During his first visit to Syracuse, NY flautist Wouter Kellerman also put on his dancing shoes. Here’s a brief clip from his finale at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival (Day 1).
Archive for July, 2012
Dance Again
Tuesday, July 31st, 2012Lake Revival
Tuesday, July 31st, 2012Once known as America’s Most Polluted, Onondaga Lake in Syracuse was the subject of a story on National Public Radio (NPR) today. The current clean up efforts seek to reverse tons of toxic waste–particularly mercury–contamination. Environmentalists hope to bring back consistent fishing and maybe even swimming to the lake some day. To hear the NPR story, click here.
In Case You Missed It
Tuesday, July 31st, 2012
Wall Street meets the Trib: Eddie Brown of the Blacklites catches up with Duane Tribune before the Urban Coalition set on Saturday afternoon.
Here are some miscellaneous shots from behind the scenes of the events last weekend in Downtown Syracuse.
Bass on Bass: Phresh Makhene meets with Gerald Veasley backstage
Temporary Garment District: The Frankie & Faye booth closes up for the day on Montgomery Street for the Arts & Craft Festival.
Behind the scenes: Joanne Shenandoah and singers on stage in Hanover Square.
Pop star Jana Mashonee signs autographs and meets fans after her concert in Hanover Square.
Caliente
Tuesday, July 31st, 2012
Jessy J sings
Jessy J, the Spanish-speaking smooth jazz saxophonist who grew up in Cali, showed she was a triple threat during her peformance in Syracuse on Saturday. Jessy J played (accompanied by Urban Coalition), she danced, and she sang to close out this year’s 2012 Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival.
- Jessy J, the So-Cal Sax Machine
Jessy J shows off her dance moves.
Doin’ What They Do
Tuesday, July 31st, 2012
Hector Maldonado on bongos for Urban Coalition
Urban Coalition, a Syracuse Jazz in the City alumni band, made their return to Syracuse and played the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival on Saturday. The band, featuring Richard Randolph on sax and Phil Raney on Bass, especially pleased the crowd when the played a rendition of the Luther Vandross hit “Never Too Much.”
- Phil Raney
The band also backed the featured act of the night, Jessy J.
Richard Randolph
A city for the old and young
Monday, July 30th, 2012
Doug Jones, artist
Last weekend three events were held in downtown Syracuse: The Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival, the Arts & Crafts Festival and the Blue Rain Eco/Stage 0f Nations. Thousands of people braved the uncertain weather (especially on Saturday) to see the various stage events and performances.
These two photos show an interesting age range of those we saw in attendance at the various venues.
Artist Doug Jones (picture above) was a vendor in Hanover Square, where he was selling his Native American art pieces. He’s been working with recycled material and wood for nearly a half century. His intricate carvings (he uses a jewelers saw) are used to tell stories. Jones’ work is in the collection at the Smithsonian and also at the White House.
Below, Maxwell Brown, 4, was having a good time out with his dad at work Saturday afternoon. His father Nate Brown, aka Peanut (on drums), leads the band Brownskin. Brownskin brought their high velocity soul to the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival’s World Beat Pavilion.
Introducing Maxwell (future bandleader)
Blown Away
Monday, July 30th, 2012
Steve Wilson played the main stage Saturday at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival. He was accompanied by the Noah Kellman Trio.
Noah Kellman and Kate Davis (2/3 of the NK Trio)
In the blood
Monday, July 30th, 2012
- Lumhe Micco Sampson, ring dance
Micco Sampson, the son of the late actor and painter Will Sampson (aka the Chief from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) showed his versatility this weekend at the Blue Rain Eco Fest in Hanover Square. He did a ring dance demonstration on Friday night, and then on Saturday he danced with pop singer Jana during her show.
Micco Sampson dances with Jana
In Living Color
Monday, July 30th, 2012
Flautist Wouter Kellerman
Fresh off of a gig at Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center, SAMA-award winner Wouter Kellerman and his band came to Syracuse on Friday evening. They were a late add onto the schedule at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Fest, but they quickly won new fans with their a mix of with traditional folk songs, melodic World beat and jazz during their set. They will be going to New York City and LA before returning home, according to drummer Lamine Sonko.
Guitarist Michael Bester
Members of the band watch as Kellerman performs a solo
Lamine Sonko
Meeting the fans
Unsung
Saturday, July 28th, 2012
Eddie "Wall St" Brown dances during a set at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival on Friday night.
The Black Lites are celebrating 40 years in the music business this year. Their story is familiar to Syracuse residents, but many outside the area do not know that the group recorded a song with New England Producer Maurice Starr that later became a hit for New Edition. They never signed with Starr due to a previous contract obligation.
For a more detailed history of the group, read this story.
James Patterson, lead vocalist
Eddie gives some love to horn player Dave Frateschi
The group played the main stage at this year’s Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival and will also appear at the Jazz in the City Series coming up soon. To see photos of the Black Lites from their reunion, click here.
Fans, including Sen. John DeFransicso, give applaud the Black Lites
Guitarist Emmanuel Atkins makes it funky
Jerry Patterson, lead vocals