Author: Pete Mason

  • Palace Theatre to Host Premiere of “Grapplin’ Greg: The Story of Greg Bell” in December

    The historic Palace Theatre in Albany will host the premiere of an upcoming documentary that chronicles the story of a legendary promoter in the Capitol Region. ‘Grapplin’ Greg: The Story of Greg Bell’ will premiere on the big screen at the Palace Theatre on December 17 at 7:30pm, and will include a live performance from Eastbound Jesus.

    grapplin greg bell

    “Grapplin’ Greg: The Story of Greg Bell,” is directed by Frankie Cavone and produced by Kim Neaton, and gives an uncensored and (mostly) true look into one of the Capital Region’s most venerable live music lovers and concert promoters. Bell, owner of Guthrie Bell Productions, has worked with hundreds of bands in the past 30 years in the Capitol Region, among them moe., Ominous Seapods, and Twiddle, and hosted shows at numerous area venues included The Egg, Valentines, The Hollow, Putnam Place and The Palace Theatre.

    The evening will also feature a performance by Eastern New York northern rock group Eastbound Jesus.

    Tickets are $22, which includes the documentary screening and Eastbound Jesus performance. VIP tickets are $37 and include a ticket to the documentary screening, the Eastbound Jesus performance, exclusive event memorabilia, a pre-show reception from 6-7pm with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and drink specials.

    Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased or at the Palace Theatre Box Office (located at 19 Clinton Ave). Box Office hours are Monday – Friday 12-5pm as well as select days and hours for events and on sales.

  • World Music Institute Presents Habib Koité at City Winery on November 13

    Considered by Rolling Stone to be the biggest pop star from Mali, guitarist and composer Habib Koité has been called the biggest pop star in West Africa. He’ll perform at City Winery in Manhattan on Sunday, November 13, presented by World Music Institute.

    Habib Koité

    Hailing from the musically prolific West African nation of Mali, Habib Koité is a modern-day troubadour descended from a noble line of griots, from whom he inherited his passion for music. His grandfather played the kamele n’goni – a traditional string instrument associated with the legendary hunters from the Wassoulou region of Mali.

    Koité is perhaps best known for his danssa doso, a unique blend of local rhythms with traditional hunter’s music, and often plays his guitar on open strings in the style of a n’goni. His latest studio album Kharifa, released in 2019, was recorded in Bamako and is rich with the musical traditions and instruments of his country.

    Founded in 1985 as a not-for-profit, World Music Institute (WMI) has served as one of the leading presenters of world music and dance within the United States. WMI is committed to presenting the best in traditional and contemporary music and dance from around the world with the goal of inspiring wonder for the world’s rich cultural traditions, promoting awareness and appreciation and encouraging cross-cultural dialog and exchange. WMI presents at venues throughout the city and depends on both public and private funding to accomplish its mission. 

    The show on November 13 starts at 8pm, with doors at 6pm. Tickets are $30-45, available here.

  • Water Street Hall-O-Ween Show Featured Regional Bands in Musical Costumes

    The Water Street Hall-O-Ween show will take place on Friday, October 28, featuring local and regional Rochester bands have the opportunity to perform on the Hall stage, performing as another band. There will also be a haunted house in The Club, curated by Casey Arthur, as well as a costume contest.

    Water Street Halloween
    poster by Sadie May

    Water Street Music Hall is located alongside the Genesee River and has been Rochester’s premier music venue since 1999. With more than 20 years of shows with artists from Ashanti to St. Vincent, we look forward to continuing our mission of bringing the finest musical acts to the ROC.

    The lineup of bands and their musical costumes includes:

    The Sideways as Dua Lipa

    Spooky & The Truth as Fall Out Boy

    Personal Blend as Slightly Stoopid

    The Able Bodies as Hall and Oates

    Tickets for the Water Street Halloween show are available here.

  • Town Ballroom to Host moe.queous Halloween show and Afternoon Junior Jerry Jam

    moequeous, the supergroup featuring members of two influential jam bands who got their starts in the Queen City of Buffalo, will reunite for the second time ever at Buffalo’s Town Ballroom on Saturday, October 29.

    moequeous

    The musicians joining forces for this evening of music include moe. guitarist Al Schnier and drummer Vinnie Amico, alongside Aqueous’ guitarist Mike Gantzer, bassist Evan McPhaden and drummer Rob Houk.

