Hitting all the right notes

Those days in center field are now behind him, but the passion is still there. Now it’s the concert stage and recording studio where Bernie Williams, the former New York Yankees star, is finding the hits – and accolades. Williams makes a rare Long Island concert appearance when he brings his eight-piece ‘all-star’ band to Molloy College’s Madison Theatre, on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. He’ll perform a sophisticated mix of Latin rhythms, smooth jazz, blues, and pop.
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Williams was a star athlete who discovered his passion for both music and baseball at age eight. In addition to the exhilaration he felt when picking up a baseball bat, he fell in love with the sounds of the flamenco guitar his merchant-marine father brought home from Spain, and began a lifetime of musical training, performing and composing.
“Music has been with me my entire life,” Willliams said. “I’ve been performing since high school and always felt that I would have a career in music. The fact that I became a New York Yankee was beyond my wildest dreams. Now I have come full circle.”
Williams is eager to perform for fans here. “I am excited to be at this brand-new venue,” he said. “I look forward to playing at the Madison Theatre and introducing those who might not be familiar with my music to my band.”
He’ll present an eclectic program that combines fusion, jazz and original music from his two albums. The first, “The Journey Within,” released in 2003, was met with strong critical praise and instant chart success, reaching #3 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart. Williams raised his musical game even further in 2009 with the release of his second album, “Moving Forward.” Featuring guest appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Secada and a group of renowned musicians, the album debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart, spawned two #1 singles and was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Album. Williams also co-authored his recently released book, “Rhythms of the Game,” which highlights the similarities between music artistry and athletic performance.

When: Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m. Tickets are $30-$100 (a limited number of tickets include a ‘meet and greet’ with Williams following the show).
Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy College, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 678-5000 ext. 7715 or www.madisontheatreny.org.