Next month Antoinette Montague, in her melodic majesty, will return to Syracuse to play the Black History Month Cabaret for the Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation.
For her February 15 show Montague will be accompanied by guitarist Solomon Hicks (aka King Solomon).
Jeff Stockam, have horn, will travel
Improvisation is the name of the game in Jazz. We love to see the guest vocalists at the Sitrus Lounge series, but on Friday Jeff Stockham was pulled out of the crowd and joined the jam session.
Samantha Spadafore belts out a tune during Jazz @ Sitrus on Friday night.
Vocalist Tamaralee Shutt
Here are some photos from last night’s Sitrus Evening of Jazz at the Sheraton Hotel. Tamaralee put together a smooth but pretty eclectic group.
Jimmy Goulb
Matthew Rockwell
Carl Lovell
Larry and Margaret Luttinger groove to the sounds of vocalist Nancy Kelly at Friday night’s Sitrus event. Larry is one of the few producers/drummers who has the dance moves to match his musicianship.
What a way to kick-off 2015’s music season.
Last night’s Jazz at Sitrus event was filled to the brim (restaurant and bar) to take in the musical experience that is Nancy Kelly. Kelly was backed by the usual suspects: Losito (organ), Kelley (drums) and Carello (sax). If this is any indication, the January Jazzfest should be massive. Kelly will be a featured artist at that event, which will be held January 25 in Baldwinsville.
Class is in session: Nancy Kelly and one of her students, Will Gorman, staged an old fashion scat-off before the intermission last night.
Donna Alford and Reggie Seigler led the Donna Alford JaSS band brought some brand new funk to the Sitrus Lounge on Friday night.
Fresh off their headline gig at Jazz in the City, The Donna Alford JaSSBand (featuring the husband/wife team of Reggie Siegler and Donna Alford) came to The Sitrus Lounge Friday and unleashed a brand new funk. One of the highlights of their set was a Michael Jackson medley, which carefully blended “Rock with You” and “Love Never Felt So Good.” The MJ set was so smooth we expected to see a hologram appear on stage.
Unfortunately, this was their only appearance at the Sitrus showcase this season.
N. Kelly at Sitrus Lounge
Jazz at Sitrus kicked off the 2014-15 season by hosting the first lady of CNY Jazz, Nancy Kelly. She was joined last night by retired Ithaca College educator Steve Brown on guitar, Dino Losito on keys and Rochester’s Mike Melito on drums.
This is the fourth season for the series.
Steve Brown laying down jazz licks at the Sitrus Lounge
Game Day, University Avenue
Good luck to the Syracuse University Football Team as they head into the 2014 regular season. Tonight’s weather (for a Friday game) provided a great kick-off.
Tailgate Party: Sheraton Hotel
Tony Monaco played in and around Syracuse numerous times, including a Jazz in the City gig that was held in Little Italy back in the day. Monaco will return next month to play with the CNY Jazz All Stars for a show he’s calling “Swing Italian Style” at the Sheraton Hotel.
Erika Lovette: A holiday treat at Sitrus
Singer/songwriter Erika Lovette was a great choice to close the Jazz @ Sitrus series along the Connective Corridor on Friday evening. We’ve seen Lovette perform for what seems like decades, though she is quite young. For this audience, she showed her range and versatility by belting out some old school classics such as Aretha, George Benson and Otis Redding.
Sitrus Series regulars Mike and Sharon Colabufo danced to the sounds of Mike and Anjela Lynn at the Sheraton Hotel on Friday. The series isn’t a true party until the Colabufo’s grace the floor. The final set for Mike and Anjela included clever covers of Michael Jackson, Daft Punk and Robin Thicke.