Great music turns a picnic into a party. Specifically, the third annual BPNA Block Party got rocking when Craig Brenner and Friends—Craig on piano, Lori Wallace on vocals and percussion, Gordon Bonham on guitar and vocals, and Kenny Aronoff on drums— set up on the 1000 block of South Dunn amid the scent of hamburgers and potluck offerings on Friday, August 24.
About 200 people came to eat, chat, listen, and dance with their neighbors. Craig’s signature mix of jazz, blues, boogie woogie, and New Orleans R & B got adults and children alike up and moving.
Jan Sorby, president of the Bryan Park Neighborhood Association, said, “Craig Brenner and Friends’ music really makes our picnic an Event. We are very lucky to have talented giving people like Craig and all the band members who virtually donate their time to our annual picnic. It is this kind of personal contribution that makes the Bryan Park a special place to live.”
Craig Brenner added, “It was a reunion of sorts for three of us - Gordon Bonham, Kenny Aronoff and I were all in the Ragin' Texans in the late 1980's, and Kenny left when John Mellencamp's Scarecrow Tour hit the road and it took him away. Aronoff still lives in
Sorby said, “To say it was a successful community building experience would be an understatement. Our picnics bring together long-time and new residents in a positive pleasurable manner. Sharing time together at this annual event is the first step to knowing, enjoying and respecting each other’s life-style and privacy.”
Jon Lawrence, the event organizer, said, “Each year more and more people volunteer to help. It’s so wonderful to see people take ownership of the party and really of the neighborhood.”
If you missed the party, you can still hear the music. Look for upcoming dates on www.craigbrenner.com.
From BPNA Neighborhood News, published October 2007
