Posts Tagged ‘Eric Cohen’

Thoughts of Summer: Cuse’ Loves Sax

Friday, August 19th, 2016
Elan Trotman made a return to Syracuse yesterday for the Jazz in the City Series. He shared the stage with keyboardist Brian Simpson, as well as Rochester musicians Corey Owes and Carlton Wilcox. The show shut down a portion of Park Avenue and overflowed the parking lot of Strada Mia 313.

Elan Trotman went down on bended knee in his return to Syracuse yesterday for the Jazz in the City series. He shared the stage with keyboardist Brian Simpson, as well as Rochester musicians Corey Owes and Carlton Wilcox. The show shut down a portion of Park Avenue and overflowed the parking lot of Strada Mia 313.

WAER media personality Eric Cohen primed the crowd for the return of Elan Trotman.

WAER media personality Eric Cohen primed the crowd for the return of Elan Trotman.

Hot Jazz, Cool Collaborations

Saturday, October 17th, 2015
Syracuse music legend Marcus Curry got in the mix at the Sitrus Lounge last night with Ronnie Leigh.

Spicy: Syracuse guitar legend Marcus Curry got in the mix at the Sitrus Lounge last night with vocalist Ronnie Leigh.  They even did a birthday tribute to WAER FM-88’s Eric Cohen. Next month the series will feature a Wil Gorman and Melissa Gardiner reunion.

Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival, Day 1: Welcome to Funky Friday

Saturday, July 25th, 2015
WAER-FM's Eric Cohen, Ionana Vitu and Mike Houston chill back stage on Day 1 of the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival.

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.

Here We Go Again

Monday, January 26th, 2015
Ralph Lalama played January JAZZfest in the Mohegan Manor Ballroom

Ralph Lalama played January JAZZfest in the Mohegan Manor Ballroom. He was later joined by vocalist Nancy Kelly.

Another January JAZZfest is in the books and it was a great show. Here are a few photographs from yesterday afternoon’s action.

The sounds of the Donna Alford Jass Band kept the Green Room dance floor packed.

The sounds of the Donna Alford Jass Band kept the Green Room dance floor packed.

WAER-FM 88's Eric Cohen and vocalist Nancy Kelly relaxed and listened to the Jazz Police jam session.

WAER-FM 88’s Eric Cohen and vocalist Nancy Kelly relaxed and listened to the Jazz Police jam session.

Melissa Gardiner & Friends held court in the Basta yesterday afternoon.

Melissa Gardiner & Friends held court in the Basta yesterday afternoon.

Jazz appreciation in the Mohegan Manor Ballroom.

A little jazz appreciation in the Mohegan Manor Ballroom.

Return of Jazz in the City

Friday, September 5th, 2014

Throwback Thursday: Jazz in the City (part 2)

Thursday, August 28th, 2014

Shout Out

Tuesday, July 29th, 2014

We’ve seen a few classy tributes done by the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation over the years: one for Doug Johnston in 2006; one for Saundra Smokes in 2012, and this past weekend, the group recognized jazz patron Paul Russo (see below). We’ll do our own shout out to Hamilton Bohannon for the sounds, and Eric Cohen for the announcement.

Romancing the Stage

Tuesday, November 5th, 2013
Gregory Porter returned to Syracuse last week.

Singer Gregory Porter returned to Syracuse last week.

A Gregory Porter concert is a little like the Matrix: We could tell you what it’s like, but you really have to experience it for yourself.

We wrote in a previous post that it’s difficult to classify Porter, but in his vocals one can hear Nat Cole, Ray Charles, Joe Williams and even Donny Hathaway. He effortlessly blends ballads, shout blues and the sacred sounds of the church.

The superstar  jazz singer returned to Central New York Friday for the first time since his appearance at the 2012 Syracuse Jazz Festival.  Earlier in the day he did a clinic for students and also talked about his life’s story.

But the real treat was the show.

From the time they hit the stage at about 7:30 p.m. Porter and his band (Chip Crawford, Emmanuel Harrold, Aaron James and Yosuke Sato) nearly blew the doors off Storer Auditorium.

Porter kicked things off  with the ballad Be Good, and from the first note, a wave of goosebumps washed over the theater. He sprinkled in Liquid Spirit and No Love Dying from his new album, as well as the crowd favorite On My Way to Harlem.

For an encore they poured it on with the bass-driven cut, 1960 What? which  featured Aaron James slapping and literally dancing with his upright instrument.

The music created by the band was spicy like Cajun catfish and Porter’s strong, spiritually connected vocals were smooth like banana pudding.

At the end, most people lingered to soak in the experience, and everyone left satisfied.

WAER-FM 88's Eric Cohen and Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano welcome Gregory Porter to the stage.

WAER-FM 88’s Eric Cohen and Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano welcome Gregory Porter to the stage.

WAER FM-88’s Program Director Eric Cohen said it best when he said that for one night, Syracuse became the center of the Jazz Universe.

Crawford, James, Porter, Harrold and Sato

A great starting five: Crawford, James, Porter, Harrold and Sato

Throwback Thursday: Creative Expressions

Thursday, August 22nd, 2013
WAER Radio Announcer Eric Cohen proposes to his fiance in 2005 during a Jazz in Square show.

WAER-FM 88 announcer and music director Eric Cohen proposed to his fiance in during a Jazz in Square concert nearly a decade ago.