    It’s a cool full circle thing to intertwine the AQ and moe. worlds so directly-Both bands have history at Town Ballroom and share strong roots being from Buffalo, too. There’s something really connective about that, and I’ve always felt a unique kinship and chemistry when making music or even just hanging with those guys. Much of AQ’s early inspiration came from seeing moe. too, so that should tell you just how truly special this will be!

    Mike Gantzer

    The Halloween show marks the second performance of the group, the first time featuring Aqueous’ Dave Loss, all of whom joined forces for a set in 2017.

    We love our boys in AQ almost as much as we love Buffalo! Last time we all got together for a moe.queous throw down, it was such an awesome amalgamation of our two bands, and we knew it was something we should definitely do more often. And this time it’s perfect – in Buffalo, Halloween weekend, Bills vs. Packers, Town Ballroom!! It doesn’t get much better than this (unless of course, Josh Allen is sitting in).

    Al Schnier

    Just added earlier in the day, a family friendly Soundcheck Costume Party with moe. and Aqueous will be held from 4:15-6pm, with entry to benefit the American Cancer Society while giving kids a chance to dance to your favorite music!

    Entry passes will be first come, first served. Attendees must be from the same household. A majority of the entry passes will go to families able to donate $100 or more. The remaining entry passes will go to families able to donate below $100. The entry request link will go live on October 25 at 4:00 pm EST. Those awarded entry will have 60 minutes to make their donation using the provided link or their entry will be released to the next family, so watch your inbox!

    Entry requests can be made here. Entry passes to the family friendly Soundcheck Costume Party does not include the moe.queous evening show. You do not need tickets to the moe.queous evening show to attend this event.

    Tickets for moequeous are on sale now. Find tickets here.

  • The Django Festival Allstars Fly into Birdland this November

    Over November 1-6, Birdland will be alive with “Hot Gypsy Jazz,” featuring the Django Festival Allstars. True virtuosos of Django’s style, The Allstars swing like crazy and will break your heart with a ballad, while carrying on Django’s legacy.

    Django Festival allstars birdland

    Called the “Hardest swinging band at The Newport Jazz Festival” by Downbeat Magazine, the lineup for the upcoming tour is a true family affair. Samson Schmitt (lead guitar) and part of the famous Schmitt French ‘gypsy’ Manouche musical family brings his 2 daughters Stefi (vocals), and Stenli (guitar/vocals). They’ll be joind by Ludovic Beier (accordion), Pierre Blanchard (violin), Antonio Licusati (bass), and Michael Harris (guitar).

    The Django Reinhardt Festival carries on the legacy of gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt with top players from Europe combined with America’s great jazz stars to bring joy to the public with its swinging sound, virtuosity, romantic melodies, and camaraderie amongst the musicians.

    The Django Reinhardt NY Festival was launched in 2000 and was the first-ever festival of its kind in America and established a home at the legendary club, Birdland, in New York City. 2022 will mark its 22nd anniversary, and it’s still going strong. The Festival is produced by Pat Philips, and founded by Pat Philips & Ettore Stratta.

    Django Festival Allstars shows at Birdland will be held on November 1-3 at 7 pm and 9:30 pm, while on November 4- 6, shows will start at 8:30pm and 10:30pm. More info on the Birdland shows can be found here.

    Django Festival Allstars Tour Dates

    October 30: Rosen Performing Arts Center, Wayne, NJ

    November 1-6: Birdland, NYC

    November 8: Boca Black Box, Boca Raton, Florida

    November 9: Faena Theatre, Miami, Florida

    November 12: Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild , Pittsburgh, PA

    November 13: Bach Dynamite & Dancing, Half Moon Bay, CA

    November 15: Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA

    November 18: Vitellos, Los Angeles, CA

    November 19: The 222, Healdsburg, CA

  • Twilight Zone Episode “Walking Distance” to be Performed by Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra on October 22

    The Binghamton Philharmonic will continue its season on Saturday, October 22 at 7:30pm at the Helen Foley Theatre at Binghamton High School with “Walking Distance.” The performance will celebrate notable Binghamtonian Rod Serling and the evocative incidential music of Bernard Herrmann for the Twilight Zone episode “Walking Distance.” 

    Conductor Michael McGehee, the Los Angeles-based conductor of the Hollywood Studio Orchestra, will lead the Binghamton Philharmonic. Southern Tier Actors Read, under the direction of Judy McMahon, will read Serling’s screenplay as the orchestra plays the incidental music.

