NYS Music 202​1

Category: Regions

  • Watch Selections from Jazz at Chautauqua

    Jazz at Chautauqua is held periodically and has served as host to numerous jazz legends, including Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center, among many others. Jazz lovers have flocked to the western-most county of New York State to watch jazz performances on the shores of Chautauqua Lake

    At the Chautauqua Institution, a blend of arts programming, educational and religious opportunities and recreational activities are available to those who visit the grounds during the year.

    jazz at Chautauqua watch

    The Institution, originally the Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly, was founded in 1874 as an educational experiment in out-of-school, vacation learning. It was successful and broadened almost immediately beyond courses for Sunday school teachers to include academic subjects, music, art and physical education.

    Thanks to Jazz Lives, we feature a selection of performances from 2007, 2008 and 2009 at Chautauqua.

    From the informal Thursday-night sessions at Jazz at Chautauqua on September 14, 2007, featuring Duke Heitger (trumpet), Randy Reinhart (cornet), John Sheridan (piano), Pete Siers (drums) and Frank Tate (string bass), and featuring “the Emperor of Chautauqua,” Joe Boughton, who was involved and yet deplored the aimlessness sometimes prevalent at “jam sessions,” which would lead to his strongest aversion — musicians playing over-familiar repertoire. Featuring “Jazz me Blues,” “I’ve Got the World on a String,” “I Found a New Baby,” “A Brief Etude,” and “Just You Just Me.”

    On September 21, 2008, festival director Joe Boughton had the idea to recreate the Bechet-Spanier Big Four of Blessed Memory (1940, Hot Record Society: Sidney Bechet, Muggsy Spanier, Carmen Mastren, Wellman Braud) with living Masters Bob Wilber (clarinet and soprano), Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet), Marty Grosz (guitar) and Vince Giordano (string bass).

    Enjoy Fats Waller’s “The Boy in the Boat” and “Squeeze Me” as performed by Bob Wilber (soprano saxophone), Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet), Marty Grosz (guitar), and Vince Giordano (string bass).

    From September 19, 2009, this performance was sparked by Jon-Erik Kellso’s idea of changing the key for every chorus (Jazz Lives believes between C and Eb). Trumpeter Jon is joined by Tom Pletcher (cornet), Bob Havens (trombone), Bob Reitmeier (clarinet), Dan Block (tenor saxophone), Ehud Asherie (piano), Howard Alden (guitar), Vince Giordano (string bass) and Pete Siers (drums).

    From the third weekend of Jazz at Chautauqua 2009, here is a segment featured ballad medleys. Performing “Memories of You,” “Stardust,” “Prelude to a Kiss,” “Old Folks,” and “If I Had You” are Duke Heitger (trumpet), Andy Schumm (cornet), Dan Barrett (trombone), Scott Robinson (tenor saxophone), Bob Reitmeier (clarinet), Ehud Asherie (piano), Marty Grosz (guitar), Frank Tate (string bass) and Pete Siers (drums).

    From September 17, 2009, a Thursday-night informal session at Jazz at Chautauqua, watch Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet) Scott Robinson (tenor saxophone), Ehud Asherie (piano), Andy Brown (guitar) and Arnie Kinsella (drums) perform “Runnin’ Wild.”

  • Revisit the Star-Studded David Bowie 50th Birthday Concert

    In 1997, David Bowie threw himself a 50th birthday party at Madison Square Garden and invited an A-list of friends to join him on stage. Billed as ‘David Bowie and Friends: A Very Special Birthday Concert,’ Bowie’s life of music was highlighted with special guests throughout the night.

    Bowie was also about to release his 20th album, Earthling, a month later, and would perform a handful of songs from the album throughout the night, including the show opener “Little Wonder.” Following “This Heart’s Filthy Lesson,” Bowie informed the crowd, “Good evening. We’re your rock band for the night. We’re going to get partyfied.”

    david bowie 50

    The sold-out show was also filmed for a pay-per-view TV special, and was later issued on DVD, with proceeds from both concert and broadcast benefiting Save the Children.

    david bowie

    Bowie said early in the evening, “I have no idea where I’m going from here, but I promise I won’t bore you.” Along with new material, Bowie played 24 songs throughout the night, including “I’m Afraid of Americans,” “The Jean Genie,” and “Heroes,” but passed on 80s hits “China Girl,” “Let’s Dance” and “Modern Love.” The ever lively Bowie told the New York Daily News:

    I wouldn’t have expected to have such an appetite for life at this point. I had assumed, like romantic poetic heroes, that I would burn it all out. But nothing has been quenched. I’m still feeling fiery.

