Concert Review: Lake George Jazz Festival (Day 3) @ Shepard Park, 09/17/2023
Day 3 of the 2023 Lake George Jazz Festival featured three bands: the Brazilian-inflected music of Duduka Da Fonseca, the heavily R&B-influenced music of Richie…
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Concert Review: Richard Lloyd (of Television) / Men Who Love Music / Rabid Children @ No Fun,…
It was a stellar night for lovers of guitar-driven garage, indie, and punk rock as No Fun presented the triple bill headlined by Richard Lloyd and his trio, with Men Who Love…
Concert Review: Lake George Jazz Festival (Day 2) @ Shepard Park, 09/16/2023
Lake George was once home to the last remaining Howard Johnson restaurant in the world, celebrated for its array of ice cream flavors. Though the restaurant has vanished, the…
Concert Review: Endea Owens Cookout @ Lake George Jazz Weekend, Shepard Park, 09/15/2023
Endea Owens opened the 39th annual Lake George Jazz Weekend in Shepard Park with her band, the Cookout. They entered the stage with a snippet of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher…
Concert Review: Civil Disobedience (Blue Note Records In The Progressive 60s) @ The Falcon,…
Blue Note was and is the jazz recording label that frequently reflects the music and trends of the time. Its original owners, Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff, were not only the…
Concert Review: Jazz In The Valley Festival @ Waryas Park in Poughkeepsie, 08/20/2023
The 20th was a beautiful day for an outdoor festival. Not too hot, and a bright sunny day by the Hudson River set the perfect backdrop for the Annual Jazz In the Valley…
Concert Review: Analog Jazz Orchestra with Joe Lovano @ The Falcon, 08/13/2023
Joe Lovano is an iconic saxophonist not only on the national jazz scene but also on the global scene. To have him play as a guest soloist with a top-notch 17-member big band…
Miles Davis’s Musical Odyssey: A Night of Jazz Fusion and Unforgettable Performances with Jack…
The audience knew they were in for quite a show when the stage setup was revealed. Stage right featured a set of three large gongs. Across the back of the stage were three…
Concert Review: Schenectady Saratoga Symphony Orchestra @ Music Haven, 08/05/2023
In its 90th season, the Schenectady Saratoga Symphony Orchestra presented an evening of Broadway standards. The 46-member orchestra, along with special guest vocalists Amy…
The Rye Bread Festival: A Musical Extravaganza Amidst Weather Surprises
The Rye Bread Festival began almost 50 years ago as a private party featuring the Rye Bread Family Band. It has grown to become one of the largest music and camping festivals…
Concert Review: Tim Olsen’s Quintet @ Jazz on Jay, 07/20/2023
The weather finally cleared, so Jazz on Jay was back to its namesake on Jay Street. This week's performance was by Tim Olsen's quintet to an enthusiastic audience. The band…
Concert Review: Aaron Parks Quartet @ The Falcon, 07/09/2023
Aaron Parks's new quartet made its public performance debut on Sunday night on a stormy summer night at the Falcon. This project has an entirely different feel from his…
Concert Review: Theresa Broadwell Quartet / Keith Pray @ Jazz on Jay, 07/06/2023
Despite the heat, Jazz on Jay continued outdoors, with violinist/vocalist Theresa Broadwell and her band entertaining the audience with jazz based on hit songs of yesteryear.…
Concert Review: Skidmore Faculty All Stars @ Zankel Music Center, 07/06/2023
The Skidmore Jazz Institute traditionally closes its concert season with a second concert performed by the faculty, featuring some members who were not part of the first…
Concert Review: Skidmore Faculty All Stars @ Zankel Music Center, 06/29/2023
The Skidmore Jazz Institute's exploration of the musical genre known as jazz continues with a concert featuring seven members of the faculty, all maestros in their own right.…
Concert Review: Tedeschi Trucks Band / Ziggy Marley @ SPAC, 07/01/2023
