Young Jazz pianist Joey Alexander released his new single “SALT” after his major-label debut album WARNA, and will release two more singles in April and May.
Alexander has already made a name for himself and has had an eventful journey throughout his career all before turning 18. For about seven years, he has taken the jazz world by storm and achieved an extraordinary amount of success that is rarely seen. He already released five studio albums, My Favorite Things, Countdown, Joey.Monk.Live!, Eclipse and Warna. Alexander received three Grammy nominations and even performed at the preshow and during the 58th Grammy Awards. Also, two of his albums reached the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.
Along with his charting success, he is respected by legendary Jazz musicians and gained attention from mainstream media. Alexander has performed at major events alongside other talented artists. In 2016, he performed with Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding at the International Jazz Day in the White House for President Obama. His show for his debut at Carnegie Hall sold-out as well as the Rose Theater at the Jazz Lincoln Center. While these are significant accolades, there is more in store for the prodigy.
After his first album release from Verve Records, Warna, which translates to color from his native tongue Bahasa, he has more music on the way. Warna was a reflective body of work describing unfolding his experiences and feelings while on the road. His newest singles “SALT,” “Under the Sun” and “Summer Rising” were written during Summer 2020 while he was in Manhattan during the pandemic.
Alexander’s inspiration for “SALT” was the essential use it has in our lives and compared it to blues in jazz, which he believes we need in these worrying times. Each new single is made with the intention of evoking hope, positivity and peace through the blues. The song is the first recording Alexander did with a Fender Rhodes piano. He is accompanied by Daniel Winshall on the electric and upright bass, Tyson D. Jackson on the drums and Jaleel Shaw on the alto saxophone and Gilad Hekselman on the electric guitar.
“SALT” was released on March 19 and is the first single of 2021 from Joey Alexander. His other two singles will drop within the next two months.
Noel Paul Stookey today releases a 15-song compilation paired with non-profit beneficiaries in the spirit of giving back, with each track bearing a theme of social concern.
Album art for “Just Causes”
The “Paul” in Peter, Paul & Mary, the seminal 1960s act, will be donating to a different cause for each track on the compilation. Curated and remixed by John Stuart, the compilation focuses on social issues. Stookey spoke on the project after taking part in over 50 albums:
Every songwriter eventually realizes that his art is meant for service: to entertain, inform and in a best-case scenario, to inspire.
As I look over the fifty plus years that I’ve attempted to capture ‘lightening in a bottle’ – a moment realized in a song that transcends time – I recognize that some musical creations seem to have a longer life because they address issues that still challenge us, no matter the generation.
The idea for a compilation that donates 100% of its proceeds to charity struck Stookey at a strange time. “I was literally picking up groceries at our local store when I noticed for the umpteenth time that Paul Newman’s brand of products from his Newman’s Own company advertise on the packaging that ‘100% of profits go to charity,’” he explains. “I thought what a great concept and what the term ‘profits’ means in my life. I’ve been very fortunate in my musical pursuits, and the idea of ‘giving back’ at this point in my life and career struck a chord with me.”
Some issues discussed in the songs on “Just Causes” include hunger, reproductive rights, immigration, missing children, safe energy, drug addiction and the environment. The songs strive for justice for all. One song, “Danny’s Downs” tells a moving story about a family who welcomes a son with Downs Syndrome. The song’s profits will be donated to the National Down Syndrome Congress.
“Just Causes” is Noel Paul Stookey’s first release since 2018, and will be available on March 22nd, 2020. you can find more information noelpaulstookey.com.
A year after stages were shut down across the nation, those same venues are bringing awareness through a campaign called “One Year Dark.”
The Riviera Theater in Chicago showcases its support for the “One Year Dark” campaign.
Organized by the National Independent Venue Association, the campaign is asking venues to showcase “One Year Dark” on their marques and social media accounts.
Today, we observe the one year mark since stages across the country went dark. Locked doors. No shows. What we thought would only be a few weeks has turned into a full year. It’s been a struggle to survive, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. We can’t wait to be back. #OneYearDark#SaveOurStages.
NIVA’s Instagram page
The music industry was one of the hardest industries to be hit through the pandemic. Since the beginning, they have been shut down and are still awaiting a grand reopening. NIVA created the Save Our Stages Act over the summer of 2020 to help save the struggling music venues. Since then, they have had economic assistance, but little success in bringing back live music.
What was thought to be a few weeks of being shut down has now been over a year, but venues are hopeful after Congress passed the most recent COVID-19 relief bill , according to Marketplace. The bill passed by congress allocates $1.25 billion to concert venues, which is the most the industry has seen since the pandemic.
Not all hope is lost to reopen live concert venues in New York. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced early March that New York State can resume live performances starting April 2.
