NYS Music 202​0

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  • Blue Note Jazz Club and Restaurant Opens For Dinner and a Show

    The popular Blue Note Jazz Club and Restaurant is finally re-opening their doors to jazz lovers and music enthusiasts alike, with a set capacity limit of 25 percent.

    Blue Note
    Promotion for Blue Note’s first night of re-opening.

    I am very happy to announce that the Blue Note will reopen for dining this holiday season. The safety of our guests is our highest priority and our staff is working around the clock to ensure our guests have a comfortable dining experience.

    Steven Bensusan, President of Blue Note Entertainent Group

    Blue Note originally had to close because of the Covid-19 shutdown. Although they kept active by streaming live shows online, there’s nothing like an in-person jazz experience.

    Starting Nov. 27, the club will provide dinner services for selected evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., along with brunch on selected weekends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dining packages will also be available to guests who want to experience the “magic of the holidays,” at Blue Note. The diners will be able to experience a list of respectable musicians while eating their meals.

    The Greenwich Village club has been around for almost four decades. Opening in 1981, Blue Note became a center for culture and music in New York City. They are known as one of the premier jazz clubs in the world, where they strive to preserve the history of jazz. In the past, they featured renowned artists like, Chick Corea, Joe Lovano, John Scofield, and Chris Botti. The club also frequently promotes up-and-coming jazz, hip-hop, R&B and soul musicians.

    Dining packages start at $45 per person, while livestream access is $10. Regardless of whether you would like to enjoy a meal in the presence of a jazz show or do the same thing from home, all the information and payments can be made at Blue Note’s website.

    Incidental Music Calendar: 

    Maurice “Mobetta” Brown Residency – Nov 24, Dec 4, Dec 11, Dec 18

    Eddie Palmieri Residency – Nov 28, Dec 5, Dec 12, Dec 19, Dec 26

    Brunch: Decade of Soul – Nov 29, Dec 27

    Brunch: Nobuki Takamen Trio – Dec 6

    Bill Charlap Trio Residency – Dec 9, Dec 16

    Theo Croker ‘Star People Nation’ – Dec 10

    Black Art Jazz Collective – Dec 13

    Brunch: Lauren Henderson – Dec 13

    Keyon Harrold – Dec 17

    Brunch: New York Swing with Svetlana – Dec 20

    Marcus Strickland – Dec 23, Dec 24

  • Carnival Crash: A Legacy of NYC Post-Punk found within ‘It Is A Happy Man’

    New York City was much different in the early 1980s then it is today, and without Carnival Crash. The city had a dangerous seediness that was fueled by a Reagan era recession and a deadly arms race that was being perpetrated between the Super Powers of East and West. Everyday could be your last, and the young people of that time questioned everything and trusted no one. They banded together with a “can’t take it with you” attitude that challanged all of the prevailing norms of Reagan’s 80’s America. This cacophony of chaos was the genesis of the post-punk movement, which created some of the most iconic music in history in dank & dirty NYC punk clubs like CBGB and the famed 82 Club.

    Carnival Crash-photo - high res crop 2.jpg

    Bands like the Talking Heads and Television transcended from the punk scene to legendary heights, but for every success there were a multitude of brilliant but brief post punk outfits that never made it out of the NYC scene. This unfortunately was the case for Carnival Crash, a three piece dynamo that lasted just about two years, but luckily for the listener, this obscure trio left us a glorious time capsule. Their legacy of recordings, compiled on It Is A Happy Man (Obelisk Records), stands the test of time. This seven track gem of an EP is the reissue of two different recording sessions that Carnival Crash engaged in back in 1981 and 1982, before they ultimately disbanded later that year.

    The now defunk trio was comprised of Norman Westberg (guitar), Ivan Nahem (vocals/drums), and John Griffin (bass/vocals). Although the lifespan of Carnival Crash was short, the members left their mark with tracks like “Tell Tale Heart.” Nahem’s vocals and Griffin’s bass paint the picture of a smoke filled club with sticky floors and plenty of patrons adorned in black leather “slamming” to the hypnotic beat. The band showcases Westburg’s club seasoned guitar stylings, as well the band’s affinity for the classic monster genre with just a dash of twisted humor with numbers like “Frakenstein” and “Edge Of Night.” Both songs could easily be used today on any maccabe low budget horror flick soundtrack.

