H.B. summer concert series takes Central Park stage starting Sunday

Huntington Beach will groove this summer to the sounds of big band, Latin, jazz and strings — all for free.

The Huntington Beach Concert Band is ready to present its annual series of weekly summer concerts at Central Park, including for the first time the Yari Moré Latin Band, Jamie Wood & Daddy-O! and Shoreline Symphonic Winds.

“It’s good for the audience to be exposed to new genres that they maybe don’t have familiarity with,” said Linda Couey, general manager of the concert band. “People love the variety. Everybody has their favorite, but people love that it’s a little bit different each week.”

This year’s concerts, which begin Sunday, are expected to draw audiences of 1,500 to 2,000 people, many of whom will bring picnic baskets and lawn chairs.

Before concerts of swing or Latin genres, an instructor will give free dance lessons so guests can move with the tunes.

The nonprofit concert band is funded through donations and is independent from the city, Couey said.

This year, the city is helping with funding for portable toilets and is paying a third of the cost of setting up and taking down equipment for the event each week.

“We were in the city’s budget years and years ago, so it’s nice to start to have their support again,” Couey said. “Hopefully some of our City Council members will come to the concerts this year and see what they’ve been missing all these years. I don’t know if they know the extent of the audience.”

Director Tom Ridley said the group, which has more than 70 members, is open to adults 18 and older who are out of high school. They practice almost every Tuesday, on top of other responsibilities.

“That’s why these players are here,” Ridley said. “They’re having fun and they enjoy sharing with other people. They’ve obviously spent a lot of time and effort to get the skills they have, and they just enjoy sharing. Music speaks to the soul, and, you know what, we need a lot of that these days.”

Currently, members’ ages range from 19 to 91.

Lloyd Glick of Huntington Beach, the 91-year-old, said he has been in the band since it started in 1973.

The trumpet player said music has always played a pivotal role in his life. He met his wife, Judy, while performing in another band. The two joined the Huntington Beach Concert Band after they got married.

“I like the emotions that are connected to music,” Glick said. “When you play a good piece of music written by somebody who really knows what they’re doing, it appeals to you emotionally. That kind of feeling is a pleasant feeling, so that’s what I pursue.”

Avery Brown, 19, of Huntington Beach, the youngest and newest member of the band, said the age gap among members isn’t noticeable.

“I think that playing with all these other people who have different backgrounds really gives me hope for the future,” Brown said. “I’m a music major in college, and it’s great to have different opportunities to network as a musician. When I walked in, people asked if I wanted to join different groups. It’s really welcoming, and I love it.

“When I was a kid, I used to go watch the band in the park. It’s cool to be a part of something that you looked up to when you were really young.”

If you go

What: Huntington Beach Concert Band Summer Series

Where: Huntington Beach Central Park, 18000 Goldenwest St.

When: 5 p.m. Sundays from June 28 to Sept. 6

Cost: Free

Schedule:

Sunday: Huntington Beach Concert Band

July 5: Night Blooming Jazzmen (Dixieland)

July 12: Shoreline Symphonic Winds (classical, show tunes, marches)

July 19: Yari Moré Latin Band. Free Latin dance lesson at 4:15 p.m.

July 26: Huntington Beach Concert Band

Aug. 2: Jamie Wood & Daddy-O! (blues, jazz, jump, swing, boogie-woogie). Free swing dance lesson at 4:15 p.m.

Aug. 9: The Wiseguys Big Band Machine. Free swing dance lesson at 4:15 p.m.

Aug. 16: Covina Concert Band and Huntington Beach Concert Band

Aug. 23: Bob DeSena (Latin jazz). Free Latin dance lesson at 4:15 p.m.

Aug. 30: Laguna Beach Community Band

Sept. 6: Mike Henebry Orchestra (big band, swing). Free swing dance lesson at 4:15 p.m.

Information: hbconcertband.org