The Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival will return for its 20th annual celebration on Saturday, September 10 at Jennings Landing. First run in 2002, the free-to-the-public event starts at noon and closes at 8pm, with the five-act day being wrapped up by a fireworks display.
Albany Riverfront Jazz Promotional Poster.
Opening up the day’s music will be the Teresa Broadwell Quintet from 12:30pm to 1:30. Led by fiddler Teresa Broadwell, the Albany swing and jazz collective also includes saxophonist Leon Russo, guitarist Mike Novakowski, bassist Peter Toigo, and drummer Cliff Brucker.
Following is Charged Particles, performing from 2 to 3. The Latin-jazz oriented group is comprised of keyboardist Murray Low, bassist Aaron Germain, and drummer Jon Krosnick.
Next on the schedule is Black Tie Brass from 3:30 to 4:30, a NYC-based horn driven jazz/funk group. Founded in 2013, the band draws on genres such as pop, R&B, hip-hop, and more in guiding their sound.
Act number four is Samara Joy, a 22-year-old singer from the Bronx on stage from 5 to 6. A Verve Records artist, her young career has already been impressively marked by multiple appearances on the TODAY show and a TikTok page with over 100 thousand followers.
To close out the night will be the headlining Soul Rebels, performing from 6:30 until the festival’s end. Big name collaborations of theirs include Katy Perry, Nas, Metallica, Big Freedia, G-Eazy, and the Wu-Tang Clan.
Food and beverage vendors will be available on site, and more information can be found on albanyevents.org
On Friday, September 23, Flushing Town Hall will present a unique jazz fusion with GRAMMY-winning American jazz drummer Lenny White and Friends at 8 PM EST.
Lenny White
The performance will feature White’s original compositions with Tom Guarna (guitar), Quinton Zoto (guitar), Richie Goods (bass), and Vince Evans (piano and synthesizers). It will be a daring tribute to the 23-time GRAMMY-winner and DownBeat Hall of Famer Chick Corea.
“I first became aware of Lenny White when he played with my uncle, the great Bill Withers. So I am personally very honored and excited to finally be able to present an evening of music with Lenny White & Friends at Flushing Town Hall—the jazz capital of Queens! This is a one-of-a-kind musical event not to be missed.
Clyde Bullard
Leonard “Lenny” White III was born in Jamaica, Queens and taught himself drum during his early years. White began his career playing with groups in the New York jazz scene and recorded the album “Bitches Brew” with his hero Miles Davis at 19. He joined the group Return To Forever as one of the original members, where he had cherishful experiences with Chick Corea. In the late 1980s, White joined a Queens-based funk trio, the Jamaica Boys, with Marcus Miller on the bass and singer Dinky Bingham. Through out his current career, White has won three GRAMMY awards with five nominations and one Latin GRAMMY.
Lenny White is often described as one of the founding fathers of the jazz-rock movement and has emerged as one of the premier drummers in jazz. White has played and collaborated with music artists such as Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Gato Barbieri, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Ron Carter, Woody Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, Cedar Walton, Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan and many more. Today, he is sharing his music knowledge as part of the Music Adjunct Faculty at NYU Steinhard as Composer-in-Residence.
On the eve of the 53rd anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair, blues/rock artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd brought with him living blues legend Buddy Guy and up-and-coming blues man Christone “Kingfish” Ingram to the Bethel Woods stage for three sets of incredible music. The showcase of three generations of blues musicians is the inaugural edition of the touring Backroads Blues Festival. In addition to a remarkable evening of music, Shephard spoke with us about the tour and the entire interview can be seen at the end of this article.
The Backroads Blues Festival’s inaugural run is visiting six venues between the Northeast and Virginia and included two stops in New York. Christone Ingram, a Mississippi native who goes by the nickname Kingfish, has had an impressive career so far for only being only 23 years old. While he has a bit of a name for himself, the show was a fantastic introduction for new fans. Though a younger musician, he blazed through his guitar work with emotion as if the blues were his primary language.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who conceived the idea of this festival and curated the show, took the stage with his own band between Kingfish and headliner Buddy Guy. Shepherd is a musician who knows the business and how to draw his audience in to his music and guitar with his stage presence. Shepherd’s set included not only his own work, but concluded with a hat tip to the legendary B.B. King with “You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now.” Headlining the show was Buddy Guy, who celebrated his 86th birthday over the summer. There is a lot to be said for seeing and hearing Buddy perform which is why his shows are not just a performance, but an experience. He works the crowd with his wit, humor, and a sharp sense of being in the moment with his band to deliver pure, unfiltered blues.
