Making music on Manhattan’s other island

Gloria Deluxe onstage at Roosevelt Live on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. (Photos copyright 2009, Steven P. Marsh)

What could be better than a beautiful, clear, end-of-summer Saturday afternoon? How about the addition of a fantastic free concert on the Borough of Manhattan’s other island. Roosevelt Island?

Ethan Lipton and His Orchestra — and a member of the audience who really wanted to get in the thick of things!

Gloria Deluxe and Ethan Lipton and His Orchestra spent an hour apiece delighting the audience on the island’s Riverwalk from 4 to 6 pm today. Cynthia Hopkins and her Gloria Deluxe compatriots performed their usual blend of quirky cabaret/alt-country/rock, while Lipton coupled a classic lounge musical sensibility with a biting, off-kilter story-telling style reminiscent of Randy Newman.

More photos of this afternoon’s gig, which closed Roosevelt Live’s first season of free concerts,  after the jump.

Cynthia Hopkins

Cynthia dances barefoot with members of the audience while the rest of the band finishes the set onstage.

Cynthia joins Ethan onstage for one comic number.