To see all of the venues participating in #OneYearDark, look to NIVA’s social media accounts @nivassoc and NIVA on Facebook.
Here are just a couple of music venues that have been affected by the pandemic brought by NYS Music’s photo series, “The Darkness has got to Give.”
John Oates, one half of the iconic New York based duo Hall & Oates, has teamed up with viral sax player Saxsquatch to reimagine the chart-topping hit “Maneater” as an electro-jazz fusion.
The song was accompanied by a video released on Monstercat which see’s both artist revisit their hometowns of Nashville, Tennessee and deep with in a rainforest. The video then quickly pivots to an animated psychedelic experience, interlacing live action footage and animation throughout. “Maneater” was released in preparation for Oates Song Fest 7908, a charity livestream benefitting Feeding America hosted by John Oates and Saxsquatch.
I like music that gets people’s big feet tapping along. It’s been a tough year for everyone. We could all use music and stories that help us dance and feel less alone. I know a lot about feeling alone
Saxsquatch, Musican
John Oates is not only just a part of Hall & Oates, but a well accomplished artist on his own. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The American Songwriters Hall of Fame, recipient of the prestigious BMI Icon Award as well as numerous American Music, MTV awards, and multiple Grammy nominations. Since forming his legendary pop duo with Daryl Hall in the early 1970s, they have gone on to record 21 albums, which have sold over 80 million units, making them the most successful duo in rock history.
Saxsquatch is one of the biggest live streaming musicians in the US, with 300k weekly views, and Facebook’s #1 recurring music show, ‘Live From the Woods’. His usual blend of saxophone, electronic music, and Bigfoot folklore has catapulted him to viral fame, earning 1.5M followers and recognition from instrumentalists around the world.
Brooklyn based musician, Dräger, released his new single “Light Years” on March 11 and announced his debut album Goths à la Discothèque comes out May 7.
Dräger Credit: Andrew Segreti
Spencer Draeger founded Dräger as the essence of his modern dystopian era. “Light Years” is an upbeat song with a message about choosing the road less traveled and following the unknown. According to Under the Radar this is the perfect example of his “synthedelic pop” sound. Synthedelic pop is a mixture of modern pop, ‘80s new wave and the underground dance scene. The single explores the excitement of chasing thrills on the journey to the future.
Goths à la Discothèque delves into the many universal themes of modern times including technology, love and society, and makes it his own. His album was inspired by 2020 and the effect it had on the world as it switched to a digital reality and caused people to forge new ideas. He portrays the present-day issues and fuses it with a party sound.
The album consists of 11 songs which were all produced, written, recorded and mixed by Dräger in his home studio. “Light Years” is now available for streaming and the lyric video is on Youtube. The album Goths à la Discothèque drops in May under Trash Casual.
New York State’s Final Four all sit on the free-throw line in dead silence. All eyes are on them. As the bead of sweat rolls down their faces, before the first notes strike, there is pure silence.
A wise man, and musician, once told me about the space between the notes; good music should start and end in silence. When there is silence, there are people listening. One breath before it all begins. I would like to take this time to highlight the spaces in-between, where all of our NYS Music March Madness bands deserve a tip of the hat. And, for the Final Four, the pressure is on. Go Vote. Enjoy the upcoming special Jamcast BOTB between the Final Four.
Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness bracket delving into the musical harbors of our great state. As fans and musicians ourselves, we spotlight the great talent across New York in friendly competition and discovery. Its fury never loses sight of the underdog, a headliner’s humble beginnings, new musical discovery and rolling with the punches in our ever-changing industry.
VOTE FOR THE FINAL FOUR BELOW
Final four voting is now closed. Stay tuned for the Finals, starting Friday, March 26!
Stay tuned with Jamcast for a virtual Battle Of The Bands between our March Madness Final Four musicians: Albany’s Glass Pony, Buffalo’s Organ Fairchild, Rochester’s The Dirty Pennies and Long Island’s Baked Shrimp.
JamCast is a streaming platform that provides a unique experience using live, pre-recorded, archived audio & video performances, podcasting, vlogs, blogs, and more. JamCast has been centered around creating a digital network for musicians, promoters, and venues. It was designed to serve as a resource for all facets of the music industry. By offering weekly series, digital events, festivals, podcasts, archives, and more. An online resource and database for all music industry professionals.
Central New York promotersCreative Concerts bring fans together in the final four
Glass Pony – Albany, New York.
Chanda Dewey – drums* – Eddie Hotaling – Guitar* – Jeff Picarazzi – bass* – Greg Pittz – lead guitar* (*vocals)
If you aren’t into long songs, Glass Pony might not be the band for you; about half of their songs hit in the 8-10 minute mark and take their time to get in the groove with long intros and outros. Their second song on the album, “Swing That Maximus,” has a full two-minute instrumental intro.