That Rock and Roll juggernaut known as the Tedeschi Trucks Band (TTB) rolled into the Broadview Stage at SPAC for what seems to be their annual visit to the amphitheater.…
Concert Review: John and Gerald Clayton @ Zankel Music Center, 06/27/2023
As well as the funky, extroverted musical expressions of jazz and various related art forms, the form can also be ethereal, peaceful, and contemplative. The John and Gerald…
Concert Review: Ranky Tanky @ Universal Preservation Hall, 06/23/2023
Many of us do not realize the influence that the Gullah people's music and culture have on American music. If you are familiar with folk songs such as "Michael Row The Boat…
Concert Review: Mike Purcell and Company @ Jazz on Jay, 06/22/2023
It was a beautiful first day of summer in Schenectady. Jazz on Jay, the weekly free noontime concert, featured the sounds of Mike Purcell and Co. Mike and his band…
Concert Review: Surprise Chef / Allana Royale @ No Fun, 06/11/2023
Looking for some interesting music on a Sunday night? No Fun Troy should be on your list of places to check out. No Fun in Troy was the scene of the 518 debut of the…
Photo Gallery: Musicats @ Jazz on Jay, 06/15/2023
It was a beautiful late spring/early summer afternoon for the 3rd weekly edition of Jazz on Jay, a welcome change after the series was forced indoors last week due to the…
Concert Review: George Garzone and Ralph Lalama @ Alias Cafe, 06/13/2023
Two old friends, George Garzone and Ralph Lalama, have shared the stage for many years. At Alias Cafe in Troy on Tuesday, they led a two-tenor sax quintet that included a…
Funk, Drumsticks and Soul rocked The 518 Craft in Troy on Sunday night
As host of the weekly "Funk, Drumsticks, and Soul" Sunday Night series, The 518 Craft has become home to the latest of the many jam sessions open to musicians and listeners…
Concert Review: The Brass Machine @ The Cock ‘n Bull, 05/27/2023
The Cock n Bull, a fantastic locavore restaurant in Galway, celebrated its 47th birthday in true NOLA style upstate NY. The Brass Machine graced the occasion with two sets of…
Keith Pray Quartet / Bobby Previte @ Alias Coffee, 05/19/2023
Like musicians of all genres, jazz musicians have difficulty finding a listening room in the 518, which allows them to play their genre-bending compositions, arrangements,…
Photo Gallery: Adam Bronstein Trio @ Centre Street Pub, 05/05/2023
Driving straight from Buffalo, the Buffalo-based AB Trio (Adam Bronstein Trio) showcased their version of that genre, known as jazz. Their sound is more of music heavily…
Photo Gallery: Joe Locke @ Beattie Powers House, 04/30/2023
Joe Locke, the vibraphonist extraordinaire, performed a solo concert accompanied by gongs and carillon bells at Beattie Powers House in Catskill on April 30th, which also…
Photo Gallery: Carsie Blanton / Brittany Ann Tranbaugh @ The Linda, 04/28/2023
Carsie Blanton in concert is a wild ride for the audience. Carsie Blanton’s lyrics and music deal with personal feelings of love, loss, hope, and political outrage. Despite…
Photo Gallery: The Wailers @ The Strand Theater, 04/22/2023
The sounds of roots reggae rocked the full house at the Hudson Falls Strand Theater as The Wailers took to the stage and played two complete sets of uplifting, life-affirming…
Photo Gallery: Hill, Holm, Bisio @ The Lace Mill Kingston, 04/16/2023
The unexpected death of Karl Berger left an open wound in the world of avant-garde music. Among other unfinished tasks, he was supposed to play at a concert at the Lace Mill…
Photo Gallery: Melvin Seals with the Jerry Garcia Band @ Cohoes Music Hall, 04/08/2023
The Cohoes Music Hall was the home of the jam band faithful on Saturday night. B3 wizard and the last original member of the Jerry Garcia Band, Melvin Seals, led the JGB with…
RIP: Karl Berger, 1935-2023
Avant-garde jazz musician and composer Karl Berger has transitioned. He co-founded the Creative Music Institute in Woodstock with his wife, Ingrid Sertso, and the late…
Photo Gallery: Bright Dog Red, TV Doctors, and Sound For @ No Fun, 03/30/2023
