NYS Music 20​19

Category: Blues/Jazz

  • David Grisman’s Dawg Trio Takes Manhattan

    Armed with a new album and a stellar bluegrass catalog to pull from, the all-star Dawg Trio made beautiful music at the storied Iridium Jazz Club in midtown Manhattan. The evening included plenty of intricate songs, a special guest on the “mouth trumpet,” and a cover last played with Jerry Garcia.

    Dawg Trio
    The Dawg Trio

    The band was led by legendary musician, composer, archivist and frequent Jerry Garcia collaborator, David Grisman on mandolin and vocals. Mr. Grisman was joined by a Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass Award-winner Danny Barnes on banjo, guitar and vocals. Grisman’s son, Sam Grisman, completed the trifecta on the upright bass and vocals. 

    Dawg Trio
    David and Sam Grisman

    Grisman began the evening with light hearted humor, asking the crowd, “Does anyone own CD’s anymore?”  The band released a new album in October, appropriately titled Dawg Trio. He mentioned that they had CDs to sell, but wasn’t sure where they were.

    Dawg Trio
    Smiles were frequent at the Dawg Trio

    Grammy-nominated Robert Gurland joined the party during the set, playing one song with his “mouth trumpet.” This impressive skill requires no instruments and sounds very similar to an actual trumpet. His skill and adeptness are reminiscent of Keller Williams, who uses this technique in his solo shows. The entire band was all smiles while Gurland was on stage, and throughout the show.

    Dawg Trio
    Robert Gurland on the mouth trumpet

    Sam Grisman took the helm during “Zadeh’s Waltz” from Dawg Trio. He also filled big shoes by singing Jerry Garcia’s part in “When First Unto This Country.” Prior to the song, Grisman announced that the last time he played this song was with Jerry Garcia. Sam’s vocals were a great tribute to the late Garcia, and showed that he looks forward to a promising musical career.

    Dawg Trio
    Sam Grisman on the upright bass

    Danny Barnes showed his wild talent throughout the evening, but particularly shined during “Super Grits,” from Dawg Trio. His unconventional and wild approach was refreshing and made for deliciously detailed jams. The show wrapped up with the intricate bluegrass standard “Things In Life,” proving that mandolin juggernaut Grisman still has still “got it” after all these years.

    Dawg Trio
    Sam Grisman and Danny Barnes sing their hearts out

  • Return to Roots: Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton and Jontavious Willis take listeners back in time

    Blues music legend Willie Dixon liked to say, “Blues is the roots, the rest is the fruits,” to explain the influence of that genre on other forms of music. But as the music progresses, the roots of blues music itself are sometimes heard less often, lost in the cacophony of over-amplified electric guitarists with pedalboards the size of dinner tables. Fortunately, two young bluesmen, neither of them more than 33 years old, are preserving and promoting the roots.

    Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton and Jontavious Willis have paired together for a brief tour that found its way to the Auburn Public Theater on Sunday, November 17. Playing to an intimate, attentive audience of perhaps 60 people.

    Jontavious Willis and Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton

    Paxton opened the evening, displaying comfortable ease in switching from guitar, to banjo, to harmonica, and then fiddle throughout his set. He covered a range of jazz, ragtime, train songs, and acoustic blues. Incorporating finger-picking, flat-picking, and slide playing styles. Paxton also utilized particularly bawdy humor that was often a staple of both minstrel shows and blues songs that hark back to the ’20s and ’30s. A skilled storyteller, Paxton explained how songs came to influence him, through his family and personal experiences, or through their historical significance. His music can be found here.

    Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton

    Jontavious Willis followed with more of the same styles of roots and blues music, though many were more contemporary in origin, including original songs of his. A popular performer in Central New York, Willis has also performed in Norwich and Syracuse, and was returning to Auburn after a very well-received show just last year. Willis released his highly acclaimed recording Spectacular Class, in April of this year, produced by Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’. It is available here.

