Category: Funk/Soul/R&B

Introducing NYS Music’s Black History Maps
Black history month can be a frustrating time of the year. The opportunity to celebrate the numerous Black vanguards is a great honor. Yet, having to encapsulate so much greatness in only 28 short days is a task in itself. How do you prioritize one Black success story over another? The truth is you can’t, but that doesn’t mean you don’t try.

While limiting the importance of Black people to just entertainment can be negligent to the immense contributions made to math, science, architecture and communication that laid the foundation for the modern world… this is a music website.
And while the likes of Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey’s roles as revolutionaries are to be studied and admired, it is the arts that continues to push pop culture forward. There is no greater form of pop culture now than hip hop, having overtaken rock & roll as the world’s most popular genre. Yet, hip hop would not exist without those that paved the way during the Harlem Renaissance.

Black history is everywhere, and New York State occupies some of the most important landmarks, where countless fabled musicians have inhabited. From The Cotton Club — where entertainers during the Harlem renaissance helped bring Black music to the mainstream — to the Marcy Projects that once housed Jay – Z.
- Cab Calloway.
Our Black History Maps give readers a chance to view the boroughs, neighborhoods and exact addresses where many a Black history that has shaped the world originated from within New York State, and the accompanying stories deriving from such landmarks. A fun interactive feature, the BHM will also serve music aficionados who may want to see just how close they are to where their favorite artist once frequented.
February 6, 2022
This Week’s EQXposure Features Glass Pony, Victory Soul Orchestra, W.Y. Huang And More

Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Glass Pony, Victory Soul Orchestra, W.Y. Huang and many more!

WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

Glass Pony from Albany released “Day Dream” this past fall. Don’t miss their show with Organ Fairchild at Lark Hall on February 19.
<a href="https://glasspony.bandcamp.com/track/daydream-single-version">Daydream (Single Version) by Glass Pony</a>
Watch “Northbound” from Glass Pony at Cohoes Music Hall in December, 2021.

Victory Soul Orchestra “Shoot Your Shot” can be heard on EQXposure. The band along with JB threw a party in Foster House Studios and recorded some songs, “Shoot Your Shot” being the first in a series of live recordings.

From Singaporean singer-songwriter W. Y. Huang is his latest, ‘Living With Ghosts.” Writing on Instagram, Huang said “It’s about growing older, dealing with pain, regret and letting go of the past, of fear. “I’ve not written something so personal in a long time… maybe ever. When I wasn’t in a good place, writing this song helped me [through] it.”

Glass Pony Victory Soul Orchestra W.Y Huang

February 5, 2022
Bardavon Presents Announces Black History Month Events

In honor of Black History Month, Bardavon Presents in Poughkeepsie has announced several events. Two of these events are announced as a way to educate and promote conversation surrounding race for kids and teens K-12, with other events celebrating Black history also scheduled.

The first of these events is Virtual Step Afrika! The event is a 5-part series designed to educate the youth on stepping and its history. Stepping is a form of dancing that originated in African American colleges in the early 20th century. Steppers use their bodies as an instrument and often follow polyrhythmic time signatures. By doing so, the dance form created a way for people to musically express themselves through their bodies. Schools and teachers can register for Virtual Step Afrika! from now until Friday, February 18th.

Step Afrika!

Bardavon Presents will also host Virtual Rhapsody in Black. The event is a one-man show written and performed by LeLand Gantt and developed at NYC’s Actors Studio by Estelle Parsons. The show follows Gantt’s personal journey to understand and eventually transcend racism in America. Teachers It seeks to stimulate deep and uncomfortable, yet necessary conversations about race. A free stream of the performance will be available starting Monday, February 7th til Friday, February 18th.

Rhapsody in Black

On Friday, February 25th, a dual screening of Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, will be shown at both the Bardavon and Ulster Performing Arts Center. The classic 1989 film featuring Spike Lee, Martin Lawrence, Samuel L. Jackson, and Giancarlo Esposito, explores the racial tension in a Brooklyn neighborhood between African Americans and Italian-Americans. The movie has received unanimous positive reception in the way that it explores its themes, so much so that it has been admitted to the National Film Registry. Tickets for the screening start at just $6.

