Saturday, August 19: Any other jazz eminences have stumbled on the rocks of Harvey Fite’s spectacular sculpture park, including local residents and jazz titans like DeJohnette, Holland, Abercrombie and (one-time local resident) Metheny. Still, there is something pretty special about this one: drummer Jimmy Cobb, the last surviving member of Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue ensemble (a group that included John Coltrane, Bill Evans and Cannonball Adderley) takes to the rocks.

Friday, August 18: In symphonies and other large-scale orchestral works, composers stake their claims, craft their legacies and position themselves in the traditions. Chamber works and – especially – solo piano music, on the other hand, are more likely to be the composer’s secret heart-songs and experimental diaries. This is why I so much prefer them. 

Saturday and Sunday, August 12-13: Visit 37 artists in their creative spaces at the Saugerties Artists’ studio tour. This annual event is free and it’s self-guided; one has only to pick up a map from local businesses (or print one out online at the event website) and chart a course.

Saturday, August 12: In the morning, the Harlem String Quartet will perform a concert for children. All children are admitted free. That evening, internationally known and innovative percussion ensemble NEXUS takes the stage at Maverick. Headed by Woodstock’s master percussionist and instrument-builder Gary Kvistad, NEXUS performs Modernist compositions and world music on a staggering variety of instruments: Swiss cowbells, Chinese drums, Tibetan prayer bowls, Middle Eastern hand drums, Southeast Asian water buffalo bells and much more.