Brian Michael (Taste of Syracuse)
Friday night at the Taste of Syracuse became a literal Mike Fest as Michael Heagerty and Brian Michael commanded the Tenacious Sound Listening Lounge and the Mess’s Fireworks Erie Boulevard Stages respectively.
Michael Heagerty aka Tots (Taste of Syracuse)
Gospel Weekend, NYS Fair
A few downtown buildings were illuminated in Purple on Saturday to honor the memory of the artist who will be forever known as Prince.
Syracuse Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano announced the lineup at M&T Bank this morning. Pictured to the right is Jazz Journalists Association’s Susan Brink, who presented Malfitano with a 2016 National Jazz Hero Award.
Sure we saw the lineup for this year’s Jazz Fest in the current issue of Downbeat already, but we still attended this mornings announcement at M&T Bank, because some things are better in person. Jazz Fest also puts together the best press kit for any music festival in the area.
This year’s stellar lineup include a former Doobie (Michael McDonald), a Shorty (Troy Andrews) a Missy (Melissa Gardiner and her band Second Line Syracuse) as well as a tribute to a Murphy (Mark) and an artist-in-residence named Randy (Brecker). In addition, Groove Legacy, the Maverick’s and Notefied promise to make this another must see event.
We also found out that the Mayor issued a proclamation naming today “Frank Malfitano Day” in Syracuse.
Renowned trombonist and teacher Wycliffe Gordon encourages a student to improvise during his clinic at Syracuse University on Saturday. He will visit Cornell University on Sunday.
“The instrument is an extension of your voice…if you can sing it, you can play it.”
-Wycliffe Gordon
Wycliffe Gordon at Syracuse University
Anderson Paak and his band The Free Nationals performed in Syracuse on Wednesday.
Singer Ola Onabule stormed into the Cuse on Sunday (Sheraton Hotel)
We are so glad Olatunji, Olubenga, Omotayo, Olanrewaju, Adetokunbo, Abdul, Majeed, Onabule (also known as Ola or Ola Onabule) made Syracuse a part of his tour. He brought his multi-octave mixture of soul, jazz and world-beat to the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation’s Cabaret Series yesterday. He will do smaller performances today at Lemoyne and Tuesday at SU.
Although the near-capacity crowd (SU Men Basketball played in the NCAA Tourney at the same time as the performance) was well entertained by his talents, we’d love to see Ola Onabule return for a larger venue concert, such as Clinton Square, in the future.
His next stop is Detroit.
Pizza Party, featuring Will Taggart and Will Skalmoski opened for Coleman Hell and Prelow for the University Union’s Bandersnatch Concert Series last night.
Ashleigh Brown, director, BCCE