    “Walking Distance” Conductor Michael McGehee

    The performance, permitted through a special rights agreement with CBS Broadcasting, will even include a mechanical carousel organ, courtesy of the Endicott Rotary Foundation.

    Binghamton Philharmonic Walking Distance
    “Walking Distance” director Judy McMahon

    Paul Cienniwa, Executive Director of The Binghamton Philharmonic, shares insight into the unique, one time performance, and what awaits the audience.

    Many associate Binghamton with the “Twilight Zone” television show and its creator, former Bennett Avenue resident Rod Serling. Those even more in the know are keenly aware that Serling’s autobiographical Twilight Zone screenplay, “Walking Distance,” was based on his Binghamton and our own Recreation Park. But did you know that the music for “Walking Distance” was created by one of the greatest film and television composers of all time? 

    Bernard Herrmann is probably most famous for his music for Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho.” His score for “Walking Distance” is anything but psychotic! Featuring 18 strings and harp, Herrmann evokes the nostalgia of Rod Serling’s Binghamton through several techniques, including: muted strings (a practice that creates a hazy, impressionist effect); “divisi” (at times, we are hearing nearly 18 separate lines in a lush texture); and, at the climax of the story, a repeated “circle of fifths” (an harmonic pattern that is both recognizable and endearing). 

    On October 22, conductor Michael McGehee, the Los Angeles-based conductor of the Hollywood Studio Orchestra, will lead the Binghamton Philharmonic. First, we’ll hear the incidental music by itself, arranged as a concert suite by McGee. Next, Southern Tier Actors Read, under the direction of Judy McMahon, will read Serling’s screenplay as the orchestra plays the incidental music in context. This is a perfect marriage of spoken word and music in the perfect setting: the Helen Foley Theatre at Binghamton High School, named for Serling’s drama teacher. 

    As many of you know, the Rec Park carousel plays a big role in “Walking Distance.” To bring our own performance to life, the Endicott Rotary Foundation will be providing a mechanical carousel organ. In addition, Two Rivers Photography Club will display a pre-concert slideshow of area carousels, using photos from their members. 

    Binghamton Philharmonic Walking Distance

    “Walking Distance” will be performed by the Binghamton Philharmonic on Saturday, October 22 at 7:30pm at Helen Foley Theatre at Binghamton High School, located at 31 Main Street, Binghamton. Pre-concert refreshments will be served from from 5:30pm-7:00pm at the Bundy Museum. For tickets and more information, contact the Binghamton Philharmonic box office at 607-723-3931 or visit binghamtonphilharmonic.org

    Southern Tier Actors (S.T.A.R.) Cast for “Walking Distance”

    Serling: James Michalec 
    Narrator: Nick De Lucia 
    Martin: Andy Horowitz 
    Soda Jerk I (Charlie): Jake Donlin 
    Boy With Marbles: Cameron Little 
    Woman At Park: Katherine Boczar 
    Young Martin: Jack Wolf 
    Mr. Sloan: Joe Bardales 
    Mrs. Sloan: Kathleen Cook 
    Old Man Wilson: Nick De Lucia 
    Teenage with Car: Jake Donlin 
    Soda Jerk II: Jake Donlin    

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knInuzVtAxU
  • Megan Thee Stallion Celebrates Degree, has “Anxiety,” during Second Stint hosting Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live‘s third show of the season featured a double threat with Megan Thee Stallion returning as both host and musical guest. Following Queen Latifah in 2004, this was only the second time a female rapper served as both host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live.

    Megan thee stallion Anxiety

    The show’s cold open featured a take on the January 6th Committee, with second-year player Sarah Sherman appearing as New York Senator Chuck Schumer negotiating for a pastrami sandwich delivery during the insurrection.

    Megan’s monologue was brief and allowed her to share one success over the summer, Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration from Texas Southern University, an HBCU. Before her career took off, Megan Thee Stallion’s was enrolled at Prairie View A&M, leading the rapper to joke that while her fans know her as Tina Snow, Suga and Hot Girl Meg, she can now be known as “Megan Thee girl that needs some sleep.” Stallion continued by saying “I got my degree in health administration because I have always wanted to help the people in my community. I believe it’s important to have a sharp mind and a sharp body-ody-ody.”

