Composers and instrumentalists Vicente Hansen Atria and Mat Muntz are set to release their new album “The Vex Collection”, releasing on Carrier Records February 18. With a grand combination of jazz, world, contemporary classical, and experimental rock, these two trendsetters have experimented with traditional instruments to devise unforgettable musical experiences.
Atria and Muntz grew straight out of NYC’s The Shed Open Call commissioning program. This establishment is a cultural institution that welcomes and molds 21st century art and ideas. The Shed cultivates creativity in fields ranging from pop to classical music, painting to digital media, theater to literature, and sculpture to dance. Their mutual interest in double reeds, which are by far one of the most ancient musical technologies that produce intense ranging sounds, were intertwined with newly invented technology, known as live electronics that were developed through 3-D-printing.
In addition to the two composers, others joined the musical journey to mesh traditional and new sounds to produce “The Vex Collection”. Gamin, played the Korean double reed instruments the piri and taepyeongso, while Matthew Welch, specialized in the great highland bagpipe. Additionally, musician Neo, plays the carnyx, bombard, and dozaleh.
These instruments were deeply rooted in Korea and Scotland, some being one of the first to have a substantial impact in their respective cultures. Atria and Muntz made sure not to alter the natural sounds of the traditional music, but rather allowed it to clash with the live electronics on one song and flow smoothly on the next. The newer instruments that intertwined with the old, ranged from distorted guitars to aggressive synthesizers and detailed microtonality. Ultimately, the group proved that older music is still apart of today’s culture, just with an advanced technological twist.
“The Vex Collection” has pushed passed the social norms within the music industry, as we know it today. This album is full of improvisations of music between two distinct time periods, that go above and beyond what listeners could have imagined.
To check out their latest single “Fugue”, visit Foxy Digitalis. For more information about Atria and Muntz, as well as “The Vex Collection”, visit these sites: Mat Muntz, Vincent Hansen.
Each year, hundreds of local musicians and members of the Syracuse music community attend the SAMMYS, an annual celebration of the Syracuse music scene, celebrated since 1993. This week, the nominations for the 2022 SAMMY Awards in a variety of categories were announced, along with Hall of Fame nominees who make up the rich history of CNY.
SAMMY awards are given based on the judgement of submissions sent to the SAMMYS Board by musicians in Syracuse and the surrounding area. This year, 161 artists submitted 171 recordings, which were then reviewed by an independent panel of music industry professionals and educators from around the country, led by James Abbott.
The awards show will feature performances by Jon Rogalia & The Swamp Boys, Letizia, The Real RAW Breed, and Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas. In addition to these performances, awards will be presented in 11 recording categories, as well as the People’s Choice awards for Best Artist or Band, Best Event or Music Series, Best Academic or Musical Organization, and Best Venue. The Brian Bourke award sponsored by CNYAlive.com for Best New Artist will also be announced. As in the past, this year’s Best New Artist will receive six hours of recording time from SubCat Studios.
Fans can join the SAMMYs action by participating in the annual People’s Choice vote, in each of four categories: Artist or Band, Event or Music Series, Academic or Musical Organization, and Venue. Voting is free, open to the public and continues through February 28 here.
The 2022 SAMMY Awards nominees are:
BEST JAZZ
• Bob Holz – Live in New York And L.A.
• Chuck Lamb & Peter Mack – Exit 33
• E.S.P. – Ready or Not
• The Pietra Group – People Chain
BEST AMERICANA
• The Dirty Doves – Pure & Simple
• Gegorge Mann – A World Like This
• Harmonic Dirt – Rhode Island Street
• Len Widdekind – Highway of Time
• Nashua Robb – Sunroom Sessions: About Time
• The Ripcords – Unmasked
BEST JAM BAND
• Count Blastula – Strange Mutations
• Ramshki Alley – Ramshki Alley
BEST POP
• AK Kastro – College Rd.
