Posts Tagged ‘Joe Lee’

Charm City to Salt City

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014
Joe Lee and Scott Allen (center) along with 3rd Scenerio met up after their set at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival (Day 2)

Scott Allen & 3rd Scenario met up with Joe Lee (center) after their set at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival (Day 2).

We found out that WAER-FM 88’s GM Joe Lee was instrumental (no pun intended) in bringing Scott Allen & 3rd Scenario to the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival.  Lee and Allen were former classmates and have roots in B’more.

Allen keeps it moving and grooving on stage while singing, playing bass and several brass instruments.

During a spectacular musical medley that included covers of Candi Dulfer (“Mr. Lee”) and Sade (‘Nothing Can Come Between Us”), our favorite was the Quincy Jones cut “If I Ever Lose This Heaven.”

Allen & Scenario’s fiery collaboration of “If I Ever Lose This Heaven,” along with singer Wendy McIntyre, created a salty magic similar to the vibe on the Jonathan Butler and Maysa Leak version, and it left you thirsting for more.

Did we mention that Maysa is from Baltimore as well?

The Lady SoulSinger and Bugs mix it up in the 'Cuse

The Lady SoulSinger and Bugs collaborate in the ‘Cuse

Scott "Bugs" Allen, The Musical Multi-tasker

Scott “Bugs” Allen, The Musical Multi-tasker

Return of Mimi

Saturday, April 26th, 2014


Shout out to WAER’s Joe Lee for hooking up with CFAC to bring Mimi Jones and her jazz fusion experience to Syracuse last night. Jones came to CNY previously to play along side Tia Fuller. This time she came with her own band,  made up of Camille Thurman (sax and flute), Justin Faulkner (drums) and Luis Perdomo (keys).

In addition to being band leader, Jones is also the head of her own music label.

This show was a great way to put an exclamation point on Jazz Appreciation Month and adds another great show to the legend of CFAC.

Mimi and Camille singing a Roy Ayers classic (Everybody Loves the Sunshine).

Mimi and Camille

Extension: Jazz Fest, Day 2

Saturday, July 6th, 2013
Napoleon Murphy Brock of the Grandmothers of Invention and Festival Producer Frank Malfitano hug it out during a lengthy rain delay.

Napoleon Murphy Brock of the Grandmothers of Invention and Festival Producer Frank Malfitano hug it out during a lengthy rain delay.

At Day Two of the Syracuse Jazz Festival the weather almost trumped the music. After lightning flashes, a near monsoon, and baseball-length rain delay, however the music continued and the GrandMothers of Invention (formed in 2002 from Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention) gave those remaining a high-impact show.

Earlier in the day, Sophistafunk and the Yellowjackets, as well as Giacomo Gates, were on stage.

William Kennedy, Drummer, Yellowjackets

William Kennedy, Drummer, Yellowjackets

Adam Gold, Keyboardist, Sophistafunk

Adam Gold, Keyboardist, Sophistafunk

Don Preston, who started with Frank Zappa in 1967, is showing no signs of slowing down on this "One Size Fits All" US Tour. He came to the Syracuse show from Chapel Hill, NC. Tommorrow the GrandMothers of Invention play Annapolis, then NYC, before heading back Upstate to Rocheter on July 10.

Don Preston, who started with Frank Zappa in 1967, is showing no signs of slowing down on this “One Size Fits All” US Tour. He came to the Syracuse show from Chapel Hill, NC. Tomorrow the GrandMothers of Invention play Annapolis, then NYC, before heading back Upstate to Rochester on July 10.

WAEF FM 88's GM Joe Lee brings on the Yellowjackets.

WAEF FM 88’s GM Joe Lee brings on the Yellowjackets.

Sophista-Fan

Sophista-Fan

Piano Tuner Kenny Williams has been working festivals and concerts in Syracuse for more than a half century.

Piano tuner Kenny Williams has been working festivals and concerts in Syracuse for more than a half century.

Napoleon Murphy Brock (red) from the Mothers of Invention shows off his Suavenicity during an opening number.

Napoleon Murphy Brock (left),who started with Zappa in 1974 and now is the lead vocalist for the GrandMothers of Invention, shows off his Suavenicity during an opening number.