The Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam at Flushing Town Hall will celebrate its 10th Anniversary on October 13, 2021. In celebration of the occasion Flushing Town Hall’s current house jazz band will be joined by members of Queens Jazz OverGround on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 7 PM EST.
The monthly jam started back in October of 2011 as an educational program in collaboration with the Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College. The program existed in order to provide a platform for young jazz musicians to play music together. Three years into the program’s formation the monthly jam transformed into a program for amateur and professional musicians and public audiences under the lead of Queens Jazz OverGround.
Flushing Town Hall’s Director of Education & Public Programs, Gabrielle M. Hamilton spoke on the creation of the monthly Jazz Jam saying, “Shortly after I joined Flushing Town Hall, we were able to launch our first Jazz Jam and Clinic in October 2011. Our partnership with Queens College provided graduate music students with an opportunity to jam together locally and educate young musicians in Jazz. A few years later, the jam expanded to reach more musicians under the leadership of Brian Woodruff and Queens Jazz OverGround (QJOG).”
Hamilton also announced that some of the QJOG original members will be joining the stage with Carol Sudhalter, Joe Vincent Tranchina, Eric Lemmon, and Scott Neumann — our current house band, to acknowledge ten years of great Jazz right here in Flushing for the 10th anniversary.
The band at the 10th anniversary celebration will feature Josh Deutsch on trumpet (founding member, Queens Jazz OverGround), Hashem Assadullahi on alto saxophone (current member, Queens Jazz OverGround), Amanda Monaco on guitar (founding member, Queens Jazz OverGround), Eugenia Choe on piano (current member, Queens Jazz OverGround), Richard Mikel on bass and Brian Woodruff on drums (founding and current member, Queens Jazz OverGround).
The celebration will take place in person at the historic building in Queens on Wednesday, October 13 at 7 PM EST. Admission is $10 or free to members. In adherence with Mayor De Blasio’s Covid policy for performance venues, Flushing Town Hall will require all visitors, performers, and staff to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. A form of identification that matches the proof of vaccine is required, and masks must be worn at all times. For more details on Flushing Town Hall’s general Covid-safety measures and vaccine requirements, please visit here.
For more information on the Flushing Town Hall’s Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam 10th Anniversary event visit their website.
On October 5, 1990, Phish performed at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, an overlooked show that was part of the group’s formative years as they hit college markets across the Northeast. The Skidmore Gymnasium, today a part of the Williamson Sports Center, served as the venue for this all-ages show, which was part of Skidmore’s Oktoberfest Weekend.
The numbered tickets for the show read “Oktoberfest Weekend 1990 Continues!! The Class of 1991 Presents: Phish In Concert with Conjunction Junction,” and cost $10. For $15, you could also see NRBQ perform the next day, along with Projectile of Love, all part of the same week-long event. The fall Friday afternoon brought college students and their friends to Upstate New York for the show.
Phish was slowly making their way out of Vermont and into New York State, stopping in Saratoga Springs for the first time in March of 1990 to play at Aikos, then located on Caroline Street. For those in the know, and perhaps those who caught Phish at Pauly’s Hotel in May 1989, it was becoming obvious that Phish was a band whose reputation was building fast. By the fall, they had begun to play college gyms around the Northeast. And for the crowd of 300 or so fans, they had plenty of room to move around, but still had to deal with the gym getting warm due to to heaters in gym being on – you can hear calls for air conditioning that can be heard after “Stash.”
The door on the right was the main entrance to the show – photo by Mike Hoganphoto by Mike Hogan
While the show doesn’t spark much discussion or replay, there are a few notable aspects to the show. The opener “I Didn’t Know” jumps out as a random opener, but the song would open sets as early as 1988, sometims with Fishman on trombone instead of vacuum. If you were ever looking for the lyrics to “I Am Hydrogen”, the line “I walk awakening on the misty fields of forever” is included in the intro, while both “Ya Mar” and “Alumni Blues” each have extended guitar intros. One lucky fan who was calling the Phish hotline all summer, asking them to play “The Curtain” at Skidmore was rewarded for their persistence.