Do the Right Thing

On February 18th at 8 PM, BardavonPresents will host a free stream on their YouTube page. This stream will be a part of their HVP: Behind the Music series. The episode will focus on the Hudson Valley Philharmonic’s March 5th concert, which shines a spotlight on female composers. Notably, Composer Nkeiru Okoye will discuss her piece “Songs of Harriet Tubman,” dedicated to the abolitionist woman who helped free an estimated 70 slaves. The steam will also explore the broader title theme, Underground Figures. More information is available here.

Nkeiru Okoye

February 4, 2022
Catch Organ Fairchild on their Winter Tour Across New York State

Buffalo’s Organ Fairchild, winner of NYS Music’s March Madness in 2021, will head out on tour this winter for 10 stops over February and March, 9 of which are in New York. They’ll kick off their tour on Thursday, February 3rd at Hickey Tavern in St. Bonaventure, then perform at Duende at Silo City on Friday, February 4.

One year ago, the band marked the release of single, “Seepin’,” from the long-time Buffalo jam band veterans, whose members have a history on the jam scene dating back 40 years. Joe Bellanti (organ and keyboards), Corey Kertzie (drums and percussion) and Dave Ruch (guitar) make for a mean trio that has been years in the making.

They’ll also link up with Syracuse’s Sophistafunk for a pair of shows in early March. With additional shows in Rochester, Ithaca, Albany, the Adirondacks and Southern Tier, there’s no shortage of shows for New Yorkers to get down with Organ Fairchild’s tasty Buffalo funk and grooves.

February 2, 2022
Cory Wong, Antwaun Stanley and Sierra Hull Hit All the Right Notes in Rochester

When funk mavens Cory Wong and the Wongnotes announced, over two variants ago, that mandolin phenom Sierra Hull would be opening their winter tour, it seemed like an odd pairing. With the tour finally getting underway, their recent stop at Anthology in Rochester on Sunday, January 30, proved it to be a brilliant choice.

As Hull took the stage, the crowd was already near capacity, escaping the deep-freeze portion of the Rochester winter and taking advantage of what little scraps of live music could be found amongst the pandemic-ravaged scene. The audience was immediately rapt with Hull’s masterful playing as she strummed and picked through “Poison” off her 2020 release, 25 Trips. It didn’t take long for the bill to pay dividends as Wongnotes saxman Eddie Barbash came out to join her on a fantastic duet cover of “People Get Ready” and would stay out for the rest of her short set. After a blazing bluegrass number she brought out more Wongnotes: Sunny T on bass, Kevin Gastonguay on keys and Petar Janjic on drums. They played through Hull’s “Weighted Mind,” Del McCoury’s “Blues Rollin’ In” and closed out on blazing instrumental that showcased the groupings unique collective talents.

After a short break, Cory Wong took the stage with his full Wongnote unit. A five-piece horn section including members of Prince’s New Power Generation Band and Jon Batiste’s Stay Human joined Janjic, Sunny and Gastonguay to round out the band. They blasted non-stop through high-energy funks, bluesy grooves and dancehall throw-downs, going five songs into the set before taking a breather. Wong was content to lay the groundwork from which his bandmates could shine. He was happy to play bandleader and not draw the spotlight to his own playing as much as one would expect. Then midway through the set he broke free on a ripping effects-laden solo. With the reins loosened, he would rock out a bit more liberally in the second half of the set.

Nearing the end of the first set, it was time for Hull to come back to the stage. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones are not a band that draws a lot of comparison, with good reason. But what Cory Wong and the Wongnotes pulled off with Hull on stage could worthily be described as “Flecktones-ian.” The unique blend of funk, soul, jazz and bluegrass with a splash of Irish jig highlighted in a brand new song Wong and Hull penned together, brought to mind the distinct sounds Bela and his band introduced to the world. Stunning stuff!

As if backing a bluegrass mandolin and then a guitar-led instrumental funk band wasn’t enough of a flex for the Wongtones, they emerged after another short break for a closing set backing R&B singer Antwaun Stanley. Converted to a full bore party band, they ably kept pace with Stanley as he bounded and twirled and preached and effused love. The crowd, who were fully engaged since note one of the opening set, were easily molded into Stanley’s party-goers. They were at the ready, clapping the beat, waving arms in sync, or singing in call and response with only a hint of a prompt. Whether it was on originals like “Speed Of Night,” and “Where Are We Now” or on a Stevie Wonder Medley, the results were the same, this was Sunday night party and we were all invited.