    Carnival Crash brings out their inner Bauhaus with Griffin’s haunting vocals and Nahem’s spot-on percussion work for the album’s fifth and sixth tracks “Nostalgia” and “Method 1.” The recording fidelity on these tracks could be described as poor compared to today’s digitally sanitized world, but these numbers were recorded on a TEAC 4-track recorder way back in 1981. The roughness and grittiness of these recording works in complete synergy to the Carnival Crash’s artistic aesthetic. There are no fancy modern Pro Tools production gimmicks like auto tune on this EP. The band just provides a boat load of reverb with healthy dose of post punk angst and pure artistic expression.

    Although their tenure as a band was brief, the members of Carnival Crash continued to create powerful and provocative art throughout the years and are still at it even today. Norman Westberg went on to join Michael Gira as the guitarist for NYC experimental rock band Swans, which would eventually disband in 1997. Westburg still creates music performing and recording as a solo act. Ivan and his brother Andrew formed Ritual Tension with Michael Shockley and Marc Sloan which has recently re-formed after their dissolution in the early 1990’s. They are currently touring and have recorded a new album It’s Just The Apocalypse, It’s Not The End, will be released this Fall on Arguably Records. John Griffin is still producing work as a painter and musician . His latest musical project is called  the griffin morrissey catastrophe.

    It Is A Happy Man by Carnival Crash will be released by Obelisk Records later this month. The record will be pressed on a limited run of 150 copies on chartreuse vinyl as well as being available in a digital format.

    Key Tracks: Tell Tale Heart, Fool, Frankenstein

  • Flushing Town Hall Jazz Programming Swings into December

    Flushing Town Hall announced a jazz lineup which started back on November 11 and will run through December 20. The program currently includes five different performances throughout both months. A sixth event will ‘spill over the bar-line’ into 2021. The first two programs have come and gone, but the jazzy fun is far from over. 

    The Town Hall is a Smithsonian affiliate and is located in Queens in New York City that presents multi-disciplinary global arts to engage and educate global communities. They are a member of the New York City’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG). They have restored and managed the historic 1862 landmark on behalf of the City of New York. Specifically they try to embrace the history of Queens as the home of jazz, by presenting the finest in jazz performance. Although the historic venue’s doors have been temporarily closed due to COVID-19, Flushing Town Hall continues to pursue its mission of bringing people together by providing global arts for a global community through its online series, FTH at Home! Which will be presenting the November and December programming. 

    Town Hall. Picture from Wikimedia Commons.

    Upcoming:

    On Thursday, November 19, 7:30 p.m. EDT Flushing Town Hall will present “Lioness: Women in Jazz Concert Series Featuring Lauren Sevian’s LSQ” The series featured Lauren Sevian’s LSQ with Lauren Sevian (baritone saxophone), Helen Sung (piano), Christian McBride (bass) and E.J. Strickland (drums). Tune in to YouTube for a free pre-recorded streaming performance, taped just for this event, followed by a LIVE Q&A with the musicians. 

    On Wednesday, December 9 at 7 p.m. EDT the Virtual Jazz Jam “Holiday Party” will be taking the stage. This is the Flushing Town Hall’s free Virtual Jazz Jam: Celebrating the Legacy of Louis Armstrong. Open to amateur and professional musicians, including high school students, jammers are invited to perform their favorite holiday song, and recall any memory around their tune. Participants can also show-off their family’s traditional holiday treats and drinks, and toast the season.

    The programming will wrap up on Sunday, December 20 at 5:30 PM EDT with “New Music Horizons – Collaborative Artists in Concert.” This will be part 2 of the Bruce Arnold & The Mark Wade Trio New Music Horizons Part II presents two more dynamic jazz composers Bruce Arnold and Mark Wade. Bruce Arnold will present a set of solo acoustic guitar featuring his style of lyrical melodies and raw dissonances. The Mark Wade Trio will follow with their brand of group interplay and expressive improvisation that has brought them an international following.

