Posts Tagged ‘Syracuse Jazz Fest’

Week in Review: Second Line

Monday, July 14th, 2014


In case you missed it…Trombone Shorty nearly blew a hole in the ozone layer above Onondaga Hill.

His marathon performance on Friday at Syracuse Jazz Fest capped off a mini-tribute to New Orleans. If you closed your eyes, you could feel yourself walking along Bourbon Street, and if you listened close, you could almost taste the gumbo cooking in the kitchen.

Translation: Jazz Fest, Day 2

Monday, July 14th, 2014
Fantine Pritoula

Fantine Pritoula joined Igor Butman for a songs.

Here are some photos from Day 2 of the Syracuse Jazz Festival.  Saturday started with local singer Nick Ziobro (Manlius) and ended with guitar legend B.B. King. In between, we got a chance to check out Raul Midon, the human mix machine and Igor Butman & The Moscow State Jazz Orchestra did a tune up before Igor Butman” their Monday performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Nick Ziobro conducted a post performance interview

Nick Ziobro conducted a post performance interview.

Igor Butman: Muscovite invades the Cuse with his Orchestra

Igor Butman: Muscovite invaded the ‘Cuse with his Orchestra.

Raul Midon

Experiencing Raul: Midon worked the piano, guitar and bongos, scatted and sang during his set.

Former Blues Boy from Beale St. returns to Syracuse as King

From DJ to BB: Former blues boy from Beale St. now a King for life

The Art of Photography (part 7)

Sunday, July 13th, 2014
Picture NY

Picture NY

Concert Producer-in-Chief

Saturday, July 12th, 2014
On the first day, Frank rested for a minute to sample the New Orleans flavor for the 2014 Syracuse Jazz Fest at OCC

On the first day, Frank rested for a minute to sample the New Orleans flavor for the 2014 Syracuse Jazz Fest at OCC

Plasticity: Jazz Fest, Day 1

Saturday, July 12th, 2014
Trombone Shorty: Blow Me Down

Trombone Shorty: Blow Me Down

Trombone Shorty and his band Orleans Avenue were the perfect crescendo to a night of jazz and swing for the 2014 Syracuse Jazz Fest (Day 1). After seeing the energetic show, we’d describe the former child prodigy from Treme as a combination drum major and sanctified Baptist preacher, accented with a taste of Rahsaan Patterson, Lee Morgan and Fred Wesley.

Shorty (aka Troy Andrews) is a tropical storm of resounding brass that shook the hills at Onondaga Community College.

Trombone Shorty: Double Barrell

Brash in Brass

Trombone Shorty as Tambourine Shorty

Tambourine Shorty

Trombone Shorty: Band leader

Asking the band to take it higher

Sign Language @ OCC

Saturday, July 12th, 2014
Randy (left) talked with jazz fans about the recent changes to the format at WAER-FM 88.3 at OCC last night.

Randy (left) talked with jazz fans about the recent changes to the format at WAER-FM 88.3 at OCC last night.

Improvisation: Jazz Fest, Day 1

Saturday, July 12th, 2014
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy trumpet player Glen The Kid Marhevka: The Satorialist

BBVD trumpet player Glen “The Kid” Marhevka: The Sartorialist

Fashion and music seem to go hand-in-hand.

Glen Marhevka said many of his suits he wears are styled from the 1930s and 40s (similar to his band mates), but during the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy set on Friday he wore a hand-me-down (but re-tailored) ensemble from the 1960s.  He said his personal tailor is a guy named Javi in Los Angeles.

Marhevka has that certain sprezzatura historically poured onto horn players (think Chet Baker), but don’t let the cool vines fool you, he can flat out blow that horn.

Devotion: Jazz Fest, Day 3

Monday, July 8th, 2013
Ronnie Laws (sax) and Perry Hughes

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.

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.

Vintage: Taylor Dane first hit the pop music scene 25 years ago.

Neva Pilgrim on stage with Frank Malfitano before the Brubeck Brothers set.

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.

Chuck Lamb plays during a hot sunset, then visits with fans.

Taylor Dane's told the crowd she was born to sing.

Born to Sing: Taylor Dane

Ronnie Laws goes double barrel in a short tribute to Grover Washington, Jr.

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 Host Rick Wright (born in North Carolina) meets up with Saxophonist Ronnie Laws (born in Texas) after a set at the 2013 Syracuse Jazz Festival.

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.

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

William Kennedy, Drummer, Yellowjackets

Adam Gold, Keyboardist, Sophistafunk

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. Tommorrow the GrandMothers of Invention play Annapolis, then NYC, before heading back Upstate to Rocheter on July 10.

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.

WAEF FM 88’s GM Joe Lee brings on the Yellowjackets.

Sophista-Fan

Sophista-Fan

Piano Tuner Kenny Williams has been working festivals and concerts in Syracuse for more than a half century.

Piano tuner Kenny Williams has been working festivals and concerts in Syracuse for more than a half century.

Napoleon Murphy Brock (red) from the Mothers of Invention shows off his Suavenicity during an opening number.

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.