    And those special guests? Bowie was joined by The Pixies’ Frank Black, The Cure’s Robert Smith, Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, and close friend and New Yorker, Lou Reed.

    Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, Dave Grohl, Robert Smith, David Bowie, Billy Corgan, Pat Smear, Kim Gordon and guests (Photo by Kevin Mazur Archive/WireImage)

    Bowie’s backing band that night included Staten Island’s Reeves Gabrels on guitars and Mike Garson on keyboards, who helped in a reimagined version of “The Man Who Sold The World” with a sedate reggae tone.

    The highlight of the night came in the first encore, when Bowie was joined by Lou Reed, who performed “Queen Bitch” and three of Reed’s own songs from his Velvet Underground days, “I’m Waiting for the Man,” “Dirty Boulevard” and “White Light/White Heat.”

    david bowie
    photo by Kevin Mazur

    Following “Moonage Daydream,” Bowie returned to the stage for a second encore, with Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins joining Bowie for “All the Young Dudes” and “The Jean Genie.” This proved to be a treat for Corgan, who told Lisa Robinson of the New York Post, “When I was 10 years old, growing up in the Midwest, I bought David’s Ziggy Stardust album. I really believed he was an alien. I always have been a fan, and still am a fan.”

    (Bowie) kept one eye firmly on the future. Instead of serving up dewey-eyed rehashes of sounds from eras dead and gone, Bowie – aided by an ornery mix of musical friends – shook classic numbers to their core. He also devoted roughly one-third of the show to recent and brand new material.

    Jim Farber, New York Daily News

    After the show, according to thinwhiteduke.net, a post-concert dinner was hosted by David Bowie and his wife Iman at the downtown space of Julian Schnabel (who had recently directed Bowie as Andy Warhol in Basquiat. Joining Bowie and Iman were a Beck, Moby, Courtney Love, Prince, Charlie Sexton, Fred Schneider, Matt Dillon, Matthew Modine, Jeffrey Wright, Christopher Walken, Michael Wincott, Donna Karan and Naomi Campbell.

    Setlist: Little Wonder, The Hearts Filthy Lesson, Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps),* Fashion*, Telling Lies, Hallo Spaceboy^, Seven Years in Tibet@, The Man Who Sold the World, The Last Thing You Should Do%, Quicksand%, Battle for Britain (The Letter) , The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (As Beauty), I’m Afraid of Americans$, Looking for Satellites , Under Pressure, Heroes

    Encore: Queen Bitch**, I’m Waiting for the Man**, Dirty Boulevard.**, White Light/White Heat**, Moonage Daydream

    Encore 2: Band intros, Happy Birthday#, All the Young Dudes+, The Jean Genie+, Space Oddity

    *with Frank Black
    ^ with Foo Fighters
    @ with Dave Grohl
    % with Robert Smith
    $ with Sonic Youth
    # with Gail Ann Dorsey
    ** with Lou Reed
    + with Billy Corgan

  • Happy Birthday, Al Schnier

    NYS Music would like to wish a healthy and happy birthday to guitarist Al Schnier who turns 53 years old today. Al, a husband and father of two, first sat in with a band named moe. in 1991 and hasn’t looked back since.

    Al Schnier birthday

    A true New Yorker, Schnier was born in Utica, NY and attended New Hartford Central High School. One of his first musical endeavors was an eighth grade Rush/Neil Young tribute band called Cuttin’ Loose. High school and college at SUNY-Oneonta brought along with it various cover bands. In 1990, while playing in a band called Unclaimed Freight, Al came across a tape from some band from Buffalo called moe. and his life would be forever altered.

    I heard that tape and I thought, ‘This is the kind of band I want to play in.’ … Of course, I never thought I’d be playing with moe., but six months later I ended up moving to Buffalo, and my next introduction to the band was actually sitting in with them.

    Al Schnier
    AL Schnier birthday

    In 1991, Schnier first sat in with the band for a gig at Chicklets House in Buffalo, playing guitar and congas. The following year, after more sit ins and collaborations, Al became a fulltime member of moe. and has been a permanent fixture on his “side” of the stage ever since.