Before the evening concluded, both Shepherd and Kingfish joined Buddy Guy on stage to trade solos and do some call and response traditional to the style. As Buddy Guy usually does at the end of his shows, he set his guitar down and let his band (along with Shepherd and Kingfish) jam and play him out while he paraded around the stage to toss some guitar picks into the crowd.
The Backroads Blues Festival was a unique experience of listening to three generations of musicians fit into a touring concert format. The crowd was left energized by the music with conversations about each of the three performers drifting through the air when the lights came back on. While the festival tour is wrapping up this weekend, we’re looking forward to the future versions of the Backroads Blues Festival coming back around to New York.
Interview with Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Steve Malinski: You mentioned during the show that the, this touring festival’s kind of been a dream of yours for a few years. So what inspired that dream to bring a few gen generations of blues musicians together like that?
Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Well, I felt like there’s something, you know, there’s an opportunity for something like this. There’s kind of a void and I was looking to fill it. When I was a kid, there was an annual touring blues festival that B.B. King did. And, you know, I went to it several times over the years as a spectator, as a fan and saw some of the greatest talent in blues from Etta James, B.B. King, Joe Cocker, Stevie Ray and Jimmy Vaughan, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy. I mean, the list goes on and on, right. And then not too long after I joined it as an artist and did the tour myself with my band several times over the years. So, I mean, I just have a lot of really fond memories of that festival and those kinds of experiences. And I think I wanted to give the fans the opportunity to have their own experience like that, you know? I also think the genre still needs something like that. The multi-generational approach where you had three different generations of kind of the hottest names in blues. But I mean, the goal is just to have the best bands that are out there right now. I mean, it doesn’t necessarily always have to be representative of three generations, but I thought that was a really perfect way of kicking off the tour.
SM: Yeah, it’s kind of a neat way of doing that.
KWS: Yeah, I think it was good. I mean, Kingfish, he’s one of the big up and comers, he just won a Grammy. I mean, he’s kind of really blazing a trail and making a name for himself. And then, I’m the generation before and then Buddy’s, obviously the generation before that and everybody’s kind of at the top of their game. And so, it was a really strong lineup.
SM: So how’s the experience been so far with it having a few shows in the books already?
KWS: I think it’s great. I mean, to be honest with you the first night in Providence was completely packed. And it was a really great opening night. Bethel had a great crowd as well, but, you know, we were getting constant feedback. My people who were out in the merch area and the crew that was scattered throughout the venue and even myself at the end of the night… all the people that were working at the venue as they were leaving were just extremely complimentary about the show, said it was one of the best shows that they had there all season.
So you know, that’s great. I mean, obviously, this is my project and it’s very important to me, but I mean, I’m telling you every single person that walked outta that venue that walked past me told me how great the show was. So that’s really satisfying. It’s very encouraging, especially because we’re trying to establish the brand here, because we want to move forward with this on an annual basis. They said they would love to have us come back again.
SM: Yeah. One of the things I was going to say is I see huge potential for this growing into something more than just the limited run of shows you’re doing this summer.
KWS: Yeah, this tour is more to get the word out, establish the brand and kind of like a proof of concept for lack of a better term. But back in the day the B.B. King fest would have around four headlining acts and then they would also have local acts that would perform, you know early on in the day. I mean the whole thing would start, and the local act was playing at like 4, 4:30 in the afternoon, you know? So it was a bit of a longer event and I’m hoping that we can grow into that. And the goal is to be inclusive. We’re gonna have, the hottest women of the blues, the hottest artists. Also, it’s like everything doesn’t always have to be electric either. There might be, you know, some more acoustic driven blues artists that will be included in the bill going forward and things like that. But regardless, it’s gonna be the top performers in the genre for sure.
