Centro driver Raul Erives of Baldwinsville has been driving for 7 years, and he says he’s had musicians on his bus before (the 443 on the Connective Corridor), but never like this.
Bill Horrace, Bass
This afternoon at about 3:45 p.m., Centro, Connective Corridor and the Bill Horrace Trio combined to turn a 40-plus minute ride into a live jazz party. Many of the riders, students from Syracuse University, seemed pleasantly surprised to get on the bus as the music was playing.
Dave Solazzo
Tom Bronzetti
According to Horrace, who plays a regular gig with his band at Pheobe’s on East Genesee Street, there was no particular playlist for the ride. Instead he and his mates, John Solazzo and Tom Bronzetti improvised and played everything from Miles Davis to Kurt Weill as the bus rolled from Midtown through Downtown and the Near West Side. This particular Centro route is free.
Let Me Ride: Live Music on the Connective Corridor Bus
Urban Planners: Local skaters redevelop tennis court on Water Street.
Back in 2010 Victor Guilefoy, A.J. DeStephano, Alton Lawson (pictured above, far left) and some of their friends began to develop a dilapidated court at Ormand G. Spencer park (East Water Street) and make it a place to skate.
Victor G. told me his friends wanted a public skating facility since there are times when skates get tickets for being on the road or sidewalks. After some civic finesse with the Parks Commissioner they got their wish.
Fast forward to Wednesday, when it was almost 50-degrees and Ormond Spencer Park, located near the vacated Kennedy Square Complex, pulsated with kick…push…jump, and the sounds of skateboarders surfing on air.
“I believe one must live in a region for a considerable time and absorb its character and spirit before the work can truly reflect the experience of the place.”
Last lady standing: Jessiemae Peluso performs at Justin’s Grill
Along with homeboys Dan Frigolette (Baldwinsville High grad) and Moody McCarthy (Corcoran High grad), Jessimae Peluso (Henniger High grad) turned the Friday before Christmas at Justin’s Grill into a laugh factory.
I saw Frigolette and McCarthy when the visited for a show last year and again they delivered laughs from the moment they hit the stages. This was the first time I’d seen Peluso, as well as the MC Yannis Pappas however, and they were comical. I particularly enjoyed when they each hurled hilarious verbal assaults at a lone (female) heckler to the delight of the packed crowd.
Some of humorous anecdotes also included Peluso calling Match.com her new meal plan and McCarthy’s revelation on the availability of real fruit cobbler(s).
“We develop the capacity to influence the stories we tell ourselves, so that they empower rather than undermine us.”
Tony Schwartz
Today I heard a wonderful story on NPR’s Tell Me More about an exhibit for the work of Charles “Teenie” Harris, a great visual story-teller. Thanks to some help from the Carnegie Museum of Art’s Tey Stiteler, I got to check out a photo of Albert Mills, who was the first African-American detective in Pittsburgh. Mills later retired to the Syracuse-area and I knew him from my previous job.
George Kilpatrick and Sherri Kilpatrick Duchenne at the Opening of “Child of the Universe” at CFAC
I got a chance to check out the inaugural show for mixed media artist and activist, George Kilpatrick, Sr. on Saturday. The show,held at the Community Folk Art Center (CFAC), was attended by community members, artists, as well as the Kilpatrick family.
Media personality George Kilpatrick, Jr. opened the show by reading a poem his dad wrote called “The Artist.” George’s sister Sherri Kilpatrick Duchenne also told a story about how her dad taught the family to harness the power of the pen.
George Kilpatrick, III, a student studying at Howard Unviersity, representing third generation of the family, sang a soulful rendition of “Yesterday,” which reminded me a lot of the Donny Hathaway version.
Unplugged: George Kilpatrick, III, sings “Yesterday” by the Beatles
The show is on display for the rest of this week.
Griot Vanessa Johnson presents George Kilpatrick, Jr. with a quilt
Multiple Grammy-award winners Take 6 came to the area last week and performed two concerts, one at Hamilton College and another at Holy Cross Church in Dewitt.
Join the Band: Joey Kibble of Take 6 gets the crowd involved at Holy Cross Church
The Holy Cross performance was sponsored by LeMoyne College.
Take 6 newcomer Christian Dentley channels Jazzy Jeff on the turntables and then a 1980’s Michael Jackson.
Take 6 wowed the crowd with their vocal antics and stage show. Their set included songs from earlier albums as well as songs they did for films. The group also delighted fans by singing a medley of familiar pop music favorites Earth Wind& Fire, the Doobie Brothers and Michael Jackson.
Harmony: Alvin and Claude
During a break, Claude McKnight III and Alvin Chea encouraged everyone take out their phones and hit up Take 6 on Twitter and Facebook, which met the approval of both the young and old.
Please turn back on all cell phones
Local groups Gospel Music Workshop of America (Syracuse Chapter) and Fermata Nowhere served as a great appetizer.
GM Workshop of America’s LaRae Martin-Coore
LaRae Martin-Coore belted out a soulful solo for the GM Workshop and turned the crowd into a hallelujah chorus.
Fermata Nowhere, Lemonyne College’s a capella group, also didn’t disappoint, especially Albany junior Devon Barrett’s staccato human beatbox.
Fermata Nowhere (with Devon Barrett on the beatbox)
Juan Cruz, Angela Arrey-Watavino, Oscar Garces, and Esperanza Tiebaard
La Casita Cultural Center (LCCC) held an open house tonight with a show to celebrate the work of Latin American artists living in Syracuse. The gallery is located on the first floor of the Lincoln Supply Building on Otisco Street. Artists represented heritage from Cuba, Columbia, Mexico and Puerto Rico. According to Juan Cruz, artist in residence for the Near West Side Initiative, the goal was to create a space to showcase artists working in our city. He said he hopes the show “Motifs, Evocations,” will travel to other venues as well. “Motifs…” will be at LCCC thru September.
George Kilpatrick and Dr. Joan Hillsman lead the Gospel Workshop of America in an opening song.
This year’s Jazz in the City concert series kicked off last night at Dunk and Bright on South Salina Street. The music featured Rev. Blessed Sikhosana and the Voices of Africa, Dr. Joan Hillsman with the Gospel Workshop of America (Syracuse Chapter) and the Blacklites.
Jazz in the City–Southside
Rev. Blessed Sikhosana
City officials perform their rendition of “Mustang Sally” before the Blacklites take the stage.