With tempo changes up the wazoo throwing the listener from dance beats that make you want to get up and boogie, to slow sections you would barely move your body, they are definitely the type of band you can let loose to live or shamelessly-groove-to on your daily commute. Glass Pony brings you out of the mundane with some chaotic, yet systematic rhythms and beats that make Glass Pony one of a kind.
“The gritty song features staple driving guitar riffs that the Pennies are known and loved for. It’s a more aggressive song…fueled by the times in which we are living. The video gives fans an opportunity to follow along to the lyrics. Learn those words, because when live music resumes and The Dirty Pennies can play live, this is an anthem we’ll want to sing along to.” Video Premiere: ‘I’m Your Man’
You’ve been a live band for so long, what was it like when you finally got into the studio?
RK: It’s strange because people think of us as a live band, but we did an EP that took the course of three years. I was up at school, living in the Adirondacks, and I would come back and just play a show every once in a while, not really knowing where all of this was going. But what I will say is Kick Out The Rocks was the first time I’ve felt like going into the studio and hammering something out.
JM: For me it was return-to-my-roots. When I lived in Geneva, my hometown, I was in another band, my friend and I, and we were setting up a studio. It was a very grassroots thing in a basement. I think we played four shows total, so all the time we were playing it was in the studio setting. So it was nice to go back to that. But it was a completely different experience because Blue Brick Recordings is a legitimate studio with different rooms and things set up. It was really fun to have the professional setting.
Jared Cowen – Guitar/Vox – Scott Reill – Bass/Vox – Jager Soss – Drums/Vox
“An impressive musical and technical feat from start to finish. The opening track, “The Vision That I Can See,” is a jaw-dropping epic that really showcases the prowess of this band” – Baked Shrimp ‘Bubble Suit’
“Pig Hearts and Mechanical Parts” was released March 12, and is the single off of Baked Shrimp‘s second studio album Conscious, set for release on March 26th, 2021. The new single features Nick Rufolo on saxophone, trumpet, and keyboards. The track also features Jager Soss on percussion.
March Madness 2021 Lark Hall Region: Albany’s mid-size music venue.
Organ Fairchild – Buffalo, New York.
Joe Bellanti – organ, keys – Corey Kertzie – drums – Dave Ruch – guitar
Organ Fairchild is a musical party that won’t quit. Take your old-school organ trio (organ, guitar and drums), add dance-heavy grooves and adventurous jamming, and shake vigorously. Enjoy all night long.
“Jan. 2021 marks the release of single, “Seepin’,” from long-time Buffalo jam band veterans Organ Fairchild. Members have a history on the jam scene dating back 40 years.”
LISTEN to Organ Fairchild’s debut single below, from the forthcoming May 2021 album release! Mastered by Alan Evans of Soulive.
Don’t forget about our amazing sponsors:
Central New York promoters Creative Concertsbring together fans at venues, stretching from Albany to Rochester and Syracuse to Utica. Lark Hall is the soon to open mid-sized venue in Albany that will host bands of all sizes, events and more. If you need to market your show, event, band or brand, Rochester’s Balbert Marketing has you covered. Need merchandise? Homegrown Eastern New York’s 518 Prints makes quality goods for local, regional and national bands or tours. High Peaks Event Production is a team with years of experience, aiding in all your stage, lighting and sound demands.JamCast proves high quality streams for bands, podcasts and much more. Between these companies, bands will find a great deal of what they need, and support businesses from across New York and the Northeast.
On April 11, Ryan Montbleau will team up with Inclusion Dining & Jams to provide a musical experience that acknowledges people of all abilities. Inclusion Dining provides a sensory-friendly restaurant experience intended to accommodate those with autism and other special needs. In addition to Montbleau’s performance, there will also be sensory-friendly music, yoga-inspired dance, collaborative art, sing-alongs, and much more.
Ryan Montbleau’s empowering messages within his music make him a positive outlet in this time of darkness. He has mastered a balance between rock and roll energy with folk introspection. Montbleau dedicates his work to providing hope for those going through hard times. The artist’s inspiring mantra has particularly helped individuals with disabilities feel included.
Presented by Accessible Festivals, this inclusive event at MusikFest Café has been designed for people of all disabilities. The dining experience includes menu items for special diets, modified picture menus, social stories to support ordering and waiting, table-top activities, and therapists on site. Also, Inclusion Dining & Jams will be following health and safety procedures due to COVID-19. These regulations consist of practicing social distancing, mask requirement, temperature check before entry, and enhanced cleaning procedures.
Tickets are now available for purchase here. For folks outside of Bethlehem, a donation-based livestream will be occurring to join in on the evening. The show and livestream will have accessibility features that include visual, auditory, cognitive, physical, and sensory. Live ASL interpreters, captions, and audio and image descriptions will be available as well.