• Coral Blue – Paris is Burning
• The Jess Novak Band – A Thousand Lives
• River Westin – Candy Cigarettes
• Stoyan – Cancel Me
BEST HARD ROCK
• Gainer – Cold Case
• Less Than Hate – Less Than Hate
• Unwanted Ghosts – The End is a Gift
• Void Emperor – Void Emperor
BEST R&B • Anna Shelay – Unlinkable
• Diana Jacobs Band – Love Each Other, Love Our World
• Free Boody Institute – Myths, Legends & The Hard Truth
• Lamar Lamb – Love & Pain
BEST ROCK
• Anna Shelay – Unlinkable
• Diana Jacobs Band – Love Each Other, Love Our World
• Free Boody Institute – Myths, Legends & The Hard Truth
• Lamar Lamb – Love & Pain
BEST ALTERNATIVE
• The Leaps – Spinning the Wheels
• Mike Gibson – Feb6: Grief & Nonsense
• Outside Voices – Grind
• Trauma Cat – Prepare to Apologize
BEST OTHER STYLE
• Alex Seubert – Works from Space
• Asael – Moment
• Fritz’s Polka Band – The Hands of Time
• Jeff Tripoli – Rhythm Cadence for the New Renaissance
• Paul Davie – Half and Half
• Everneau – Revolution
• Jeff Gordon – Local Boy
• McWray – Thunderin
• Not Robots! – Not Robots
• Steve Romer – Slow Demise
• Tommy Gunn – Chulo
BEST HIP-HOP OR RAP
• Christenelle Diroc – In Our Crystal Castle
• Coughlin – Miles
• Exoticz – For the Love of Music
• VinnyVeg – 1104 Vol. 2 The Leader Of Real Shhh
BEST COUNTRY
• Jon Rogalia – Twenty Eight
• Whiskey Hollow Rush – Torn Up from the Corn Up
The SAMMY’s Awards Show will be held on Friday, March 4, 2022 at the Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater at 7:00pm. Tickets are $25 and will be available at ticketmaster.com. Online streaming of the event will also be available for $15.
The 2022 SAMMY Hall of Fame Inductees
The SAMMY Hall of Fame honors esteemed individuals with roots to the Syracuse Community, who have throughout their careers, advanced to the top of their fields.
RUSS TARBY
Russ Tarby has been covering entertainment, music and more in Central New York since the 1970s. Tarby was raised in Liverpool and graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in 1970. He wrote for college newspapers at both SUNY Oswego and at Indiana University. From 1969 to 1999 Tarby worked as a production assistant at WCNY, operating camera on productions such as the “Bluegrass Ramble Barn Dance,” “All-American Jazz” and the annual New York State Marching Band Competition. His reviews and features have appeared in publications such as The Syncopated Times, the Village Voice, Buffalo Beat, Metroland (Albany) and the Ithaca Times. In 2000, he was named music writer of the year for weeklies by the International Association of Alternative Newsweeklies.
In the 1980s, he worked as a freelance contributor for the Post-Standard reviewing concerts. The zenith of each year was covering the New York State Fair, for which he would write two reviews daily – one for the free afternoon show and another for that evening’s Grandstand headliner. He served as music and books editor for the Syracuse New Times for 12 years. While at the New Times, Tarby served on the steering committees that founded the Syracuse Area Music Awards. He also collaborated on the Horns-a-Plenty project, putting instruments into the hands of disadvantaged students, and inner-city music education projects.
Tarby has interviewed and profiled dozens of local and national artists including Benny Mardones, B.B. King, Roosevelt Dean and Joanne Shenandoah. Tarby has also been the recipient of several Syracuse Press Club awards for his reviews and profiles. More recently, Tarby has been writing a weekly column for the Star-Review, “Livin’ in Liverpool.” He has devoted time to booking and emceeing concerts in Liverpool and has acted as program director for the ‘Liverpool is the Place’ Summer Concert Series since 2002.
ROBERT TOUSIGNANT
Robert “Bobby T.” Tousignant, aka Bob Avery, started playing drums at the age of 10 years. He has now been playing for 65 years. As a performer, Bobby T. saw chart success as a member of The Music Explosion, who had a hit in 1967 with “Little Bit O Soul.” The song was originally released by the band The Little Darlings in the UK in 1965. The Music Explosion’s version reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967 and went on to sell 5.5 million copies. The song went on to be covered by The Ramones.