The tagline for the evening was, “If you wonder what we sound like. We do too. There are no setlists. All performances are improvised.” This was a direct quote from the…
Photo Gallery: Jon Gordon @ Alias Coffee, 03/23/2023
The rear room of Troy’s Alias Coffee continues to be a jazz showcase. Joe Barna invited NYC-based musicians bass player James Robbins, pianist Jon Elbaz, and Winnipeg-based…
Photo Gallery: Emma Donovan & the Putbacks, Troy Music Hall, 03/24/2023
Sure, R&B (rhythm and blues) was born here in America, but it has influenced and been imported into many other countries and cultures. Australia has not been an…
Photo Gallery: Sophistafunk / Ill Funk Ensemble @ The Hollow, 03/18/2023
It was a busy Saturday night in downtown Albany, with lots of choices for musical entertainment. Those who chose live music at the Hollow were rewarded with two…
Photo Gallery: moe. wsg Karina Rykman @ Palace Theatre, 02/25/2023
moe. is a one-of-a-kind band that has never been easily categorized. Their sonic adventurousness and tongue-in-cheek humor are distinctly and undeniably their own. Praised by…
Concert Review: Troy Winter Jazz Fest @ Alias Coffee, 2/26/2023
Nippertown jazz fans had a place to enjoy the music this late Sunday afternoon and evening, the Troy Winter Jazz Fest at Alias Coffee in Troy. Featuring three bands…
Concert Review: Alexis P. Suter (60th Birthday) / Key of Q / KJ Denhert @ The Falcon, 2/18/2023
MARLBORO - Alexis P. Suter frequently celebrates her birthday with a concert performance at the Falcon. This year was no different, as she marked a birthday milestone, her…
Concert Review: Takuya Kuroda @ Zankel Music Center, 2/11/2023
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Many feel that jazz’s Golden Age was in the past. Bebop and post-bop of the late 40s through the early 60s, when the music reigned supreme in the clubs of…
Concert Review: Fred Hersch & Esperanza Spalding @ Troy Music Hall, 2/5/2023
TROY - Esperanza Spalding is an artist that refuses to be pigeonholed. Her performances and recordings follow her own muse. In spite of this, she is a multi-Grammy award…
Concert Review: Nite Train (tribute to Thomasina Winslow) @ Caffe Lena, 2/4/23
SARATOGA SPRINGS - It was supposed to be a celebration. Due to the sudden death of Thomasina Winslow last month, this concert was bittersweet instead. What was initially…
Concert Review: Alash @ Caffe Lena, 1/29/2023
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Alash is a trio of musicians that are known for their throat singing. They hail from Tuva, a small republic that is part of the Russian Federation. It is…
Concert Review: Lucky Chops @ Universal Preservation Hall, 1/27/2023
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Street-performing funky horn bands are exclusively from NOLA right? Wrong!!! In Upstate New York, we have the Brass Machine with band members from all over…
Concert Review: Nikara Warren Trio’s “MLK Celebration” @ Caffe Lena, 1/15/2023
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Black Wall Street was the name of a prosperous African American neighborhood in Tulsa, OK. It is synonymous with one of the most painful episodes in…
Concert Review: Ray Vega/Keith Pray Quintet @ Alias Coffee, 1/6/2023 – 1/7/2023
TROY - The rear of Alias Coffee, at 219 4th Street, is a different space than the front of this wonderful artisan coffee shop. The rear has been transformed into an…
Bobby Previte’s “Art for Now” an Adventure for the Ears and the Tastebuds
CATSKILL - Looking for something to wrap up the weekend Sunday evening? Those with adventurous tastes in music and food should visit the Avalon Lounge in Catskill. Legendary…
Concert Review: Toombs Dixon @ The Falcon, 12/30/2022
MARLBORO - I stayed in for New Year’s Eve. This concert by Toombs Dixon at the Falcon on the evening before served as my final concert for 2022. Somehow, it seemed…
Best of 2022: Rudy Lu’s Year in Review
2022 has been a year of transition. Many openings, closings, creative endeavors, and continuances of events in the performing arts as we gradually emerge from our post-Covid…
