Jazz critic Stanley Crouch visited Onondaga Community College about a decade ago. Crouch’s biography of sax player Charlie Parker (vol 1) is also great history of Kansas City, once called the Paris of the Plains.
Posts Tagged ‘Jazz’
Throwback Thursday: Sense of Place
Thursday, June 26th, 2014Pounding the Pavement
Saturday, June 21st, 2014
Syracuse Jazz Masters Dave Solazzo and Bill Horrace played a few sets in the courtyard near Lemon Grass + Bistro Elefant on Friday night.
After the Show…
Saturday, April 26th, 2014
Hot Tones/Warm Reception: Camille Thurman finds a score of new fans after her blazing vocals on the cover of Roy Ayers “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.”
All About Strings: Anthony and Eric McGriff with Mimi Jones
Return of Mimi
Saturday, April 26th, 2014
Shout out to WAER’s Joe Lee for hooking up with CFAC to bring Mimi Jones and her jazz fusion experience to Syracuse last night. Jones came to CNY previously to play along side Tia Fuller. This time she came with her own band, made up of Camille Thurman (sax and flute), Justin Faulkner (drums) and Luis Perdomo (keys).
In addition to being band leader, Jones is also the head of her own music label.
This show was a great way to put an exclamation point on Jazz Appreciation Month and adds another great show to the legend of CFAC.
Mimi and Camille
Substance with a side of Style
Saturday, April 26th, 2014
Philly Justin Faulkner
Justin Faulkner, who played with the Mimi Jones band last night at CFAC, and who is currently a member of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, is DWA: a drummer with attitude. This young cat is definitely one to watch. And don’t let his urbane fashion sense fool you, Faulkner can roll up his sleeves, work those sticks and funk you right out of your chair.
We would love to see him return to Central New York very soon (maybe even with Marsalis, Revis and Calderazzo).
Future of the Funk
Saturday, April 26th, 2014
Here is a short video clip of the McGriff brothers playing one of the songs from the Great American Modern/Pop Songbook during their set at Jazz & Wine (at CFAC) last night. The McGriffs, who have played many venues along the Corridor, opened for Mimi Jones.
Throwback Thursday
Thursday, February 20th, 2014
Tony Monaco played in and around Syracuse numerous times, including a Jazz in the City gig that was held in Little Italy back in the day. Monaco will return next month to play with the CNY Jazz All Stars for a show he’s calling “Swing Italian Style” at the Sheraton Hotel.
FOJ (Friends of Jesse)
Tuesday, February 11th, 2014
Jesse Collins Trio & Friends
We caught the live show from Jesse Collins at Al’s Whiskey and Wine Bar on Sunday night, and they played everything from New Orleans Jazz to Parliament Funkadelic.
It was good to see familiar faces from the pages of SIF such as Byron Cage and Melissa Gardiner; but it was equally fun to experience for the first time Collins (on alto sax), John Delia (clarinet and tenor sax) and the steady bass licks of Dickie Bureau. At one point during the show, the groove got so intense that Delia blew his clarinet apart (true story).
The crowd seemed to also enjoy the vibe from several of Collins’ original compositions, including his “hula hoop” anthem.
“Free to be Free” is the title of Collins’ new album.
Jazz (Guitar) for Life
Monday, February 10th, 2014
Jazz guitarist Joshua Breakstone played the Sitrus Lounge Friday night. His new album is titled "With the Wind and the Rain."
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
Monday, January 27th, 2014
2014 Producer of the Year Pharrell Williams played SUs Block Party in 2010
Some of our favorite producers are (in no particular order) Kashif,Stevie Wonder, Sly & Robbie, The Bomb Squad, Jam & Lewis, Gamble & Huff, as well as Leon Sylvers, Rick Rubin and Syracuse’s Seth Marcel. It comes to no surprise to us that Pharrell Williams won a handful of Grammy Awards last night, including Producer of the Year. Check out his work ethic, which was chronicled in this Fast Company article a few months ago. Also shout out to Gregory Porter, who won a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
Syracuse Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano (right) presents an award to Gregory Porter in 2013.