    To participate, musicians should email education@flushingtownhall.org and identify a three- to four-minute tune they intend to play (live or pre-recorded). Only 15 musicians will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone is invited to tune in to the LIVE VIRTUAL jam and listen on Facebook or Zoom.   

    The Lioness: Women in Jazz Concert Series Featuring the Lioness Ensemble was scheduled for Sunday, December 13 at 2:30 p.m. EDT but has been postponed until 2021. This women in Jazz Concert Series will feature the  Lioness Ensemble with Alexa Tarantino (alto saxophone), Jenny Hill (tenor saxophone, flute), Lauren Sevian (baritone saxophone), Amanda Monaco (guitar), Akiko Tsuruga (organ) and Sylvia Cuenca (drums). Tune in to YouTube for a free pre-recorded streaming performance, taped just for this event, followed by a LIVE Q&A with the musicians.

    Catch Up on Past Events:

    On November 11, the Jazz Jam celebrated “November Gratitude.” This event celebrated the Legacy of Louis Armstrong invited musicians and jazz aficionados to participate or simply listen during its monthly jam session. In November, musicians will choose songs that fit into the theme “November Gratitude.”

    The “New Music Horizons – Collaborative Artists in Concert” took place on Saturday, November 14, 7:00 p.m. EDT. It featured part-I of the David Shenton & The Mark Wade Trio who are two dynamic jazz composers.  David Shenton is a classical composer and Mark Wade is a jazz composer. 

    To attend the programming or get more information on it visit Flushing Town Hall’s website.

  • Joe Walsh Announces VetsAid 2020 with Bon Jovi, Willie Nelson and More

    Joe Walsh announced the initial lineup for the fourth annual fundraiser VetsAid, on Veteran’s Day. Branded “VetsAid 2020: Home for the Holidays,” the event is scheduled to stream online on December 12.

    VetsAid

    Joining the multi-Grammy winning Eagles guitarist online for the event will be Eddie Vedder, Jon Bon Jovi, Daryl Hall, James Hetfield, Alice Cooper, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Blake Shelton, Steven Van Zandt, Brandon Flowers, Gwen Stefani, and many more.

    However, additional artists are to be announced soon. The charitable event will also feature previously unreleased footage from past VetsAid events.

    Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 18 at 12 p.m. EST on their website. Base pricing starts at $20, with discounts available for active duty military and veterans. Proceeds from the event go directly to selected veterans’ services charities. All selected charities have been screened beforehand by the non profit organization with assistance from the Combined Arms Institute.

    Typically the star- studded fundraiser occurs around the Veteran’s Day holiday. Consequently though, back in August, a decision was made to make the 2020 edition different.

    Joe Walsh said of the virtual event:

    For the past three years we’ve held this glorious traveling circus in cities across the country with a day-long rock and roll festival and jobs fair to support our veterans and their families. Typically, we fill up an arena, play for five hours, and raise a bunch of money — nearly $1.5 million to date — to help our veterans get the care and support they deserve. But because of COVID this year, we’re going virtual as so many things are.

    VetsAid launched on September 20, 2017 at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA according to the press release. VetsAid typically seeks to host the events in cities across the country with large veteran populations. Past performers include musicians James Taylor, Chris Stapleton, Don Henley, ZZ Top, Sheryl Crow, The Doobie Brothers, Zac Brown Band, Jason Isbell, Keith Urban, Haim, Gary Clark Jr. and Joe’s brother-in-law Ringo.

    For more information, please visit VetsAid Website.

  • moe. to Premiere ‘Not Normal’ from Palace Theatre on November 19

    Before moe. hit the Drive-In circuit this fall, they made a stop to the familiar confines of the Palace Theatre in Albany for a performance that was far from normal. Setting up in the lobby of the Palace, the band performed and recorded a ‘playthrough’ of their new album Not Normal, premiering Thursday, November 19 at 8:30pm on moe.’s YouTube Channel.

    moe not normal
    photo by Frankie Cavone

    Not Normal is the second album to be released by moe. in 2020. The first This is Not, We Are, was shared with fans through weekly videos in May and June. There are no details yet on the five-track studio release, adding a shroud of mystery to the evening’s performance.

    moe not normal
    photo by Frankie Cavone

    On Friday, November 20, Not Normal will be released digitally, and This is Not, We Are will have its long-awaited physical release.

