ABOUT THE EVENT

The initial Cracked Ice lineup included Charlie Giordano and Soozie Tyrell (who both went on to join Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band), and a bevy of greats have hopped on (and off) the “Ice Wagon” over the past decade, including Brent Carter (ex-Tower of Power/currently lead vocalist with Average White Band), guitar-meisters Ira Siegel, John Putnam and Jon Herington (of Steely Dan renown), Bobby Harden (currently co-lead vocals in the original Blues Brothers), trumpeter Larry Etkin (Billy Joel Band/Uptown Horns), bassist Ivan “Funkboy” Bodley (Sam Moore, “Rock of Ages” on Broadway), and drummers Steve Holley (Wings/Ian Hunter) and Denny McDermott (Rosanne Cash/Marc Cohn/Steely Dan).

Along with the band’s funk and soul underpinnings, Crispin’s songwriting for Cracked Ice has focused on the primal male/female duet in rock/r&b (think Marvin & Tammi, Bonnie & Delaney, Otis Redding & Carla Thomas . . . ), and the band’s current lineup features the sizzling vocal duo of Susan Didrichsen (Wilson Pickett Band/David Byrne) and Angel Rissoff (The Rascals, Little Isadore). On the band’s 2009 debut album “Soul Noir”, Cracked Ice revels in the original soul duets “Start It Up”, “Let’s Talk It Over”, and “That’s My Story”, and two of these songs became bona fide hits on the local-but-mighty Carolina “beach music” scene centered in Myrtle Beach/Charleston/Wilmington: “That’s My Story” and “Sweet Feeling” (with Susan singing lead), as well as in England’s Northern Soul scene, and with “shag dancing” fans world-wide. As a result, “Sweet Feeling” was included on Putumayo Records’ “Rhythm & Blues” compilation album, and several other cuts have been licensed for television and film scores.
And Cracked Ice always delivers the rockin’ soul . . . live!
Saxist/songwriter/producer Crispin Cioe has left an indelible imprint on American/ British roots and pop music, through his work as a soloist (viz. sax solos on James Brown’s “Living in America”, “Love & Money” by Bronski Beat, etc.), being a co-founding member of the esteemed Uptown Horns (recording/tours with icons like the Rolling Stones, Solomon Burke, Tom Waits, Ray Charles, Ohio Players. . . ), music directing for TV (including “The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for Humor” and “The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Songwriting, Live From The White House”), and by dint of a lifelong commitment to workin’ it hard every time he’s hit the stage playing tenor and/or alto, baritone and soprano saxophone.

Note: Lawn & Concession open to the public one hour before show-time. Facility is closed to public during load-in and sound-check. Picnics are welcome. The Levitt Pavilion and its perimeter is a non-smoking area. Pets are not allowed.

In case of inclement weather, check back here or call our concert hotline (203-221-2153) at or after 4.30PM on the day of the show for a location status update. While we have a nearby rain location for free shows, we always do our best to stay outside shower or shine!