    What’s transpired since is a remarkable recording and touring career that’s still going strong and has seen the band travel the world and play some of the biggest stages and festivals out there. Like any musician, Schnier has also had his fair share of side projects over the years. In 1999, he formed the folk rock band Al and the Transamericans that featured the late Gordon Stone on pedal steel guitar and Strangefolk’s Erik Glockler on bass.

    Al has also self-produced and engineered a solo electronica album titled al.one that came out in 2001. A self-avowed Dead head, he’s also spent some time as one of bassist Phil Lesh’s “friends” for an incarnation of Phil & Friends in 2005. There’s been plenty of other collaborations since as well.

    Schnier was also an original member of the “newgrass” band Floodwood, but has since departed. And he’s also a founding member of the voter registration group Headcount.

    So let’s all raise a glass and cheers to Al Schnier, the birthday boy. Here’s to another trip around the sun and much more music to come.

  • This Week’s EQXposure features After the Fall, Postage and many more

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from After the Fall, Postage and many more!

    after the fall

    WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

    This week EQXPosure puts a spotlight on Albany hardcore, featuring the new song by After the Fall, “I Don’t Want to be Around,” off their latest release Resignation.

    The Albany Hardcore scene is vast, with creative people successfully avoiding the bummer life while stabbing songs across the linear music stream with heart, message, and unabashed, pristine, rock and roll. All of the hallmarks of great bands like Fear, The Vandals, The Circle Jerks, and Bob Mould move the music forward, sustaining all the energy, and could really care less that their music is being played on the radio  – the music is about the moment, the spark, and the infinite aggressive passionate shout.

    EQXposure will also feature four songs by Postage. These quintessential punk blasts take some clever harmonic twists, and the performance of the tunes by the band’s playing is excellent. Enough to hook newcomers to a scene they’ve been missing out on. 

  • Watch Grateful Dead Perform “It’s All Over Now” from Orchard Park 1990

    The latest release in the Grateful Dead video series ‘All The Years Live’ features a performance from Orchard Park, home of the Buffalo Bills. From their July 16, 1990 show, the Dead share a rollicking first set cover of Bobby Womack’s “It’s All Over Now.”

    grateful dead Orchard park

    Grateful Dead historian David Lemieux speaks on the performance:

    When It’s All Over Now first appeared in Grateful Dead sets in 1976, it was the perfect addition to the Bob-sung part of first sets. It was quite a bit different than any other Bob song: not an original, not a blues song, not a cowboy song. When The Last Time arrived in 1990, it was the same feeling, another Bob rocker, although The Last Time bounced around the setlist quite a bit, whereas It’s All Over Now was a first set song.

    The video is directed by Len Dell’Amico and co-produced by Len Dell’Amico and GDP. Click here to read a detailed take on the Grateful Dead opening for Bob Dylan in Orchard Park on July 4, 1986 and here for The Who and The Clash at Rich Stadium in 1982.

    Grateful Dead July 16, 1990 – Orchard Park, NY

    Set 1: Hell in a Bucket, Mississippi Half-Step, Blow Away, Mama Tried, Mexicali Blues, Loose Lucy, It’s All Over Now, High Time, Let it Grow, Don’t Ease Me In

    Set 2: Sugar Magnolia, Scarlet Begonias, Man Smart/Woman Smarter
    Ship of Fools, Truckin’, drums -> The Wheel, Gimme Some Lovin’
    Wharf Rat, Around and Around, Sunshine Daydream

    Encore: Brokedown Palace

  • Goose to release 2019 Buffalo show to benefit Nietzsche’s

    Goose has announced the release of their latest live album, 2019.11.16 Buffalo, NY, from the Connecticut group’s show at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo’s longest-serving music venue. The release is a newly remastered soundboard recording that is now available on all streaming platforms.

    goose buffalo

    Buffalo was a sure highlight for us in 2019. Like a lot of our Fall 2019 shows, it was our first time headlining in town and the show sold out way in advance, so the energy was through the roof. One of my favorite things to do on that tour was survey the crowd, and that night we had people from all over the place, it was really humbling to see that people had traveled just to see us at this small bar in Buffalo, and it turned out to be an absolutely magical night. 

    Peter Anspach

    In addition to the streaming release, the band plans to press select tracks to vinyl, with a 2-LP, eight-track package available for sale through Bandcamp. Collectors will have an opportunity to purchase regular (vinyl only), deluxe (signed postcard + poster), or test pressings at varying price points.

