The Smoke Jazz and Supper Club in NYC is starting a new streaming service, Smoke Screens, to deliver its jazz to audiences around the world. The world-renowned artists are streamed live using six HD cameras in audiophile sound.
The program was launched in July with Wayne Escoffery. Since then, there have been sets by Peter Bernstein, Vincent Herring, Steve Turre, and other esteemed artists. Joe Farnsworth will be on September 25, joined by Wynton Marsalis, to celebrate his new album, Time to Swing.
Smoke Screens has been considering starting a livestream for many years. However, the owner, Paul Stache, wanted to do it correctly and “reflect the quality of the artists performing.” Because Smoke Jazz and Supper Club hosts so many top artists, Stache wanted to wait until they were able to have optimum sound and lighting.
When asked about the quarantine, Stache replied, “It’s been tough for us, it’s tough for the musicians and it’s tough for New York. All the things that we love about the city are shut down, so Smoke Screens is our attempt to bring the intimacy and excitement of Smoke into people’s living rooms and find a way to bring them the music they need.”
For years, Upstate Concert Hall has been incorrectly listed on tour promotion and concert posters as being located in Albany, NY. The venue, has been located in a Clifton Park, NY strip mall since 1996, when it was named Northern Lights, and is a 20-minute drive over the Mohawk River from Albany. The geographic error makes little difference now, as the owners of Upstate Concert Hall have relocated to Albany.
Guster performing at Upstate Concert Hall, 2019. photo by E. Reid Coker
With a fresh location in the former Capital Repertory Theatre building on South Pearl Street, the venue and area are in for a major upgrade from its previous setting. Capital Rep is moving to a new location in a renovated warehouse at 251 North Pearl Street, per the Times Union.
Upstate Concert Hall is beneficial for artists passing through the Capital Region, particularly metal and hardcore artists, as well as jam bands. The new venue at the former home of Capital Repertory Theatre stands to be a positive sign for the city of Albany, especially on Pearl Street where revitalization feels to be continually on the cusp of a renaissance.
The view from inside Capital Rep, the new home of Upstate Concert Hall
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said of the move, “This is yet another example of the unprecedented investments occurring in Albany’s newest neighborhood.”
The Clifton Park location became known as a great destination for a large number of bands who could not find a location in the city of Albany to play to crowds over a capacity of 250. There were drawbacks to the venue, including a low ceiling which limited light shows and large scale production (think of OK GO! and their confetti cannons, hitting a 12 foot drop ceiling doesn’t have the same effect).
Add in average sound quality throughout the expansive venue, as well as the location within a strip mall with limited restaurants and bars within walking distance, and Upstate Concert Hall became a destination for the artist, not the venue.
The view from inside Capital Rep, the new home of Upstate Concert Hall
Speaking to the Times Union, Jeff Buell, a principal at Redburn Development said, “We are working closely with Upstate Concert Hall to reimagine what a rock room looks like mid- and post-COVID.” Redburn purchased 111 N. Pearl two years ago as part of a six-property deal with the longtime owner, the developer Herb Ellis. Redburn has finished or is converting nine downtown buildings to rental apartments as part of a project with more than 275 residential units and a price tag north of $80 million. Buildings that are open are full or near capacity, Buell said, with others due to open in the coming months already 50 to 80 percent leased.
Shira, a fairy-folk singer-songwriter from Rochester, has released the first part of her new EP Birds of a Feather on Sept. 18. The four-song EP is the first part of a two-part release with the rest of her project, called Birds of a Feather Flock Together, coming in 2021. Shira’s radiant personality provides listeners with an infectious amount of hope on her latest project.
Courtesy of One in a Million Media
Shira released the music video for the song “Wait For Me” on Sept. 18 alongside her EP. The ukulele arrangement perfectly complements her journey from the US to reunite with her fiancé in Barcelona in the video. Shira’s nervousness for her international journey is also accompanied by a sense of hope as she sings, “One more breath before I go, there’s nothing left to hide.” While the lyrics reveal a level of vulnerability her graceful singing reveals optimism towards taking a risk as she did when she embarked on her journey.
“Usually” positively embraces anyone who is going through adversity, especially fitting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her lyrics: “Don’t let fear kick in, it’s just trying to make your bright light disappear” encourages listeners to hold to hope even during times of uncertainty. Shira’s self-described “fairy folk” sound resonates through the lively orchestral arrangement on this track.