Following his tenure with The Music Explosion, Bobby T joined the New York-based Crazy Elephant in 1969, scoring at number 12 Billboard hit with the song, “Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’.” Bobby T has toured with Gene Pitney, The Easy Beats, The Happenings, and The Buckinghams. He has also performed with Joe Walsh’s James Gang, Graham Nash with The Hollies, The 5th Dimension, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Deep Purple, and the Mysterians and the bubblegum pop groups, the 1910 Fruitgum Company and Ohio Express.
Most recently, Bobby has performed with the Nate Gross Band and has opened for Poppa Chubby, Samantha Fish, Amy Helm, Joe Louis Walker, Elvin Bishop and Walter Trout, Tommy Castro, and Grammy winners Jason Ricci and J.J. Appleton.
LOS BLANCOS
Los Blancos is a barnstorming, roots n blues band from Syracuse, spending the last 26 years creating miles of smiles while careening between genres and styles. The band formed organically in 1996 at an open mic night at The Inn Complete, the SU graduate student bar. Guitarist Colin Aberdeen, bassist Steven T. Winston, guitarist Jose Alvarez and drummer Paul Roehrig, musicians from different backgrounds convened as the first incarnation of Los Blancos.
The band picked up regular work based upon cool grooves, warm vocals and hot playing, culminating in the release of its first record, ‘For Sale By Owner,’ on Dr. K records. Subsequent personnel changes included the addition of keyboardist Mark Nanni; Roehrig’s departure; the addition of drummer Garnett Grimm and Alvarez’s return to Mexico after the band’s second release, ‘Special Blend.’ Los Blancos evolved in response to these changes, in roughly 2003, with the addition of top-tier drummer Mark Tiffault.
Winston is the anchor for the group. His gift for capturing the essence of a multitude of musical styles has been the lynch pin around which Los Blancos has explored. Aberdeen, the emcee since inception, fuels the party with ribald one-liners and a background in early acoustic delta and country blues, giving his electric ensemble playing its unique qualities. In 2017, the band became a three-piece of Aberdeen, Winston and Tiffault, featuring a floating fourth chair, which allowed for the inclusion of many musicians.
They have played every type of event, primarily as the soundtrack to people’s lives. Their music has been used as bumper music on The Tony Kornheiser show, as advertisement music, and on adult film soundtracks. Los Blancos played on two of Grammy-winner Alvarez’s releases, ‘Diggin In’ and ‘Tomorrow and the Next Day,’ which featured Terrence Simien, the bandleader with whom he received those Grammys.
JEFF STOCKHAM
Multi-instrumentalist Jeff Stockham is well known to Upstate New York music fans. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and a veteran of the renowned Eastman Jazz Ensemble. His performance credits read like a Who’s Who of the upstate music scene. He has performed with numerous Central New York musicians, including the Central New York Jazz Orchestra, Salt City Jazz Collective, the Stan Colella Orchestra, DeSantis Orchestra, The Fabulous Ripcords, Second Line Syracuse, The Blacklites, The Destination, Little Georgie & the Shufflin’ Hungarians, Larry Arlotta, the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble, and Syracuse Symphony.
He has backed up numerous national artists and has been a member of the orchestra for the national touring company of “Les Miserables.” He has toured Europe and Africa with blues guitarist Jimmy Johnson. Jeff is also one of the few musicians worldwide to play jazz on the French horn. He was a Featured Artist at the 2016 International Horn Symposium at Ithaca College. He is a trumpeter and French hornist in Thelonius Monk Jr.’s “Monk on Monk” big band, which has toured Europe, Israel, and the United States several times.