    The duo paired for an impromptu song at the back of the audience, before returning to the stage for one final song together. The setting, and smaller crowd, made for a distinct connection between the musicians and the audience, and shaped the evening into an enjoyable journey back to times, places, and songs that impacted what is heard today in blues, roots, Americana music, and more.

    Jerron Paxton and Jontavious Willis ask the audience for one more song.

    NYSMusic.com fans can hear Paxton and Willis at City Vineyard in New York City on Tuesday, November 19, tickets available here, and Thursday, November 21, at the historic Caffé Lena in Saratoga Springs, tickets available here.

    • Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton
    • Jontavious Willis

  • Squirrel Nut Zippers will Inevitably Celebrate 25 Years

    American neo-jazz band Squirrel Nut Zippers has announced that they will be going on tour in 2020 for “The Inevitable 25th Anniversary  Shows.” The entire The Inevitable album will be performed along with a series of hits and misses.

    The Squirrel Nut Zippers will also begin their third annual Holiday Caravan tour on Dec. 5 in Plattsburgh at the Strand Center Theatre.  Prior to the anniversary shows 2020 they will tour with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band making stops in New York City on March 6 at Symphony Space and Tilles PAC in Brookvale on March 7.

    Band leader Jimbo Mathus had this to say about the upcoming dates: â€œI got a call this summer from our lawyer Shorty Brown who informed me that in the original contract we signed with Mammoth Records we were contractually obligated to do a 25th anniversary tour for our debut album The Inevitable. That just goes to show you kiddos, always read the fine print.”

     Tickets for all shows are on sale now and can be purchased here.

    Holiday Caravan Tour Dates:

    Dec. 5 – Strand Center Theatre – Plattsburgh, NY                        

    Dec. 6 – Tupelo Music Hall – Derry, NH                                 

    Dec. 7 – Narrows Center – Fall River, MA     

    Dec. 8 – Musikfest Cafe – Bethlehem, PA                         

    Dec. 10 – Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis, MD                          

    Dec. 11 – The Broadberry – Richmond, VA                          

    Dec. 12 – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC                             

    Dec. 13 – The Ramkat –  Winston-Salem, NC                   

    Dec. 14 – Salvage Station – Asheville, NC                            

    Dec. 15 – City Winery – Atlanta, GA                             

    Co-Headling Dates with Dirty Dozen Brass Band:

    Jan. 25 – Weidner Center –  Green Bay, WI                          

    Jan. 26 – The Arcada Theatre – St Charles, IL                            

    Jan. 30 – PAC – Omaha, NE                              

    Jan. 31 – PAC – Manhattan, KS                              

    Feb. 1 – Kauffman Center – Kansas City, MO                      

    March 4 – Jefferson Center – Roanoke, VA                           

    March 6 – Symphony Space – New York, NY                           

    March 7 – Tilles PAC – Brookvale, NY                          

    The Inevitable 25th Anniversary Shows

    March 5 – Birchmere – Alexandria, VA                                 

    March 8 – World Cafe Live – Philadelphia, PA                       

    March 10 – Jergel’s –  Warrendale, PA                        

    March 11 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH                          

    March 12 – Magic Bag – Ferndale, MI                            

    March 13 – City Winery – Chicago, IL                             

    March 14 – Hopkins PAC – Hopkins, MN                              

    March 25 – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ                                

    March 26 – Rialto – Tucson, AZ                                

    March 27 – Music Box – San Diego, CA                          

    March 28 – Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA                       

    March 29 – Freight & Salvage – Berkeley, CA                            

    March 30 – Mystic Theatre –  Petaluma, CA                           

    April 1 – Jaqua Concert Hall – Eugene, OR                             

    April 2 – Aladdin Theater – Portland, OR                            

  • HBO’s ‘The Apollo’ Traces the Theater’s Deep Roots Feeding Harlem Community

    Not many institutions mean as much to a community as The Apollo Theater means to Harlem. In The Apollo, academy and Emmy award-winning director—Roger Ross Williams, spends nearly two hours examining not only the musical importance of the theater but, also glimpses at the symbiotic relationship between The Apollo Theater and black community of Harlem.