    Megan Thee Stallion also took a moment to plug the website she launched last month, called Bad Bitches Have Bad Days Too, which features mental health resources, crisis hotlines and directories of Black and LGBTQ therapists.

    The first sketch of the night put her degree to good use with “Hot Girl Hospital” where, joined by nurses Ego Nwodim and Punkie Johnson, they were “three everyday heroes glow up the community one dusty chick at a time.” The trio were on point together, with Nwodim standing out as the new female lead cast member thus far in the season.

    The first song of the evening, “Anxiety,” from her sophomore album Traumatize, had a Beauty Pageant vibe with Megan Thee Stallion and backup dancers all wearing formal dresses with sashes that read “Ms. Overlooked,” “Ms. Insecure,” “Ms. Overlooked,” “Ms. Underpaid,” and Megan wearing “Miss Anxiety.” Rapping about bad girls having bad days too, the emotional empowerment number struck a chord with fans online, and Megan, as she sang about the loss of her mother.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-44oNTMZws&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hJIPT5pF9qaRbn-n_yMU7b1&index=8

    A medley of “NDA” and “Plan B” were featured in the second performance of the night, with Megan wearing a black corset and cutout jeans, with knee length hair and a Cuban link chain, all whiile backed by a full rock band.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOj7FcM8-tU&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hJIPT5pF9qaRbn-n_yMU7b1&index=9

    Saturday Night Live is off this week and returns on October 29th for the annual Halloween show, with host and musical guest Jack Harlow, who previously was musical guest in 2021.

  • Fun Lovin’ Criminals return with “The Roosevelt Sessions”, National Tour in November

    Fun Lovin’ Criminals have released their first EP in more than a decade, The Roosevelt Sessions, with a national tour kicking off in November. The jazz-laden four-track cut is sprinkled with biting political satire, nostalgic samples that romanticize life in New York, and their signature world-weary commentary on rising above a life of crime.

    FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS roosevelt sessions

    The last album of original music from Fun Lovin’ Criminals was Classic Fantastic, released in 2010, and The Roosevelt Sessions gives fans a taste of the new Criminals sound ahead of more new music slated for release in 2023. The trio features multi-instrumentalist Brian ‘Fast’ Leiser on lead vocal duties following the departure of Huey Morgan in November last year; drummer Frank Benbini and guitarist Naim Cortazzi, formerly with the Manchester band Happy Mondays and soul star Beverley Knight, to restore the trio.

    “Shake It Loose”, the second track on the EP, addresses the mental health issues that inspired Fast and Frank to create new music and perform to their fans worldwide after the departure of Morgan.

    With silky backing vocals from Benbini, Fast, with his smokey Brooklyn drawl, laments, “back then you didn’t listen, to what was true, now it’s all we wanna hear from you. It’s not about right, it’s not about wrong.”

    Fun Lovin’ Criminals are entering a new chapter, with a steely focus on creating new music that our fans will love. Our new EP is a return to our gritty early days in NYC, particularly with the way the music has been composed. 

    Brian ‘Fast’ Leiser

    Fun Lovin’ Criminals began in 1993 after Brian ‘Fast’ Leiser met Huey Morgan at The Limelight nightclub in NYC. Their debut album Come Find Yourself reached no.7 in the UK charts and was certified Platinum in the UK and Gold in the Netherlands. The biggest hit “Scooby Snacks” contains dialogue from Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. The track peaked at no.12 in the UK singles chart in 1997 and was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in July 2022.

    Fun Lovin’ Criminals Fall Tour dates can be found below, with the tour kicking off in Boston on November 3, and stopping in their hometown of Brooklyn on November 4 at Elsewhere.

    FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS roosevelt sessions
  • Amina Figarova Sextet brings Elite Jazz Artists to Kleinhans Music Hall on November 11

    Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo will welcome the much-anticipated appearance of the Amina Figarova Sextet at the Art of Jazz Series taking place Friday, November 11 at 8pm. This elite ensemble of jazz artists feature individuals who not only excel as a band member but also as composer and bandleader in their own right.

    Amina Figarova Sextet

    During the past 20 plus years, Art of Jazz has earned a reputation as one of the premier jazz series in North America. Some of the best artists, composers, and arrangers in jazz present unique musical projects featuring GRAMMY winners and nominees, as well as competition winners. 

