Funky Jam at the Westcott Theater Friday August 14 saw the Syracuse music locale transform into a collaborative art space of opportunity for local crafters and musicians.
Painter Yegor Mikushkin planned the benefit show to raise money for supplies to execute a mural on the outer rear brick wall of the theater. The dark inner walls of the theater were brought to life with an array of Mikushkin’s vivid paintings, which were scattered throughout the 700-person venue. The tall canvases stood sentry, attesting to the skill and aesthetic the painter will be bringing to the mural, while also daring attendees to splurge and take home a Mikushkin original. Other crafters also sold their wares, including screen printed t-shirts, paper lamps and art books.
To give the audience a taste of Mikushkin’s work style, he live painted a canvas on stage with help from fellow painter and musician Sara Potocsny, while local musicians serenaded the unfavorably sparse crowd composed primarily of friends and family. The stage supported various acts of artistic expression including performances by musicians Phil Grajko, of Grayak, Morning Sun and the Essentials and Root SHOCK, Jessica Brown of Root SHOCK, Christopher Woods of Root SHOCK and The Sauce, drummers Tyler Dattmore and Adam Ast, guitarist Chris Chiesa, violist Sara Potocsny, DJ Leonard Adams, Jamie Knittel of The New Daze, and freestyle vocals of Eric Dwyre. An on stage devil stick demonstration by local artist Breeze tied into the tangle of performers who came out to support Mikushkin’s cause.
Even in a room replete with talent, some of the musical collaborations were disjointed. Musicians who have played together before, including Grajko, Brown and Woods, were able to deliver a more cohesive and satisfying performance. Grajko, performing several songs he has recorded with different bands, relied on Tyler Dattmore’s percussion skills on the cajon to backup a stripped down version of Grayak’s “Have a Beautiful Now,” which traditionally incorporates a more diverse accompaniment including elegant fiddle and upright bass parts. Mid-song, Grajko and Dattmore transitioned to a rendition of Morning Sun and the Essential’s uplifting number, “Love Agenda” before seamlessly returning back to “Have a Beautiful Now.”
As the song title, “Have a Beautiful Now” suggests, audience members and performers alike, all whom have personal ties to Mikushkin, relished in the splendor of the evening, soaking up the joy of filling the Westcott Theater with love and beauty, even in lieu of a small turnout.
Director F. Gary Gray (“Friday”, “Law Abiding Citizen”) did wonders in portraying the dangerous reality of Compton and South Central L.A. and the brutality of the music industry. Writers Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff put together a master script as well. My only complaint about this movie (and it is aimed at the writers) was the dialogue in the first half of the movie seemed just a tad bit exaggerated between everyone in the movie. I believe the whole purpose of that was to keep some of the elements light-hearted and humorous to keep the audience engaged in a movie that had a dangerous tone to it.
With all the buzz about the biopic movie 