courtesy of Skidmore College archives courtesy of Skidmore College archives courtesy of Skidmore College archives courtesy of Skidmore College archives
Mike Hogan attended the show, and shares his recollections of the night:
It was a beautiful fall afternoon and some of my friends traveled from various parts of New England to come see the show with me in Saratoga at Skidmore college. The show opened with an oddly placed “I Didn’t Know,” followed by a lively “Mike’s Song/Weekapaug” with the additional lyrics as I always thought they were, ”I walk awakening in the misty fields of Rather,” although the show notes say otherwise. Other highlights included “Fee” and “The Asse Festival” and “Possum.”
Looking back on the setlist, a very solid show that I’ve always enjoyed listening to. A few years back, Kevin Shapiro (Phish archivist) had asked me about this show. He had Trey’s date book and all that was written in it was Saratoga. It had no sense of the venue or setlist. I was able to provide him a bootleg copy.
One final thought on the ticket stub above. They took everyone’s ticket upon entry. After the show they had simply dropped them on the floor next to the door and I reached down and grabbed one. I wish I had grabbed a handful.
Matt Hogan
Just three years later, Phish would be playing their first show at Red Rocks in Colorado.
Phish – Skidmore Gymnasium, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY – Friday, October 5, 1990
Set 1: I Didn’t Know, Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen[1] > Weekapaug Groove, My Sweet One, The Landlady, Tela > The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg, Stash, The Asse Festival, Bouncing Around the Room > Run Like an Antelope
Set 2: Golgi Apparatus > The Curtain > Ya Mar, Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues, Uncle Pen, Split Open and Melt, Fee > Possum[2]
Encore: Good Times Bad Times
[1] “I walk awakening on the misty fields of forever” lyrics. [2] Charlie Chan and Popeye signals.
The beginning of Hydrogen included the lyrics “I walk awakening on the misty fields of forever.” Possum contained Charlie Chan and Popeye signals.
An interview with Trey (Tray) and Mike from Phish in the Skidmore News, 10/10/90. Courtesy of Mike Greenhaus.
The world premiere at the New York City Ballet Fall Fashion Gala has broken records and barriers. Lido Pimienta, one of the few female composers in the Company as well as the first-ever composer of color and made her world debut on stage on September 30th.
Contemporary choreographer Andrea Miller (GALLIM) had Pimienta perform the piece live on stage with the company complete with five additional presentations run through October 12 at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Thanks to this year’s Gala co-chairs like Sarah Jessica Parker, Georgina Bloomberg, Laverne Cox, Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy, Diane Kruger, Mazdack and Zanna Rassi, Deborah Roberts and Al Roker, and Jordan Roth we can expect to break more barriers as time passes.
Pimienta’s rise to fame with Miller was featured in the NY Times this week for their historic partnership with New York City Ballet. Want to see more of her? Her fall tour will take place at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on October 15 with performances with Sylvan Esso including two nights at Terminal 5 in NYC on November 15 and 16. If you won’t be in the city you can find her making her debut at Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN this February.
Limienta earned her first GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nomination with her 2020 release of Miss Colombia (ANTI-). This multi talented star has heads turning from the NY Times, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, NPR and far beyond. Her debut album, La Papessa, also won Canada’s prestigious Polaris Prize and performed at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony. Pimienta talent is limitless dipping from a composer, prolific visual artist, and electrifying live performer earning her collabs with Bomba Estereo and Ricky Reed.
An old saying — part marketing tool, part observation based on the group’s lyrical content — “Wu Tang is for the Children” is proving itself to be true after all. Throughout their decorated history, the Wu Tang Clan has impacted music, culture, television, fashion and now — nearly 30 years after their debut — the Clan is still impacting today’s school-children.
As first reported in NYSUT UNITED, the Wu have developed a new legion of followers and they refer to themselves as the “Depew-Tang Clan.” Amidst the pandemic, Depew Middle School teacher, Joe Cena, noticed that less than half of his eight grade students were completing their independent reading requirements. As remote learning conditions prevented teachers from having a hands-on connection with their students, Cena acted desperately.
