In the summer, you never know where you might hear music. 2015. Main Avenue, Ocean Grove. Paul Goldfinger photo ©

Ocean Grove in the summer is a music place.  But the musical choices are fairly narrow. You never hear jazz or rock and roll. But there are still wonderful options, and it is all over town.  The Hope Jones organ is so special, and you can walk by in the afternoon or morning and hear Gordon Turk practicing, even with the windows and doors shut.  I don’t know why he doesn’t open them all when he practices, or maybe for a couple of designated practice hours.

Let people wander in to hear him or other musical groups practice. That does happen sometimes, and it is great.    Jason Tramm has a wonderful choral program, and then there are the kids with summer shows to work on.  Over at Days you might hear a Broadway review.

“Summer Stars” brings classical music to the Great Auditorium on Thursday nights for a bargain ticket price, and on the boardwalk are itinerant gospel singers playing for small groups sheltered from the hot sun in the Pavilion.

The “Songs on a Summer Afternoon” brings four amazing singers including the never-aging Ronald Naldi of the Metropolitan Opera in New York.   He lives in a summer tent in the shadows of the Great Auditorium.  And don’t forget the Summer Band on the Boardwalk each week and the Atlantic Wind Ensemble.

Gordon Turk has organ recitals and guest organists.  And there are special orchestral/choral treats such as the Choir Festival  (this Sunday) and later in the summer. Pick up a Summer Program Guide in Auditorium Park or at CMA headquarters  (Pitman and Pilgrim.)

And don’t forget the musical programs at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in OG and at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center just 10 minutes from the Grove, in Deal.  The latter does Broadway and jazz.

So I was walking towards the GA the other day when I heard some gentle sweet sounds of summer coming from the Tabernacle.  I went inside and found a quartet. The music was lovely so I recorded it until the song was done.  The words were a bit indistinct.  The audience was sparse, but that makes no difference in the world of prayer with music. These musicians are reaching out and up.  I don’t even know who they are, but here is a bit of their offering:

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