NYS Music 202​1

Author: Maddie McCafferty

  • American Classical Orchestra Offers Free Digital Events this Summer

    New York City’s foremost period instrument orchestra, American Classical Orchestra (ACO), has provided various events for this Summer. Starting on May 6 through July, ACO is offering a range of free digital activities.

    In 1984, Artistic Director Thomas Crawford founded the American Classical Orchestra. Crawford is known for his historically accurate performance styles, as well as his numerous accolades. As NYC’s only full-scale orchestra, ACO dedicates performances to 17th, 18th, and 19th-century music on period instruments. The group consists of high-performing artists across an array of well-established ensembles.

    Throughout May, the Orchestra is presenting a lively new podcast series: TACOTalk. This podcast explores in-depth conversations among the Orchestra’s musicians, special guests, and honorary host Thomas Crawford. In addition to the provided insight about ACO, the members will also examine the period-instrument movement in the U.S. Each episode seeks to analyze the existing duality that classical musicians face with historical performance and contemporary culture. Produced by Mark Zaki, the 12 episodes of TACOTalk are available now, and more are coming soon.

    American Classical Orchestra

    ACO’s Video Series

    Beginning in June, ACO will present Beethoven Sonatas Video Releases. Due to the pandemic, the Orchestra had to cancel their planned recitals featuring Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas. ACO’s Sfzp Project originally scheduled these performances to be a part of their program. The Sfzp Project is a three-year cycle of programs and events intended to advance fortepiano performance in NYC and beyond. The events will resume in Fall 2022, but the Orchestra has something else in store until then.

    AOC has decided to film the performance of seven of those sonatas. Worldwide leading keyboard artists will conduct the performances on original and replica fortepianos. Two of these instruments are from the Metropolitan Museum’s collection. The films will release weekly on Thursday at 11 a.m. from June 3 to July 15. All of which can be streamed on ACO’s website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.

    June 3 – Eric Zivian, pianoforte; Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-flat Major, Op. 26 ‘Funeral March’

    June 10 – Shuann Chai, pianoforte; Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’

    June 17 – Dongsok Shin, fortepiano; Beethoven: Early Piano Sonata to be confirmed

    June 24 – Jiayan Sun, fortepiano; Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21, in C Major, Op. 53 ‘Waldstein’

    July 1 – Petra Somlai, fortepiano; Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2 ‘quasi una fantasia’ ‘Moonlight’

    July 8 – Shuann Chai, fortepiano; Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79 ‘Cuckoo’

    July 15 – Dongsok Shin, fortepiano; Beethoven: Late Piano Sonata to be confirmed

  • SunSquabi and Too Many Zooz plan shows in Buffalo and Bouckville

    SunSquabi and Too Many Zooz will team up for a pair of shows as they head across the Empire State, stopping in Buffalo and Bouckville, NY.

    The high energy groups will be performing at the Buffalo Outer Harbor Drive-In on June 11, with special guests Witty Tarbox making an appearance across the scenic backdrop of Lake Erie. The pair will also be performing in Bouckville, NY, at The Yard Amphitheatre on June 12.

    SunSquabi

    SunSquabi has gained national attention with their mixing of various genres in addition to their unique production style. The three-piece group provides an electronic funk experience. The band is composed of Kevin Donohue, Josh Fairman, and Chris Anderson. Their rhythm-driven sound is what keeps fans drawn alongside their latest album, Instinct.

    SunSquabi
    SunSquabi

    Playing beside SunSquabi is NYC’s phenomenon Too Many Zooz. This unique trio blends jazz, Afro-Cuban rhythms, funk, EDM structures, and house music. Their historic performances on Beyoncé’s Lemonade and alongside The Dixie Chicks have made this group well established in the industry.

    too many zooz
    Too Many Zooz

    To add to this already dynamic lineup, Buffalo’s very own Witty Tarbox will be joining on the 11th. This upcoming surf-rock band has already made their mark in WNY and plan to continue to do so while they open for other iconic musicians.

    The Drive-In event charges per car with up to 5 persons per vehicle. This Buffalo Outer Harbor show is open to all ages and begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are now available here. Tickets to the Bouckville show can be found here

  • Alejandro Sanz Announces U.S. Tour Dates for #LAGIRA

    Alejandro Sanz’ #LAGIRA is making a comeback in the United States this October. Spain’s most international artist will visit 12 cities across the country alongside his grand show produced by Live Nation. One of these shows he is performing at is right here in NYS: Radio City Music Hall.

