Last weekend three events were held in downtown Syracuse: The Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival, the Arts & Crafts Festival and the Blue Rain Eco/Stage 0f Nations. Thousands of people braved the uncertain weather (especially on Saturday) to see the various stage events and performances.
These two photos show an interesting age range of those we saw in attendance at the various venues.
Artist Doug Jones (picture above) was a vendor in Hanover Square, where he was selling his Native American art pieces. He’s been working with recycled material and wood for nearly a half century. His intricate carvings (he uses a jewelers saw) are used to tell stories. Jones’ work is in the collection at the Smithsonian and also at the White House.
Below, Maxwell Brown, 4, was having a good time out with his dad at work Saturday afternoon. His father Nate Brown, aka Peanut (on drums), leads the band Brownskin. Brownskin brought their high velocity soul to the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival’s World Beat Pavilion.
Fresh off of a gig at Washington,DC’s Kennedy Center, SAMA-award winner Wouter Kellerman and his band came to Syracuse on Friday evening. They were a late add onto the schedule at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Fest, but they quickly won new fans with their a mix of with traditional folk songs, melodic World beat and jazz during their set. They will be going to New York City and LA before returning home, according to drummer Lamine Sonko.
Guitarist Michael Bester
Members of the band watch as Kellerman performs a solo
Eddie “Wall St” Brown dances during a set at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival on Friday night.
The Black Lites are celebrating 40 years in the music business this year. Their story is familiar to Syracuse residents, but many outside the area do not know that the group recorded a song with New England Producer Maurice Starr that later became a hit for New Edition. They never signed with Starr due to a previous contract obligation.
James Patterson, lead vocalist
Eddie gives some love to horn player Dave Frateschi
Fans, including Sen. John DeFransicso, give applaud the Black Lites
Gerald Veasley at the NE Jazz & Wine Festival in Syracuse
Bass Boot Camp founder and Philly-native Gerald Veasley spent the evening before his birthday playing some of his hits in Syracuse Friday.
He made sure to include on the playlist a smooth ode to his wife called Forever.
To the delight of the audience in Clinton Square for the first night of the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival Veasley and his band mates also did a medley of samples that included songs by The Sugar Hill Gang, mind Ohio Players and Stevie Wonder and Grover Washington, Jr.
Andrew Neu was a guest with the GV band and played a mean Grover Washington, Jr.
Vocalist Catherine Gale poses for a photo taken by her son at the Candle Light Concert in Armory Square last weekend.
The Central New York Jazz Orchestra played a Candle Light Concert in Armory Square last weekend that featured several artist from the Ithaca area including Catherine Gale,Mike Titlebaum (Ithaca College) and Paul Merrill (Cornell University).
Catherine Gale performed several original compositions arranged by her husband Mike Titlebaum, who is also a professor at Ithaca College.
Composer, arranger, musician Mike Titlebaum was a featured artist at the Candle Light Concert.
Paul Merrill plays a solo on stage with the CNY Jazz Orchestra.
Saxophone-legend Kenny G may have been the headliner for the first night of Syracuse Jazz Fest on Friday, but Grammy-nominated vocalist Gregory Porter stole the show.
A self-described preachers kid, Gregory impressed those in attendance at Jamesville Beach with songs such as Be Good, On My Way to Harlem, and Mother’s Song. These Sophistasoultastic cuts conjure up images of the Cosby Show of the 80s, Spike Lee’s early films and even the choreography of Garth Fagan.
His song-writing is vivid and his performance high spirited.
To call Porter a jazz singer may be restrictive. His mature and robust sound may be jazz, but it’s corseted in soul and the cadence of his church rearing.
Gregory Porter, a singer’s singer
Some singers are vanguards. Nat had it. Donny had it. Ray had it. Sam had it. Stevie has it and yes Porter too, has that vibe of a pioneer.
Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano even said he was one of the most talented jazz singers of the last 3 decades.
During the finale Porter mesmerized the crowd with 1960 What, a homage to cities such as Detroit. Coincidentally, Malfitano used to produce that city’s Jazz Fest.
New fans showered Porter with appreciation during an impromptu meet-and-greet beside the stage following his set. Many shared their disbelief that they weren’t familiar with this man.
From now on his reputation in Syracuse is all good.
Kenny G made a return to Syracuse last night for Jazz Fest. The Festival, produced by Frank Malfitano, is celebrating 30 years. G is a crowd favorite and helped pack the crowd in at Jamesville Beach (a new venue this year). Besides being a best-selling smooth jazz artist, he is known for his long notes (he made it to the Guinness Book a few years ago).
Musician among the people: Kenny G plays in the audience last night
. His next gig is tonight at the Hampton Jazz Fest in Virginia.
Hold On: Kenny G holds a note as he walks through the crowd at Jazz Fest to kick off his set on Saturday night.