Photo Gallery: “Holiday Jam Session” at 518 Craft, 12/26/2022
TROY - The creative spark for jazz more than other musical forms is the jam session. Jam sessions are held every Monday night at 518 Craft at the Corner of Broadway and River…
Photo Gallery: The Holiday Funk and Soul Show @ Lost & Found, 12/23/2022
ALBANY - It was a reunion of sorts. Former Nippertown musician Bryan Brundige and his fiancee Sarah Romeo came back for the holidays, as did Philippe Chow to revive Funk and…
Concert Review: Kim & Reggie Harris and Magpie Sing Solstice @ 8th Step at Proctors (GE…
SCHENECTADY - It began with a traditional dance/parade accompanied by two musicians with medieval instruments by the local Pokingbrook Morris troupe. This was a celebration…
Concert Review: Elio Villafranca @ The Falcon, 12/4/2022
MARLBORO - Sophisticated yet roots-oriented Elio Villafranca (EV) performed at the Falcon this past Sunday, featuring portions of his suite “Cinque” as well as several other…
Concert Review: Helen Sung Quartet+ @ The Falcon, 11/20/2022
MARLBORO - The primary theme behind Helen Sung’s Quartet+ is a tribute to the women composers that have preceded her and have not received as much acknowledgment as their…
Concert Review: Guy Davis @ The Linda, 11/11/2022
ALBANY - Twice Grammy-nominated bluesman Guy Davis made a stop at the Linda this past Friday night. He brought along his library of acoustic blues, traditional folk music,…
CONCERT REVIEW: Sarah Elizabeth Charles and SCOPE @ The Falcon,10/30/2022
MARLBORO - When Sarah Elizabeth Charles told me the digital projection to the rear of the bandstand was of a painting that was done in the recording studio by an artist…
CONCERT REVIEW: A Circle of Friends @ The Partition, 10/23/2022
SAUGERTIES - Alas, summer has ended, and the chill of autumn weather has set in. Outdoor music and hangouts will largely have to wait until the spring of 2023. A jazz…
CONCERT REVIEW: Wallace Roney, Jr. @ The Falcon, 10/23/2022
MARLBORO - The surname Roney is no stranger to the world of jazz. Trumpeter Wallace Roney Jr.’s father is the late Wallace Roney, renowned trumpet player and protege of Miles…
CONCERT REVIEW: Imarhan / Bad Dream Adventure / Ester @ No Fun, 10/16/2022
TROY - Rock and the blues had their origins in the music of the slaves that survived the Middle Passage. In turn, this music influenced and migrated to many parts of the…
CONCERT REVIEW: Matt Wilson Quartet @ The Falcon, 10/16/2022
MARLBORO - For those in the know, if Matt Wilson is mentioned in the lineup of a band, one is guaranteed not only a fine display of musicianship but a guaranteed good time.…
Concert Review: Misty Blues “Queens of the Blues” @ Proctors GE Theatre, 10/15/2022
SCHENECTADY - For those casual fans who are familiar with the blues as a progenitor of rock, one thinks of guitar slingers playing both slow and rapid bent notes with a long…
LIVE: Medicine Singers with Yonatan Gat / Wax Shamu @ No Fun, 09/28/2022
TROY - As a matter of natural progression, various musical traditions do not remain the same. They change according to the times and when they meet other cultures, especially…
LIVE: Michael Eck (40th Anniversary Show) @ Caffe Lena, 09/25/2022
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Eddies Hall of Famer Michael Eck has had many roles in the music industry. He started 40 years ago as a member of a punk rock band. This progressed to…
Geoffrey Keezer Trio with Gillian Margot @ A Place for Jazz (SUNY Schenectady), 09/23/2022
The nip of autumn weather was in the air as the Geoffrey Keezer Trio took to the stage. The opener was a cover. The origin of the tune was from an unexpected source though;…
LIVE: “Jazz at the Lake” (Day Three) @ Shepard Park, 09/18/2022
After a beautiful day on Saturday, the Sunday forecast called for rain. There is a rain site for the festival, however much is lost for both the audience and the musicians…
LIVE: “Jazz at the Lake” (Day Two) @ Shepard Park, 09/17/2022
LAKE GEORGE - Saturday is traditionally a full day of performances at the Lake George “Jazz at the Lake” Festival with music starting at 1:00 and the last performance at…
