WAER-FM’s Eric Cohen, Ioana Vitu and Mike Houston chill back stage on Day 1 of the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival.
The opening day of the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival was called Funky Friday and dedicated to the memory of local jazz guitarist, composer and bandleader Jeff Houston. Jeff’s brother Mike talked about Jeff’s new recording before the shows at the Pomco main stage. Mike and Jeff played the 2011 Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival when they were known as the J Project.
If there was a prize for best shirt of the day, Formula’s drummer Greg Marek would win it hands down.
The band Formula 5 didn’t play at all like they were anxious. They debuted at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival’s Mardi Gras Pavilion on Friday,and judging by the fans reaction, we can look forward to more appearances by this quartet.
Formula 5: Night set at the Mardi Gras Pavillion
NY State’s Michael McDonald
This is what the front row of an Atlas concert looks like. The band was the headliner for the Funky Friday schedule at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival last night. The band turns 35 years old this year. You know your band can still dig deep into the funk jar when fans rush the stage and get down like this.
We wondered why this couple from Goodway Bakery gave out free samples of their rum cakes. But truthfully, once you had a taste of the buttery smooth concoction, it was almost impossible not to buy one. That or keep waking by to pick up another sample. Both the free prize and their overall ebullience made their booth very popular on Friday evening.
Boots on the ground: Clinton Square
Nicole Henry was a featured performer at the 2009 Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival in Syracuse. The festival kicks off tomorrow in Clinton Square. Henry will appear at Blues Alley next Thursday.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (pictured with Syracuse Common Council President Van Robinson, left)
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, stopped by the Southwest Community Center yesterday as part of his Upstate listening tour. He also visited area hospitals and walked through the Near West side.
Heastie was elected speaker in February. Today he continues his tour in the North Country.
Speaker Heastie listened to plans for opening a supermarket on the Southwest side of Syracuse yesterday. He holds a letter given to him by one of the project facilitators, Walt Dixie (far right). Also pictured Sharon Owens, Southwest’s CEO and Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli (center).
Amusement