This month Othello Park began what some neighbors hope will become a long-standing tradition. Seattle Parks Department is featuring a weekly, Sunday afternoon public concert series spotlighting local musicians of many cultural styles.
A sprinkling of folks gathered September 10 for the first of four consecutive musical events. Seated on the yellow carpet of late summer grass viewing a towering grove of locust trees, neighbors and friends listened to veritable rhythms from Latin salsa to Caribbean bomba to jazz hip-hop. While their parents tapped to music, toddlers danced about the pastoral scene, visited the children's activity table to paint their faces with flowers and butterflies, played on the jungle gym, or careened down the hillside on the Park's giant slide.
Randy Wiger, Seattle Parks Program Coordinator said the desire for a concert series was expressed at Othello Neighborhood Association meetings earlier in the year. The city had assigned Wiger to Othello Park in response to neighborhood concerns for public safety, especially after a high profile crime in which a young man lost his life in the park last year. Wiger said his goal is to bring families and children into the park, making it "the living room of the neighborhood." Although the park - with its picnic area, playgrounds, and basketball court - is popular with many neighbors, Wiger feels it does not get the use it deserves.
"Some Othello neighbors don't even know this park exists," he said.
Even though the first concert did not draw a large crowd, Wiger believes "there's nothing like this to set a bench mark for the future, and in a couple of years, it will be known throughout the region."
Describing his hopes for the future, Wiger pointed out that Othello Park is only a short block from the future Othello light rail station. A large, mixed-use housing development is planned adjacent to the Park's west side with new commercial space along the street.
Although currently most local traffic is car oriented, a lot more pedestrians are expected on Othello Street within the next few years. According to Wiger's vision, an annual Othello Park concert series might become a magnet attracting visitors from afar.
Besides benefiting the neighborhood, Wiger sees the concert series as an opportunity to showcase Southeast Seattle's rich pool of ethnic talent. To recruit quality local talent, he contacted such sources as South East Effective Development, the Musicians Guild, and the Northwest Folklife Director. The musicians he selected are dedicated professionals with passion for preserving their ethnic musical traditions. Mambo Cadillac, one of the groups that played on Sunday attracted a cadre of fans who frequent their other performances. One spectator, Doreen Mitchum, declared herself a "four culture salsa dancer" and proclaimed Mambo Cadillac "one of the best salsa groups in town."
A bomba group, Grupo Bayano, featured bongo drums and dancers with Spanish style ruffled skirts. Their leader, Sharon Cronin, explained that, according to the Puerto Rican bomba tradition, dancers control the rhythm and compete with the drummers to see if they can keep up.
Roman Corilla, Grupo's Puerto Rican guest performer, said he has dedicated his life to preserving the pure form of this music, which was born of trade slaves in the sugar cane fields. He said his people are proud of their traditions and folklore and do not want them corrupted by the media and popular culture.
Jairus Green, professionally known as Professor Icee, leader and lyricist for "Global Heat," a group of jazzy, young male hip hoppers, wore a colorful print shirt depicting the sources of their art including gospel spiritual, soul, funk, and rhythm and blues. Justin Justice, the band's other rapper wore baggy pants, a jean jacket, and a baseball cap. Global Heat's instrumentation and skills were as rich and variable as their attire, and their lyrics consisted of poignant social commentary on the state of the world.
Judith Moore from Myrtle Creek, Ore., attended the concert with a friend she was visiting in the neighborhood.
"I cannot recall ever enjoying such a wide variety of great music in a small neighborhood park," Moore said. "Besides having a relaxing Sunday afternoon, I learned a lot about music."
The 2006 Othello Park concert series continues every Sunday from 1-6 p.m. through October 1. Wiger invited anyone interested in the concert series to phone his office at 206-684-0775. He also said he's interested in hearing from, "anyone who has an idea for an event in Othello Park."
Rainier Valley writer Mona Lee may be reached via editor@sdistrictjournal.com.[[In-content Ad]]
