Syracuse JazzFest Founder and Impersario Frank Malfitano presents Lionel Batiste with a Jazz Legends Award at OCC on Friday.
“Uncle” Lionel Batiste, Benny Jones, Sr. and the Treme Brass Band brought the sweet sounds of New Orleans and the energy of a street parade to Friday’s performance at Onondaga Community College.
To read about Treme Brass Band’s weekly gigs in New Orleans, click here.
Vigil for victims of Hurricane Katrina at Syracuse University
Members of the Syracuse University community held an impromptu program for the victims of Hurricane Katrina last night in Hendricks Chapel. Students and members shared experiences about evacuating or returning to clean up the Gulf Region. This week marks the five year anniversary of the storm.
Second only to the Spike Lee’s Katrina films (and interviews), I found the best testimony about the Hurricane and immediate aftermath was given by former Syracuse television executive Gary Wordlaw in 2006.
Members of Delta Sigma Theta discuss their sorority's rebuilding efforts
Donald Harrison
I heard a story today on NPR about the distinct voice of rapper Biggie Smalls (they described his sound as wheezy and humid). I also learned that jazz musician Donald Harrison, who played a concert here last summer, provided some early musical mentorship for BIG.
Harrison also talked about their connection in an interview on Afropop.
Donald Harrison, Jr., cookin
The King of Nouveau Swing Donald Harrison, Jr. brought his bold sax (plus dance moves) to Syracuse last week and spiced up the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival like a plate of red beans and rice. His band members, average age about 19, were the perfect compliment and despite the rain, they belted out enough flavor to make Clinton Square sound more like Congo Square…at least for an hour or so.
SU grad and photographer Stephen Wilkes spoke at Newhouse last night. He presented some incredible examples of layered story telling from his travels to New Orleans (post Katrina) and China (pre Olympics). Wilkes said when he shoots commercially he makes pictures and when he works for himself he takes pictures. I was surprised to learn that he started out as a street photographer years ago.