SM: Awesome. So I’ve seen Buddy Guy a handful of times, and he always talks about learning, not from the book, but just from what he hears and picks up from others. What have you kind of picked up on as inspirations from working with Buddy Guy and Kingfish as you’ve gotten ready for this tour?
KWS: Well, I mean, I’ve learned a lot from Buddy Buy. And so has any other guitar player in the past, you know, 50 years probably. I mean, Jimi Hendrix was a huge fan of Buddy Guy’s. So Buddy influenced, you know, the guy who’s regarded as the greatest guitar player of all time. So people, whether they even realize it or not have been influenced and affected by Buddy Guy and who he is and what he does. So, I mean, the main thing is he’s just incredible at age 86, you know, that he can perform at the level that he’s still performing at. And he’s a true show. And I just, I try and absorb that to the best of my abilities and, and take, things from people like that and incorporate them into what I do. And, that’s the tradition for all of us.
SM: As you know, the Woodstock anniversary is this week. So being on that historic site, were any special feelings that you had performing at Bethel Woods?
KWS: Yeah. You know, I’ve gotten to play this venue more than a few times over the course of my career. And, I’ve been to the site and done that whole thing. It’s certainly cool. I mentioned it earlier on, I think on one of my social media posts, especially because we are doing a music festival and launching a music festival… It’s like that place is sacred ground for music festivals. It was one of the biggest of all time, one of the most historic music festivals of all time took place there. So I thought it was an amazing opportunity to try and do the inaugural run of my festival and play one of our dates at that location.
SM: I noticed you have a tour coming up leading into next year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of your album Trouble Is…. So looking back to 1997 and before, when you signed your first record deal at a six as a 16 year old kid in the early 90s, how do you reflect back on that?
KWS: The first album [Ledbetter Heights] came out in ‘95, right after I graduated high school. I had recorded that one when I was 17. And then the one that we’re celebrating is the second album Trouble Is…, and that came out when I was like 19 years old in 1997. I mean, you know, I was young by any means. To compare to anything that’s a very young age to start a career and have that kind of success. And now I’m 45 years old and certainly, you know, a lot of time has passed. I mean, I think one of the most satisfying things we have accomplished a lot – we’ve sold millions of records. I’ve got several golden platinum albums hanging on the wall, awards on the shelf, all of those great things that any artist could ever hope for. But to me, the biggest accomplishment is the fan base that we have acquired over the years. You know, because people that are fans of this music, the music is timeless. It’s not stuck in an era. So, it’s not like pop music that has a certain sound from a certain era which then people move on from that. This is timeless music. And generally people who become fans of this kind of music kind of dig it for life, you know? And so as a result, that’s why 30 years later I’m out here and we’re still accomplishing things and we’re still making new achievements and we’re still, you know, selling tickets to concerts and selling out venues and moving into bigger venues, into new markets and things like that. That’s the biggest accomplishment because without the fan base that we have, then, none of it would be possible. And so they’ve stuck with me and they’ve kind of hung in there with me for 30 years now and they continue to make it possible for me to pursue, my dreams.
SM: Going off of that, have you run into a lot of younger musicians who are looking up to your middle generation of blues musicians as inspiration?
KWS: So, everybody knows that I started so young. I mean, over the entire 30 years of my career, I’ve run into a lot of younger musicians that come because they heard about my story and, you know, they’re aspiring young guitar players and, and things like that. And so, there’s no shortage of young people that are interested in music and there’s never any void of young people that are interested in blues and for some, it’s a stepping stone and they move on to other genres. And for some people like Kingfish, they try and make a life’s career out of it. But, my job is to be a good example and to be encouraging to them and just kind of do what I can do while I’m here and make my contribution, you know, as solid as possible.
New York is already experiencing record breaking temps this summer, but that didn’t stop Gov’t Mule from bringing more heat by playing two fire sets at The Paramount in Huntington, Long Island on Sunday, August 7th. The band, led by guitar legend Warren Haynes, is currently in the middle of a tour that will conclude in January of 2023 with Island Exodus 13 in Jamaica. They will also be doing their New Years run at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on December 30th and 31st.