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 Fine Grain, Joe Mansmen and many more!
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’s EQXposure starts with Cameron Clark’s “Martha and her Tin Soldier.” This incredible tune is full of clever twists and glitches. Super creative, it is as if St. Vincent went even deeper and stretched beyond the catchy ear worms to make some true art.
Fine Grain are gearing up for the release of their brand new full length LP, Missing Adult on Thursday, March 25th. Mixed and recorded in Brunswick, NY, Fine Grain’s post-punk brilliance runs deep with exceptional songwriting and performances of every member of the band. Some musicians are simply meant to play together and it’s only that specific combination that makes the sound so pure and authentically them. Fine Grain is that band. “Missing Adult” is as exciting as it is cool.
Joe Mansmen and the Midnight Revival have a new single “Renegade Love” that hits the airwaves one day before the release of their brand new LP Renegadez. Glam rock may have taken a nap, but Joe Mansmen and the Midnight Revival band has unleashed the beast that laid dormant in all the tight paints cut up t-shirts to revive a style that was everyone’s favorite even though the feared admitting the raw visceral attraction to the pleasing distorted guitars and massive beats.
With venues and small businesses facing financial strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, innovative ideas have been keeping the lights. One such idea comes from lighting designer and electrician Chris Stowell, who has announced plans for an East Coast bike tour to help raise money for Stage Notes theatre company in Watertown, NY.
An original member of Stage Notes, Stowell’s appreciation for theatre turned into a profession. Founded in 2009 and a staple of Watertown, Stage Notes has produced fourteen musicals and donated $50,000 to local organizations. Knowing what they have done for the community, it was an easy decision for Stowell to do the tour down the East Coast to ensure that Stage Notes can continue to harbor young thespians.
The bike tour was something Stowell had always wanted to do but Stage Notes gave him a reason and a purpose to do it. With so many theatres losing money due to the pandemic, he realized this would be a perfect opportunity to raise money. The local theatre company provides an enriching, non-competitive environment in which students can further develop an appreciation for musical theatre.
The fundraiser bike tour will run for 3,000 miles and kicks off on April 1, 2021. Stowell will be taking donations for the theatre company and is happy to accept any amount. For every $1 donated Stowell will let the person give him a song recommendation for him to add to his playlist. He’ll be listening to this playlist throughout the tour. People who donate $5 can send him 6 songs.
Chris Stowell
People can follow Chris Stowell’s tour and donate here on his website or follow his other socials on Instagram and Twitter at chrisonbiketour. People can also make donations directly to Stage Notes on their website and get more information on their past performances.
Like many musicians, Jason Pariseau has been writing a lot of music over the past year. And as some artists discover, what they write may not fit with their current group and they branch out from there. For Pariseau, this meant that while some songs fit the mold for his group Periodic Table of Elephants (PToE), some had an alternative/indie rock sound. Thus, The Ribbon Project was born.
Pariseau wrote songs that were inspired by artists like The National, Bear’s Den, Novo Amor, and others, with “Medicine” the first of the new batch. Since the process to record these songs took a while due to the collaborative process, he decided to release these one-by-one, instead of waiting for an all at once EP release.
With a small pile of acoustic folk songs and a great deal of potential for them, Pariseau took the idea to Josh Pettinger at Wicked Squid Studios. They talked about the best way to approach the project, and instead of trying to synthesize everything in the studio, Pettinger encouraged him to lean on the local music scene in Rochester. When Pariseau started reaching out, the response was overwhelmingly positive.
As an indie-acoustic project featuring various musicians from the Rochester area, The Ribbon Project features PToE drummer Sean Scanlon on all tracks. For “Medicine,” Jason and Sean are joined by Joel Boyer (banjo), Arjun Baxter (upright bass), Ian Downey (cello), and Darren DeWispelaere (trumpet).
With the feedback received from the first song, Pariseau is looking to bring The Ribbon Project to a live audience sometime later this summer. Still, the group of musicians have not played together in person just yet.
The way the first song came together far exceeded my expectations. And, what has been an interesting approach is that at no time have all of these musicians been together to play the song. Everything was done digitally by sharing tracks and ideas, then having each person come into the studio one-by-one to record their parts. Once one person was done, I’d send the track to the next person, and they would add on their layers. Each person building on the previous person’s track. It’s been a fantastic project. The next song is about 50% done, and will include a different group of musicians.
While the next evolution of PToE will be a step back from 90s punk, and pay homage to other 90s bands like Hum, Failure and Our Lady Peace, The Ribbon Project will set forth on an indie route, adding to the rich music scene waiting to burst open once again in the Flower City.
Catch Pariseau perform virtually at “Homegrown Presents: Going Green Party” streamed from Lovin’ Cup in Rochester. The stream kicks off at 2pm on Saturday, March 20th.