By Iraia Olivas Etxaniz
On her title track “Birds of a Feather,” Shira successfully blends her voice with the ensemble of drums, piano, and guitar as she sings about the value of strength and unity in partnership. Even through life’s adversity, Shira’s reassuring lyrics: “We’ll brave this storm, birds of a feather” emphasize the strong partnership displayed in her video when she traveled to her fiancé across the world. Shira’s violin filled arrangement on “Go Uncharted” captures the decision to take a leap of faith into the uncharted unknown. In a mission to bring healing to the world through music, Shira’s Birds of a Feather delivers a needed sense of unity to listeners.
Birds of a Feather is about finding yourself first, exploring, not being afraid to ask for what you want, struggling with the fear of never being seen, listening to your inner voice over outside noise, letting go and trusting.
Since the coronavirus pandemic, many music venues are struggling without live audiences. In an effort to keep independent venues from closing, the National Independent Venue Association, NIVA, has launched a partnership with YouTube Music to preserve live music venues across the United States.
Courtesy of NIVA
Through the #SaveOurStages initiative, NIVA and YouTube are working to adopt a plan to safely bring live music back to venues. According to NIVA, “90% of independent venues report that if the shutdown lasts six months and there’s no federal assistance, they will never reopen again.” The Save Our Stages initiative includes a letter to Congress urging that funding be given to these venues, as they not only are important for art and entertainment, but contribute greatly to their town’s and city’s economy. An overwhelming amount of people have signed this letter, and artists can still sign here.
In the meantime, YouTube is boosting NIVA’s Emergency Relief Fund, which NIVA has created to help the country’s most vulnerable venues while waiting for Congress’ response. The fund will provide short-term relief to independent venues that are currently at risk of closing due to the COVID-19 shutdown. It will aim to work closely with federal programs to keep venues open. Applications for venues will be open until September 24.
YouTube’s involvement in the project will spread awareness to a large amount of people that would not have heard about #SaveOurStages. “YouTube’s direct involvement helps us generate awareness for the plight of independent live music and raise funds for NIVA’s Emergency Relief efforts,” says Stephen Sternshein, co-founder and treasurer of NIVA. “This could literally be the difference between some venues going under or holding on until Congress comes back from recess to pass much-needed federal relief.”
“YouTube is a place where artists and fans around the world come to connect and build community. With traditional concerts on hold, never has there been a more important time to support the live music industry through our partnership with NIVA. We’re committed to doing our part in saving independent venues and continuing to bring artists and fans together through music.”
The independent concert industry will be reeling for years to come from the devastating revenue loss related to COVID-19, so we’re excited about what YouTube and NIVA can do together to bring the live experience back.
Jimkata announces new album titled Bonfires which is anticipated to be released in Spring of 2021. The new album announcement comes on the coattails of the band dropping multiple singles this summer after their indefinite hiatus back in 2017. Bonfires is Jimkata’s first studio album since 2016’s In Motion.
Jimkata. Photo provided by press release.
The new album will include 10 tracks according to their press release. The album will be released as a series of singles every month with an accompanying visuals and merch line for each song. Jimkaka hopes the album Bonfires highlight themes of uncertainty, being in limbo, and looking for an anchor of hope in these trying times.
Three singles have been released so far off the anticipated album. The three singles, “Wanna Go,” “Wait for You,” and the title-track “Bonfires” already nod to the themes Jimkata is trying to capture within the album. “Wanna Go” focuses on perception versus reality particularly in the times of social media. “Wait for You” touches on the feelings of being dejected and the unknown of what the future holds. “Bonfires” is all about the vulnerability people feel when they are facing uncertain times and the reflexive tendency to seek out the comfort of nostalgia that happens as a result.
Jimkata is a three-piece anthemic, synth-washed, electro-rock band based out of both Ithaca and Los Angeles. They had grown a large grassroots following before taking a two and a half year hiatus. They have released six studio albums all with their signature swirling synths, infectious pop hooks and candid lyrics.
For more information on Bonfires and Jimkata, and to pre-order limited edition vinyl of the new album and other merchandise, visit Jimkata’s website and stay tuned for updates. Enjoy Jimkata from their final perfomance in Albany in May of 2016 below.
