Syracuse in focus (SIF)

Antoinette Montague, mind jazz vocalist, at the Sheraton Hotel Ballroom

Singer and Newark (aka Brick City)-native Antoinette Montague returned to Syracuse for this year’s Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation Black History Month Cabaret. Montague’s range includes jazz, blues and gospel. She sang several standards and also interpreted “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” but really moved the crowd with “Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister).” 

The show hit a cresendo when Montague was joined on stage by wealth management professional Vicki Brackens for a duet.  Brackens was this year’s Cabaret sponsor.

Antoinette Montague sings with Vicki Brackens (left).

Montague was accompanied by Joe Carello (sax), Rick Montalbano (keys), Larry Luttinger (drums) and Darryl Pugh (bass). She closed the show with “When The Saints Go Marchin In.”

Antoinette Montague