NYS Music 202​2

Category: Blues/Jazz

  • Big Eyed Blues Festival Returns to Brooklyn for 12 Anniversary

    The Big Eyed Blues Festival returns to Brooklyn for its 12-anniversary celebration, featuring three days of blues with established and upcoming artists on Sept. 22, 24, and 25.

    big eyed blues festival

    The Blues Festival was created by Blues singer Beareather Reddy, who resides in Brooklyn to showcase talented Blues singers and provide a venue where these artists can be seen and heard. She noticed there was a lack of Blues venues in the city, and she wanted to create a solution to the problem.

    Her passion to help keep Blues music striving, inspired her to found the not-for-profit organization, the Brooklyn Blues Society. “In some way, I feel it is my purpose to open the gateway to some and to bring others back to the realization, that Blues music is an integral part of their rich heritage,” she said.

    Big Blue Eyed Blues Festival Schedule

    Sept. 22, 7-9 P.M.- “The Acoustics” The Jalopy Theatre, 315 Columbia Street Brooklyn

    The night features Junior Mack “Exploring The Blues And The Truth”, Mimi Block, and Keith “The Captain” Gamble will play “Blues in the Key of Violin”. Michael Hill’s Acoustic Blue Duo ends the night with electric blues. The event will be live streamed and is in partnership with the Jalopy Theatre.

    Sept. 24, 7-10 P.M. “Command Performance” The BKLYN Commons 495 Flatbush Ave. Brooklyn.

    Michael Hill is the MC for the event, which features talented singer/songwriter and guitarist from Paterson, NJ, Clarence Spady. Also performing are Beareather & The Brown Liquor Sounds as well as the musical and historically focused group the Antoinette Montague Experience. Brooklyn’s own The Alexis P. Suter Band will end the night with her earth-shattering vocals and electrifying rhythm. The schedule for the evening is as follows:

    7:00 P.M. – 7:05 P.M. – Master of Ceremonies – Michael Hill
    7:05 P.M. – 7:40 P.M.– Clarence Spady
    7:45 P.M. – 8:20 P.M. – Beareather & The Brown Liquor Sounds
    8:20 P.M. – 8:35 P.M. – Break
    8:35 P.M. – 8:45 P.M. – Citation Presentation & Board Members Introductions
    8:45 P.M. – 9:20 P.M. – The Antoinette Montague Experience & Band
    9:20 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. – The Alexis P. Band

    Sept. 25, 12-3 P.M.- “A Day in the Park” The Prospect Park Boat House Brooklyn.

    The free final event is The Tilden Senior Center Drama Club presenting their version of “The Classic Blueswomen,” written by Beareather Reddy and directed by Evria Ince Waldron, in partnership with NIA Theatrical Production and The Prospect Park Alliance.

    Tickets for the events on Sept. 22 and 24 are available here.

  • Sea.Hear.Now Festival Rocks The Jersey Shore

    The fourth installment of the Sea.Hear.Now Festival brought more than 30,000 fans of all ages to the picturesque waterfront in Asbury Park, New Jersey this past weekend, September 17 and 18. Produced by Tim Sweetwood of C3 Presents (Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza), along with iconic rock photographer Danny Clinch, his good pal Tim Donnnelly (a music journalist turned promoter) and HM Wollman (an industry veteran), the festival is a celebration of live music, art and surf culture.

    Excited fans during Wet Leg’s set at the Park Stage | Photo by Michael Dinger

    A Transparent Clinch pop-up gallery in Bradley Park featured pieces of art contributed by several of the artists performing over the weekend, as well as photographs snapped by local native and rock legend Bruce Springsteen. The weekend also included a professional team surf contest known as the “North Beach Rumble,” and despite the relatively calm ocean waters, still went on as planned. A portion of the proceeds is also donated to grassroots, non-profit environmental organizations and community charities such as the Surfrider Foundation, Operation Beachhead, Clean Ocean Action, Garden State Equality and Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County, to name only a few.