He is the leader and solo E-flat cornetist of the SAMMY-award-winning the recreated Civil War Excelsior Cornet Band, and is solo E-flat cornetist of the 47th PA Regimental Band, President Lincoln’s Own Band (appearing in the Steven Spielberg film “Lincoln”), the Federal City Brass Band (appearing in the Emmy-winning Netflix series “House of Cards”), and was a historical consultant and performer in several other films. He was formerly Instructor of Jazz Trumpet at Hamilton College, LeMoyne College, and Colgate University, Visiting Lecturer of Trumpet at Cornell University, and was Instructor of French Horn and Jazz Trumpet at Syracuse University. He is an avid collector of antique brass instruments, with over two hundred in his collection.
J. AVERY HEAD – MUSIC EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
J. Avery Head was introduced to bagpiping while in 10th grade. He had already played piano and French horn. His best friend in band, Ron Smallman, also played bagpipes. Ron taught Avery and he joined the Balmoral Highlanders of Syracuse. Ron and the band’s Pipe Major, Tom Hinchey were both excellent and demanding players and taught Avery to play quite well. After graduation, he attended the College of Wooster, in Wooster, OH, where pipers often led the band. There, under the auspices of band director, Stuart Ling, Avery led the group and established a program to teach pipes to students. The band grew from five pipers to 12 by the time he graduated. During one of his summer breaks, Avery joined Tom Hinchey and played with the Clan MacFarlane Pipe Band of St. Catherines, ON, one of Canada’s most prestigious bands.
Avery attended the University of Cincinnati where he earned a Master’s of Science in Chemistry, eventually landing a job with Dow Chemicals in Midland, MI. It was there where he met his wife Beth while playing for a community theater production of “Brigadoon.” After three years of teaching high school chemistry in Cleveland, Avery sought a new position, landing him here at Liverpool High School where he taught for 30 years. Upon arrival, he became involved with the Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band and elected Pipe Major within six weeks. He has been directing the band ever since (1974). Over the years, he has taught a number of noteworthy players and has competed in solo competitions, earning a number of medals.
Avery has always strived for his bands to be competitive. They compete each year in locations throughout the Northeast and Canada, performing in many different venues, including a Rod Stewart concert, hockey games, baseball games, the Empire State Games, the Lockerbie Memorial, graduations, and many parades.
TOM KENNY – LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas are a Los Angeles-based Rock n Roll/ Soul /R&B band that “brings the party” wherever and whenever they perform. They are the embodiment of no-holds-barred, all-in rocknroll. Simply put, their mission statement can be summed up as follows: “Hey, let’s have as much fun as humanly possible!” Drawing on influences ranging from Sam Cooke to The Shangri-Las to The Righteous Brothers, their rockers cause dance floor mayhem and their soulful ballads induce swooning. There’s no doubt that you and your socks will part company once you experience Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas.
The band’s manic frontman is Tom Kenny. Tom is the highly regarded voice actor behind the immortal “SpongeBob SquarePants”, The Ice King from “Adventure Time”, many voices on “Rick and Morty”, and literally hundreds of other animated characters. He won an Emmy in 2018 for outstanding contributions to an animated program. Tom Kenny began as a standup comedian and on-camera actor where he quickly started to notch up appearances from Late Night with David Letterman to Conan O’Brien, and the Drew Carey Show. He played the evil Binky the Clown in the cult classic Shakes the Clown.
Tom’s has hundreds of voice credits his first VO role was Heffer on the classic Nicktoon Rocko’s Modern Life. A sample of his credits include: Powerpuff girls, Adventure Time, Dexter laboratory, Ultimate Spiderman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and Catdog.
Kenny is probably most well known as the voice of an icurably optimistic sea sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea SpongeBob SquarePants. He has been the recipient of two Annie awards for his voice work on SpongeBob Square Pants and as the Ice King in Adventure Time. Also receiving an Emmy for SpongeBob in 2018.
The Hall of Fame Induction dinner will be Thursday, March 3, Upstairs at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que from 7-10pm. The list of inductees and bios are available on pages 5-11 of this packet. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at syracuseareamusic.com/tickets. Free online streaming of the event will also be available.
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, Thom Powers and Friends, Sly Fox & the Hustlers, Thanks!, 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.
