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
Eddie gives some love to horn player Dave Frateschi
Fans, including Sen. John DeFransicso, give applaud the Black Lites
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.
Stroke, featuring Isreal Hagan, played the Clinton Square stage during Saturday’s Taste of Syracuse Celebration. The multiple-SAMMY Award-winning group is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Virtually everywhere I went in the past few weeks it seemed like everyone was doing their dance. I saw African dance and freestyle moves in Clinton Square, Salsa on the Near West Side and even ballet at today’s flash (dance) mob in Armory Square.
Can You Salsa, Near Westside, Jazz in the City
Flash (Dance) Mob, Jefferson Street, Walk the Dinosaur
I heard a story today on NPR about the distinct voice of rapper Biggie Smalls (they described his sound as wheezy and humid). I also learned that jazz musician Donald Harrison, who played a concert here last summer, provided some early musical mentorship for BIG.
Harrison also talked about their connection in an interview on Afropop.
The King of Nouveau Swing Donald Harrison, Jr. brought his bold sax (plus dance moves) to Syracuse last week and spiced up the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival like a plate of red beans and rice. His band members, average age about 19, were the perfect compliment and despite the rain, they belted out enough flavor to make Clinton Square sound more like Congo Square…at least for an hour or so.
Sax man Marion Meadows said he’s wanted to perform in Syracuse for a long time, sick especially since his sister lives here. He finally got his chance last night during a sizzling performance for the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival (formerly Jazz in the Square). During the set Meadows did a roll call of musicians that have influenced his band, people such as Grover, Ella, Miles, Coltrane, James Brown and some others. Then before bringing the house down, he asked a simple question: “What happens when some Funk falls into your cereal?”
The crowd in Clinton Square for the festival concert got the answer, but Meadows added a cresendo later when his band brought their steady rhythms to Jazz Central for an intimate late night jam session (which typically follow the festival performances).
In addition to his quartet, Meadows vibed with musicians such as Eudy Ferdandez and The Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet, featuring Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Noah Kellman, Nick Frenay, Zach Brown, and Corey Fonville.
Joe Magnarelli also joined the session, which funked up the house til well past midnight.
