Spencer Murphy, bass
Here is a photograph of Syracuse bassist Spencer Murphy that was taken from a Jazz in the Square show (circa 2005). Murphy currently hosts Monday night’s “After Hours” at Smalls Jazz Club in the Village.
Archive for the ‘Music’ Category
Throwback Thursday: Cuse in the Village
Thursday, July 25th, 2013Throwback 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.
Beatbox to Big Time
Saturday, July 13th, 2013
Joe Driscoll on stage at the Westcott Theater tonight.
For a warm-up before a trip to Canada and Europe, hip-hop/folk/world beat artist Joe Driscoll played a solo show at the Westcott Theater tonight. Also on the bill were the Fabulous Ripcords.
This will be Driscoll’s only summer show in the States.
Throwback Thursday: Once Upon a Music Scene
Thursday, July 11th, 2013
Joe Driscoll and Travie McCoy performed in Armory Square a decade ago
Hard to believe by Joe Driscoll and Travie McCoy (and Gym Class Heroes) were opening acts for a show back in the day at an Armory Square club. I can’t remember who the headliner was,but Driscoll has gone on to become an international sensation; and McCoy now performs on television award shows.
Driscoll is in town this weekend for his only US show this summer.
Devotion: Jazz Fest, Day 3
Monday, July 8th, 2013
Ronnie Laws (sax) and Perry Hughes
Day Three of the 2013 Syracuse Jazz Festival kept it hot. Ronnie Laws (with a voice every bit as rich as Lou Rawls) and Taylor Dane gave the fans all they could handle. Laws provided a great East Coast vs. West Coast love fest by blowing a tribute to the late Grover Washington, Jr. And from the looks of it, you’d never know Dane had her breakout hit, “Tell it To My Heart” over two decades ago. She announced that she’ll be returning to Central New York later to play a role in the Musical Cats.
Also, one of the cool things about the final installment of this year’s edition was getting to see collaboration with folk from the local scene such as Neva Pilgrim (co-founder of the Society for New Music). Fans also got to hear the superior skills of supporting musicians like Chuck Lamb (Brubeck Brothers Quartet) and Perry Hughes (Michigan State University educator and guitarist for Ronnie Laws).
Brubeck Brothers Quartet (pictured Mike DeMicco, Dan Brubeck and Chris Brubeck) playing Jamesville Beach.
Vintage: Taylor Dane first hit the pop music scene 25 years ago.
Neva Pilgrim on stage with Frank Malfitano before the Brubeck Brothers set.
Below check out a clip from the gospel sounds of Five to Life, who provided a spiritual set with the sounds from the sanctuary.
Chuck Lamb plays during a hot sunset, then visits with fans.
Born to Sing: Taylor Dane
Ronnie Laws goes double barrel during a short rendition of Grover’s “Mr. Magic.”
Sons of the South: Friends & Strangers
Sunday, July 7th, 2013
Old School Sunday producer/host Dr. Rick Wright (from North Carolina) meets up with saxophonist Ronnie Laws (from Texas) backstage at the 2013 Syracuse Jazz Festival.
Extension: Jazz Fest, Day 2
Saturday, July 6th, 2013
Napoleon Murphy Brock of the Grandmothers of Invention and Festival Producer Frank Malfitano hug it out during a lengthy rain delay.
At Day Two of the Syracuse Jazz Festival the weather almost trumped the music. After lightning flashes, a near monsoon, and baseball-length rain delay, however the music continued and the GrandMothers of Invention (formed in 2002 from Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention) gave those remaining a high-impact show.
Earlier in the day, Sophistafunk and the Yellowjackets, as well as Giacomo Gates, were on stage.
William Kennedy, Drummer, Yellowjackets
Adam Gold, Keyboardist, Sophistafunk
Don Preston, who started with Frank Zappa in 1967, is showing no signs of slowing down on this “One Size Fits All” US Tour. He came to the Syracuse show from Chapel Hill, NC. Tomorrow the GrandMothers of Invention play Annapolis, then NYC, before heading back Upstate to Rochester on July 10.
WAEF FM 88’s GM Joe Lee brings on the Yellowjackets.
Sophista-Fan
Piano tuner Kenny Williams has been working festivals and concerts in Syracuse for more than a half century.
Napoleon Murphy Brock (left),who started with Zappa in 1974 and now is the lead vocalist for the GrandMothers of Invention, shows off his Suavenicity during an opening number.
Dimension: Jazz Fest, Day 1
Friday, July 5th, 2013
Ben Jaffe, Creative Director, Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Day One of the 2013 Syracuse Jazz Festival at Jamesville Beach featured The Doobie Brothers, Kat Wright & the Indomitable Soul Band, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and a fireworks display to celebrate July 4th. Preservation dedicated their set to the memory of New Orleans icon Lionel Batiste.
Taking it all in
Mark Braud (PHJB)
Joe Lastie, Jr. (PHJB)
Kat Wright & The Indomitable Soul Band
Pat Simmons (Doobie Brothers)
Charlie Gabriel (PHJB)
Doobie Brothers from some other mothers
Found in Translation
Friday, June 21st, 2013We know the semester is over, but how cool is it that historian/cultural critic Greg Tate, a professor at Brown University, used two Syracusans as a reference for his course this Spring on Afro-futurism? Tate gives the Cuse an indirect shout-out by talking about singer Grace Jones and writer George S. Schuyler. And speaking of academics, we wonder how many students know that Schuyler’s papers are housed at Bird Library at Syracuse University (special collections).
Piano Lesson
Wednesday, June 19th, 2013
Singer Frank McComb was the headliner for the 2013 Syracuse Juneteenth Celebration
Although the city celebrated the event on Saturday, the official day for Juneteenth (June 19) is today.
On Saturday the city got it’s first taste of soul vocalist Frank McComb, who was part of the free festival. The concert was held not too far from the Jerry Rescue Freedom Statue in historic Clinton Square.
Physically McComb resembles bassist Chris Walker and radio-personality Doug Banks. He has his roots in gospel and dabbles in jazz, but he has a vocal and playing style most reminiscent of a mid-80s Stevie Wonder (or some at the venue said Donny Hathaway).
McComb further showed his generosity by choosing a few Syracuse-area musicians to share the stage and play during his set (including beast of the beats Stephen Bender and Brownskin Band’s Nate Brown).
Although the show stared a little late, the crowd had no problem following his groove.
Syracuse-area drummer Stephen Bender was invited to play the set with McComb.
According to a promoter at the show, look for McComb to make a return to the area in September.
McComb warms up backstage before his set in Clinton Square.