    Amina Figarova Sextet

    The Amina Figarova Sextet is led by Azerbaijan-born and New York-based Amina Figarova, an internationally influenced and recognized composer, pianist, and bandleader. Throughout the past 20 years, Figarova’s sextets have displayed remarkable chemistry that brings her detailed arrangements to life. Members of the sextets have included GRAMMY winners and nominees. Their dedication to Figarova’s powerful compositions gives the sextet a depth of feeling and unique elite status. The Amina Figarova Sextet has been a hit at major festivals like the Newport Jazz Festival and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

    In addition to Amina Figarova, the Amina Figarova Sextet will include:

    Bart Platteau

    Bart Platteau is unique among jazz flutists for a number of reasons, most significantly because he is the only one known to perform almost exclusively — 90% of the time — on the Flute d’Amore, pitched in Bb. Ideal for jazz playing, avoiding the potential shrillness of the concert flute and the projection problems of the alto.

    Amina Figarova Sextet

    Originally from Belgium, Bart Platteau studied at the Brussels Conservatory and earned his master’s in Jazz Performance at the Rotterdam Conservatory, including one semester at the Berklee College of Music where he met pianist/composer Amina Figarova who became his partner. He has since managed, toured, and recorded extensively with her sextet. After several years as the primary teacher for jazz flute performance at the Rotterdam Conservatory as well as at the Roosendaalse Music school in the Netherlands, Platteau moved to New York and has continued to play concerts all over Europe, North and South America, the Middle East,  Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Africa.

    Wayne Escoffery

    Since moving to New York City in 2000, tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery has become one of the Jazz world’s most talented rising stars and in-demand sidemen. He has recorded four CDs as a leader and has been on numerous recordings as a sideman. Wayne began his professional New York career touring and recording with The Eric Reed Septet. In 2001 he became a steady member of the Mingus Big Band/Orchestra/Dynasty, The Lonnie Plaxico Group, and Abdulah Ibrahim’s Akaya. Then in 2004 Grammy award-winning producer, arranger and trumpeter Don Sickler asked Wayne to be a part of Ben Riley’s Monk legacy Septet.

    Amina Figarova Sextet

    At this time Wayne was also touring with Jazz At Lincoln Center’s Music, and in 2006 Wayne secured one of the most coveted gigs in jazz: a frontline position in Tom Harrell’s working quintet. Wayne has been fortunate enough to study with some of the greatest jazz musicians in the world, including Jackie McLean, Ron Carter, George Coleman, Clark Terry, and Barry Harris. He also has first-hand experience playing with word class jazz musicians such as Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter. Wayne also leads his own group and performs internationally with The Mingus Band and Abdullah Ibrahim. He has experience introducing music to all ages and has learned the history of American Music from many of the innovators of the last five decades.

    Freddie Hendrix

    Trumpeter, composer, and arranger Freddie Hendrix, originally from Teaneck, New Jersey, has worked his way steadily during the last couple of decades to achieve his current position within the top echelon of first-call musicians whether it be as a jazz soloist, lead trumpeter or section player within a big band. His latter skill is borne out by his repeat employment with the archetypal ‘swing machine’, the Count Basie Orchestra which he re-joined in 2010 having left at the end of 2007 to work with pop star and actress Alicia Keys for her 2008 ‘As I Am’ world tour, performing 105 shows in over 30 countries.

    Possessing a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in music performance, Freddie’s jazz credentials are extensive! His experience includes performances and recordings with The Grammy-winning Christian McBride Big Band, Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, The legendary Jimmy Heath Big Band and Quintet, (VJO) Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, George Gee Swing Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra, Roy Hargrove Big Band, Nicholas Paytonʼs TSO (Television Studio Orchestra), Frank Foster’s Loud Minority Big Band, the legendary Illinois Jacquet Big Band, Mike Longo Big Band, Rufus Reid Quintet/Nonet, Billy Harper Quintet, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Bobby Watson’s Horizon Band, Mulgrew Miller’s Wingspan, Oliver Lake Organ Quartet, Organist Melvin Davis, T.S.Monk Sextet, Cecil Brooks III CB3 band, and the David Krakauer/Fred Wesley group ‘Abraham Inc’. Above all, Freddie has emerged as one of the music’s exciting players – an amalgam of great trumpeters such as Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Lee Morgan, and Clifford Brown. A charismatic personality displaying sure-footedness in his full-toned phrasing and sense of swing. His versatility and superb hold their own in a variety of settings, from R&B, pop, and jazz.