First reported by the New York Times on Wednesday, the Metropolitan Opera announced that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced them to cancel their entire 2020-2021 season. They will reopen September 2021, at the earliest.
This decision will likely affect organizations across New York State, but around the country as well. Many arts organizations are attempting to slowly reopen in accordance with social distancing guidelines, but this decision may put an end to that.
The pandemic closed the Met in mid-March, costing the Met $150 million in revenue and leaving about 1000 employees, including its orchestra and chorus, furloughed without pay for almost six months now.
Peter Gelb, the general manager for the Met, has announced an ambitious 2021-22 lineup to reassure its donors and patrons that they will remain strong. In addition, Gelb said he will ask the company’s unions to agree to cost-cutting concessions that will be necessary post-pandemic.
The Met plans to open with Terence Blanchard’s “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” the first opera that they will perform by a Black composer. This is in part due to the rise in racial awareness that is occurring around the country, but also an effort of the Met to find more of a balance between contemporary works and the staples that made them famous in the first place.
Two lives at the Metropolitan Opera have already been lost to the virus: Vincent J. Lionti, a violist, and Joel Revzen, an assistant director. The scheduled star of Puccini’s Turandot next season, Anna Netrebko, announced that she had been hospitalized due to the virus.
Having already sold $20 million in revenue for 2021-22, the concern now is less about the Met Opera, and more about the other organizations that may look at the Met and their cancellation as a precedent.
As part of its SPAC Reimagined Series, Saratoga Performing Arts Center is hosting a free, audio-immersive event, the Ellen Reid Soundwalk, allowing people to walk and listen to music as they wander around the area.
The GPS-enabled installation opened on September 21 and runs until November 1 which leaves a month to visit the hiking trails, geysers, and the natural springs of the Saratoga State Park. The audio experience is tailor-made and meant to illuminate the natural environment. The event requires hikers to download the free application and grab some headphones before going on the route.
The Soundwalk was crafted and created by Pulitzer prize-winning composer Ellen Reid. Her Soundwalk features a newly written score, performed by the SOUNDWALK Ensemble. Ellen Reid understood the anxiety around current events and explained the helpful purpose of the Soundwalk.
We’re all experiencing the anxieties of living in an uncertain world. We miss our communities, and we miss the very thing that makes our cities special: the people.
Ellen Reid
Reid’s Soundwalk was co-commissioned by Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the New York Philharmonic, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Mann Center for the Performing Arts in association with The Fairmount Park Conservancy, and Britt Festival Orchestra.
Movement around the park triggers the soundscape and the musical cells were carefully crafted to harmonize with the park’s landscape and attractions. The person walking will get to choose their path, which dictates the music the listener will hear. Participants can also dictate the music, ensuring that each experience will not be the same when roaming the State Park.
As a bonus, special musical “easter eggs” have been hidden around the park for people to navigate and discover. The Soundwalk is open until November 1, which leaves many opportunities for people to have a customizable, immersive, musical experience.
On your way to SPAC, don’t forget that Stewart’s Shops is your ice cream shop! With over 345 shops in 31 counties across New York and southern Vermont, the convenience store chain is known for their fresh &local dairy products. With dozens of choices at the cone counter, you’re bound to find something you love! Try a shake, sundae, or cone today, What’s Your Flavor?
Apple butter toast is nice, but how about apples and Biscuits this Halloween? Lafayette Apple Festival Grounds, in conjunction with Creative Concerts, are bringing the Disco Biscuits to Syracuse for a 3-night Drive-In run over Halloween weekend, October 29-31.
The Disco Biscuits 3-Night Halloween run will offer fans the opportunity to safely enjoy live music while following social distancing guidelines. A car pass provides a designated space for a standard passenger vehicle and entry for a maximum of four people per vehicle.
Concertgoers will be able to enjoy the full Disco Biscuits concert production within their designated space for the duration of the event. Fans may bring their own prepared food and beverages to enjoy during the show.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 25 at 10AM ET. For more information visit CCTix.com.
The LaFayette area of New York produces a great deal of apples amid a rural atmosphere, rolling hills, and beautiful fall foliage. Lafayette Apple Festival is one of the Northeast’s premier arts and crafts shows, and is within walking distance of the site where the Cardiff Giant was discovered in 1869.