    Alejandro Sanz

    The artist will present his greatest hits as well as songs from his 3x Latin Grammy-winning and Best Latin Album Grammy-winning album, #ELDISCO. #LAGIRA has sold out numerous shows globally, including shows in Spain, the U.S., Mexico, Argentina, and more. Make sure to grab your tickets when they go on sale on April 29 through Sanz’s site or Ticketmaster.

    Projects Through the Pandemic

    Alejandro Sanz has always had a close and unique relationship with his fans. Back in March 2020, Sanz offered a show streamed through a digital platform, #LaGiraSeQuedaEnCasa, alongside Juanes. Sanz was one of the first artists to do so, and the feedback was overwhelming. Nearly 5 million people around the world have viewed the video.

    A week after #LaGiraSeQuedaEnCasa release, Sanz released #ElMundoFuera. This song paved the way for the creation of a documentary. People all over the globe were able to come together and share their pandemic stories. Over 4,500 videos were received through this platform and ultimately led to the largest collaborating project by a Spanish-speaking artist. The documentary was Spain’s most sold music DVD of 2020 and is also available now on Amazon Prime Video.

    Even though 2020 was a hard-hitting year for many, Alejandro Sanz made the best out of a challenging situation. He started off the pandemic with a surplus of well-developed projects and didn’t fall short of his successes when the year ended. The international artist received his second consecutive Latin Grammy for Record of the Year. This award added to Sanz’s collection of achievements. With 4 Grammy wins, and 25 Latin Grammy wins, Sanz became Spain’s most Grammy award-winning artist.

  • The Chris Ruben Band Leaves the Funk with New Album

    Psychedelic funk-rock group, The Chris Ruben Band, released their new album Madness on Repeat on April 20.

    The Chris Ruben Band
    Cover Art Credit: Will Wood Visuals and Mark DiMattei

    This six-piece Long Island band is nothing short of their fiery and forceful reputation. What started off as Chris Ruben writing his own songs at 16 began to turn into something more in 2014. At this time, The Chris Ruben Band was initially formed, but players got interchanged until the ideal lineup was created.

    The band started off playing in basements, but they shortly made their way onto the local music circuit. The group consists of Chris Ruben on lead guitar/vocals, Brendan Allan on bass, Frank Iovine on synthesizers/saxophone, Eugene Iovine on keyboards/cello, Nick Marino on guitar, and Russell Miller on drums.

    The Chris Ruben Band
    Photo Credit: Mark DiMattei

    Madness on Repeat is the culmination of eight years of songwriting and use of numerous studios. The album is reminiscent of old-school rock while also layering a psychedelic tone. Ruben’s vocals drive each head-banging track alongside the dynamic guitar work. The group smoothly blends their sounds together to develop a modern funk.

    “Unsure” opens the album with a sense of groove and hard-hitting lyrics. It eases listeners into the liveliness of Madness on Repeat, and the high-octane energy developed. The Chris Ruben Band keeps the album upbeat throughout with an epic guitar solo in “Starfish” and driving drums in “Prayer for Sadness.” Madness on Repeat closes with a sensational saxophone on “Hernia” while not losing that driven passion they provide.

    The Chris Ruben Band has become a staple in the Long Island music scene. They have performed at various venues there in addition to their performances at SXSW, The Jones Beach Bandshell, and more. Until those events are back up and running, The Chris Ruben Band has a livestream performance on April 29. The group will be live-streaming Madness on Repeat, tickets available here.

    Madness on Repeat is available now on major platforms.

  • Serge Bulat Expands Mediums with New Single and Album

    Multi-disciplinary artist and musician Serge Bulat recently released his new single with Japanese artist Dai Sekiguchi. The new song “Possible Plausible Reversible” is off of his upcoming LP, released on April 30.

    Serge Bulat

    In 2009, Bulat immigrated to the USA from a town under the Soviet Union. He was determined to pursue his musical career and expand on numerous frameworks within media. Bulat’s work varies from audiovisual installations to sound design to experimental video and more.

    “Possible Plausible Reversible” is the artist’s most recent release off of his full-length album Similarities Between Fish And A Chair. Bulat experiments in this work to fuse genres, cultures, and media. He seeks to challenge traditional formats to develop this non-conforming project.