    Beach crowd watching Boy George & Culture Club’s set at the Surf Stage | Photo by Michael Dinger

    When the gates to the festival grounds in the seaside town known for its sandy shore and beachfront boardwalk lined with shops, arcades and cafes opened promptly each day at noon, patrons were treated to a lineup that included more than 25 artists performing across three stages, aptly named Park, Sand and Surf. The Surf (main) Stage hosted headliner Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame on Saturday and Green Day, the rock trio of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool, on Sunday. Festivalgoers with VIP and Platinum wristbands had premium access to designated corrals on the side of each stage, including an exclusive viewing area with elevated sightlines of the Surf Stage.

    Lollipop jellyfish blowing in the ocean breeze | Photo by Michael Dinger

    The spectrum of music genres performed over the weekend was wide-ranging, more than ample to satisfy the taste palette of all patrons in attendance. There was punk (the aforementioned Green Day and IDLES), bluegrass (Billy Strings), pop (Boy George & Culture Club, Peach Pit and Aly & AJ), folk (The Head and the Heart), reggae (Skip Marley), blues (Gary Clark Jr.), rap (Michael Franti & Spearhead), Indie (Annie DiRusso, The Backseat Lovers, Wet Leg and Courtney Barnett), and of course, rock (My Morning Jacket and Cage the Elephant). And if the more than ten hours of music on the beach or in the park was not enough, there were ticketed “Late Night” shows at two of Asbury Park’s most venerable bar venues, The Stone Pony and Wonder Bar, which of course all sold out.

    Tim Donnnelly & Danny Clinch | Photo by Michael Dinger
    Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel | Photo by Michael Dinger

    Band Highlights – Saturday

    Dogs in a Pile

    Aly & AJ

    Annie DiRusso

    The Surfrajettes

    Skip Marley

    Peach Pit

    Boy George & Culture Club

    The Backseat Lovers

    Gary Clark Jr.

    My Morning Jacket

    Band Highlights – Sunday

    Wet Leg

    Michael Franti & Spearhead

    IDLES

    Cage the Elephant

    Courtney Barnett

    The Head and the Heart

    The Grounds, The Fans & Everything Else

    Band Gallery Sea.Hear.Now 2022

    Follow Sea.Hear.Now
    Website: https://www.seahearnowfestival.com/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeaHearNow/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seahearnow/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/seahearnow

  • Flyday Music Festival Releases Schedule, Single Day Tickets

    Flyday, a music festival community that celebrates life and creativity, spirit, heart and soul, returns to the Catskills on September 29 for three days of music, art and movement from 22 regional and national bands on two stages.

    flyday music festival

    Taking place at the 100 + acre Blackthorne Resort (with more than 80 rooms and plenty of camping and RV sites), the music over September 29-October 1 at Flyday Music Festival will include funk, fusion, electrojazz, prog, rock, jamband, bluegrass, reggae, and comedy artists. And that’s in addition to a pool and tiki bar, creek, hiking, a bar and restaurant, a playground and play fields, and even a Haunted House.

    This year, Flyday Music Festival steps out of the jam-band box and has curated a lineup for a true music festival featuring truly original, creative, and virtuosic artists in the progressive, jazz-rock fusion, and funk genres.

    flyday music festival

    Artists performing over the weekend at Flyday Music Festival include Ghost-Note, Yam-Yam, Black Rock Funk All Stars (members of Kung-Fu, Deep Banana Blackout and Schleigho, Gnarbot, Screaming Headless Torsos, ShwizZ, Ampevene, Honker, Baked Shrimp, Glass Pony, The Magnetic Pull, Level: Memory, Dr Jah and the Love Prophets, Eugene Tyler Band, Children of the Judge, Laura Leigh & Denise Parent, Sungazer, Now vs Now, and K-Weef.

    These artists and special guests will perform on two stages, side-by-side for continuous music throughout the day and night. Among vendors you’ll find Veggie Oasis, Z’licious Caribbean Kitchen, Back Barn Brewery, a masseuse, Earth Tribe artisan vendors, workshops on glass blowing, tie dye and yoga, plus art installations, black light art galleries and live painting.

    Arrive on Thursday night for a early arrival funk dance party with improv jams and special guests.

    Tickets are $115 for a weekend pass, $60 for Friday only and $70 for Saturday only. Camping costs $25 per person for the weekend (with free showers, flush toilets and a charging station), with RV passes and rooms available via Blackthorne Resort.

    If you’re a music lover and dig creative, uber-talented original bands, do not miss Flyday. Tickets available here.