The Disco Biscuits played a very memorable Halloween in Syracuse in 2015 at Crouse-Hinds Theatre when they put the disco in Disco Biscuits. The show featured the Philly Stray Horns in the second set, along with vocalist Alita Moses who sang on covers of “Get Down On It,” “Funky Town,” “You Should be Dancing,” “Born to be Alive” and “Give it to me Baby.” Listen to the full show here and watch the first set below.
Brooklyn nine-piece funk lords Turkuaz explore the space between beauty and poison with their new single “Ophidiophobia,” featuring Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew of the Talking Heads. They’ll debut the tune live this weekend during VIRTUAL ROO-ALITY, Bonnaroo’s Virtual music event.
Within this age of social distancing, Harrison and Belew added in their parts remotely, and the collaboration between Turkuaz, Harrison and Belew will appear on VIRTUAL ROO-ALITY as Remain in Light, an ensemble that was slated to tour the festival circuit throughout the 2020 summer.
We had always planned on doing a little bit of Turkuaz material in the upcoming ‘Remain in Light’ tour with Adrian Belew and Jerry Harrison. Once the pandemic hit and the tour was postponed, I started to think this would be a really nice track to have those guys on.
Dave Brandwein
Pronounced oh•fid•e•oh•fo•bia, what began as an instrumental groove originally titled “Dr. Jones” with a sinister, dark tinge turned into an Indiana Jones-inspired track, as recalled by Turkuaz bari-saxophonist and vocalist, Josh Schwartz. Another working title that Dave added was “Akar Saga,” but upon looking up the phrase and discovering it was a beautiful, tropical vine, Schwartz knew he was onto something special.
“A poisonous but beautiful tropical vine with red and black features reminded me of snakes, of which Indiana Jones is famously afraid, so I realized I could combine imagery and words from both placeholder titles to write a song involving snakes. When I found out that the fear of snakes is a word as beautiful and strange as ophidiophobia, I knew this song had to be written.
This was yet another great collaboration experience with Josh building on a groove/bassline that Taylor [Shell] brought in to some writing sessions we had here at my studio. I think most of us took a small amount of these mushroom capsules I had. Turns out they weren’t so ‘micro’ and some of us had a bit more of an experience than we’d planned for. But we carried on and tried to let the grooves take over! Once Taylor started on this bassline I think we may have just jammed on it for about 40 minutes straight.
Dave Brandwein
Tune into Virtual ROO-ALITY this weekend to catch “Ophidophobia” performed live.
The ‘Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something’ documentary following the life of the legendary songwriter Harry Chapin has been announced for October 16, 2020. The film will premiere in theaters across the United States as well as on a virtual cinema platform.
The documentary is a Greenwich Entertainment film and is being directed by Rick Korn. The film was produced by Korn, S.A. Baron, and Chapin’s son, Jason Chapin. It follows the GRAMMY-nominated folk singer starting in his childhood which he spent under the shadow of his father Jim Chapin who was known for his jazz drumming and as an author of books about jazz drumming. It then moves on through his unfortunately short life and highlights all the ups and downs he experienced throughout his life.
Harry Chapin tragically died on July 16, 1981 in a car crash on interstate 495 in New York. Some of his most well known work includes “The Cat’s in the Cradle”, “Taxi,” and “A Better Place to Be.” The film focuses on his humanitarian efforts as well which is why the film is being released on World Food Day which fits perfectly as Jim Chapin was the co-founded of the influential hunger non-profit WhyHunger. A portion of the proceeds from the film will go to both WhyHunger and The Harry Chapin Foundation.
The documentary uses archival footage and new interviews to give the viewer a glimpse into Harry Chapin’s life. It focuses on how the singer-songwriter used his fame as a launching point to help others and influence politics. It features testimonials from Chapin’s family (including Tom Chapin and Steve Chapin), as well as peers including Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Kenny Rogers, Robert Lamm (Chicago), Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Pat Benatar, Bob Geldof, Ken Kragen, longtime bassist John Wallace, and WhyHunger co-founder Bill Ayres.
Harry Chapin sold over 16 million records during his short but unforgettable life. He also had 14 hit singles and two GRAMMY nominations. In 1977 he was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger. In 1986, he was posthumously awarded the GRAMMY President’s Merit Award. He was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 2011.
For more information on the documentary read the full press release here.