LIVE: Chembo Corniel Quintet @ Shepard Park (Jazz at the Lake), 09/16/2022
For Nippertown-area jazz fans, the weekend after Labor Day marks the end of the summer concert season, with the temperature dropping and autumn in the air. This fall is no…
LIVE: Freddie Bryant’s Upper West Side Love Story @ Byrdcliffe Theater, 09/11/2022
The Covid shutdown gave many artists the time for introspection, and Freddie Bryant is no exception.Freddie Bryant was born and lived on the Upper West Side of New York…
LIVE: Michael Benedict Jazz Vibes @ Beattie-Powers Place, 09/11/2022
Yes, Nippertown has a very active local live jazz scene. It also has an active recording scene. Michael Benedict has been on this scene for quite some time as an educator,…
LIVE: Toombs Dixon @ The Colony, 09/03/2022
The roots of rock and roll can be traced to post-World War 2 country, rhythm and blues, and blues music that was amplified to entertain large crowds and dance to. Toombs…
The Annual Jazz in the Valley brings world-class artists to the Hudson Valley
It couldn’t have been a more perfect setting for an afternoon of world-class jazz presented by Transart Inc as the annual Jazz in the Valley NY. Poughkeepsie’s Waryas Park is…
LIVE: Felicia Collins and Summer of Soul @ Music Haven, Schenectady, 08/20/2022
Albany-born and bred Felicia Collins’ reappearance on the Music Haven stage started out as just a set of music to open for a free screening of the Oscar-winning documentary…
LIVE: GNP Trio @ Jazz on Jay, Schenectady, 08/18/2022
The music called “jazz” is quite broad. During the Jazz on Jay series, we have experienced the wide gamut. Last week we heard the abstract sounds of music by and inspired by…
LIVE: Schenectady Symphony Orchestra @ Music Haven, 08/13/2002
It was a truly ideal evening for a Pops concert. The Schenectady Symphony Orchestra delivered on the promise of a finally cool and beautiful evening with a “Night At the…
LIVE: Lemon Bucket Orkestra / Golfstrom @ Music Haven, 07/31/2022
Music Haven has a European feel this week, with an extended excursion focusing on the embattled country of Ukraine. This first stop on Sunday was a concert by the Lemon…
LIVE: Sun Ra Arkestra @ Opus 40, Saugerties, 07/29/2022
It has been an interesting coincidence that I have seen three big bands in the last ten days. The first two, the BWC Jazz Orchestra and the Keith Pray Big Soul Ensemble…
LIVE: Bill Ware and the Upstate All-Stars @ Senate Garage (Kingston), 07/22/2022
When I was first collecting autographs from jazz musicians, one thanked all his fans for witnessing a “science experiment”. He of course was referring to the improvisational…
Live: Brucker – Weisse – Canterbury Jazz Orchestra @ The Linda, 07/21/2022
ALBANY - Big band jazz was once a staple offering on the Nippertown jazz scene. It officially returned to the Nippertown stage after its absence during the Covid shutdown.…
Live: Music by McIntosh @ Jazz on Jay, 06/30/2022
A beautiful Thursday early summer afternoon. A nice breeze, low humidity. Jazz on Jay 2022 was again outside (We are batting .500 so far).This week’s artists are Music by…
Live: Steel Pulse / Aurelio @ Music Haven, 07/10/2022
Music Haven opened its first full season since 2019 with a bang, with headliners (and reggae superstars) Steel Pulse. The Nippertown crowd responded with a resounding “yes”…
LIVE: Kenny Barron Trio @ Zankel Music Center, Skidmore, 06/28/2022
After a two-year absence due to COVID, the much-loved jazz concerts sponsored by the Skidmore Jazz Institute have returned to Zankel Hall. There were no concerts or jazz…
LIVE: The Wize Guyz @ Jazz on Jay, Schenectady, 06/23/2022
Jazz on Jay is a nice way for folks in downtown Schenectady to spend their lunch hour. Even if it is indoors at the rain site, Robb Alley. This week’s band Wize Guyz provided…
Live: Ralph Lalama @ Lark Tavern, 06/14/2022
It was an emergency. With just a few days until the gig, award-winning baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan had just suffered a severe injury to his hand that would not allow…