The moments unfolded in exciting and enjoyable fashion one by one, but the show’s dynamic presentation, when taken as a whole in the rearview, revealed a one-of-a-kind concert experience.

January 31, 2022
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Announce New Album ‘Perspective’, Show At Terminal 5 this Spring

Jam/funk quartet Pigeons Playing Ping Pong announced the release of their new album, Perspective, and winter/spring tour dates, with a stop at Terminal 5 in NYC on April 9.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Tour Dates.

The group —Greg Ormont [vocals, guitar], Jeremy Schon [guitar, vocals], Ben Carrey [bass, vocals], and Alex “Gator” Petropulos [drums, vocals]- will celebrate their sixth LP with a big tour and a few festival appearances.

The album is another milestone in the band’s impressive history, having played countless sold-out shows, acquired millions of streams, and developed a loyal fan base known as “The Flock.”

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at Westville Bowl. Photo by Vic Brazen

Ormont spoke about the album and spoke of how the pandemic sparked it.

The album title speaks to the perspective of the pandemic as well as our growth over the years. During this turbulent time, everyone in the world has been forced to look in the mirror and ask what’s truly important. If there’s anything we’ve all gained from this, it’s perspective, and a recurring theme from our band is to not waste time. Now more than ever, we recognize that you only get one life, so you might as well live it to the fullest and lift people up in the process.

PPPP will be going on tour in the spring, and have a stop at Terminal 5 in NYC. Their new album Perspective will be released on April 8, and tickets for their tour can be found here.

The group has also debuted a never-before-heard single from their forthcoming studio project, Perspective with “Elephante,” an infectious dance groove ad the first single off of the album. Combining PPPP’s signature catchy songwriting and flair for jocularity, the hard-hitting groove features a jumbo horn line from Nashville funk collective Here Come The Mummies, who previously appeared on PPPP’s 2020 single “King Kong.”

Accompanying the release is a zany, fairy tale themed video, captured at Clark’s Elioak Farm in Ellicott City, MD, current home of the once revered local attraction, The Enchanted Forest. Directed by Don Cherel, the video is a charming snippet of enchanting lore, featuring the band dressed as kings and swashbuckling heroes on a quest to save a princess.

“As soon as I heard the first demo of Elephante, I was overwhelmed with excitement and just let it rip vocally,” smiles singer “Scrambled Greg” Ormont. “Musically, it knocks you off your chair. Lyrically, it’s about living life to the fullest. As for the music video, we just let our imaginations run wild on this one.”

January 30, 2022
North Side Sound set to release Debut EP “Take My Time”

Are you a fan of rock, indie, reggae, or even funk? North Side Sound, a band out of Albany who formed a year and a half ago, does it all. The tandem create genre bending music and are set to release them on their EP Take My Time, on January 28th on all streaming platforms.

The four songs represent the concept of relationships in their own unique way, and how they can be inconsistent . They also represent all the good memories that are shared within relationships. Pauly Graves (lead vox, guitar) Kasey Hogan (guitar), AJ Farina (bass) and Todd “Toddy” Friedman (drums) recorded all four songs during the pandemic.

Tracks “Take My Time” and “Five” really put the project together well. “Take My Time” is up tempo and has a mix of reggae and rock melodies. The bridge and the hook are catchy with a guitar riff bringing energy to the track to where you’ll find yourself bobbing your head. “Five” has a more reggae feel from the drum patterns to the guitar melodies. The bridge in “I Let It Roll, Roll, Roll” is very catchy as well.

North Side Sound’s Take My Time EP is a debut project with great artistry, melodies and overall song composition. Go listen to “Take My Time” on all streaming services on Friday, January 28th.

January 28, 2022
Governors Ball 2022 Lineup Announced: Featuring J.Cole, Roddy Rich, Halsey and more

Governors Ball is back for 2022 and another year of star studded performers, featuring big-hitters like Kid Cudi, J. Cole and Halsey. The three-day event begins Friday, June 10 and concludes Sunday June 12 at the Citi Field complex in Queens.