Sly Fox and The Hustlers – “ Find Someone”
John Popper of Blues Traveler called Sly Fox and the Hustlers, “one of the best bands I’ve seen in a long time!” The band has shared stages with Popper’s Blues Traveler, SmashMouth, Robin Trower and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, among others. The Hustlers have also been a mainstay at festivals and music events across the Northeast, including Alive @ 5, the Americade Bike Fest, Movefest and the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, to name a few. The band will be releasing their third full-length album on 2-2-22.
Thom Powers & Friends – “RollerCoaster Show”
Thom Powers and Friends was established in the Summer of 2021 and consists of Thom Powers as lead vocals, rhythm guitar, Andy Doonan on bass, Andy Mollica on lead guitar, Tony Califano on keys, and Darryl Kniffen on Drums. These guys love rock and roll and love to play music – original music and their take on cover tunes.
Thanks! – “I choose You”
Thanks! has released “I Choose You,” their second single off their upcoming album, You’re Welcome on February 11th. The upcoming album that will be released in the summer of 2022 is the band’s first full-length album.
“I Choose You” was inspired by the special people in our lives. The ones we want to laugh with, cry with and most importantly, dance with. This is a celebration of how those people make us feel and how in a sea of a billion fish, we would choose them over and over again.
The Lumineers have returned with their “BRIGHTSIDE” 2022 World Tour. The extensive tour begins May 18th and features special guests James Bay, Caamp, Gregory Alan Isakov and Daniel Rodriguez.
The tour follows the release of the band’s fourth studio album of the same name, available now on all streaming platforms. The Grammy nominated album was produced by longtime collaborator Simone Felice and engineered by David Baron during winter and spring of 2021 at Sun Mountain Studios.
The band was credited with creating the world’s first climate positive tour back in 2020 and have continued this trend by collaborating with the environmental non profit REVERB to make the BRIGHTSIDE tour climate positive as well. The nonprofit has collaborated with a number of artists and bands to reduce environmental impact including Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Dave Matthews Band and Tame Impala.
General ticket sales start on 2/18 at 10 AM. Advanced ticket purchasing starts 2/14 for select club and Citi card members. Ticket bundles and premium packages are also available. For complete ticket information, visit The Lumineers website.
The Lumineers 2022 Tour Dates
5/18 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
5/20 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheater
5/21 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
5/24 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park
5/25 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
5/27 – Canandaigua, NY – CMAC
5/28 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
5/29 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
6/1 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
6/3 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
6/4 – Camden, NJ – Waterfront Music Pavilion
6/7 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
6/8 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
6/10 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
6/11 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
6/14 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
6/15 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
Kristian Montgomery is a regular guy. Except, the more you fill in the details of his life what should be ordinary starts to become extraordinary. Like a cubist painting, that starts to look less recognizable the more you identify the individual pieces in it, Kristian’s life is at once familiar and wholly his own.
His career has ups and downs, he goes on trips with his friends. All relatable experiences unless you’re Kristian Montgomery. His job isn’t a boring, nine-to-five. He’s a former metal vocalist turned country singer; whose career highs included being nominated for a Boston Music Award for Country Artist of the Year in 2021. But who’s lows included having to write an album in jail after contacting the judge in his child support case outside of court. And that trip he took with a friend? It was with his bassist and “blood brother,” Roberto Talleria, to his homeland of Managua, Nicaragua to perform on the local version of MTV.
Montgomery in Managua, Nicaragua.
Montgomery’s own origins have taken him beyond the Boston music scene he came up in. His father is from Denmark which he now considers “home.” His time in Boston was tumultuous, if successful. It was a milieu in which he often felt, if not, overtly excluded, at least, like an odd man out in what he considered “a very upper-class music scene.” Even though he received critical success, in the form of his Boston Music Award nomination, he felt his peers never reciprocated. Which while not the raison d’etre for his art; stung, nonetheless.
