June 20, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 13 Library’s concert series to resume in September by John Koster The Ridgewood Library Sunday concert series recently ended with a hugely popular performance by “Rave On.” The programs will resume in the autumn with performers and dates to be announced in the future. “Rave On,” offered a tribute to Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and Ritchie Valens, three legends of the early days of rock and roll. A three-man band with Chris Roselle on electric and acoustic guitar and vocals, Pete Farley on bass guitar and vocals, and Don Guinta on drums and vocals, “Rave On” captured the sound of Buddy Holly to perfection at the library’s Belcher Auditorium. Holly’s legendary life and death inspired an entire generation of rock musicians. Roselle and his group captured the feeling of Holly’s group with effortless enthusiasm. So far just this year, the Ridgewood Library has offered a number of other performances highlighting various eras and ethnic styles. The January performance featured Ridgewood resident Kayo Toda on marimba and Ridgewood resident Naoko Sawada on piano, with Toda’s son Hiroki helping out on percussion, in a selection that mixed classical, popular, and Asian selections. After a February cancellation due to illness, the schedule resumed with Gabriel Donohue, an Irish-born singer and musician and Ridgewood resident who delighted the audience with a performance that was sometimes satirical, sometimes sentimental, and always enjoyable. He packed the house. The performance by Ridgewood resi- Top left: Elina Karokhina and Mikhail Smirnov. Top right: Sherma Andrews. Bottom: The band ‘Rave On.’ dent Sherma Andrews, a performer in the style of her mentor Whitney Houston, also evoked warm applause as Andrews sang in several contemporary genres. Bridget Kibbey, a young specialist in the classical harp and a winner of a Jack Kemp Cook Scholarship, attempted two fulllength harp performances with intense proficiency, and earned substantial applause from an appreciative audience. The penultimate performance was by “Barynya,” the Russian and Russian-ethnic dance and music group lead by Mikhail Smirnov and featuring Smirnov on the garmosha, a Russian-style accordion, Elina Karokhina on the balalaika, and Boulet Moukhametov singing and dancing the Jewish “bottle dance” and Russian sailor’s dance. Smirnov’s wry humor and the virtuosity of all three performers brought down the house, and informed sources suggest they will return to Ridgewood.