Cunningham to Groove Bluebird Park Thursday

The night may be hot Thursday but so will the tunes as patrons gather at Bluebird Park for Ellisville's Summer Concert Series.

Thursday night's performance will feature Tim Cunningham, a saxophonist who once dumbfounded a Cincinnati music critic with talents that remain beneath most audiphiles' radar.

Having performed on stage for most his life, Cunningham's résumé now boasts concerts booked with heavyweight artists such as George Benson, The Temptations, Chick Corea and Wynton Marsalis; funks outfits such as Earth Wind & Fire and The Average White Band, and singers such as Luther Vandross, Patti Labelle and soul legend Al Green.

Ellisville parks assistant Jamie Conway said Thursday's concert will be the fifth of the summer, with two more shows remaining after this week.

Conway said previous concerts have drawn thousands of attendees, who come for a combination of the music, the outdoor setting and offerings provided by the ; beer, wine and barbecue typically is served through 8 p.m., and guests are encouraged to bring their own picnicking treats and beverages.

“Really, the best part is the group coming together, putting out their blankets, breaking out some wine and just hanging out,” Conway said. “We just ask that they don’t bring glass.”

The concert is scheduled to run from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Bluebird Park near the. Admission is free.