  • Tedeschi Trucks Band To Resume Residency At The Beacon In Support Of New Album

    Tedeschi Trucks Band will make its annual return to New York City’s Beacon Theatre with a seven-show residency slated to begin Thursday, September 29. This run will not only include the band’s 50th performance at the iconic theater with the show on October 3, but also feature extensive material from the band’s recent I Am The Moon release, an epic, 4-album project released last month on Fantasy Records.

    Tedeschi Trucks Band
    Photo: David McClister

    For Tedeschi Trucks Band, this upcoming multi-night run at The Beacon will mark their eleventh one here in total. This one will introduce the public to live performances from their most recent album, which began as a pandemic-related writing exercise suggested by TTB vocalist Mike Mattison in May 2020, and transformed into a career-defining artistic statement with a reimagined mythic tale of star-crossed lovers through a modern-day lens. “We’ve had an incredible amount of new material come out this year with I Am The Moon,” says Derek Trucks, “The Beacon shows will be some of the first where we’ll be able to draw from all of it and have the space to really dig in.”

    Susan Tedeschi adds, “I Am The Moon is a creative milestone for us – and we’ve got our 50th show at The Beacon, another milestone. We’re looking forward to celebrating both and all the hard work that went into getting here.” The full deluxe version of this new release also includes four album-length companion films to accompany 24 new original songs that features a blend of soul, rock, blues, funk, roots and Eastern influences.

    Remaining tickets for these shows, which are listed below with start times, are limited but still available online at Ticketmaster.com, and in person at the Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre box offices. 

    TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND  – BEACON THEATRE 2022
    Thu Sept 29  Amy Helm opens, showtime 7:30pm
    Fri Sept 30    Two sets, no opener showtime 8pm
    Sat Oct 1      Two sets, no opener showtime 8pm
    Mon Oct 3    Surprise opening set, showtime 7:30pm
    Thu Oct 6      Ruthie Foster opens, showtime 7:30pm
    Fri Oct 7       Two sets, no opener showtime 8pm
    Sat Oct 8      Two sets, no opener showtime 8pm

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cIAFDapl_U

  • Rising Like a Phoenix, Kelli Baker Never Fails to Impress

    The Long Island music scene has a star with a trajectory rising like a Phoenix out of the music halls around town. Meet Kelli Baker, a transplant from Arizona, who has momentum unlike anyone.  This soulful singer is a cross between Amy Winehouse and Susan Tedeschi. Her original music erupts in an emotional whirlwind as she draws you in. 

    I had the chance to interview Kelli Baker on The Long Island Sound podcast back in June and her rise to prominence has been something to behold. After the passing of her dad several years ago, Kelli packed her bags and headed for Huntington Village, on the Northshore of Long Island.  Her energetic live performance is insync with her go-for-it attitude and work ethic.  Continuing with skills in hospitality, Kelli worked several jobs while gigging around the village with her bag of cover songs and an occasional original song snuck into the mix. 

    With a chuckle in her voice, this starling belts out emotional verses with the ease of a carnival barker. She connects with her audience as she calls us into the curiosity of her sideshow.  The circus of sideshow gigs as a result has landed Kelli on the main stage. She was recently signed to the parade of Sony Music artists this past January under the Bad Jeu Jeu CDX Record label.  

    The hard work and song writing has seemed to have payed off, as she landed Monster Cables as a sponsor and just a few days ago She also landed a spot on Spotify’s Editorial Playlist, Blues Roots among some of the top names in the business, Jon Baptist, Tedeschi Trucks, and The Black Keys.

    Blood on the Nile 

    Her recent single release, Blood on the Nile hit the airwaves on September 9th. Recorded in Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, It features another guest on the podcast, Brother Dave (Solomon) . Dave is an excellent slide and lap steel guitar player also featured as a guest on the podcast. 

    Kelli Baker acoustic guitar
    Kelli Baker
    Kelli Baker – Blood On the Nile

    The song, Blood on the Nile invites you in with the call of a pedal steel guitar, and slowly builds to a crescendo of emotion as Kelli exudes a passion that only a heart with scars can comprehend. Her catalog of songs are deep and insightful. The track, Cathedral released early in 2020 sets a scene as the bells toll for thee and me. The exploration of Kelli’s music has just begun for me. She tailored her sound both as a solo performer in the music halls, wineries, bars and pubs, from North Shore to the South Shore and to points East on the Island. 