    Pre-order physical copies of Not Normal & enter to win a signed test pressing here.

    Read mo(r)e. on NYS Music

    This is Not, We Are: The latest track, “Dangerous Game,” written by Al Schnier, gives us two takes – one from the studio spliced with a live version from the song’s debut at the State Theatre in Portland, ME on February 16, 2019. Schnier explains about the song:

    “This song came from me watching and reading a little bit too much news these days. I don’t want to say that this song is political in nature; it’s more about the personalities of the people in power and maybe the cult of personality and those things we all contend with. I don’t want it to come across as some leftist, liberal rant against the current people in power. It’s more a song about my personal concerns about anyone who would be in a position of power.”

  • Shubh Saran Becoming a Musical Medium of Genres

    Brooklyn based musical fusion, Shubh Saran, is Becoming a musical world map for genres. In a cell-phone driven society, you would open your GPS to navigate outward. Saran, 29, becomes a medium, channeling a multitude of genres inward and back out through his compositions. The Indian native fuses traditional music, with punk, blues, rock and his head-on studies in Jazz.

    The Delhi high school student made Berklee dream come true, honed his passion amongst a “best-of-the-best” melting pot at the college. He has resided in multiple countries, grabbing musical influence at every turn, and it shows. Now calling New York home, Saran’s latest creation, Becoming, is a must explore.

    The title track and lead single off the album was originally released Nov. 12, 2019.

    The 5-track EP is an navigation to new color palettes that will re-texture the ears of the most seasoned listener. The goal is not a means to an end; It is an exposition of clashing sounds that provoke a journey of unforeseen turns.

    Take The title track “Becoming” as example. Saran cresendos into a collapsing overture, filled with dual-drum-sets, arching strings and key pads. Everything peaks at once until Saran reels you back in with his ethereal guitar passage. It draws you into the basement of Berklee’s practice rooms and jam-sessions; the moment where you are sucked in reverse to the doorway, as an unknown musical fusion burst from its seams.

    Pairs of drums, Saxophones and strings create a flam-like density. An illusion of the same track being overlapped in slight delay should sound abrasive yet this creates an ever-expanding feeling. The 5:09 track feels like one deep inhale. Its healing breath ends abruptly.

    ‘Becoming’ definitely wasn’t written as the single off the album, nor was the EP supposed to be named after the song, or vice versa. As I started writing it, though, I began to realize that this is the anthemic song that really sums up the whole message of the EP.” 

    Shubh Saran
    Shubh Saran Becoming – Released February 10, 2020

    Saran’s musical quests become physical as he travels across the globe with his work. Strength, musical and cultural growth bloom in the cyclical nature of Suran’s playing. Most recently he took this EP on tour to with performances and workshops across New Delhi, Goa, Gurgaon and Mumbai. “I compose in a modern jazz sort of idiom, but I decided to revisit the music I grew up with as a teenager… it was Blink-182, punk rock, Green Day, the kind of music you don”t associate with ”serious music”,” Saran told Outlook India. Saran is giving back, filling the music void he had as a high school student. He excites the musical realm and young artists alike.

    “I’ve always liked artists who have long music careers, where their first album is really different from their last album, and you can see the evolution and influences over time. I’m just celebrating that by being who I am as a musician.”

    Track Listing:
    1. Becoming
    2. Storm
    3. Safe
    4. Comfort (feat. Hannah Sumner and JAE SOTO)
    5. Dust

  • Twiddle Announces Two-Night Virtual Frendsgiving Stream – Live from The Capitol

    Update: Twiddle’s Frendsgiving performance will now take place in Vermont this weekend. As reported by Relix, due to an abundance of caution for COVID-19, Twiddle have decided to switch locations for their annual Frendsgiving shows.