To motivate students, Cena created a prestigious “Wu Wall” where students would earn a spot whenever they completed an assignment or quiz. Cena didn’t stop there, he also ordered a bunch of Wu Tang themed stickers and magnets, took pictures of the children and used an online name generator to give them their official Wu Tang Clan names.
As silly as it is, it definitely increased their motivation to read books.
Joe Cena
The Wu’s impact on Depew Middle School didn’t end there, as Cena began to explain the art of rhyming to the children using verses from the Clan. As part of the poetry unit, he presented the song “Triumph” with color-coded lyrics to explain the intricacies of rhyme patterns.
Although Depew operates inconspicuously as part of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolis, Cena’s innovate and creative efforts to motivate his students did not go unnoticed.
As part of an effort to have Cena recognized, student, Aleigha Sharpe, secretly reached out to several members of the Clan. Writing,
As everyone knows, due to COVID-19 school hasn’t been the same. But my English teacher has put so much effort to make this year for his students the best and memorable.
Aleigha Sharpe
Unsure if she would get a reply, Sharpe was shocked to receive a personalized message from Method Man himself, shouting out the Depew Middle School and Joe Cena. The Ticallian Stallion even bestowed Cena with his own personalized Wu nickname, labeling him, “Excessive Gallant,” as he congratulated the teacher for his continued efforts towards educating the children.
I want to shout out Depew-Tang Clan… and also especially Joe Cena. AKA Excessive Gallant. I love what you are doing over there. You’re keeping learning fun and you’re including Wu – Tang. Salute to you, brother. Hats off!
Method Man
Cena’s students presented him with the Method Man response video and the English teacher was visibly touched from the gesture. Holding back a smile and plenty of emotions, Cena was in disbelief to hear Method Man say his name.
Trey Anastasio Band officially closed out their fall tour with back-to-back shows at Radio City Music Hall over Saturday, October 2nd and Sunday October 3rd. It was the group’s first performance at the legendary venue since 2018’s ” A Concert for Island Relief,” where TAB teamed up with Dave Matthews Band and more to raise money for hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
photo by Rene Heumer
This year’s Radio City shows arrived during a similarly turbulent time for both the world and Trey Anastasio Band. Despite the band’ precautions, the lineup was drastically affected by COVID – 19. First came the loss of Jennifer Hartswick to a mild case of the virus, which put the rest of the brass section in quarantine. Then, shortly before a Columbus, Ohio show, Russ Lawton tested positive as well. Thus, on Saturday night, TAB performed as a five piece, with Jon Fishman again stepping in for Lawton.
As Ray Paczkowski put it:
We thought about it like, half the band is TAB, half the band is Phish. And we want it to sound like something that isn’t quite either.
Though powerhouses like Hartswick and Russ Lawton were impossible not to miss, the tapered-down nature of the band allowed TAB the freedom to improvise. The set stayed playful and experimental throughout, and Jon Fishman’s presence behind the drum kit felt familiar while adding a layer of mystery.
Furthermore, a smaller band gave newer members an opportunity to shine. Bassist Dezron Douglas joined the band this fall with enormous shoes to fill after the tragic loss of Tony Markellis. Markellis, who joined Trey’s earliest solo project in 1998, was a force of nature and a steady heartbeat within the band. Though Markellis remains one-of-a-kind, Douglas’ jazz roots and dexterous abilities add a new element to TAB. Reportedly, Russ Lawton specifically requested working with Douglas as the band sought a new bassist for this tour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KklDY5VjUkI
Douglas, who studied at the Hartford Conservatory of Music with Hartswick, brings the life and freedom of jazz to his masterful electric bass work. A classically trained double-bassist who first heard Phish in high school, he embodies the timeless quality of TAB’s music. No matter how many times TAB has performed a song, it never feels the same. Their music, like their ensemble, grows and changes as the years go on.
