Mystic Bowie & The Talking Dreads @ Putnam Place 1/26/24
Although it is late January in Upstate NY, Saratoga Springs' Putnam Place was the hot place to be and also revisit some of the great music from the late 70s-early 80s reggae…
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Music Review: Lonnie Holley @ The Local Saugerties 1/16/24
To say that Lonnie Holley’s background is hardscrabble is a true understatement.Born as the fifth of 27 children in Jim Crow Alabama.Stolen by a nurse and traded for…
Concert Review: Antonio Hart w/Keith Pray Quartet @ Schenectady High School 12/21/23
The setting of the performance was a light purplish blue transitioning to a reddish backgroundto the rear of a performance space located in Schenectady High School. The live…
Jazz Sensation Antonio Hart Joins Keith Pray’s Quartet for a Special Evening in Schenectady tonight
Schenectady's musical landscape continues to thrive with an exciting event on the horizon. The acclaimed jazz saxophonist and educator, Antonio Hart, is set to grace the…
Concert Review: The Levin Brothers @ The Linda, 12/16/2023
The Levin Brothers is a band that has been active since 2014. Brothers Pete and Tony Levin, who are both notable musicians with a solid national reputation, co-lead it. It…
Concert Review: Reese Fulmer & the Carriage House Band @ the Hangar 12/9/23
Reese Fulmer & the Carriage House BandIt was acoustic night at Hangar On The Hudson as the venue featured Reese Fulmer & his Carriage House Band with the Hold On…
Concert Review: Creative Improvisers Orchestra @ The Shirt Factory, 12/03/2023
The variety and quantity of instruments in a jazz orchestra or big band are far from fixed, especially for those specializing in the avant-garde genre. The Creative Music…
Gary Smulyan/Joe Magnarelli Quintet celebrate Thad Jones 100th Birthday @ Alias Coffee 11/18/2023
Thad Jones, a trumpeter and big band leader who passed away in 1986, left a lasting legacy through the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. This year, marking his centennial,…
Concert Review: Troker @ The Local, Saugerties, 11/12/2023
Hailing from Guadalajara, Mexico, Troker is an instrumental band that defies strict categorization with their unique style of music, often described as Mexican psychedelic…
Troker brings a Fusion of Mexican Music Styles to Greater Capital Region
Want to hear something completely different? The 518 will have an opportunity to listen and groove to what has been described as Mexican psychedelic hip-hop, rock, and jazz…
Concert Review: “Rivers In Our Veins” Allison Miller @ The Local, 10/28/2023
Waterways and rivers have perennially inspired musicians across a myriad of genres. Notable songs that spring to mind include "Blue Danube" by Johann Strauss II, "The River"…
Concert Review: Rachel Z Trio @ the Falcon 10/22/2023
Rachel Z, renowned for her skill on both electric and acoustic keyboards, opted to spotlight her piano work with her trio at the Falcon performance. This ensemble is gearing…
Concert Review: Bojan Zulfikaspic & Julien Lourau @ Senate Garage, 10/19/2023
Some readers might swear that I select concerts to review based on their long-winded titles or the musicians' names. Bojan Zulfikapašić (whom I'll refer to as Bojan Z) and…
Concert Review: Fall Into Jazz Festival @ Alias Coffee, 10/15/2023
Local jazz fans were treated to a diverse range of improvisational music known as jazz at the Fall into Jazz Festival at Alias Coffee. The lineup consisted of three bands:…
Concert Review: Wazumbians @ The Local in Saugerties, 10/07/2023
The Wazumbians, a band hailing from Ghana, are currently embarking on a world tour. Recently, they made a memorable stop at The Local in Saugerties, treating the audience to…
Concert Review: Robert Burke Warren & Friends (Leonard Cohen Birthday) @ The Local, 09/29/2023
Canadian songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen would have been 89 years old on 9/21. A concert was held to honor his birthday by guitarist and singer Robert Burke Warren along…
Concert Review: BWC Jazz Orchestra @ A Place For Jazz, 09/22/2023
The fact that a Jazz Big Band has many instruments allows the musicians and conductor to express subtle nuances in the music that may not be heard in a smaller combo. This…
Concert Review: lalamarashad @ Alias Coffee, 09/23/2023
John Coltrane's birthday on the 23rd was celebrated in style with a two-tenor lineup at Alias Coffee. The award-winning Ralph Lalama and his young student of four years, Aman…
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…
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…