    The world-famous musical hall—located on West 253rd street, between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. boulevard (formerly seventh ave.), and Frederick Douglas boulevard (eighth ave.)—is synonymous with the neighborhood.

    Williams, with the help of a number of A-list celebrities, historians and activists, chronicles the history of the theater. From its beginnings as a recognizable institution, under the ownership of Frank Schiffman and Leo Brecher, to the creation of its famous “amateur night at The Apollo.” Which has seen the likes of James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Dionne Warrick, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye, among many other legendary entertainers begin their career there.

    Aside from the well-deserved homage to iconic figures that have gotten their start on Apollo’s stage, Williams explores what The Apollo really meant to the inhabitants of Harlem, post-Harlem renaissance. During the era of segregation and Jim Crow, it was one of the few theatre institutions that would allow black people to pay their hard-earned money and enjoy a show. In fact, the residents grew such a love for the theater, that during the riots that preceded the end of Jim Crow, the building was surrounded by people who refused to let any damage happen, as recalled by Schiffman.

    These are just some of the fascinating tidbits that can be learned throughout this documentary. Accompanied by great scoring of 19th century hits, The Apollo juggles traveling through time to tell the story of the hundreds of culture-shifting performers that have passed through the building, while simultaneously giving a present day viewing of its arrangements. With exclusive footage to backstage rehearsals of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me, as well as present-day “amateur night” auditions. It is a recommended informative watch that does justice to the cultural landmark.

  • Salt City Blues Concert Returns to Syracuse

    The annual Great Salt City Blues Concert makes its return to Syracuse on Friday, Dec. 27at 7:30 p.m. The event—being held at The Palace Theatre—is a yearly extravaganza that celebrates great blues artists. This year’s theme is to pay tribute to five legends of the genre, where current musicians will be honoring greats of the past. The honorees consist of, Albert Collins, Freddy King, Big Mama Thornton, Slim Harpo and Memphis Minnie.

    The participating musicians include:

    Austin John Doody, Mark Gibson, Tas Cru, Mike DeLaney, Bill Barry, Pete McMahon, Ross Moe, Jerry Neely, Mikal Serafim, Diana Jacobs, Curtis Waterman, Bob Purdy, Ron Spencer, Cathy LaManna, Dunham Hall, Jimmy Wolf, Jane Zell and Dawna Zahn.

    Advance sale general admission tickets will be sold for $25 and can be purchased at Soundgarden in Armory Square & The Palace Commons, while tickets at the door on the night of the show will be $35.

    Tickets for the Salt City Blues Concert can be purchased online through Brown Paper Tickets.

  • Hearing Aide: Jazz at Lincoln Center featuring Wynton Marsalis “Big Band Holidays II”

    The holidays are fast approaching, and if you’re not ready, a listen to Big Band Holidays II will surely get you looking forward to the final months of 2019. The sequel to the critically acclaimed 2015 release from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis features original arrangements of holiday classics, and are joined by an all-star assortment of guest vocalists, including Veronica Swift, Denzal Sinclaire, Catherine Russell, Audrey Shakir, and the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin.

    There are familiar classics (“Cool Yule,” ft. Catherine Russell) and newer songs (“Rise Up Shepherd and Follow,” “(Everybody’s Waitin For) The Man with the Bag”), all kicked off by a brassy rendition of “It’s the most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

    A solo piano rendition of “O Tannenbaum,” featuring the late, great, Aretha Franklin, has never before been released and serves as one of her final recorded performances. Her brief and passionate take on the classic was a surprise performance during the 2015 edition of Big Band Holidays.

    Big Band Holidays II

    A jazzed up “We Three Kings” featuring Denzal Sinclaire, and “What will Santa Claus Say? (When He finds Everybody Swingin’)” is fast moving with Carol Russell on energetic lead vocals. “Silver Bells” with flute and bass highlighted, and the smooth instrumental “Snowfall” nicely varying the tempo of the album.