    Gathering excellent band members around her, Ms. Baker embarked on a Summer tour along the East Coast to excellent reviews.  This past month the Kelli Baker duo opened for the all female Swedish band, Thundermother at the Paramount in Huntington.  

    This exploration into Kelli Baker’s music has just begun. I could wax poetic with flowery prose, but after seeing her performance at the Blue Point Brewery, this past August, I left the venue having gone through a memorable experience, weary with emotion and thirsting for more.

  • Flushing Town Hall Mashup Series Continues With “Jazz Piano Meets Venezuela”

    Flushing Town Hall’s ongoing concert series, Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups, picks back up Sunday, September 18 with “Jazz Piano Meets Venezuela.”

    Common Ground, which started last October, brings together musicians from different national/artistic backgrounds for never before performed collaborative works. It’s curated by trumpeter and composer Frank London of The Klezmatics, who played in the original, large scale version of the series.

    flushing town hall venezuela
    Amina Claudine Myers (left) and María Fernanda González. (right)

    The two artists on program for this upcoming show at Flushing Town Hall are American jazz artist Amina Claudine Myers and Venezuelan musician María Fernanda González, a player of the bandola llanera, a guitar-like instrument native to Venezuela and Colombia.

    Myers, an Arkansas-born artist, composer, and educator, has had her musicianship recognized on an institutional level, having received multiple grants and awards from organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, Meet The Composer, and The New York Foundation for the Arts. She also was inducted as a member of the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame in 2010.

    González, a Northwest Venezuelan artist, composer, educator, and journalist, is one of the only female musicians in the world playing her instrument, becoming the world’s first female electric bandola llanera player in 2016. She’s also participated in and won competitions at Colombia’s Joropo Festival.

    Information regarding tickets, schedule and more can be found on the Flushing Town Hall website.

  • Sugar Hill Music Festival Returns For Year Six in Harlem

    The sixth annual Sugar Hill Music Festival is set to take place Saturday, September 10 in Harlem with a program of concerts and other festivities beginning at 3pm.

    sugar hill music festival

    Taking place at Harlem’s Sugar Hill Luminaries Lawn, the performers include Camille Thurman, a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, performing with the Darrell Green Quartet, Clifton Anderson, a Harlem trombonist who’s been on stage with renowned names such as Stevie Wonder and Dizzy Gillespie who will be playing with his signature sextet, the Steven Oquendo Latin Jazz Orchestra, a nineteen-piece led by the Washington Heights composer and trumpeter, and the Sugar Hill Quartet, the longest running house band in New York City.

    The festival is run by While We Are Still Here, a Harlem non-profit which aims to “educate, enshrine and preserve the extraordinary legacy of Harlem as an influential incubator that was vital to the intellectual, cultural, social, and political advancements of the Harlem community as well as the African Diaspora.”

    The festival follows a “pay what you will” model, with admissions of any price up to $100 towards While We Are Still Here being accepted. Information about the performing acts and more can be found here.

    One of several educational shorts on the While We Are Still Here YouTube channel.

  • Aaron Diehl & Orrin Evans to Perform at Bryant Park

    Bryant Park’s Picnic Performances, a summer series of free-to-the-public concerts will continue Thursday, September 8 with a duo performance by jazz pianists Aaron Diehl and Orrin Evans.

    Both having claim to the famed title of “Steinway Artist,” the two will play a mixture of standards and originals on their signature instruments made by the Steinway & Sons piano company.

    Aaron Diehl.

    Diehl’s career highlights include winning the American Pianist Assocation’s Cole Porter Fellow of 2011 and performances at historic venues such as the Lincoln Center and the Village Vanguard. As for influences, he gives credit to prior pianists Ahmad Jamal, Erroll Garner, and Jelly Roy Morton.

    Orrin Evans.

    Evans has supported a career of nearly thirty years without support from a major label, with his last six projects being released with Smoke Sessions, an independent record company based in New York City. Achievements to Evans’ name include placing #1 in the 2018 Downbeat Critics Poll for “Rising Star Pianist” in addition to Grammy nominations for two albums made with his Captain Black Big Band.