    The crowdless livestreams performances were set to take place on Nov. 27 and 28 at Port Chester, N.Y.’s Capitol Theatre. They will now take place at an undisclosed location in Twiddle’s home state of Vermont. The shows will still be broadcast on FANS.

    Twiddle Frendsgiving

    Original article follows below:

    Every soul looking forward to Twiddle‘s annual Frendsgiving, which found a home at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester since 2017, bringing fans together for a celebration as the holiday season kicks off. Twiddle will continue the tradition over November 27 and 28, streaming a live performance from The Cap.

    Pre-sale discounted passes and limited edition screenprint bundles are on sale now, with a general on-sale beginning Wednesday, November 18, at 10a.m. ET.

    In the true Twiddle spirit of loving relentlessly, the band plans to donate a portion of each Frendsgiving ticket sale to the White Light Foundation in support of forthcoming winter initiatives. Fans also have an opportunity to win one of seventy-five Paul Kreizenbeck Screen Prints, seen below.

    Twiddle Frendsgiving

    To win one of these prints, go to Twiddle’s Frendsgiving Facebook Post, tag three “frends,” and share your favorite memory of Twiddle at The Cap – extra points for photos, sharing, and making people happy – three winners will be chosen at Noon on Thanksgiving Day!

    Order stream passes (pre-sale code: FRENDS). For more information, visit TwiddleMusic.com

  • Wave Farm to Host Ragas Live Festival on November 21-22

    Ragas Live Festival will broadcast on November 21-22, hosted by the Brooklyn nonprofit organization Wave Farm. The virtual festival will run for 24 hours straight – from 7 p.m. on Saturday until 7 p.m. Sunday. The 24-hour broadcast will feature over 60 musicians’ global performances.

    Ragas Live Festival

    The Indian classical music tradition known as “raga” was the inspiration for the festival. A “raga” is a musical mode with its own emotions, associated with a specific time of day. The music from the raga harmonizes with changes in light and the emotions associated with a sunset, high noon, or midnight. The musical tradition helped to cultivate the concept for the festival to beam out 24 hours of “raga” to reflect the innovations within the music industry. Ragas Live Festival is in its consecutive ninth year since its start back in 2012. With the music industry having to readjust around COVID-19, Ragas Live Festival was able to transition into a first-ever broadcast for this year’s celebration.

    The Ragas Live Festival will feature performances from all around the world and fellow New York artists including; Andy Statman (Manhattan), Krishna Mohan Bhatt (Brooklyn), Arun Ramamurthy (Manhattan), Roopa Mahadevan (Brooklyn), Ask Hafiz (Manhattan), Samarth Nagarkar (Brooklyn), and more.

    International performers include Terry Riley (Himitsu, Japan), Betsayda Machado y Parranda El Clavo (El Clavo, Venezuela), Derek Gripper (Capetown, South Africa), and more. Pioneer Works, Brooklyn Raga Massive, NYC Radio Live, and the Rubin Museum of Art are all partners in presenting the event.

    Wave Farm will continue to provide support to artists with their Wave Farm Artist Residency Program coming up in February. Artists have the chance to gain valuable radio experience by applying with a specific radio art project. The deadline for the Residency applications is February 1.

    Click here to register for The Ragas Live Festival event.

  • Ticketmaster Proposes Option For Venues to Check Attendees’ COVID-19 Status

    Ticketmaster has proposed a plan that would give venues and event organizers the ability to ask fans for COVID-19 vaccine status or test results before attending live events in 2021 on November 11, 2020. The Ticketmaster COVID-19 testing verification process would include three separate components making it a finicky hypothetical process. 

    Like all other safety/entry protocols, this potential screening process would be up to the discretion of the event organizer to determine if they would like to ask attendees to provide a test result or vaccine status. It will not be Ticketmaster’s requirement but the event organizer or venue’s requirement. This screening process for COVID-19 safety measures will be up to each event organizer. They will decide the future requirements, based on their preferences and local health guidelines. The proposed three part verification process would use the Ticketmaster digital ticket app, a third party health information companies like CLEAR Health Pass or IBM’s Digital Health Pass, and testing and vaccine distribution providers like Labcorp and the CVS Minute Clinic.