    The upbeat “Brazilian Sleigh Bells” has a Bossa Nova beat that speeds things up, making for one of the most energetic holiday songs you’ll encounter. “Silent Night” starts out heavier and bolder than familial versions, before soothing vocals from Sinclaire and Audrey Shakir, who trade verses before joining together in the final minutes.

    Listen to the original album below, and enjoy the holidays this season with these fresh takes on classic songs.

    Key Tracks: O Tannenbaum, Brazilian Sleigh Bells, Silent Night

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6nKzMHBV8Y

  • BRIC Jazz Fest Marathon Runs Through Brooklyn

    Louis Cole created a jazz-trance dance celebration in the Ballroom, while Tia Fuller brought a more traditional jazz approach with horns to the Stoop. These are just two of the artists from the third night of the 2019 BRIC JazzFest Marathon. This year’s festival led up to a three-day music marathon, with simultaneous performances over three stages, held at the BRIC House in downtown Brooklyn.

    Antonio Sanchez and his band

    Night three featured many jazz musicians from around the globe: Kassa Overall, Louis Cole, Antonio Sanchez, Myra Melford’s Snowy Egret, Claudia Acuña, Tia Fuller, and Boyfriends, featuring Joe Russo, Ben Perowsky, Josh Kaufman and Stuart Bogie.

    Tia Fuller

    Louis Cole was a one man jazz band, playing drums and synthesizer while looping his drum and bass heavy trance beats with pedals and a laptop. He also provided outstanding vocals and had a guest saxophone sit in during the encore.

    Louis Cole

    Boyfriends is an ambient rhythm exploration with Joe Russo (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead) and Ben Perowsky (John Scofield, John Medeski) on drums and percussion, multi-instrumentalist and producer Josh Kaufman (The National, Bob Weir), and Stuart Bogie (Arcade Fire, Iron and Wine, Antibalas) on woodwinds/keyboards. Both Russo and Perowsky showed off their subtle yet incredible drum and percussion skills.

    Joe Russo

    This year’s JazzFest might be over, but BRIC puts on awesome jazz programming throughout the year at this delightful venue. Head on over to their website for details about future events.

  • The Bad Plus Activates Infinity at Hangar Theater in Ithaca

    Finishing up their second year with Orrin Evans at the piano (replacing founding member Ethan Iverson), and on the eve of the release of their second album with the new lineup, The Bad Plus made a stop at the Hangar Theater in Ithaca. Previously declaring themselves the band that will Never Stop, they were now ready to Activate Infinity.

    And why not? The music emerging from the trio, even after the change, and after almost two decades as an entity, is as potent and timeless as ever. Their healthy mix of rock, classical, pop, and yes, of course, some jazz as well, has a bit of something for anyone willing to listen. Hearing it performed live in an intimate setting with an appreciative and attentive audience, such as the case on this evening in Ithaca, is truly the ideal environment for such an endeavor.

    The stage was warmed up with an opening set from The Long Now Trio, a local Ithaca band featuring guitarist Ryan Vanderhoof (founding member of the psychedelic rock band Akron/Family), Matthew Saccuccimorano on drums and Brian Dozoretz on bass, playing only their fourth performance together. It sounded more like four years together as they went on an improvisational adventure of their own, tangling cosmic guitar sounds with flourishing drum work in a quick but exciting 30-minute set.

    The main course of The Bad Plus started innocently enough, with some soft and sparse piano. Gentle bursts of bass and brushes dancing along a bevy of cymbals soon joined the fray. The three disparate sounds slowly built in intensity, eventually climaxing in a complex three-part fit of triumphant chaos. The gentle easing into the set was a ruse, indeed the audience had just found itself caught up in an indescribably beautiful ten-minute whirlwind of sound. It was uplifting and exhilarating and worth the journey out on a Thursday night and the price of admission all on its own. It was Reid Anderson’s composition “Seams” and everything else was essentially on the house.

    But the band still had over an hour more of tricks up their sleeves. They followed with Evans’ “Commitment” which ditched the subtle shifts in dynamics, choosing instead sudden shifts and jerks in a very dramatic and theatrical piece that had a bit of Broadway flair, with thematic characters and narratives shining through in the music.

