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 So-Cal Sax Machine
Jessy J shows off her dance moves.
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
The band also backed the featured act of the night, Jessy J.
Richard Randolph
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 (2/3 of the NK Trio)
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
Members of the band watch as Kellerman performs a solo
Lamine Sonko
Meeting the fans
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.
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.
Jazz Singer Gregory Porter, Soul to the Bone
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 at Syracuse Jazz Fest (30th Anniversary)
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.
JT Hall and his band, featuring Colleen Prosner play the Sitrus Lounge
John Dancks on Bass
Colleen Prossner listens during a JT Hall solo
JT Hall on Flugelhorn
The Bill Horrace Trio jams at the Crowne Plaza
The Bill Horrace Trio, the hardest working band based along Syracuse University’s Connective Corridor, began a new gig this summer, playing the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Wednesday evenings.