Walking the beat

By ANNA KELEMEN

August 13, 2009

It's a chance to see a different side of the New York City Police Department.

New York's Finest Jazz Ensemble, a group of 18 police officers, will make its Cape Cod debut Saturday as part of the fifth annual Provincetown Jazz Festival, which is running Friday through Sunday.

New York's Finest will be the festival's first big band. The ensemble, which has accompanied artists including Bette Midler, Cyndi Lauper, Wyclef Jean and Marc Anthony, brings together officers who take part in the band during their free time.

"Being a police officer and helping people is first and foremost in our hearts," says Tony Stewart, the jazz ensemble's director. Music offers the officers — men and women — an alternative way to extend that passion, he says. Performing nationally and internationally, the musicians have the chance to combine music with service to their community.

"It is a blessing to be able to do something like going into a school and teaching children about jazz, and I think it gives people a chance to see another side of police officers," says Stewart. "People see us in police cars or on motorcycles but rarely performing — and performing well, if I may say so."

Stewart, who formed the band in 2005, originally contacted Bart Weisman, festival founder and executive director, in the spring of 2008 to inquire about the possibility of performing. "They had heard about the jazz festival and said that they would like to perform, which was exciting to me," says Weisman. He booked the ensemble last fall after researching it on the Internet and listening to a recording.

Jazz — with its sweet, smooth tones; bold, innovative rhythms; audacious dissonance; and peculiarly American style — often seems to provide a nearly universal language. Stewart also finds jazz is a way to move past the darker side of patrolling the streets. "For me in particular, when I see something sad in my line of work, I can actually think of a happy song and it will help put a smile back on my face and in my heart. That is the power of jazz."

In addition to New York's Finest, the Saturday concert, at 8 p.m., will feature jazz vocalist Shawnn Monteiro. The Friday concert, also at 8 p.m., will feature vocal jazz group String of Pearls and Beat Kaestli, a Swiss vocalist who now also hails from New York City. The Sunday concert, at 1 p.m., will include performances by the Krisanthi Pappas Trio, pianist John Harrison III and guitarist Jim Robitaille. Weisman, a drummer, along with several other musicians, will accompany groups at each performance.

Because of ongoing renovations to its original venue, Provincetown Town Hall, the festival will return for a second year to the Provincetown High School auditorium at 12 Winslow St.

While New York's Finest was originally scheduled to perform as the Sunday afternoon headliner act, the group was moved to Saturday evening when New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg requested that the musicians return to the city to perform on Sunday.

"They are going to come up on Friday and spend the night, and then spend Saturday in Provincetown," says Weisman. Following the performance on Saturday evening, New York's Finest will immediately board a bus back to New York City — yet another example of determination.

If you go: What: Provincetown Jazz Festival. Featuring: New York's Finest Jazz Ensemble, other performers. When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Where: Provincetown High School, 12 Winslow St. Tickets: $25. Reservations: 508-274-2513, www.provincetownjazzfestival.org.