The unique word choice he regularly employs hints at a sensitive person with an affinity for dramatic, verbal pictures. He uses turns of phrase that only an artistic spirit would consider. His relatives from Denmark are “across the sea.” When detailing the emotions of a song dedicated to his wife, he explains that he “throws his love at her.” He finds everyday experiences inspiring and “has made a living painting those stories into his songs.”
Ordinarily, such ornamental language, if used in casual conversation, would seem overwrought were it not for the fact that Montgomery is such a poised and deep thinker about art and, specifically, his art. He seems to be constantly reflecting on who his music represents. About the people it will connect with. It is music that is, as he says, “made for people on the Periphery.”
Now that he’s released a new album, he can say he did just that. Montgomery’s unpretentious, new album, “Heaven for Heretics”, released under the moniker Kristian Montgomery and the Winterkill Band, is a vintage singer-songwriter effort. It’s apparent the music comes from a single creative source, giving the album an unmistakable cohesion. Of course, as with all singer-songwriters if the message doesn’t resonate or the music is flat then listening becomes tedious, repetitive. That isn’t the case here. Montgomery is able to stretch himself to the limits of artistic expanse. He’s able to provide enough variety, both sonic and thematic, to keep the album propulsive.
From the contemplatively existentialist “Come Carry Weight with Me” to the bouncy country bop “Peach” Montgomery’s unorthodox, appealing voice and trademark mix of country music clichés mixed with profound turns of phrase, all showcase a musician who, if nothing else, cared about making something personal. And that counts for a lot.
Blending funk, soul, and indie, Brooklyn band Pimps of Joytime showcases their unique artistry on their new single, “Are You Gonna?” The release comes in anticipation of their new album Reachin’ Up, set to release Friday, April 15th. Accompanying this release, the band will be performing at Brooklyn Made with additional shows throughout the country.
Pimps of Joytime
Forming in 2005, Pimps of Joytime embellished the unique Brooklyn culture of the 2000s. After four studio albums, the band has found a unique sound encompassing a multitude of genres. They are unique, and their next album release is set to demonstrate the magnitude of this talent.
The Brooklyn band is no stranger to the soul and funk scenes, and “Are You Gonna?” showcases their experience. Combining Cuban blue rhythms, blues guitar progressions, and a vocal delivery akin to Bob Marley, the band beautifully demonstrates their ability to encompass multiple genres with grace and poise.
Their prior release, “Lesson,” also set to be on the album, further highlights their unique artistry. Pulsating drums and hypnotizing blues guitar capture the immediate attention of the listener. Most prominently, however, Brian Jay displays masterful and unique vocals that give the band its respective personality and flavor. His voice sensationally bounces over the instrumentation in a way that exhibits experience and confidence.
The latest single “Reachin’ Up” features Antibalas‘ shekere player and vocalist Marcus Farrar and singer Carol C (Si*Sé) for a funk and soul track sure to put smiles on people’s faces all spring long. Brian J comments, “‘Reachin’ Up’ originated from a batch of instrumentals I created in a two-week studio bender in 2019. I hit up old friend and early PJT collaborator Marcus Farrar to come work on one of the tracks. Marcus pretty quickly came up with great melody and lyric ideas. I had the lyric ‘Reachin’ Up’ kickin’ around for a few years and it fit perfectly. I hit record and Marcus did his thing with a stellar vocal performance. Carol C of Si*Sé and Pete Shand of New Mastersounds were the missing puzzle pieces who graced this track with an incredible vibe.”
Pimps of Joytime Winter 2022 Tour Dates:
Saturday, February 19 – The Fillmore – Denver, CO
Thursday, March 24 – Starline Social Club – Oakland, CA
Friday, March 25 – The Venice West – Venice, CA
Saturday, March 26 – Mustache Bash – San Diego, CA
Friday, April 15 – Brooklyn Made – Brooklyn, NY
Saturday, April 16 – Park City Music Hall – Bridgeport, CT
Saturday, Apr 30 – The Parish – House of Blues – New Orleans, LA
Saturday, May 28 – Denver Day of Rock – Denver, CO
Saturday, June 11 – Hog Farm Hideaway – Laytonville, CA
This month, just in time for Valentine’s Day, Albany Symphony pianists return for a verity of concerts. Wei Lou, piano soloist, will perform a Valentine’s concert on February 12th. Later in the month, Gershwin virtuoso and Kevin Cole will play Rhapsody in Blue in Troy. The Valentine’s Weekend program also includes Tchaikovsky’s expert Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique,” and New York City-based British composer Hannah Kendall’s The Spark Catchers.