The August 7th show at The Paramount also paid tribute in the form of covers to greats such as Tom Waits, Elton John and of course The Allman Brothers Band. Set one started with “Traveling Tune” as well as other Mule classics such as “Game Face” with an added “Mountain Jam” interlude, and and a cover of Tom Waits “Make it Rain.” The quartet which also features Jorgen Carlsson on bass, Danny Louis on keys and Matt Abts on drums sounded phenomenal as they ended set one with another Allman Brothers cover “Kind of Bird.”
After a short break, the boys returned to the stage to start the second set with an Elmore James cover of “Blues Before Sunrise” which is also featured on their latest album Heavy Load Blues. Other highlights of set two included an Elton John cover of “Have Mercy on the Criminal” and “Birth of the Mule” which is off of their 1998 album Dose. They also snuck in a little Jimi Hendrix “If 6 Was 9” in the middle of “Larger Than Life” which was also on the 1998 album Dose. They concluded the second set with “Thorazine Shuffle”, yet another song of of their second album Dose.
The encore paid tribute to Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead by interjecting “The Other One Jam” in the middle of “Fallen Down” from their 2000 album Life Before Insanity. You can see all of the remaining Gov’t Mule tour dates here.
Setlist: Traveling Tune, Blind Man in the Dark, Steppin’ Lightly, Game Face / Mountain Jam / Game Face, Make It Rain (Tom Waits cover), Come and Go Blues (Allman Brothers cover), Which Way Do We Run, Kind of Bird (Allman Brother Band cover), Blues Before Sunrise (Elmore James cover), I Asked For Water, (She Gave Me Gasoline)(Howlin Wolf Cover), Have Mercy on the Criminal (Elton John cover), Birth of the Mule, Monkey Hill, Stone Cold Rage, Larger Than Life / If 6 Was 9 / Larger Than Life, Thorazine Shuffle
Encore: Fallen Down / The Other One Jam / Fallen Down
Guitarist, composer, arranger, lyricist, writer, educator, and vocalist Joel Harrison has “created a new blueprint for jazz,” as said by the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He has released 23 CDs as a leader on seven different labels and is the founder and director of the Alternative Guitar Summit, a yearly festival devoted to new and unusual guitar music.
In collaboration with the Alternative Guitar Summit, Harrison will be sponsoring and hosting three different events in New York. The events are The Music of the Woodstock Festival, Jazz Guitar event of the decade, and Joel Harrison Quartet.
The Music of the Woodstock Festival
On the Woodstock festival anniversary, Harrison and his all-star team of improvisers, including NYC-based African American vocalists Everett Bradley, Nicki Richards, and Keith Fluitt, will be playing new takes on the music at the 1969 festival. They will be playing at The Colony in Woodstock on Aug. 12, at 8 P.M. and tickets are on sale here.
Joel Harrison Quartet
The Joel Harrison Quartet will be playing at Lydia’s Cafe in Stone Ridge in a laid-back, local affair on Aug. 20 from 7:30-10 P.M., and tickets are on sale now.
The Jazz Guitar Concert of the Decade!
The jazz guitar concert of the decade will feature Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Mike Stern, who are the four pillars of the jazz/ funk/rock/alt guitar scene. The concert will be happening at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock at 8 P.M. on Aug. 26, and tickets are on sale here.
Blues and soul singer Ali McGuirk has announced upcoming shows in promotion of her new album, Til It’s Gone, which is set for release on September 16 via Signature Sounds. The songwriter shared her single, “All Back,” on July 20 ahead of the album.
McGuirk grew up outside of Boston before calling Burlington, Vermont, home. The singer-songwriter always knew she wanted to become an artist and her inspirations include Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, Sarah Vaughan, and Abbey Lincoln. McGuirk’s music has explored multiple genres, but the upcoming album leans into its blues foundation.
Celebrated folk-blues songwriter Jonah Tolchin helped produce Til It’s Gone alongside McGuirk, allowing for emotional tracks, guitar interludes, and delicate moments in the album. “All Back,” the first single off of the record, is an easy groove. McGuirk wrote the track about the end of the pandemic, and the track combines a vintage sound and a recent event into one.
