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
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.
Dave Solazzo
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
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.
Deyquan Bowens on keys
The quartet wasted no time finding grooves that coaxed the audience onto the dance floor.
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.
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.
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 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
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
Local groups Gospel Music Workshop of America (Syracuse Chapter) and Fermata Nowhere served as a great appetizer.
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)
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 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.
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.