    The new album is a direct continuation of his 2020 release Wurmenai which also delivered an immersive video game. The project features notable collaborators from ten different countries. Some of these artists include Katie Buckley, OYME, and Pavel Vit.

    The new work deals with identity, normality, and personality; it questions reality and perception as well as imagines future.

    Serge Bulat
    Serge Bulat

    Similarities Between Fish And A Chair will release alongside an audiovisual installation, “Inkblot,” as well as an experiential video game “Isolomus.” Bulat’s take on the standard psychological test, “Inkblot,” seeks to expand on the senses and connect his albums.

    Five years in the making, Similarities Between Fish And A Chair, will finally be released later this month. Make sure to pre-order/pre-save the album here and stream “Possible Plausible Reversible” on major platforms until then.

  • Grey Fox and Ziontific Music Festivals Move to 2022

    Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival and the Ziontific Music Festival are postponing their events until 2022.

    Grey Fox Ziontific
    Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY. Photo Credit: Alan Hamilton

    Both Grey Fox and Ziontific seek to prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone attending. Moving the festivals to next summer allows more time to counteract the negative consequences of the pandemic.

    Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival will take place July 14-17, 2022. The Grey Fox Staff is hoping to get beyond COVID-19 with extended vaccinations, social distancing, and standard health regulations. Updates for Grey Fox 2022 will be on their website as well as other social media pages.

    Last year, the team and artists joined together to create a virtual Spirit of Grey Fox 2020. Fans and musicians were able to come together to raise $25,000 for the IBMA Trust Fun for COVID-19 Relief. With this generosity and spirit of the community, the momentum pushes forward as live shows become a reality again.

    Similarly, the Ziontific 10th-year celebration is postponed to June 2022. All 2020 tickets and glamping packages automatically roll over to 2022. However, anyone looking for a refund can do so by contacting Ziontific by May 19, 2021.

    While fans eagerly wait for the festivities, a ZTFamily Facebook Group is open to help bring everyone together. Feel free to share Ziontific throwback photos, videos, or even write about memories there.

  • Albany’s Tulip Festival to Celebrate Virtually Throughout May

    The City of Albany announced a Virtual Tulip Festival celebration for 2021, which will occur throughout the entire month of May. The series will feature musical performances, tulip garden tours, prizes, and more.

    Tulip Festival
    Poster designer: Lee Dixon

    Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan shared:

    While I join so many of you that are looking forward to getting back to celebrating the annual Tulip Fest the way we are accustom to, I am excited to participate in the month-long celebration of virtual Tulip Fest. I want to thank the Office of Cultural Affairs for their commitment to reinventing this and many other traditional Albany events in light of the COVID-19 outbreak and hope you and your family and friends will virtually join us for a full month of great programming.

    In addition to the local musical performances, the Virtual Tulip Festival will present fun videos for kids to enjoy. Plus, the City of Albany Gardeners will provide a tour of the tulip beds and much more! Videos will premiere on the Albany Events YouTube page, on Facebook, and also on Public Access Channel Albany 1302. Make sure to stay tuned for schedule updates.

    The 2021 Albany Tulip Queen, Court, and Mother of the Year will be presented later on with their own celebrations.

  • Chicago at Carnegie Hall Complete’ Deluxe Edition Coming Soon

    In honor of the 50th anniversary of Chicago’s historic 1971 concerts, the band will release all eight Carnegie Hall shows in their entirety for the first time. Chicago at Carnegie Hall Complete will be accessible on July 16.

    Chicago at Carnegie Hall

    Fifty years ago, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Chicago became the first non-classical group to perform six nights in a row at Carnegie Hall. Between April 5 and 10, 1971, the band played and recorded eight shows at the celebrated venue. Performance highlights from those shows were featured on the band’s first live album, Chicago at Carnegie Hall. This quadruple LP of theirs reached #3 on the Billboard 200, was certified platinum, and remained Chicago’s best-selling live album.

    Known as the “rock band with horns,” Chicago is one of the longest-running and best-selling groups. They have won countless awards over the years, not limited to two Grammy Awards, 11 Number One singles, five Number One albums, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, Chicago was the first American band to ever chart albums in Billboard’s Pop Top 40 in six consecutive decades.