Albany Symphony Orchestra
Music Director David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony welcome back two favorite virtuoso pianists for weekends of thrilling music sure to make for a perfect Valentine’s romance.
Albany Symphony Orchestra’s conductor, David Alan Miller
At the Palace Theatre and streaming live online, Wei Luo performs Serge Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. Luo made her acclaimed premiere with the Symphony in 2017.
“I am beyond excited to be back with Albany Symphony to perform this masterpiece,” said Luo. “The Prokofiev Third Piano Concerto is one of the most powerful yet beautiful concertos of all time with touching melodies, percussive sounds, and electrifying rhythms. It will be a blast!”
Albany Symphony Pianist, Wei Lou
“I’m thrilled to welcome Wei Luo back to play one of my all-time favorite piano concertos, Prokofiev’s glorious Third, along with the most romantic, passionate, life-affirming Russian symphony in the repertoire, Tchaikovsky’s Sixth, the ‘Pathétique,’ Miller said. “We’re also delighted to feature a brilliant recent work by composer Hannah Kendall. All the music on this program crackles with warmth and love; it is the perfect antidote for a cold winter’s night, and a musical Valentine you won’t want to miss.”
Albany Symphony Pianist, Wei Lou
Gershwin in the Roaring 20s, Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7:30pm and Sunday, Feb. 27 at 3pm at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
Kevin Cole, the foremost interpreter of the music of George Gershwin, makes his long-awaited return for a special program including a rare presentation of an iconic favorite.
Albany Symphony Pianist, Kevin Cole
“We’re delighted to welcome Kevin Cole back for a gorgeous evening of Gershwin classics from the 1920s, including ‘Rhapsody in Blue,’ performed in its seldom heard original jazz band version, and some of Kevin’s own dazzling Gershwin improvisations,” Miller said. “Don’t miss this concert; it will be unforgettable!”
Albany Symphony Pianist, Kevin Cole
The original event was one scheduled as a one-night-only performance, but a Sunday afternoon matinee was recently added to Gershwin Weekend and a virtual livestream has also been added for the Saturday night performance by popular demand. According to Cole, the appreciation is mutual:
“Every time I perform with Conductor David Alan Miller and Albany Symphony it’s an electrifying event! We have always been in syncopated synchronization with Gershwin. After more than 20 years of David and I performing together we’ve found a beautiful balance of lush romanticism layered with roller coaster thrills!”
Albany Symphony Orchestra’s conductor, David Alan Miller
Albany Symphony Orchestra presents a classical series throughout the region. Throughout leading Albany Symphony to its success, David Alan Miller has established a reputation as one of the leading American conductors of his generation. Often recognized as one of the American’s most innovative and creative orchestras, the two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning Albany Symphony is renowned for accomplished performances featuring classic orchestral favorites, lesser-heard masterworks, and an array of contemporary music from emerging voices of today.
Albany Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1930 in New York’s Capital Region, the Albany Symphony serves a diverse regional in the creation, performance, and recording of new orchestral music. The Albany Symphony is constantly reshaping the nation’s musical legacy. The Albany Symphony celebrates our living musical heritage through its adventurous programming, commissioning, and recording of new work, and broad community engagement beyond the concert hall.
Albany Symphony Orchestra
Tickets range from $20 to $62; livestream tickets are on sale now for $37 at (518) 694-3300 and albanysymphony.com. Saturday night Gershwin availability is limited.
The Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival will return to a live format this July 13-17 in Oak Hill, NY. With over 40 bands, six stages, dozens of performances, hands-on workshops, dancing, camping, jamming, kids activities, ethnic/festive foods, excellent vendors and top luthiers, fans will be guaranteed a memorable weekend of bluegrass music.