Surviving the pandemic as an artist required some faith and this song felt like a little prayer of hope and resilience … we are faced with pandemics, climate chaos, ever-deepening inequality, and so much ignorance, but we learned a lot in March 2020 about our ability to adapt and I need to believe that it’s going to be alright, but we’ve got to do something right now.
– Ali McGuirk on “All Back”
McGuirk recorded much of the upcoming record in Los Angeles and included collaborations with an impressive lineup of artists. Legendary guitarist Fred Tackett of Little Feat, organist Larry Goldings, singer Valerie Pinkston, percussionist Lenny Castro, and more helped finalize the complete sounds of the album.
The nine-track album, with intimate introspections, and thoughts on oppression and justice, would not be the same without McGuirk’s signature, hypnotic vocals. Take a listen to the first track, “All Back,” and see the full list of tour dates for the upcoming record, below.
Ali McGuirk On Tour:
Sept. 16 – Nashville, TN – Five Spot (AMERICANAFEST)
Sept. 17 – Easthampton, MA – Arcadia Music Festival
Oct. 1 – Albany, NY – The Linda
Oct. 2 – Portsmouth, NH – The Press Room
Oct. 5 – Lancaster, PA – Tellus360
Oct. 6 – Brooklyn, NY – The Bell House
Oct. 7 – Somerville, MA – The Crystal Ballroom at the Somerville
The 2022 Green Soul Studios lineup has been announced at the studio in Forest Hills, Queens, with many jazz artists.
Pianist/vocalist Kelly Green and her partner, bassist Luca Soul Rosenfeld turned their living room into a top-notch intimate performing space where they have had performances, recording sessions, and more since 2020. It all started with the duo performing for neighbors and friends, and has expanded from where people from all over want to come and see them play.
Green has performed at notable clubs and venues such as the Kennedy Center, Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Birdland Theater, and various well-known musicians. Rosenfeld is a native New Yorker, who has been studying and playing music since the age of 8. Since 2015, he has curated and produced an underground concert series in Manhattan at The Treehouse.
Green Soul Studios
Green Soul Studios was a great release for the couple after the pandemic ruined the live music scene. The couple agreed that the studio “was and is a true blessing, and a worthy project to sustain.”
2022 Green Soul Studios Lineup
8/14 – KG & The Shades– featuring Kelly Green on piano and voice, Luca Soul on bass, Dierk Peters on vibraphone, and Kenny Wollesen on drums.
Saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Hero Trio will make their NYC Debut this August to celebrate Charlie Parker’s Birthday at Smoke Jazz.
Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Hero Trio Photo by David Crow
Located at the junction of 106th and Broadway (aka Duke Ellington Boulevard), Smoke Jazz Club is one of New York City’s premier live music venues. Renowned for offering top-notch programming of accessible, timeless jazz featuring legendary performers, modern masters, and rising stars, Smoke stands apart with its candlelit dining room, stellar acoustics, and classic American cuisine.
Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Hero Trio also includes bassist Harish Raghavan and drummer Rudy Royston. Their performance will set on Thursday and Sunday at 7 and 9 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday at 7, 9 and 10:30 p.m.
Hero Trio earned high praise for its eclectic 2020 self-titled debut and the 2022 follow-up Animal Crossing. Animal Crossing is a digital-only EP featuring four new songs, each an unlikely addition to the canon of jazz standards which is also the titular theme from the wildly popular video game.
At Smoke, Mahanthappa will explore Parker’s compositions, classic standards, and modern covers with the Raghavan and Royston. “The idea behind Hero Trio was to turn the idea of playing a set of standards on its ear and freshen up the idea,” the saxophonist explains.
Rudresh Mahanthappa is widely known as one of the premier voices in jazz of the 21st century as well known for his exellent alto saxphone performances. He has been recognized by multiple jazz magazines including DownBeat Magazine, Jazz Journalists’ Association,and JazzTimes Magazine. He has also received the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, and is currently the Anthony H. P. Lee ’79 Director of Jazz at Princeton University.