    Luques Curtis

    Luques Curtis was born in 1983 in Hartford, CT. After having formal training in piano and percussion, he found himself wanting to play the bass. Luques studied at the Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Arts, Artist Collective, and Guakia with Dave Santoro, Volcan Orham, Nat Reeves, Paul Brown, and others. With his talent and hard work, he earned a full scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College Of Music in Boston. There he studied with John Lockwood and Ron Mahdi. While in Boston he was also able to work with great musicians such as Gary Burton, Ralph Peterson, Donald Harrison, Christian Scott, and Francisco Mela.

    Now living in the New York area, Mr. Curtis has been performing worldwide with Eddie Palmieri, Stefon Harris, Christian Scott, Sean Jones, Orrin Evans, Christian Sands, and others. He is the recipient of the 2016 Down Beat Rising Star Bassist on the Critics Poll and also received the Ralph Bunche Fellowship to complete his Master’s Degree at the Mason Gross School of the Arts. He co-owns a record label called Truth Revolution Records alongside his brother, Zaccai. They have five releases under “Curtis Brothers” with the most recent being “Algorithm”. Luques was also part of Brian Lynch’s Grammy-winning CD “Simpatico” and his Grammy-nominated “Madera Latino” as well as Christian Scott’s Grammy-nominated CD “Rewind That”. He also produced Grammy-nominated “Entre Colegas” by Andy Gonzalez. You can hear him on Eddie Palmieri’s “Sabiduria” and “Mi Luz Mayor”; Gary Burton’s “Next Generations”; Dave Valentin’s “Come Fly With Me”; Sean Jones’ “Im*Pro*Vise”,” Roots”,” Kaleidoscope”, and “The Search Within”; Orrin Evans’ CD “Faith In Action”. As a sideman, Luques Curtis has participated in over 100 recordings.

    Rudy Royston

    Born in Fort Worth, Texas, and raised in Denver, Colorado, Royston has been a professional teacher, drummer, and percussionist for almost twenty years. He studied classical percussion at the University of Denver where earned undergraduate degrees in Music and English; Rudy accomplished teacher certification credentials from Metropolitan State College of Denver. Rudy grew up playing drums in church and found his voice under the auspices of Colorado’s celebrated trumpeter Ron Miles, whom Royston deems his greatest influence. He has taught, recorded, and performed all styles of music from Jazz to marching percussion. Since moving to Piscataway, New Jersey in 2006, Rudy Royston has completed a Master in Music degree from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and performed with many of today’s finest Jazz musicians. Javon Jackson, Bill Frisell, Les McCann, David Gilmore, Andy Milne, Shane Endsley, JD Allen, Sean Jones, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Edward Simone, Jennifer Holiday, Mark Gross, Ralph Bowen, Bruce Barth, George Colligan, Don Byron, Stanley Cowell, Jonathan Kreisberg, Jenny Scheinman and Craig Handy, to name a few. A lover of all genres of music, Rudy continues to pursue music and expand his musical horizons.

    Information on how to purchase individual tickets to Amina Figarova Sextet or an Art of Jazz Series subscription can be found at here.

  • Mondo NYC 2022 Kicks off Today with Music, Conferences, and Showcase Concerts

    Organizers for Mondo.NYC, the annual trade conference and showcase music festival, have announced the lineup for the 2022 event, kicking off today, Tuesday, October 11.

    Artists will perform virtually on Mondo’s daily live stream via YouTube and at multiple independent concert venues around New York City, including Arlene’s Grocery, Bar Freda, Bowery Electric, Brooklyn Bowl, Drom, and The Sultan Room.

    Mondo NYC 2022

    Artists announced for 2022 include Janelle Sy’mone, District 97, JUJU, Al Jacobi, Her Skin, Alexndra Alden, Apryll Aileen, EJ Worland, The Brink Of, We The Commas, The Day Dreamers, Waasil, Becca Stevens & The Secret Trio, Bloom Twins, Papercutz, Phony PPL, Snacktime, Thomas Piper, Miu Haiti, Mike Borgia, Aria &, Mumu, The Cordial Sins, Emmanuel Ohemeng III & Perpetual Motion, Ghostlight, Tokyo, Urbansky, Satch, Kyotolp, and Planet Opal, among others.