With their rendition of “Mr. Completely” thoroughly embodying their ability to rejuvenate old classics. Highlights included Douglas’ perfect syncopation on bass to Cyro Baptista’s insane percussion break, where he built a beat out of bird calls as the rest of the band went silent. The energy in the audience marked a TAB show at its very best; fans of all ages focused on letting a rhythm take them, dancing their hearts out together. For some 20-odd minutes, the harmony rang throughout the audience.
Despite setbacks along the road and the constraints of touring during COVID-19, the TAB live experience was fully intact at Radio City. After their hiatus from the venue, TAB offered a little bit of everything, from a heartwrenching Paczkowski/Anastasio duet of “Shade” to crowd favorite “Twist.” The packed house got a joyous and poignant set that honored those missing and welcomed new (and familiar) faces back again. As Paczkowski said, the goal was to create something a little TAB, a little Phish, but also new and singular. By the time TAB landed on classic closer “First Tube,” the crowd dancing madly in the aisles, it was clear that job was done.
The final evening of Trey Anastasio Band’s 2021 tour was a Sunday to remember. The revolving cast of musicians included Trey Anastasio and Jon Fishman’s first time together on the infamous stage at Radio City since Spring of 2000. It’s important to understand the level of composition versus improvisation Trey’s music takes on for whomever joins him on stage. Keyboardist Ray Packzkowski, percussionist Cyro Baptista and bassist Dezron Douglas were all the right cats to join in the moment at Rockefeller.
A nod to the NYC subways helped the show open with “Get Back on the Train.” Having Cyro add another layer of percussion to Fishman’s grooves all night was reminiscent of Phish’s Halloween’s shows in Atlantic City 2010 with Giovanni Hidalgo and Atlanta 1996 with Karl Perrazo. Dezron Douglas’ bottom end locked in with them served up the funkiest “Moma Dance” to date that clocked in over 20 minutes. “Undermind” also included heavy drum grooves with Jon and Cyro exploring all of the skins in front of them. “Ocelot,” “Set Your Soul Free” and a chilling set closing “Dark and Down” helped wrap up a complete jam heavy 6-song set.
The second set opened the Art Deco venue with Tony Markellis’ infamous bass line to “Sand” This ensemble really had all three mezzanines grooving immediately. Paczkowski’s rig sounded as if it was coming from Radio City’s organ in the main theatre, the largest instrument ever built by the Wurlitzer company. “Everything’s Right” served up the longest layer of improvisation clocking in at over 35 minutes of sound stretching out to the grand foyer. Ups, downs, ins and outs… it was hair raising. Trey returned to his Upper West Side abode for “Lonely Trip” and never “Never Left Home,” recorded solo during his NYC quarantine. Dezron Douglas’ bass line sounds like jelly jam to Trey’s lyrics on this. “Oh, I’ll never be halted, I always shall roam. Oh, scaling the cliffs and enjoying the view” The band then closed the show with a dark and extended “Carini.”
The encore was full of special dedications and moments to TAB members current and past. Trey let the crowd know that members Russ Lawton, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, Coachema Gastelum and James Casey were all in good health and on the mend despite their absence. A soul Sunday nod to Markellis was sent out to the theater as well. Trey appropriately performed “Strange Design” and “Backwards Down the Number Line” on the acoustic guitar to reference all these friends as part of the tour’s ever changing ride.
He then invited special guest James Casey to the stage in hand with alto soprano sax for backing vocals on the last three songs. “Evolve” “Rise/Come Together” and “Life Beyond a Dream” Casey’s sax blew like Branford under the great proscenium arch that sits above the stage. All three songs’ message is saturated in positivity and optimism towards whatever life can throw at you. Love is the message here. “We’re all looking for a little more love to shine a light and lift us up,” “Don’t give up hope. Keep on dreaming.”
Trey Anastasio Band – Radio City Music Hall, New York City – Sunday, October 3, 2021
Set 1: Back on the Train > The Moma Dance, Undermind > Ocelot, Set Your Soul Free, Dark and Down
Set 2: Sand, Everything’s Right, Lonely Trip, I Never Left Home > Carini
Encore: Strange Design [1], Backwards Down the Number Line[1], Evolve [2], Rise/Come Together [3], A Life Beyond The Dream[3] [1] Trey solo acoustic. [2] With James Casey on saxophone. [3] With James Casey on additional vocals and saxophone.