    A portion of proceeds will be donated to Nietzsche’s, as the independent venue continues to weather the multitude of challenges presented by the current pandemic. 

    Without spots like Nietzsche’s, we wouldn’t have gotten our feet off the ground. You need small venues and local scenes to get started as a band. Even if you’re not making much money per gig (which you aren’t), playing shows keeps the momentum up, the enthusiasm high, and allows you to grow musically as a band so you’ll know what you’re doing when and if you make it to larger venues. Let’s go Buffalo!

    Peter Anspach

    The heavy improv of Set 1 features a 14-minute cover of The Wood Brothers‘ “Atlas,” followed by a 20-minute “Arcadia” anbd closed with a 30-minute “Drive.” Set 2 kicks off with “Creatures” and includes covers of Otis Day and the Knights’ “ShamaLamma Ding Dong” and a-ha’s “Take On Me.”

    Vinyl is now on sale as of Noon ET, Friday, January 8. For more information, visit goose.es/buffalo-vinyl.

  • Albany Symphony To Stream “Tchaikovsky Serenade” Concert With Female Composers

    The Albany Symphony is gearing up for their first concert of 2021. On Saturday, January 9 at 7:30 p.m., they’ll be live streaming Tchaikovsky Serenade from the Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. In addition to Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, the program includes works by George Walker, Jean Sibelius, and two living female composers: Jessie Montgomery and Caroline Shaw. Season subscribers can arrive early at 7:00 p.m. for a pre-concert talk, and stick around afterwards for a Q&A session with the musicians.

    Tchaikovsky Serenade
    The Albany Symphony, conducted by Maestro Miller.

    Tchaikovsky Serenade will open with Banner, a piece Jessie Montgomery wrote in 2014 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Banner combines the traditional national anthem with world music and protest songs, prompting the New York Times to call it a “musical melting pot.” Montgomery, a recipient of the Leonard Bernstein Award from the ASCAP Foundation, grew up in Manhattan’s Lower East Side with a creative family. Her father, a musician, and her mother, a theater artist and storyteller, brought her to rallies and performances for social movements.

    Tchaikovsky Serenade
    Jessie Montgomery.

    The Albany Symphony will also perform Entr’acte, composed by Caroline Shaw in 2017. The piece, inspired by the minuet of Haydn’s String Quartet in F Major, evokes Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass. Shaw is the youngest-ever recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Music, thanks to her 2013 Partita in 8 Voices, an a capella composition for her vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth. “Writing music sometimes feels like gardening. It takes a lot of work and preparation, but with the right attention and care, you end up with something beautiful and nourishing,” said Shaw. Shaw has previously collaborated with Kanye West and the National, and performed with artists such as Sara Bareilles and Ben Folds.

    Tchaikovsky Serenade
    Caroline Shaw.

    I’m elated we will perform Jessie Montgomery’s and Caroline Shaw’s breathtaking pieces, which are very different from one another but will both captivate members of our audience and provide them with a touching experience they will not soon forget.

    David Alan Miller, Albany Symphony Director

    Besides Montgomery and Shaw, the Albany Symphony will also play pieces by George Walker, Jean Sibelius, and of course, Tchaikovsky. Choreographer George Balanchine borrowed Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings for Serenade, his first full-length ballet in America, and excerpts continue to circulate throughout pop culture. Tchaikovsky was no stranger to ballet himself, having composed Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker.

    The 2020-2021 symphony season, known as the Virtual Concert Hall, runs through June when the Albany Symphony will celebrate the American Music Festival. Other programs include Rachmaninoff’s Third on March 13, and Haydn & Schubert on April 24. This is conductor David Alan Miller’s 27th season as the Symphony’s music director: he won a Grammy for Best Classical Instrumental Solo in 2013, and has since racked up four more nominations. The Albany Symphony’s previous performance, The Magic of Christmas 2020, was televised on NewsChannel WNYT 13 last December.

    For more information, visit the Albany Symphony’s website.

  • Bobby Shmurda Possible Prison Release as Early as February

    The long-awaited release of Brooklyn rapper Bobby Shmurda could come much earlier than expected. The incarcerated emcee — born, Ackquille Jean Pollard — was arrested in December 2014, along with his associates, his brother and GS9 label-mate Rowdy Rebel on charges of drug and gun possession, reckless endangerment and conspiracy to commit murder.

