Posts Tagged ‘Keys’

Bill Watson Day

Wednesday, September 12th, 2018

Kind of Blue(s)

Friday, June 29th, 2018

George Rossi manned the keys for Paulie Cerra on Friday for the NYS Blues Festival.

SIF Look Book

Saturday, February 10th, 2018

On Stage

Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival (Day 2)

Sunday, July 30th, 2017
Jim Colemon watches on as Bobby Jones pounds away on the keys. They were part of the Bobby Militello Quartet.

Jim Colemon (right) watches Bobby Jones pound away on the keys. They were part of the Bobby Militello Quartet.

Throwback Thursday

Thursday, March 16th, 2017
Dr. Lonnie Smith played the OCC Legends of Jazz Series in 2011.

Dr. Lonnie Smith played the OCC Legends of Jazz Series in 2011.

Leftovers with a Side of Eargasm

Saturday, November 26th, 2016
MG3 (aka Gardiner Dekaney and Gorman) provided the perfect Turkey Day detox at the Sitrus Lounge on Friday evening. According to CNY Jazz's Larry Luttinger, the Sitrus series will continue the post Thanksgiving shows each year.

MG3 (aka Gardiner, Dekaney and Gorman) provided the perfect Turkey Day detox at the Sitrus Lounge on Friday evening.  CNY Jazz’s Larry Luttinger said he hopes to continue the post Thanksgiving segment annually. Things started slow, but by the end of the first set the festive crowd had grown significantly and seemed to revel in the eclectic mix of standards and original compositions.

Rhythm & Resolve

Sunday, November 13th, 2016
Miss Marie & Professor Louie (Center for the Arts, Homer, NY)

Miss Marie & Professor Louie (Center for the Arts, Homer, NY)

We visited the artsy, but reverent space known as the Center for the Arts in Homer for the first time on Friday. The Veterans Day tribute featuring Professor Louie & The Crowmatix was a blast. The Pride of Peekskill (aka The Professor) oversaw the wonderful performance either seated at the keys, and or flexing his shoulders to play his vintage accordion.  We particularly enjoyed his vocal chemistry with singer Miss Marie (pictured above).

The show featured a generous 2-hour plus performance, including tributes to Leonard Cohen and Buckwheat Zydeco. As an added bonus, we noticed some familiar faces in the horn section, and their intro paved the way for a truly sonic performance in the formerly sacred space.

Gary Burke

Gary Burke

Gary Burke drummed up a fuss the entire night, including a great solo on the cut “Mr. Luck.”  Meanwhile guitarist John Planania put the crowd under his spell, especially on the Van Morrison hit “Domino.” Frank Campbell also kept things steady with his trusty bass and background vocals.

The venue featured a spacious lobby as well. The acoustics sometimes suffered from the vaulted ceiling, but there was not a bad seat in the house.  We found the post-it seat reservation system a pleasant dose of nonconformity.

Special thanks to Tom Honan and Live Space Entertainment for the invite.

National Anthem

National Anthem

Mr. Versatility

Monday, November 7th, 2016
Jon Seiger played the Sitrus Lounge on Friday evening.

Jon Seiger played the Sitrus Lounge on Friday evening.

The more we see Jon Seiger play (or sing) the more we enjoy his artistry.

Something Had to Give

Friday, November 4th, 2016
Ryan Connors

Ryan Connors led the Dynamo Crew

When saw first saw Nashville-based Dynamo at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Q. we couldn’t believe so many musicians could fit onto the cramped stage. The band featured two drummers (including SUNY Oswego grad Nate Felty), two guitars, two keyboardists, three horns, and smooth vocalist (Dain Ussery). On the surface, this was just supposed to be a tour stop on the way to Buffalo, but the band spent some time here working on an album at Sub-Cat Studios in September, so it quickly morphed into a half juke joint, half back yard party.

We talked with one concert-goer who said he’d heard so much hype about the band that he had to come see for himself. He said left his girlfriend home (she was sick) to catch the show.

And what a show it was. Sometime after 9 pm, the crowded stage also gave way to crowded tables and walkways (including waitstaff bobbing their heads as they squeezed through the crowd) as music thundered from the ceiling mounted speakers.  Dynamo’s blend of funk, jazz and hint of reggae) featured incredible musical interplay and solos showing off the incredible dexterity of Ryan Connors on keys. Not to be outdone, the tight horn section of  Andrew Golden (trumpet), Kevin Gatzke (sax) and home-girl Melissa Gardiner (trombone), put in some major work.  Meanwhile, the rhythm section conjured up memories of The Brand New Heavies.

Dynamo is a band’s band and you could tell by the generous contingent of musicians in the audience. One middle-aged fan danced for nearly entire show at stage right.

RJ Bracchitta

RJ Bracchitta opened the show

Next time we’d love to see the band play the larger performance venue upstairs at the Dino.

The show was originally scheduled to begin at 8 pm, and to his credit opener, RJ Bracchitta had a great set, including a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke.”

For more information on Dynamo, click here. For info about RJ Bracchitta click here.

 

Jazz in the City (Westside): After Dark

Saturday, August 20th, 2016
Brian Simpson (Jazz in the City: Westside)

Brian Simpson (Jazz in the City: Westside)

Brian Simpson’s smooth roots run deep. He co-wrote the 1991 pop ballad “The First Time.”

Taking the music to the people.

Simpson took the music to the people on Thursday evening.