Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

Southern Flava

Friday, February 3rd, 2012
Rick Ross, the Boss

Rick Ross, the Boss

Photos from the Rock the Dome show featuring Rick Ross and Ludacris.

Ludacris, actor, rapper, philanthropist, entrepreneur

Ludacris, actor, rapper, philanthropist, entrepreneur

Rock the Dome: Hands up!

Rock the Dome: Hands up!

Rock the Dome: Hands Up!

Rock the Dome: Hands Up!

Get on the Bus

Friday, January 27th, 2012
Band on the Bus

Band on the Bus

Centro driver Raul Erives of Baldwinsville has been driving for 7 years, and he says he’s had musicians on his bus before (the 443 on the Connective Corridor), but never like this.

Centro driver Raul Erives of Baldwinsville has been driving for 7 years, and he says he’s had musicians on his bus before (the 443 on the Connective Corridor), but never like this.

Bill Horrace, Bass

Bill Horrace, Bass

This afternoon at about 3:45 p.m., Centro, Connective Corridor and the Bill Horrace Trio combined to turn a 40-plus minute ride into a live jazz party.  Many of the riders, students from Syracuse University, seemed pleasantly surprised to get on the bus as the music was playing.
John Solazzo

Dave Solazzo

Tom Bronzetti

Tom Bronzetti

According to Horrace, who plays a regular gig with his band at Pheobe’s on East Genesee Street, there was no particular playlist for the ride. Instead he and his mates, John Solazzo and Tom Bronzetti improvised and played  everything from Miles Davis to Kurt Weill as the bus rolled from Midtown through Downtown and the Near West Side. This particular Centro route is free.
Let Me Ride: Live Music on the Connective Corridor Bus

Let Me Ride: Live Music on the Connective Corridor Bus 

Ave Maria

Saturday, January 21st, 2012
Maria DeSantis sings at the Sitrus Lounge sings with her band last night.

Maria DeSantis sang at the Sitrus Lounge with her band last night.

Perfect Combination

Monday, January 9th, 2012
Perfect Combination: Mike Houston and Anjela Lynn at Sitrus

Perfect Combination: Mike Houston and Anjela Lynn at Sitrus

Syracuse vocal duo Michael (Houston) and Anjela Lynn belted out a litany of soul classic and R&B hits at the Sheraton Hotel’s Sitrus Lounge on Friday.  MichaelAnjelalynn (as they are known) were joined on stage by the Bowen Brothers: Deyquan and John II.

Daquean Bowens on keys

Deyquan Bowens on keys

The quartet wasted no time finding grooves that coaxed the audience onto the dance floor.

Michael Houston mingles on the dance floor

Michael Houston mingles on the dance floor

TSAS: The Sounds at Sitrus

Saturday, December 24th, 2011
Rick Balestra and his trio play the Sitrus Lounge at the Sheraton Hotel.

Rick Balestra and his trio played the Sitrus Lounge at the Sheraton Hotel Friday night.

Talking all that Jazz

Friday, December 9th, 2011
Noah Kellman, musician, blogger, CNY-native (circa 2005)

The Superfriends: Noah Kellman, musician, composer,  blogger, plays on stage with Spencer Murphy and Nick Frenay (circa 2005).

I got a message yesterday that pianist Noah Kellman, a musician and young veteran of the local jazz scene will be writing a blog for the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation.  I first heard him play on one of the scholastic stages for the Jazz in the City (now the Northeast Jazz & Wine) with Nick Frenay and Spencer Murphy.  Since then Kellman, now an award-winning pianist and composer, has shared the stage with Nicholas Payton, Antonio Hart and he’s even played the Grammys.  Talk about a rising star. It will be good to read an insider’s perspective on the local jazz scene from an accomplished home-grown talent.

So Much To Say

Monday, October 3rd, 2011
Take 6 on stage at Holy Cross Church

Take 6 on stage at Holy Cross Church

Multiple Grammy-award winners Take 6 came to the area last week and performed two concerts,  one at Hamilton College and another at Holy Cross Church in Dewitt.

Joey Kibble of Take 6 gets the crowd involved at Holy Cross Church

Join the Band: Joey Kibble of Take 6 gets the crowd involved at Holy Cross Church

The Holy Cross performance was sponsored by LeMoyne College.

Take 6: Newcomer Christian Dentley channels Jazzy Jeff on the turntables and then a 1980s Michael Jackson.

Take 6 newcomer Christian Dentley channels Jazzy Jeff on the turntables and then a 1980’s Michael Jackson.

Take 6 wowed the crowd with their vocal antics and stage show. Their set included songs from earlier albums as well as songs they did for films. The group also delighted fans by singing a medley of familiar pop music favorites Earth Wind& Fire, the Doobie Brothers and Michael Jackson.

Harmony: Alvin and Claude

Harmony: Alvin and Claude

During a break, Claude McKnight III and Alvin Chea encouraged everyone take out their phones and hit up Take 6 on Twitter and Facebook, which met the approval of both the young and old.

Please turn back on all cell phones

Please turn back on all cell phones

Local groups Gospel Music Workshop of America (Syracuse Chapter) and Fermata Nowhere served as a great appetizer.

GM Worshop of America's LaRae Martin-Coore

GM Workshop of America’s LaRae Martin-Coore

LaRae Martin-Coore belted out a soulful solo for the GM Workshop and turned the crowd into a hallelujah chorus.

Fermata Nowhere, Lemonyne College’s a capella group, also didn’t disappoint, especially Albany junior Devon Barrett’s staccato human beatbox.

Fermata Nowhere (with Devon Barrett on the beatbox)

Fermata Nowhere (with Devon Barrett on the beatbox)

2012 Nominee

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

Chaka Khan at Syracuse Jazz Fest 2008

Chaka Khan at Syracuse Jazz Fest 2008



Rufus and Chaka Khan were recently nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2012.

Sketches of Spain

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011


Zapateado: Sergio Aranda, a performer from Spain stomps at the Palace Theatre

 Amyia Burrell produced a wonderful evening of music and dance last night at the Palace Theatre featuring Sergio Aranda, Puente Flamenco and several  performers in town for the production of The Lion King.

Amyia Burrell and her dance troupe take a bow after their dance tribute to Spain

Amyia Burrell and her troupe take a bow after their dance tribute

The concert featured the stomping, dancing, clapping and music of Spain(Flamenco), as well as more modern dance numbers.

Maurica Roland

Maurica Roland

Baile: Marisa Guzman

Baile: Marisa Guzman

Soothing Sounds

Sunday, September 11th, 2011

Victoria King and Rev. Dr. James D. Brown

Victoria King and Rev. Dr. James D. Brown



Victoria King (above),  an eyewitness to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City 10 years ago, produced a concert today at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral featuring local musicians and singers.

During the program Rev. Dr. James D. Brown read an essay by Ms. King that described what she heard and saw on 9/11/2001 in her NYC neighborhood.

She hoped today’s concert would promote further healing.

Heather Buchan, Conductor

Heather Buchan, diagnosis Conductor

Choir

Choir

Ilze Brink-Button

Ilze Brink-Button