    The showcase concerts will include multiple genres and feature artists from around the world, including Denmark, Italy, Malta, Canada, the UK, Portugal, Finland, Ireland, Istanbul, India, and Tokyo, along with the U.S. and will be free to conference attendees.

    I’m really proud Mondo is able to host multiple nightly live showcases this year, all at independent venues. We missed the energy and shared appreciation for music and one another through the challenges Covid presented. Though NYC is generally open for nightlife, there are still travel challenges for out-of-town artists, so for now and into the future, Mondo will continue to host both live and streamed showcases. We invite anyone to come to a live show or enjoy one at home on their couch because either way, they’ll be supporting the independent music ecosystem.

    Mondo.NYC showcase director Jennifer Sellers-Dimitrov.

    The conference portion of Mondo.NYC will takes place from October 11-14 at the Williamsburg Hotel, with more than 60 panels announced for the event.

    Presenters and panelists that include Andrew Bergman, CEO Downtown, Lisa Cambridge-Mitchell, Founder Persist in Joy, Karibi Dagogo-Jack, Head of Music Partnerships Roblox, Mitch Glazier, CEO RIAA, Hannah Karp, Editorial Director Billboard, Golnar Khosrowshahi, CEO Reservoir, Larry Miller, Director Music Business Program NYU Steinhardt, Mark Mulligan, Managing Director MIDiA Research, Matt Pincus, CEO MUSIC, Peter Shapiro, CEO Dayglo Presents, Kakul Srivastava, CEO Splice, Henry Beecher Hicks III, CEO National Museum of African American Music, Nari Matsuura, Partner/Co-Leader Music Economics & Valuation Services Citrin Cooperman, Michael Poster, Chair of Music Acquisitions & Financing and Partner Michelman & Robinson LLP, Jason King, Chair Clive Davis Institute NYU, Ted Cohen, Co-Founder Mediatech Ventures, Jonathan Azu, Founder & CEO Culture Collective, Ray Daniels, CEO, R.A.Y.D.A.R. Management, Barry Massarsky, Partner & Co-Leader Music Economics & Valuation Services, Citrin Cooperman, Thelonious Monk IV, Founder Straight No Chaser, LLC, Cardin Campbell, Founder & CEO trac, Elliot Groffman, Partner Carroll Guido Groffman Cohen Bar & Karalian LLP, Rev. Moose, Managing Partner/Co-Founder Marauder, Keith Shocklee, producer, Tiffany R. Warren, EVP Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Sony Music Group, and Tara Finegan, COO Cutting Edge Group, among others.

    Mondo.NYC 2022 Music Lineup

    Tuesday, October 11, 2022

    Arlene’s Grocery – 95 Stanton St, Brooklyn

    7:00 PM ET – Janelle Sy’mone
    8:00 PM ET – District 97
    9:00 PM ET – JUJU
    10:00 PM ET – Al Jacobi 

    The Map Room @ Bowery Electric – 327 Bowery, Manhattan

    9:00 PM ET – Her Skin
    9:45 PM ET – Alexandra Alden
    10:30PM – Apryll Aileen

    Wednesday, October 12, 2022

    DROM – 85 Avenue A, Manhattan

    7:00 PM ET – EJ Worland
    7:30 PM ET – The Brink Of
    8:00 PM ET – We the Commas
    9:00 PM ET – The Day Dreamers
    10:00 PM ET – Waasii (DJ)

    The Sultan Room – 234 Starr St, Brooklyn

    7:30 PM ET – Becca Stevens & The Secret Trio
    9:30 PM ET – Bloom Twins
    10:30 PM ET – :PAPERCUTZ

    Brooklyn Bowl – 61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn

    8:00 PM ET – Cha Wa

    Thursday, October 13, 2022

    Brooklyn Bowl – 61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn

    8:00 PM ET – Phony PPL with Snacktime

    Bar Freda – 801 Seneca Ave, Queens

    8:00 PM ET – Thomas Piper
    9:00 PM ET – Miu Haiti
    10:00 PM ET – Mike Borgia

    Friday, October 14, 2022

    Arlene’s Grocery

    7:00 PM ET – Ariah &
    8:00 PM ET – MuMu
    9:00 PM ET – The Cordial Sins
    10:00 PM ET – Emmanuel Ohemeng III & Perpetual Motion

    Brooklyn Bowl – 61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn

    8:00 PM ET – Ghost Light