After celebrating their 10-year anniversary this past fall, Governors Ball has returned with the perfect kick-off to the summer. The festival returns to its traditional early June dates and welcomes fans with performances from Migos, Jack Harlow, Roddy Rich, Skepta, Joji, Kaytranada, Clairo, Playboi Carti, Jazmine Sullivan, Japanese Breakfast, and many others.

This year’s Governors Ball will also have its signature line up of New York City’s best food, craft beers, surprise performances, stunning art installations and much more.

Working in close coordination with the Mayor’s Office, the festival’s health guidelines for fans, artists and staff have been updated to stay in line with NYC requirements. A negative COVID test or full vaccination is required to attend.

As an added show of support for the city, Founders Entertainment, the organizers behind Gov Ball, will be making a $25,000 donation to the Mayor’s fund to help the victims of the Bronx apartment fire. Festival goers can also show support by donating to the relief effort here.

Tickets are on sale starting 1/27 at 12 PM EST on GOVBALL.COM. Citi Cardmember presale runs from 1/25 at 10 AM to 1/27 at 11:59 AM.

January 25, 2022
Happy Birthday to Alicia Keys, The Girl on Fire

Happy 41st Birthday to the 15-time GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, musician, producer and much more Alicia Keys! Born on January 25th 1981 in Hell’s Kitchen, Alicia Augello Cook made a name for herself at the young age of 15 and professionally became known as Alicia Keys.

Back in 2001 Alicia Keys released her first album ‘Songs in a Minor’ with hit single ‘Fallin’ which led her to her first of many Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles.

Selling over 65 million records and becoming the #1 RIAA certified Female R&B artist of the millennium, Keys has become the title of her hit song ‘Girl on Fire.’

On December 10th 2021, Alicia Keys released her double-album Keys making this the eighth album for her career. Artists Brandi Carlile, Lil Wayne, Swae Lee, Pusha T, Khalid and Lucky Daye joined forces with Keys to help her produce the 26 track double-album. Last month Key’s released a new official music video of one of her songs off the album, Old Memories.

I could feel the power of Alicia’s presence even before she belted out the first soulful notes of the lyrics that made her famous—‘I keep on fallin’ in and out of love with you.’ I knew she had all those sparkling qualities that make stars shine. More important, Alicia has navigated the spotlight and pressures of fame while retaining a humble and beautiful spirit. I am honored she chose to share her personal story through my imprint.
-Oprah Winfrey

Diving further into a successful career, Keys reveals to the world an insight of her journey from self-censorship to full expression with a New York Times Bestseller book, More Myself. The part autobiography and part narrative documentary writes a 360-degree perspective of author Alicia Key’s life and journey with her experience with those who have walked alongside her.

Alicia Keys continues to live life inspiring others with her music and writing – be sure to catch Keys on tour this summer with her new album! Happy Birthday Alicia Keys!

January 25, 2022
In Focus: The Campbell Brothers, Live at Caffe Lena
On Saturday, January 15, The Campbell Brothers played a high energy set for a small Caffe Lena crowd that braved the elements to make it out. The self-described church music group rocked Caffe Lena with their unique style that combined funk, soul, gospel, folk, and everything in between. The Campbell Brothers’ energy was contagious and the small cold crowd helped sing along to their entire hour and fifteen minute set.

To get a real sense of what The Campbell Brothers’ music is all about by listening, check out this clip of “Morning Train” from 2011.

The Campbell Brothers’ set included “Morning Train” and a number of other energetic tunes including “I’ve Got a Feeling,” “Hell No,” “Heaven Yes,” and “Jump for Joy”. This clip of “Morning Train,” though, is a perfect representation of the tone, mood, and level of musicianship present at the show on Saturday night.

Whether it was Phillip’s touch on guitar, Denise’s powerful vocals, or Chuck’s superb control on the pedal steel, The group hit notes that anyone can enjoy. Their simple hooks made it easy for the crowd to learn the lyrics and sing along with Denise throughout the night.

There is no substitute for witnessing their music performed live in person, and it is an experience that music lovers will crave again and again. So the next time The Campbell Brothers morning train rolls into your town, the only question you need to ask yourself is, “how many tickets am I buying?” Also, be sure to check them out on Facebook.
January 17, 2022