This season marks the 11th consecutive summer series of free concerts, mostly along the waterfronts of Dobbs Ferry, Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow. This is due to the efforts of Mark Morganelli, founder and executive director of Jazz Forum Arts, a not-for-profit arts-presenting organization, that headlines artists of varied styles.

Founded in 1985, its mission is “to present top-quality arts events to the public at little or no cost, while enhancing the appreciation of Jazz, America’s pre-eminent indigenous musical art form.” Those inventive, adventurous musical phrases can be heard all summer, along the Hudson and inland, throughout the area.

Jazz Forum Arts, along with many other 501(c)3 organizations, had been hit hard by the current economy, but because of the timely and generous support of J.P.Morgan Chase, AT&T and Latin Percussion, The National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, Arts Westchester and RiverArts, they will be presenting 30 free concerts in six different venues.

The Sunset Jazz at Lyndhurst series is set in a spectacular venue that has been missing from the jazz scene for almost 20 years. Free Thursday Sunset Concerts will start August 5, 2010, (opens at 5 p.m., performance at 6 p.m.) on the West Lawn overlooking the Hudson River on the magnificent 67-acre estate, a National Trust for Historic Preservation site. The audience is encouraged to bring blankets or low-profile lawn chairs. Picnic suppers are available for purchase, or you may bring your own. If it should rain, a tent over the Carriage House courtyard will be used.

The August 5 presentation will feature the 15-piece Westchester Jazz Orchestra, called “one of the most incredible jazz orchestras in the entire country” by JazzImprovNY. It performed first in 2003 at the Irvington Town Hall and now offers an annual concert series which includes new arrangements of classic standards, music of the jazz masters, and works by Westchester Jazz Orchestra-commissioned composers and arrangers. It will be followed on August 12 by the Nilson Matta & Brazilian Voyage Band; August 19, the Jimmy Cobb Quintet and their Salute To Hank Jones; and on August 26, the 2009 Latin Grammy Nominee Bobby Sanabria & Quinteto Okobio.

The 11th Annual Dobbs Ferry Free Summer Music Series, co-sponsored by RiverArts and Jazz Forum Arts is presented every Wednesday at Waterfront Park in Dobbs Ferry from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.. June 23 was its first presentation, featuring Greetings From Anywhere. Continuing the series on July 7 will be The Paul Peress Quartet; July 14, Seleno Clarke & His Harlem Groove Band; July 21, Maya Azucena; July 28, Souren Baronian’s Eastern Jazz; August 11, The Stryker/Slagle Band; August 18, Greg Abate/Gary Smulyan Quartet; and, on August 25, season finale-Ginga Pura Nova York.

Other free concerts include:

Beczak, at Yonkers, near MTA/RR. Sundays 2-4 p.m. Free. August 8, Clifton Anderson Quartet; August 15, Tony Jefferson Sings!; August 22, the Jan Leder Quartet; and August 29, the Charlie Parker 90th Birthday Salute!, featuring Alexander McCabe, Andrew Beals, John Hart, Ugonna Okegwo and Steve Johns.

Jazz at Pierson Park at the Hudson River. Fridays, 6:30-8 p.m, Pierson Park, Tarrytown. Presented by Jazz Forum Arts, in association with the Village of Tarrytown Recreation & Parks. July 9, the Johns’ Jazz Group; July 16, the Hendrik Meurkens Quartet; July 23, the Jonny Hirsch Group; and July 30, Joey Berkley’s Funkasaurus Rex.

Sleepy Hollow Jazz Concerts. Fridays, 6:30-8 p.m, Kingsland Point Park on the Hudson River. Presented by the Jazz Forum Arts in association with the Village of Sleepy Hollow Parks & Recreation. August 6, the Burr Johnson Quartet; August 13, Andrea Brachfield Quartet; August 20, the Rick Stone Quartet; and August 27, Vanderlei Pereira & Blindfold Test.

The 2010 Caramoor International Jazz Festival (Aug. 6-8) is not on a Rivertown waterfront, but it’s a major musical event worth the travel-time to Katonah. Jazz producer Jim Luce is presenting a three-day festival loaded with jazz greats, plus new, innovative voices and talents.