Turkuaz has announced they are cancelling a majority of their Fall 2021 tour dates, citing health risks and logistics for the 9-piece Brooklyn-based touring band.
The band made the following statement on their Facebook page:
To All Our Fans,
We have made the extremely difficult decision to cancel much of our upcoming Fall Tour.
While the dates we had set out on this past August were primed to be an exciting return, there were many challenges we encountered in facing the reality of touring in these adverse conditions. Between unforeseen cancelations, health and safety risks, and logistical travel concerns, touring in this ever-changing reality proved to be very difficult. The resulting impact has forced us to take a hard look at our ability to go back out on tour while we are still facing these same issues and more, including continued public health concerns.
Touring is our life, and performing live for our fans is the best part of our job. This makes the realities we’re facing disappointing, but unfortunately necessary. The dates remaining are a result of reexamining what is logistically feasible, and keeps the many moving pieces in a band and touring operation of our size safe and secure. To the friends and fans in the cities that we must cancel, please know that we WILL be back! It’s just going to be a bit longer than we’d hoped for.
Refunds for all tickets purchased to all cancelled dates will be issued from the original point of purchase. Below is a list of tour dates that are still occurring. All Remain In Light performances will continue as planned. We’re grateful to our fans for understanding this decision and the difficult situation. Thank you for your continued support.
Remaining Turkuaz 2021 Fall Tour dates
10.28.21 Washington, DC: 9:30 Club* 10.29.21 New York, NY: Webster Hall* 10.30.21 New York, NY: Webster Hall* 10.31.21 Live Oak, FL: Suwanee Hulaween^ 11.04.21 Burlington, VT: Higher Ground* 11.05.21 Boston, MA: Big Night Live* 11.06.21 Portland, ME: State Theater* 12.11.21 Denver, CO: Mission Ballroom~ 12.29.21 Philadelphia, PA: Brooklyn Bowl 12.30.21 Hartford, CT: Infinity Hall 12.31.21 Hartford, CT: Infinity Hall 01.23-25.22 Riviera Maya, MEX: Panic En La Playa 01.28-29.22 Miami, FL: North Beach Bandshell 04.29.22 New Orleans, LA: Joy Theater^ 05.05.22 New Orleans, LA: Tipitina’s
* w/ Thumpasaurus ^ Remain In Light w/ Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew ~ w/ Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
After a three-year touring hiatus, LA-based rock band Dead Sara finally returned to NYC on Friday, October 1st.
The excitement for Dead Sara’s return was palpable at Bowery Ballroom. As the stage got set up, fans watched the process attentively. Their eyes stayed glued to the stage even as the crew performed mundane tasks like taping the setlist down. The moment they saw the crew give a thumbs-up signal to the sound staff, cheers erupted.
Frontwoman Emily Armstrong captivated her audience with her powerful vocals and hypnotizing stage presence. The audience reacted positively, shouting out their approval after each song.
The band performed “Heroes,” “Hypnotic,” and “Good Times” amongst other tracks off of their first full-length album since 2015, Ain’t It Tragic.
What truly made the night memorable was when Armstrong spotted an American flag in the crowd. She began singing the National Anthem as a joke — much to her surprise, the crowd immediately joined in and belted the entirety of the anthem back to Armstrong. She flipped the bird and nailed a massive stage jump as she transitioned back into Dead Sara discography, cementing her as a modern rockstar.
On October 2nd, Janet Evra performed her concert “A Night in Paris” to a sold out crow at the Seneca One Auditorium in Buffalo. This was a big moment for JazzBuffalo as it was their first use of the auditorium.
Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Janet Evra along with guitarist Will Buchanan, sax and flutist David and drummer Tim Moore created a wonderful night of jazz that took the audience to Paris. Evra’s voice was soothing and pure. Plus, her ability to play the bass was equally as flawless.
With this performance, the audience at Seneca One was taken on a beautiful journey through songs by Miles Davis, Édith Piaf as well as Janet Evra originals. Those originals, Evra has been eager to play since pre-pandemic times. Tony Zambito, Executive Director of JazzBuffalo, said it best “The future of jazz is in good hands.”
