Archive for July, 2012

Dance Again

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012


During his first visit to Syracuse, NY flautist Wouter Kellerman also put on his dancing shoes. Here’s a brief clip from his finale at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival (Day 1).

In Case You Missed It

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012
Eddie "Wall St" Brown catches up with before the Urban Coalition set

Wall Street meets the Trib: Eddie Brown of the Blacklites catches up with Duane Tribune before the Urban Coalition set on Saturday afternoon.

Here are some miscellaneous shots from behind the scenes of the events last weekend in Downtown Syracuse.
Bass on Bass: Phresh Makene meets with Gerald Veasley backstage

Bass on Bass: Phresh Makhene meets with Gerald Veasley backstage

Garment District for a Day: Frankie & Faye closes up for the day on Montgomery Street for the Arts & Craft Festival.

Temporary Garment District: The Frankie & Faye booth closes up for the day on Montgomery Street for the Arts & Craft Festival.

Behind the scenes: Joanne Shenandoah and her sisters play on stage in Hanover Square

Behind the scenes: Joanne Shenandoah and singers on stage in Hanover Square.

Pop star Jana signs autographs and meets fans after her concert in Hanover Square.

Pop star Jana Mashonee signs autographs and meets fans after her concert in Hanover Square.

Caliente

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012
Jessy J, the Spanish-speaking smooth jazz saxophonist who grew up in Cali, showed she was a triple threat during her peformance in Syracuse on Saturday. Jessy J played (accompanied by Urban Coalition), she danced, and she sang to close out this year's 2012 Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival.

Jessy J, the Spanish-speaking smooth jazz saxophonist who grew up in Cali, showed she was a triple threat during her peformance in Syracuse on Saturday. Jessy J played (accompanied by Urban Coalition), she danced, and she sang to close out this year’s 2012 Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival.

Jessy J, saxophonist

Jessy J, the So-Cal Sax Machine

Jessy J dances

Jessy J shows off her dance moves.

Doin’ What They Do

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012
Phil Raney, bassist for Urban Coalition

Phil Raney

Urban Jazz Coalition, a Syracuse Jazz in the City alumni band, prostate made their return to Syracuse and played the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival on Saturday. The band, featuring Richard Randolph on sax and Phil Raney on Bass, especially pleased the crowd when the played a rendition of the Luther Vandross hit “Never Too Much.”

Hector Maldanado, percussion for Urban Coalition

Hector Maldanado, percussion for Urban Coalition

The band also backed the featured act of the night, Jessy J.

Richard Randolph, saxophonist for Urban Coalition

Richard Randolph

A city for the old and young

Monday, July 30th, 2012

Doug Jones, artist

Doug Jones, artist

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.

Introducing Maxwell (future bandleader)

Introducing Maxwell (future bandleader)

Blown Away

Monday, July 30th, 2012
Steve Wilson played the main stage Saturday at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Fest. He was accompanied by the Noah Kellman Trio.

Steve Wilson played the main stage Saturday at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Fest. He was accompanied by the Noah Kellman Trio.

Noah Kellman and Kate Davis on the main stage

Noah Kellman and Kate Davis (2/3 of the NK Trio)

In the blood

Monday, July 30th, 2012

Lumhe Micco Sampson, ring dance

Lumhe Micco Sampson, ring dance

Micco Sampson, the son of the late actor and painter Will Sampson (aka the Chief from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) showed his versatility this weekend at the Blue Rain Eco Fest in Hanover Square. He did a ring dance demonstration on Friday night, and then on Saturday he danced with pop singer Jana during her show.
Micco Sampson dances with Jana

Micco Sampson dances with Jana

In Living Color

Monday, July 30th, 2012
Flutist Wouter Kellerman played his first Syracuse concert Friday for the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival

Flautist Wouter Kellerman

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

Guitarist Michael Bester

Members of the band watch as Kellerman performs a solo

Members of the band watch as Kellerman performs a solo

Lamine Sonko

Lamine Sonko

Meeting the fans

Meeting the fans

Unsung

Saturday, July 28th, 2012
Eddie "Wall St" Brown dances during a set at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival on Friday night.

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

James Patterson, lead vocalist

Eddie Wall Street gives some dap to horn player Dave Frateschi

Eddie gives some love to horn player Dave Frateschi

Fans, including Sen. John DeFransicso, give applaud the Black Lites

Fans, including Sen. John DeFransicso, give applaud the Black Lites

Guitarist Emanual Atkins makes it funky

Guitarist Emmanuel Atkins makes it funky

Jerry Patterson, lead vocals

Jerry Patterson, lead vocals

The World According to GV

Saturday, July 28th, 2012
Gerald Veasley at the NE Jazz & Wine Festival in Syracuse

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 plays Grover at the NE Jazz & Wine Fest in Syracuse

Andrew Neu was a guest with the GV band and played a mean Grover Washington, Jr.