LIVE: Jamie Baum Trio @ Beattie Powers Place, 06/12/2022
Nationally recognized flutist/composer Jamie Baum gave a concert at the Beattie Powers House in Catskill. Accompanied by pianist Luis Perdomo and Bassist Pablo Menares, the…
LIVE: Ann Hampton Callaway @ A Place for Jazz, SUNY Schenectady, 06/03/2022
Much of the repertoire of jazz that originated from the 30s to 50s is based upon what is known as the Great American Songbook. Many of these songs came from Broadway musicals…
LIVE: Satyrdagg / The Va Va Voodoos / Karl Bertrand @ Putnam Place, 05/27/2022
Creating concert bills made up of performers from different genres can be challenging. Especially when the three acts are not entirely well known, perform a lot of original…
LIVE: Joe Barna’s “Sketches of Influence” CD Release Party @ Lark St. Tavern,…
Joe Barna’s self-produced Sketches of Influence projects are truly an expression of personal inspiration. They are explicitly inspired by Joe’s personal life…
Live: Jon Elbaz @ Lark Street Tavern, 05/17/2022
Up and coming NYC pianist Jon Elbaz performed 2 sets of music as part of the Tuesday night jazz series at the Lark Street Tavern. His word-of-mouth reputation as a talented,…
LIVE: Samara Joy w/ Pasquale Grasso Trio @ the Falcon Marlboro, 05/15/2022
Who says jazz is dead? It certainly isn’t. The proof in the pudding was the performance of rising star Samara Joy at the Falcon.Vocalist Joy was accompanied by guitarist…
LIVE: Yacine Bolares Quartet @ Beattie Powers Place, Catskill, 05/15/2022
Although jazz was born in and is distinctly American, it has the ability to absorb other musical styles and the culture of other countries.The music of Yasmine Bolares is…
LIVE: Adam O’Farrill @ The Falcon, 05/08/2022
Adam O’Farrill is a 3rd generation jazz musician. His grandfather Chico O’Farrill, was a composer and a leading proponent of Afro-Cuban Jazz and was primarily active in the…
LIVE: Dave Solazzo Trio @ Lark Tavern, 05/03/2022
Music series come and go as do venues. A new music series has been started at the recently reopened Lark Tavern. On Tuesday nights starting at 7 PM, piano trios will be…
LIVE: Orrin Evans Trio @ The Falcon, 05/01/2022
The Sunday Jazz @ the Falcon series continued with the performance of the Orrin Evans Trio.Orin is a well-known pianist in the jazz community who has accompanied…
Live: Pete Malinverni Trio @ Beattie-Powers Place, 05/01/2022
House concerts are not unusual in the jazz and folk world. Thom Bellino has inaugurated a series of them at the historic Beattie-Powers Place in Catskill. A former private…
LIVE: Suede @ 8th Step, 04/23/2022
Suede is a frequent performer at the 8th Step Coffeehouse. She has been described as "Adele meets Diana Krall meets Bette Midler." She has been performing nationally for 40…
LIVE: Joel Harrison’s Stardust Reunion Band / Nels Cline @ The Colony, 04/02/2022
Joel Harrison’s Stardust Reunion Band, along with special guest Nels Cline, were featured at the Colony in Woodstock Saturday night.Nels Cline is probably best known as…
LIVE: Omar Sosa and his Suba Trio @ the Sanctuary for Independent Media, 04/01/2022
Universal expressions of love, peace, joy, and dance were celebrated by the performance by Omar Sosa and his Suba Trio @ the Sanctuary for Independent Media. The Cuban born…
LIVE: Inferior Decorators @ The Colony in Woodstock, 03/27/2022
Instead of watching the Oscars last night, there were other options. Among them was attending the debut performance of the Inferior Decorators. Experiencing the joy of…
Photo Gallery: Ladysmith Black Mambazo @ Universal Preservation Hall, 03/05/2022
Ladysmith Black Mambazo made a return trip to the Capital Region, including Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs as a stop of their first tour since March 2020.…
LIVE: Wa Lika @ The Linda, 02/13/2022
Many are not aware that Nippertown is quite a diverse community. Schenectady-based New York Folklore is trying to change that. In partnership with WAMC, a Congolese Rumba and…