Perfect Weather, Grateful Public Welcome Summer's End

As the saying goes, "Music soothes the savage breast", and it certainly salved many an anxious soul during the 16th Annual East Greenwich Summer's End concert.

Approximately 5,000 people pulled out lawn chairs or old quilts and divvied-up Eldredge field to settle down for some great entertainment.

Those that arrived early were fortunate to hear the East Greenwich High School Jazz Ensemble run through a shortened set of jam sessions (their plans for rehearsals were changed by the arrival of the storm last week). "We were thinking of changing our names to The Hurricane Horns," joked leader Brendan Carniaux.

After the jazz review were Phoebe Madden and her singing class of 12 young ladies who belted out standards such as Cole Porter's "Anything Goes".

The last preliminary act was Jake Torrey and Anna Basile, both EGHS seniors, who capped their acoustical set with a stunning rendition of "I Want to Hold Your Hand."

The evening then fell into the capable hands of Francisco Noya who lead the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra through many Pops standards by Strauss, Tchaikovsky, and Sousa.

Sandwiched between those favorites were a number of tunes that featured the singing of guest artist John Pagano, a Rhode Island native who has toured with Burt Bachrach and his band for several years.

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