Thousands of fans from over 30 states and across the world attend this festival every year, to let loose in the Catskill Mountains. This festival features a multitude of genres consisting of traditional and contemporary bluegrass, jam bands, old-time, swing and cajun.
Advance Full Festival Tickets are now available for $275, including camping from 7am Wednesday, July 13 through 5pm Sunday, July 17. Considering this is a family friendly event, kids 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult. Additionally, Advance Day Passes are available for $85 for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with entry beginning at 8am and ending at about 1:30am. For the connivence of all fans, the festival is ensuring free day parking and shuttle busses. Lastly, Senior day passes (62+) will be available at the gate, with ID, for $80.
This year there will be two new camping options: RV Electrical Hookups in Generatorville and the High Meadow Glamping Village. Only those with full festival tickets can camp on the grounds and must follow safety and health guidelines. To learn more information about the bands, lodging, tickets and activities visit Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival site.
2022 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival Artists and Days of Performance
MasterVoices is an interracial, interfaith chorus based in New York City.
The musical tells the story of a corrupt, small-town mayor in 1960s America. Vanessa Williams stars as the aforementioned mayor who fabricates a miracle to attract tourists. The cast also features Tony Award winner, Santino Fontana, as J. Bowden Hapgood, a stranger who comes to town during the mayor’s scam and may or may not help uncover it.
The show is directed by Ted Sperling the Artistic Director of MasterVoices. Prior to his role at MasterVoices Sperling directed the New York Philharmonic, New York City Opera, and was Principal Conductor of the Westchester Orchestra.
View of American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim onstage during an event at the Fairchild Theater, East Lansing, Michigan, February 12, 1997. (Photo by Douglas Elbinger/Getty Images)
“Steve was a friend, a great colleague and a mentor,” Sperling said. “He was delighted we were revisiting Anyone Can Whistle, which has one of his favorite songs, ‘With So Little to Be Sure Of,’ and he had agreed to help us with the project. The month ahead will be a labor of love, and we know his spirit will be with us.”
The rarely performed musical’s notable songs include “There Won’t Be Trumpets,” “Anyone Can Whistle,” “Everybody Says Don’t” and “With So Little to be Sure Of”.
Sondheim, and his long-time creative partner, Arthur Laurents, who wrote the book, conceived the story as a treatise on the importance individuality in 1960s America. In particular, when faced with the inherent contradiction of attempting to remain sane in an increasingly insane society.
While a product of the 1960s the show has been lauded for its timelessness. Specifically for its portrayal of an unscrupulous leader and the consequences that occur should a community decide to follow one. The musical also satirizes religion and science, examining their ties to political power.
This is the first performance of Anyone Can Whistle in New York City since the Encore! series at City Center in 2010.
Tickets
Anyone Can Whistle will play at Carnegie Hall for one night only on March 10. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling 212.247.7800, or in person at the box office. Guests must show proof of vaccination to attend the performance.
Westchester-based country band Raquel and The Wildflowers have release their new single, “Freedom,” on Thursday, February 10, a tune ripe with fiddle, electric guitar and a driving beat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQGe2Alh4qQ
The song had previously been performed at the band’s various live shows around both New York state and the country. After requests from fans who had heard the song live the group decided to record the song and release it as a single.
The cover art for “Freedom” gives the band’s fans the opportunity to customize the single’s corresponding artwork.
The downloadable file mimics a postcard. With blank space, a “To:” line, and the spot for a postage stamp in the top right corner encourage listeners or prospective doodlers to design a postcard.
Raquel and The Wildflowers is a three-person band that features the eponymous Raquel de Souza as lead singer, Cat Lines on fiddle, and Luis Cruz on guitar.
The band is currently on tour with stops in New York in Monticello at Resorts World Catskills on March 25, Tioga Downs Casino Resort in Nichols on April 8, and Trivia Fest in Elmsford on May 1. They will also be performing at the Country Fest music festival in Cadott Wisconsin with headliners Florida Georgia Line.