On September 17th, Brooklyn Comes Alive will return to The Brooklyn Mirage for its sixth installment. This one-day festival brings together the best genres of live music ranging from jazz, jam and funk. Likewise, this event features some unforgettable collaborations, unique one-off performances and one-of-a-kind music experiences.
Inspired by New Orleans and its famed Jazz & Heritage Festival, Brooklyn Comes Alive has been breaking the mold of traditional festivals with unprecedented music experiences since 2015. This year, Brooklyn Comes Alive will feature STS9, Medeski Martin & Wood, Lettuce, and the debut of Cool Cool Cool, an unforgettable project from former members of Turkuaz.
It is so rewarding to work with some of our favorite artists to deliver special performances, debut new projects, and create memorable experiences for fans and bands alike at Brooklyn Comes Alive. That we get to do this in one of the country’s best live music venues, in the best city in the world, is a dream come true. Brooklyn, we’re back, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you at the incredible and unique venue, The Brooklyn Mirage.
– Festival director Gideon Plotnicki (GMP Live)
Brooklyn Comes Alive was built from the fabric of the vibrant live music community of Brooklyn. Much like past “Comes Alive” events, Brooklyn Comes Alive 2022 will be full of exciting firsts and never-before-seen surprises. This event will mark STS9’s first show in NYC since 2019 when they last took over the Brooklyn Mirage. Similarly, Medeski Martin & Wood, who have not played on their home turf in NYC since 2019, will use the special appearance to celebrate their 30th anniversary as a band, which took place last year.
Lettuce will be notching both their Brooklyn Comes Alive debut and their Brooklyn Mirage debut as they celebrate the release of their latest album, Unify, but the band’s individual members are all Brooklyn Comes Alive veterans.
Brooklyn Comes Alive 2022 Lineup:
STS9 Medeski Martin & Wood Lettuce Cool Cool Cool (former members of Turkuaz: Craig Brodhead, Chris Brouwers, Michelangelo Carubba, Shira Elias, Sammi Garett, Greg Sanderson and Josh Schwartz*)
General admission tickets are available in three tiers, starting at $65 and increasing as tiers sell out. The elevated VIP experiences, VIP and Super VIP, include expedited entry, access to the VIP Mezzanine with perfect sightlines to the stage and more. With the Super VIP package including exclusive limited edition merch item.
All tickets, including VIP packages, can be purchased at the link here.
Throughout the month of August, The National Jazz Museum in Harlem will offer five unique programs to celebrate the Afro-Latin roots of jazz music. From August 6 to August 30, attendees can listen, learn, and celebrate the long-lasting traditions of the genre.
The National Jazz Museum in Harlem aims to “preserve, promote, and present jazz by inspiring knowledge, appreciation and the celebration of jazz” in all areas. With exhibits, educational programs, panels, concerts, and more the center continues its commitment to the genre. With Artistic Directors Jon Batiste and Christian McBride, the museum offers inspiring experiences.
Starting on August 6 at 1 p.m., Jaambo will lead a city-wide dance party on the steps of the National Arts Club. Co-founded by percussionist Baba Don Eaton, Jaambo’s sound and groove will get you moving. Baba Don Eaton currently also teaches African drumming and has previously recorded with jazz artists such as Donald Brown, Joe Henderson, and Jason Linder.
Two bands will lead the programming on August 11: brass band Funky Dawgs and the Afro-Latin Jazz ensemble Uptown Royalty NYC. This energetic concert at the Harlem State Office Building will begin at 6 p.m. for a great night of dance music.
More August events include Colombian pro music from Martin Vejarano on August 25 at 2 p.m. followed by solo pianist Ahmed Alom at 7 p.m. Alom’s concert will explore early African-American ragtime and the Cuban danzon among other musical forms.
The programmings and celebration of Afro-Latin Jazz will end on August 30 with a panel discussion led by Zack O’Farrill at 7 p.m. The event will include the insight and inspiration of young artists in the Afro-Latin genre and how they are honoring and expanding its music traditions.
For more information about the August programs and exhibits, visit the museum’s website.