    The first part of this verification process all starts with a fast acting accurate testing and eventually vaccination against the virus. The pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced results on a new COVID-19 vaccine showed a 90% efficacy rate on an initial clinical trial on November 9, 2020. The hope is with these accurate and timely tests the live entertainment industry could mount a return in 2021. Once a vaccination becomes available, and after purchasing a ticket for an event, the attendee would need to verify that, “they have already been vaccinated (which would provide approximately one year of COVID-19 protection) or test negative for coronavirus approximately 24 to 72 hours prior to the show. The length of coverage a test would provide would be governed by regional health authorities — if attendees of a Friday night concert had to be tested 48 hours in advance, most could start the testing process the day before the event. If it was a 24-hour window,  most people would likely be tested the same day of the event at a lab or a health clinic,” according to Billboard’s article on the hypothetical testing process. 

    The next step in this verification process would be the attendee delivering their test to a secure and approved lab like CLEAR Health Pass or IBM’s Digital Health Pass. Once they were found to have no traces of the virus or have an up to date vaccination the lab would have to get those test results to Ticketmaster and that’s where things get a little tricky. Generally people’s medical finals are confidential and aren’t sent out to a giant mega corporation, so that’s when the last part of this verification process would come in. 

    A third party would be needed to act as the in between with the attendees and Ticketmaster to ensure Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are being properly followed. Companies like Labcorp and the CVS Minute Clinic already exist for this exact purpose. These companies main role is to collect data from testing of all kinds and information from medical providers and deliver status updates to partner companies like Ticketmaster in this instance. Having these companies act as the in between creates a secure and encrypted way to deliver medical information in a way that complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

    The idea of a safe way to attend live events is very enticing but this proposed way of doing it leaves a lot of questions.

    • How and when will attendees be made aware if the show they are interested in is requiring testing?
    • Who will be in charge of paying for the testing?
    • What happens if there is a breach in the system, people’s medical information gets leaked?
    • What if someone’s religious practices prevent them from being vaccinated or tested?
    • What if the lab makes a mistake or doesn’t get the results back in time. Will the ticket be refunded?
    • How will this work with minors wanting to attend events?
    For more information on the the Ticketmaster COVID-19 testing verification process read the full Billboard article here.

    Updated with current Ticketmaster information on the potential COVID-19 testing verification process on November 16, 2020.

  • Pete Rock Releases ‘Rejoice’ from Forthcoming PeteStrumentals 3 Album

    Pioneering hip hop producer, Pete Rock, is set to release the third installment of his PeteStrumentals series of beat albums. The Bronx native released the inaugural project in 2001, beginning a trend of beat albums for producers looking to share their un-versed work. 

    The second edition was released in 2015, with the latest version set to feature his live ensemble, The Soul Brothers. 

    With the album set to arrive on December 11 through his Tru Souls imprint, the legendary producer released the album’s first single and video “Say it Again” last week. Now he has decided to share the project’s second single, “Rejoice.” Amidst a strong Jazz and Funk influence, the record features looping guitar and drum set, with a strong 70’s feel. Running just over two-minutes, it resembles something of an Isaac Hayes composition, standing as the perfect cross between laid-back and up-tempo, action packed music. 

    In an interview with OkayPlayer, the fabled producer went into more depth on the song’s creation. “I created ‘Rejoice’ in my basement as just a simple idea of a beat I made in my head. I listened to some jazz that day and heard something interesting and remembered it and just gave the band a direction reference; and they took it from there.” 

    Pete Rock

    Known for some of the most iconic production in rap history, the Grammy-winner has taken a different approach to this upcoming album, this time assembling a full-on band. The outfit includes, two-time Grammy-winning drummer Daru Jones, later on recruiting guitarist Marcus Machado, bassists Mono Neon and Christopher McBride, keyboardist BigYuki (A Tribe Called Quest), and vocalist Jermaine Holmes (D’Angelo). “I want the best; I’m like James Brown and Kool & The Gang; I want precision,” Pete Rock alerts.