Elan Trotman went down on bended knee in his return to Syracuse yesterday for the Jazz in the City series. He shared the stage with keyboardist Brian Simpson, as well as Rochester musicians Corey Owes and Carlton Wilcox. The show shut down a portion of Park Avenue and overflowed the parking lot of Strada Mia 313.
WAER media personality Eric Cohen primed the crowd for the return of Elan Trotman.
Spicy: Syracuse guitar legend Marcus Curry got in the mix at the Sitrus Lounge last night with vocalist Ronnie Leigh. They even did a birthday tribute to WAER FM-88’s Eric Cohen. Next month the series will feature a Wil Gorman and Melissa Gardiner reunion.
WAER-FM’s Eric Cohen, Ioana Vitu and Mike Houston chill back stage on Day 1 of the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival.
The opening day of the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival was called Funky Friday and dedicated to the memory of local jazz guitarist, composer and bandleader Jeff Houston. Jeff’s brother Mike talked about Jeff’s new recording before the shows at the Pomco main stage. Mike and Jeff played the 2011 Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival when they were known as the J Project.
Ralph Lalama played January JAZZfest in the Mohegan Manor Ballroom. He was later joined by vocalist Nancy Kelly.
Another January JAZZfest is in the books and it was a great show. Here are a few photographs from yesterday afternoon’s action.
The sounds of the Donna Alford Jass Band kept the Green Room dance floor packed.
WAER-FM 88’s Eric Cohen and vocalist Nancy Kelly relaxed and listened to the Jazz Police jam session.
Melissa Gardiner & Friends held court in the Basta yesterday afternoon.
A little jazz appreciation in the Mohegan Manor Ballroom.
We’ve seen a few classy tributes done by the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation over the years: one for Doug Johnston in 2006; one for Saundra Smokes in 2012, and this past weekend, the group recognized jazz patron Paul Russo (see below). We’ll do our own shout out to Hamilton Bohannon for the sounds, and Eric Cohen for the announcement.
Singer Gregory Porter returned to Syracuse last week.
A Gregory Porter concert is a little like the Matrix: We could tell you what it’s like, but you really have to experience it for yourself.
We wrote in a previous post that it’s difficult to classify Porter, but in his vocals one can hear Nat Cole, Ray Charles, Joe Williams and even Donny Hathaway. He effortlessly blends ballads, shout blues and the sacred sounds of the church.
The superstar jazz singer returned to Central New York Friday for the first time since his appearance at the 2012 Syracuse Jazz Festival. Earlier in the day he did a clinic for students and also talked about his life’s story.
But the real treat was the show.
From the time they hit the stage at about 7:30 p.m. Porter and his band (Chip Crawford, Emmanuel Harrold, Aaron James and Yosuke Sato) nearly blew the doors off Storer Auditorium.
Porter kicked things off with the ballad Be Good, and from the first note, a wave of goosebumps washed over the theater. He sprinkled in Liquid Spirit and No Love Dying from his new album, as well as the crowd favorite On My Way to Harlem.
For an encore they poured it on with the bass-driven cut, 1960 What? which featured Aaron James slapping and literally dancing with his upright instrument.
The music created by the band was spicy like Cajun catfish and Porter’s strong, spiritually connected vocals were smooth like banana pudding.
At the end, most people lingered to soak in the experience, and everyone left satisfied.
WAER-FM 88’s Eric Cohen and Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano welcome Gregory Porter to the stage.
WAER FM-88’s Program Director Eric Cohen said it best when he said that for one night, Syracuse became the center of the Jazz Universe.
A great starting five: Crawford, James, Porter, Harrold and Sato
WAER-FM 88 announcer and music director Eric Cohen proposed to his fiance in during a Jazz in Square concert nearly a decade ago.