Bulletin to Cheapskates

Two of the most promising concert evenings in the next couple weeks of frenzied NYC-is-the-world's-jazz-capitol-festivalitis happen to be absolutely free. Maceo Parker is the alto saxophonist James Brown called for his blues-soul-funk solos, and he leads his tentet for the opening night of Celebrate Brooklyn! at Prospect Park bandshell (June 15, 8). Parker has no relation (even stylistically) to jazz god Charlie Parker; instead of heading off into Bird-like high flights, he's the avatar of the proud blues-soul-funk sax tradition established by hilarious Louis Jordan, brought to an earlier apotheosis by the great King Curtis, polished for mainstream consumption by Grover Washington, Jr. (and since then bleached of true juice by a handful of pretty-boy jazz litesters). Maceo doesn't play any notes, even on ballads, that aren't drenched in the grits 'n' groceries idiom, which has made him a fixture in bands led by Ray Charles, George Clinton, De La Soul and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He's probably the most sampled saxophonist in DJ-land, but I keep writin' there's no substitute for hearing a hero live. CB!'s free concerts continue June 16 with Latin-rock dance bands Tiempo Libre, the Cuban Cowboys and Javier García.

June 16 is also kickoff-night of the estimable free Central Park Summerstage series, which opens with a revue featuring four "nu jazz" bands recorded on Thirsty Ear Records. Astoundingly cool guitarist Charlie Hunter and tick-tight drummer Boby Previte (with guest Elliot Sharp) are Groundtruther; pianist Matt Shipp plays solo, mixing reflective fantasy and ecstatic high energy; Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer sounds like Miles Davis in the '80s, tape-looped; Sex Mob, led by slide trumpeter Steven Bernstein, explores the "sexotica" repertoire of ersatz tropicalist Martin Denny. What's "nu" about this jazz is that fun trumps substance, but each ensemble offers some of both. Get it while you can: given the growing economic chasm, how much longer will any entertainment be truly free?