    Next was “Anthem for the Earnest,” a highly melodic energetic rocker that was go-go-go from the start and hardly let up for a breath. These three selections showcased all three members’ songwriting and the range and skills of their musicianship. It seemed they laid all the cards on the table so soon into the show, but each next piece was an adventure all its own.

    The set mostly drew from last year’s Never Stop II record but also featured a few tracks from their new release, Activate Infinity, in the second half. “The Red Door” trended on the jazzier side of things, playing like a hyped up Thelonius Monk tune. On “Undersea Reflection,” each member took the task of rhythm and melody simultaneously and separately.

    In its infancy, The Bad Plus made waves with their unusual cover choices and sprinkled them generously into shows and albums alike. But more recently, and on this night as well, it took until they were coaxed out for an encore, for a presentation of their classic cover of Aphex Twin’s “Flim” that turned into a Dave King drum workout and a the perfect cap to a wonderful night of adventurous instrumental music.

    The Bad Plus don’t sound like anything from the past. They don’t really sound like they’re from the future, or even a representation of the present. There is a timeless quality to the music that just is. Their melodies feel like they will Never Stop being relevant.

    Setlist: Seams (Anderson), Commitment (Evans), Anthem for the Earnest (King), Salvages (Anderson), Safe Passage (Anderson), 1983 Regional All-Star (King), The Red Door (Evans), Boffadem (Evans), Undersea Reflection (Anderson), Dovetail Nicely (King)
    E: Flim (Aphex Twin)

  • 10th Nublu Jazz Fest to feature Sun Ra Arkestra, J.E.D.I. and dozens more over 10 days

    This November 7 to 17, New York City’s Nublu will host their 10th annual Jazz Fest at their classic and 151 locations. Performers featured at this year’s festival include Sun Ra Arkestra, Mark de Clive-Love, Shigeto, Melanie Charles, Brian Jackson, Stuart Bogie Trio, Shira Elias’ Goods and Services, and J.E.D.I. For a full schedule and more info click here.

    10th Nublu Jazz Fest

  • Marco Benevento ‘Lets it Slide’ at Music Hall of Williamsburg

    Marco Benevento at Music Hall of Williamsburg – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Marco Benevento brought his trio to Music Hall of Williamsburg on Thursday night to showcase their new album Let It Slide. Marco has been a long time fixture in the New York music scene, and that was evident by the packed house and friends engaging with and cheering Marco on from the crowd. Earlier this month, the trio was at Cohoes Music Hall, just north of Troy, NY and the album itself was recorded in Queens.

    Music Hall of Williamsburg – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The show began with a jam packed 45 minute set from The Mattson 2 – consisting of twin brothers Jonathon and Jared Mattson. The duo’s psychedelic jazz is so energetic and dense that if you were not looking you would think there was a four-piece band on stage. Guitarist Jared Mattson loops bass lines and other melodies through a large pedal board while playing a fast-paced, jazz-rock guitar on top of it all. The chemistry between the brothers is palatable, and the banter just as comical. Even as Jared was bouncing all over the stage, the two were able to stay locked in key the whole set.

    The Mattson 2 at Music Hall of Williamsburg – Photo: Joseph Buscarello
    The Mattson 2 at Music Hall of Williamsburg – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    A hometown show is always special, and a look of pure joy could be seen on Marco and the band’s faces throughout the night. The crowd was singing and dancing along to every song of the nearly two hour set. The connection between the fans and the group was obvious. Climactic parts of songs would send bassist Karina Rykman leaping into the air with her bass and Marco took every chance he could to jump up from his piano bench.

    Karina Rykman at Music Hall of Williamsburg – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The band was electric from start to finish, even when they went on extended jams, it was always captivating. The musicianship from the trio was top-notch, so good their shows are not to be missed!

    Marco Benevento at Music Hall of Williamsburg – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The tour continues across North America through February, with a quick flyover to Japan for the Festival De Frue in early November.

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