    Bobby Shmurda Release

     Rowdy Rebel was released on December 15thafter Shmurda took a plea dealthat saw his time extended to lessen his label mate’s. Shmurda was up for parole in September but was denied as a result of disciplinary actions for behavior while in prison. It was then believed that he would serve the full length of his sentence — which was set to end on December,11 2021 The state Department of Correction subsequently restored his credit for good behavior and now the “Hot N****” rapper may be released as early as  February 23, 2021. The conditions of his release are of course contingent on the rapper’s behaviors, with one infraction possibly delaying his release until the end of the year, TMZ reports. 

    Bobby Shmurda Release

    While Shmurda has been incarcerated, he has maintained his strong following — especially on social media — and if theresponseto Rowdy Rebel’s release is any indication, then Shmurda will be coming home to a hero’s welcome. 

    Bobby Shmurda Release

  • Intrepid Travelers Release Double Single

    Intrepid Travelers are starting the New Year off strong with new music. The Buffalo 6-piece have released a double single, pairing “You Gotta Work” and “Up To You” as they look towards a brighter 2021.

    intrepid travelers double single
    Cover art designed Adam Bronstein

    A Buffalo-based improvisational rock band that has been around since 2013, Intrepid Travelers were revitalized in 2020 with some significant lineup changes. 

    Bassist Zak Beutel was the first new addition, joining founding members Donny Frauenhofer (keys), Brian Calisto (guitar), and Jon Fohl (drums). Shortly after, two more travelers joined the group: Ellen Pieroni, formerly of Folkfaces (saxophone), and former Universe Shark frontman Adam Bronstein (guitar). 

    This new incarnation of Intrepid Travelers has been hitting the pavement hard since the summer, as hard as they can mid-pandemic. The band has been live-streaming the first three Tuesdays of each month as well as select holidays, while working on plenty of new material. The band was able to play a few live shows in the late summer/early fall – including a sold out double header on Halloween at Sportsmens Tavern and a socially-distanced IT Fest – but with the recent shutdown, IT decided to shift their focus to recording. 

    The newly released double single features two tracks, “You Gotta Work” (Pieroni/Frauenhofer) and “Up To You” (Calisto/Beutel/Fohl). Both tracks were recorded entirely at home, with mixing and mastering by Donny Frauenhofer. 

    These two tracks are a great representation of where the band is heading, and the amount of fun we’ve been having together.

    Jon Fohl

    The first track, “You Gotta Work,” a driving, Motown-inspired Lettuce-esque funk tune, will make you dance and leave you feeling empowered, and features dazzling guitar licks by Adam, tasty organ playing by Donny, a percussive bassline by Zak, and Ellen on lead vocals.

    “Up To You” is more introspective, but just as catchy as the first track. You’ll be reeled in by Brian’s acoustic guitar playing, but be sure to stick around for him to shred later in the tune, and Jon displays his vocal abilities singing lead. The production value is especially great on “Up To You,” with congas from special guest Ryan Campbell, fun added background vocals over Brian’s guitar solo, catchy horn lines, and various sound and vocal effects. 

    This recording session was among the most rewarding and creatively fulfilling projects I’ve ever been a part of – self producing these tracks has the band energized and excited for more!

    Adam Bronstein

    The double single is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, YouTube, and Amazon Music. 

  • Dr. Dre Speaks Out Following Apparent Brain Aneurysm

    Dr. Dre was hospitalized late Monday night at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles following an apparent brain aneurysm. TMZ reported that Dre is stable and lucid, and doctors are continuing to figure out what caused the brain bleed.

    dr dre

    The 55-year-old legendary rapper and producer, whose real name is Andre Romell Young, updated fans on his well-being on social media, speaking out for the first time since his hospitalization. “Thanks to my family, friends, and fans for their interest and well wishes,” said Dre via an Instagram post made late Tuesday night.

    Dr. Dre first climbed the ranks of the West Coast hip hop scene with N.W.A, soon rising to fame in the music industry, arguably becoming one of the top music producers of all time. He co-founded Death Row Records and produced works by Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg and Eminem, among many others.

    Not long after Dre’s initial Instagram post, celebrities took to social media, wishing the music industry mogul well.

    “Send your love and prayers,” Tweeted fellow N.W.A member and West Coast icon, Ice Cube.

    The Brain Aneurysm Foundation notes that ruptured brain aneurysms are fatal in about half of all cases, and survivors have a 66 percent chance of permanent neurological deficits.