Janet Evra and company provided an amazing night of music that was just what Buffalo needed.
Setlist: Comment te Dire Adieu, C’est Si Bon, Que Reste-t-il, Baila, Dream a Little Dream of Me, Solar, Paris, La Vie en Rose, Koop Island Blues, La Mer, Zou Bisou Bisou.
Photo by Samantha Rychlicki Photo by Samantha RychlickiPhoto by Samantha Rychlicki
Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Photo by Samantha Rychlicki Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Photo by Samantha Rychlicki Photo by Samantha Rychlicki Photo by Samantha RychlickiPhoto by Samantha Rychlicki Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
LCD Soundsystem will return to Brooklyn Steel for a 20 show residency, starting November 23rd. Marking the groups first performances since 2018, the run will extend through December 21, for an unprecedented string of shows.
The residency comes on the July announcement from James Murphy that the group was on a ‘full hiatus,’ while on WTF with Marc Maron. At the time, Murphy said:
Right now, we’re on a full hiatus. Because of the nature of the band, when we’re not touring, we’re just, like, back to normal life completely… Everyone does other stuff. Everyone has their own things going on. So for us to put [a new record] together, we just kind of have to decide to do it.
James Murphy
LCD Soundsystem held their now-legendary farewell concert at Madison Square Garden on April 2, 2011, with a live album of the show, The Long Goodbye, being released shortly after.
Murphy spoke to Pitchfork recently on how COVID-19 affected his music:
Not being able to play live was fine because we probably wouldn’t have been able to play live then. And I couldn’t make LCD music. It didn’t seem like the right thing to be doing at that moment for lots of reasons. You know, we’re kind of a party band about a grumpy old guy making songs about music and in the middle of a global pandemic of people dying, and in the middle of Black Lives Matter, it just didn’t seem like, “You know what everybody needs right now? Another snarky LCD Soundsystem record, that’s sort of what the world needs at this moment.”
Tickets for all 20 shows go on general sale Friday, October 8 at 10am ET here, while fan pre-sale will begin on Wednesday, October 6 at 10am ET – learn more here.
LCD Soundsystem 2021 Dates:
November 23-24, 29-30 – Brooklyn Steel
December 1, 3-5, 7-9, 11-13, 15-17, 19-21 – Brooklyn Steel
SNL has returned for its 47th season, with Owen Wilson hosting and Kacey Musgraves as the musical guest.
The episode began with a cold open featuring prominent Democrats and what they’ve been up to in the offseason, including President Joe Biden and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cecily Strong stole the show as Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, as did Melissa Villaseñor as a post-Met-Gala AOC. In his opening monologue, Owen Wilson poked fun at the negative reviews he’s received from critics over the years.
One of the night’s strongest sketches was of a school board meeting derailed by conspiracy theories and critical race theory outrage. Alex Moffat and Ego Nwodim took on nearly the entire cast of SNL as unhinged parents and townspeople, each more absurd than the last.
Later, Kacey Musgraves took to the stage with new single “Justified.” The song kicks off the second act of her fourth studio album, star-crossed, which she conceived as a three-act Greek tragedy in album form. Every song references her 2020 divorce from fellow country singer Ruston Kelly, trading in her signature sass for sentimentality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0z7GH78oGo
Then, continuing their Weekend Update tenure, Michael Che and Colin Jost cracked jokes about missing white woman syndrome and R. Kelly. At the end of their set, Jost commended late SNL alum Norm MacDonald for inspiring him to do Weekend Update, leading into a montage of MacDonald’s best moments on the show. On September 14, 2021, MacDonald passed away from acute leukemia after privately battling the disease for nine years.
Finally, Kacey Musgraves closed out the episode with star-crossed’s biggest tearjerker, “Camera Roll.” Lyrically, the song is about looking back on a relationship with rose-tinted glasses after only preserving the good memories.
Kim Kardashian-West will be hosting next Saturday, with Halsey serving as the musical guest.
