Michael McDonald talked just enough politics before getting into his litany of hits last night.
Posts Tagged ‘Piano’
Jazz Fest, Day 1: Message in the Music
Sunday, July 3rd, 2016Week in Review: The Showman
Monday, March 7th, 2016Jon Seiger did it all for his Friday evening show Jazz at Sitrus: He told jokes, he played jazz, TV themes, and even some Fats Domino. This ending is the perfect way to start a new week or put a previous one to bed.
Hand, Hand, Fingers, Keys
Saturday, March 5th, 2016Throwback Thursday: That Chick
Thursday, November 19th, 2015
Chick Corea was named 2015 Jazz Artist of the Year in the Downbeat Reader’s Poll. Corea played the 2011 Syracuse Jazz Festival with Return II Forever.
Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival, Day 2: The Power of Lao
Thursday, July 30th, 2015
Lao Tizer performed at Oswego’s Harbor Fest and the Northeast Jazz & Wine Fest (Syracuse) last Saturday. He played with Chieli Minucci & Special EFX in Syracuse.
Throwback Thursday: Voices
Thursday, August 21st, 2014
Frank McComb in Clinton Square (circa 2013)
This may not be too far back for a Thursday, but these guys made some serious music together.
Branford Marsalis playing Clinton Square (circa 2006)
Throwback Thursday: Here comes the Jazz
Thursday, July 18th, 2013
Jazz pianist and composer Marc Cary played the Jazz in the Square (now called the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival) in Syracuse back in 2005.
The Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival will invade downtown next weekend. The fest was formerly called Jazz in the Square, and composer Marc Cary visited with Marcus Printup’s band in 2005.
Cary’s latest album is a musical tribute to singer Abbey Lincoln.
Kenneth & Kenny: Watching one, Listening to the other
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
Kenny G JazzFest 2009
I had the opportunity to cover the 2009 Syracuse Jazz Fest at OCC last week and see Spyro Gyra and Kenny Gorelick (aka Kenny G.) I’m familiar with some of Gorelick’s work, and maybe my favorite cut is “Hi! How Ya Doin, ” which was produced by Kashif. If you check out the video, you can see Kenny G before he had the long curly hair and you can even see his dance moves.
What I didn’t know about Kenny G is that he has sold over 50 million albums, he started out playing with Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra and his wife is photographer Lyndie Benson.
Before Kenny G took the stage I had a wonderful conversation for the Jazz Fest’s piano tuner Kenneth Williams back stage. I know Williams from a previous job and we’ve had brief conversations about his vision (he’s legally blind) his hearing (he has what he calls “good relative pitch.”) and his love of music (he doesn’t own a piano but he is actually a trumpet player).
Kenneth Williams, piano tuner
Williams is a jovial personality who does some of the best impressions I’ve heard outside of Hollywood. He does a great John Wayne, Pearl Bailey and Jimmy Stewart. I asked him how long would he continue to work (he’s been a piano technician and tuner for longer than I’ve been alive). I’m never going to retire, he said. I’m having too much fun.