite songs. with a jazz ensemble.

To date, Hoffman has performed at Dolphin in a musical theater session with two Columbia University students. He’s performed with a jazz sextet made up of Schreiber graduates Katz, Brian Aronow, Matt Brown, Sarah Paul and Myles Potters. That same night PW Jam, a local group of singers and guitarists, also performed. On another evening, Hoffman led a group of musical performers from the Port Summer Show’s “My Favorite Year.”

“For young musicians it gives them the opportunity to perform independently” outside school, Hoffman said.

Enjoy Friday night music at the Dolphin Care through September. Check back with Patch for the fall schedule.

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