    Chicago at Carnegie Hall Complete includes memorabilia that commemorates the iconic event. The collection consists of replicas of the three posters that accompanied the original vinyl release. Also included are images of the original concert program, tickets, and other memorabilia from the historic event. Also included with the 16-disc set is a 28-page booklet illustrated with photos from the concerts. Alongside this will be new liner notes with contributions from Lee Loughnane, archivist Jeff Magid, writer/producer David Wild, and comedian/Chicago fanatic Jimmy Pardo.

    Lee Loughnane, Chicago founding member, and trumpeter teamed up with engineer Tim Jessup to develop this work. The two spent nearly a year going through more than 40 concert tapes and remastered each concert in the studio. Their dedication led to the development of the eight shared shows. The performances featured contributions from every band member, including guitar work from Terry Kath, vocals by Kath, Robert Lamm, and Peter Cetera. Also featured are memorable work by Loughnane, James Pankow, Walt Prazaider, and Danny Seraphine’s jazz-influenced drumming.

    Chicago at Carnegie Hall Complete will be available shortly and can be preordered exclusively here.

  • The Great South Bay Music Festival Postponed to 2022

    The Great South Bay Music Festival has announced that they will be postponing their event this year. Instead, this Long Island festival is rescheduled to July 7-10, 2022. With the loss of both the 2020 and 2021 festivals to the pandemic, this is a heavy disappointment. However, the health and safety of everyone are of utmost importance.

    The Great South Bay Music Festival

    All 2020 and 2021 tickets will be honored for GSB 2022. No further action is necessary, and holding onto these tickets will also protect you from expected price increases next year. However, if this is not a viable option, GSB will offer refunds and provide information shortly.

    Additionally, The Tedeschi Trucks Band‘s Wheels of Soul Tour has also been postponed and will now be performing at the Great South Bay Music Festival in 2022. The rest of the headliners for this event will be confirmed very soon, so stay tuned.

    As an independent festival, GSB has acknowledged its lack of support and safety net compared to more prominent festivals. With close monitoring of lifted restrictions and a rise in the number of cases, GSB believes their decision will benefit everyone in the long run. The festival wishes to provide its audience with an authentic and lively experience, which would best take place next year.

    The Great South Bay Music Festival

    Along with the rescheduled Great South Bay Music Fest dates, a “re-imagined” festival is in the works. This multi-day festival called EBB-Fest will take place October 1-3 at Shorefront Park. EBB-Fest is a tribute to the retreat and falling of this pandemic. This event will present a few national acts but be more focused on supporting local artists, serving as a celebration of the death of this virus and an opportunity to share live music!

    Great South Bay Music Fest Shares:

    I can honestly say that all of us here at GSB love and miss you, our fest family. We can’t wait to be walking through the crowd, hearing the music and seeing the smiles on all of your faces again, with the cool breeze and backdrop of the magnificent Great South Bay!

  • Gayle’s Broadway Rose Grand Reopening

    Gayle’s Broadway Rose is known for their singing Broadway servers and their extravagant milkshakes. On June 19, the restaurant is having a grand reopening featuring Broadway stars Kimberly Marable and Haley Swindal. The two will perform alongside the Singing Servers.  

    Gayle’s Broadway Rose

    Kimberly Marable currently stars in the Broadway production Hadestown. Additionally, she has been in productions of The Lion King and Sister Act. Haley Swindal is presently in the Broadway production of Chicago and has also previously starred in Jekyll & Hyde. 

    Gayle’s Broadway Rose partnered with the Broadway and West End Community in order to keep the Broadway spirit alive with theaters closed. The talented Singing Servers and Broadway and West End show cast members have teamed up to produce a Virtual Celebrity Duet Video Series. 

    Come on out to Times Square on June 19 to help support the Arts and Broadway’s Theater District. All tickets for the grand reopening are available by advance purchase only here. Check out the Gayle’s website for additional information.

    Gayle’s shares: Our video below featuring Broadway Celebrity performer Laurel Harris accompanied by Marc Christopher from Gayle’s Broadway Rose… the song is Beauty and the Beast from Beauty and the Beast! Laurel Harris currently stars in the Broadway production of Jagged Little Pill, and has played the roles of Jill and Mary Jane Healy! Laurel also starred as Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked! Previous Broadway credits include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, In Transit, and Evita! Viewers can make a donation to a special charity that Laurel has chosen: stopaapihate. Thanks to Michael Aaron for his fabulous audio/video production services!