    Orrin Evans and members of the Captain Black Big Band talk about the group’s 2020 album “The Intangible Between.”

    Food and beverages will be available from on-site vendors near the lawn. Information about the Manhattan park’s final three concerts of the summer following Diehl & Evans’ performance can be found on the Bryant Park website.

  • Jazz at the Lake in Lake George Lineup Announced

    The Lake George Arts Project’s Jazz at the Lake is back for 2022, with a lineup including some of the most outstanding performers in jazz.

    jazz at the lake

    The festival will take place from Sept. 16-18 in Shepard Park in Lake George. The free event will have a lineup full of great jazz performers, with eight acts over a few days.

    Shepard Park is conveniently located in the Lake George village, with many nights of the week having free concerts and entertainment in the amphitheater overlooking the lake.

    The lineup includes the Chembo Corniel Quintet, composed of percussionist and Grammy nominee Wilson “Chembo” Corniel on Sept. 16 at 6 P.M. That night there will be many musicians playing around Lake George, including Hot Club of Saratoga, the Scott Hopkins Jazz Trio, and James Rissacher.

    On Sept. 17 at 1 P.M. is the Gilad Hekselman & Far Star Trio, who has played with legendary musicians in the NYC jazz scene, and played at major venues like the Blue Note, The Jazz Standard, Dizzy’s Club, and Smalls. At 3 P.M. comes Samara Joy, with a voice as smooth as velvet. At 5 P.M. Ike Sturm and HEART perform, and at 7 P.M. Camille Thurman & the Darrell Green Quartet will perform.

    On the last day, Sept. 18, the Grammy-award-winning Zack Brock Quartet featuring Aaron Goldberg, Yasushi Nakamura, and Clarence Penn will be playing at 1 P.M. At 3 P.M. comes Vanderlei Pereira & Blindfold Test, then closing off the festival at 5 P.M. is Elio Villafranca & The Jass Syncopators, who have received a GRAMMY Nomination in the Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year category.

    The Jazz at the Lake festival in Lake George will be happening from Sept. 16-18 at Shepard Park for free.

  • Byron Bay Bluesfest Announces First Lineup Including Joe Bonamassa and Greensky Bluegrass

    The 34th annual Byron Bay Bluesfest Festival’s initial lineup has been revealed. Featuring international artists for the first time since 2019’s pre-pandemic festival, the first lineup released features over 40 artists.

    Joe Bonamassa

    Set for April 6-10, Bluesfest will see some of the finest contemporary and legendary blues, roots, soul, rock, hip hop, r&b, world and americana artists take the stage. This will be the first original style Bluesfest since the world re-opened. Last year primarily featured Australian and New Zealand Artists. Among those making their way down under are Utica’s own and renowned blues guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, bluegrass music innovators Greensky Bluegrass and jam-band favorites, Southern Avenue.

    Joe Bonamassa
    Bluesfest 2022 daytime

    What is Bluesfest All-About?

    Bluesfest is held over five days at the Byron Events Farm each easter long weekend. Event facilities include seven performance stages, nine licensed bars and two undercover food courts. There are many independent food vendors, car parking for over 7,000 vehicles and camping for up to 6,500 people.

    In the coming weeks, Bluesfest will release more of the line-up, along with artist performance dates so that both day-trippers and 3-day ticket holders can make an informed choice. There will also be further announcements on two special satellite events happening in Melbourne and Perth.

    And more good news is that ticket prices, camping and VIP tickets remain the same as 2022’s prices. That’s despite the significant increase in cost of international flights and freight logistics, with artist fees also on the rise. Bluesfest will also invest in upgrading the VIP area in order to give its supporters the best experience possible. For the campers that seek a “class above” experience you can upgrade to the Rainbow Tipi accommodation this year.

    Whilst there are still plenty of Aussie artists listed in this first and upcoming announcements it is wonderful to once again in 2023, after four long years be able to bring back some of the greatest Blues, Roots, Soul, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, World and Americana artists (and so much more) back to our shores after so long. As well as, of course, the stars of tomorrow.

    – Peter Noble, Festival Director

    Tickets for Bluesfest are now available and can be purchased on their official website. While only the 5-day passes are on sale for now, Bluesfest also offers 3-day and single-day passes.