Mike Arenella and the Dreamland Orchestra on Governors Island for a hot, balmy day of 1920s revival fun. We stepped off the ferry after a ten-minute ride from Manhattan’s southern tip.
Jacqueline and I approached the great lawn in the center of the island; I felt transported to another place, another time, much like Owen Wilson when he stepped into the car as the leading character in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris.
Mike Arenella and the Dreamland Orchestra on Governors Island
Before my eyes, the roaring 20s came alive, and pages from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby came to life. People wore authentic garb, played badminton, lounged with friends, picnicked, and danced to the music of the era, JAZZ!
Mike Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra host an event here each year, drawing enthusiastic crowds.
The band sat atop a stage built at one end of the great lawn, igniting the day’s energy and drawing couples onto the dance floor to show off the hottest steps of the time.
The Dreamland Orchestra is authentic in its instruments, equipment, and attire. Led by Mike Arenella’s wand and, at times, his strong baritone, they deliver an accomplished, professional show without losing the fun and spontaneity of an era gone by.
According to Arenella, he transcribes their entire repertoire by hand from period recordings.
I asked a girl (see photo right) in a black dress, “What brought you out to a themed event like this?” She didn’t hesitate when she pointed to her friend
(in gray with the fan) and said, “She did!”
“Are you having a good time? Do you think you might come again“? With a wide grin, she responded, “Absolutely, this is great!”
I received similar responses from several people I questioned, including one couple from England. The outfits varied from half-hearted or hurried to exceptional.
If you like Jazz, and you’re in New York during the summer, check out this event. See more photos HERE.
For more photos of past events or upcoming events for Mike Arenella and the Dreamland Orchestra, visit their site here: https://dreamlandorchestra.com/
(PUBLISHED in Jazz Review Magazine 2011)
