Viewfinder: Army Band Kicks Off Concerts in the Park

Families, couples and picnicking groups heard an uptempo Independence Day preview Wednesday evening at , where the Jazz Ambassadors started a summer music series.

A thunderstorm washed out the Birmingham Concert Band's leadoff show a week earlier. This time, a cloudless sky and temperatures in the high 70s provided an ideal setting for big band swing, modern jazz, vocal ballads and – naturally – a finale of patriotic tunes.

More than 200 people spread around the lawn, benches and sculpture base as the event returned to its original site after a two-year relocation to while Shain was undergoing renovations. A stylish permanent bandstand replaces the portable county stage that had previously been trucked in weekly.

Flanked by flags, the Jazz Ambassadors – a touring unit of the U.S. Army Field Band – performed songs by Duke Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael, Harry Connick Jr. and John Lennon/Paul McCartney.

"The park looks great," commented Jerry McKeon of Birmingham, who brought a lawn chair. "It complements a really nice town to live in." Seated nearby, Sydelle Isaacs of Farmington Hills described the redesigned park as "quite an improvement – it's beautiful."

Six upcoming shows presented by the city and business sponsors feature rock, country, blues, instrumental and pop:

• July 6: Acoustic Brothers from Different Mothers, a country, rock and jazz quartet.
• July 13: Sun Messengers, an eight-man R&B band delivering funk, classic rock and Motown.
• July 20: AnTekes, six rockers reprising '50s and '60s sounds.
• July 27: Clear Avenue Band, four-man cover group from Shelby Township doing Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, Doobie Brothers and other classic rock, country, blues and soul.
• Aug. 3: Toppermost Beatles Tribute Band, with a name that needs no explanation.
• Aug. 10: Michael King, a singer-songwriter who performs originals and covers.