NYS Music 202​2

Category: NYC Metro

  • Bryan Carter Releases Heartfelt New Single “Making Love”

    NYC-based drummer, vocalist, and bandleader Bryan Carter just released his newest single “Making Love” on Friday, April 29th. The single is from his upcoming album I Believe, which comes out June 3rd via La Reserve. 

    Bryan Carter Releases New Single "Making Love"
    Photo Credit: Colton Williams

    “There’s more to love, I know, than making love,” Carter continues, reciting the lyric. “It’s more than just the hookup. How do I have a normal socialized relationship with this person? How do I learn to hold their hand at dinner in the park? Can I kiss them in the park? Is that okay? Is someone going to say something? I think that’s what that song is about.” 

    In addition to his career as a solo artist, Bryan is active as a performer, composer, arranger and music director in the world of film/television. He is currently working with pop icons like Nick Jonas, Steve Martin, Jimmy Fallon and more. Likewise, he is working on series like Live with Kelly and Ryan, HBO Music Box, and Sesame Street.

    The upcoming album I Believe takes listeners on a journey of love and self-acceptance featuring a kaleidoscopic track list. “Black American music through the lens of a jazz musician,” as Carter describes it. With “Making Love,” Carter captures a deep sense of vulnerability, both exhilarating and frightening in new love. “I’m embarrassed to hold your hand, I feel uncomfortable,” Carter says, expounding on the song’s message.

    It’s a coming out story, it’s a coming of age story. It’s along the same lines as mine. But mine is a lot more messy, and it’s hard to weave into a narrative. Those coming out videos on YouTube ten years ago, they were really helpful for me. When you actually speak to those people, you just realize that this shit is not that organized. ‘I realize I wanted to come out, then I came out, then everything was better.’ That’s a nice thing to say, but that’s not how this stuff works. The honest to God truth is when you come out, you come out every day. Every time you meet someone new, it’s like you have to come out again. That’s what coming out really is.”

    Bryan Carter

    Listen to “Making Love” below.

  • Harry Styles To Host Special Music Event “One Night Only” At The UBS Arena

    Pop star, Harry Styles, will host “One Night Only”, a concert in honor of his upcoming album, Harry’s House at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park on May 20.

    Harry Styles One Night Only

    Harry’s House, Styles’ third studio album will also drop on the day of this special event. Therefore, those in attendance will be the very first to see his latest work. As for now, fans can listen to, As It Was, his latest single which will be featured on the upcoming album.

    Styles’ debut album Harry Styles, was listed as a top 10 album globally that year. He also made history by having the highest first week of sales by a male artist. Furthermore, his second studio album Fine Line, became his second US #1 and he topped the Billboard 200 when it was released.

    Ever since Styles became a solo artist, he has made ground breaking accomplishments and built a loyal fan base worldwide. In fact, he has been awarded two BRIT awards, a Grammy award, an Ivor Novello Award and was the first man to have a solo cover on Vogue Magazine. 

    Tickets will be available for $25 including taxes and fees. Additionally, American Express Card Members will have the chance to be selected for the presale after registering for American Express® Early Access powered by Ticketmaster Verified Fan*, which runs from May 2 at 5 P.M. ET through May 3 at 7 P.M. ET. Those selected will be able to purchase tickets on May 5th between 9 and 11 A.M. ET.

  • DROM Celebrates 15th Anniversary With Special Series of 15 Shows

    The acclaimed home for Global Music, the DROM celebrates their 15th anniversary with a special series of 15 shows in 2022.

    DROM is a music venue that celebrates diverse and intersecting cultures with hundreds of performances over the last 15 years from international, national, to New York-based artists. Numerous music fans and thousands of artists have ventured to the venue to experience the live music.

    Our goal from the beginning was to bring cultures from different regions into one room. We created a scene with contemporary world music and Jazz sounds

    Serdar

    Together, Sedar IIhan as the owner and director and Mehmet Dede as programming director bring DROM to life as the home for musicians and passionate listeners to live music and performances. Jazz-based artists like Robert Glasper, Snarky Puppy and Gregory Porter have performed at DROM along with a sold out show from pop singer Sammy Rae just before the start of the pandemic.

    DROM 15th Anniversary Series – More shows to be announced throughout the year:

    Drom 15th Anniversary Series – More shows to be announced throughout the year

    Fri and Sat, May 6 and 7 – Mor ve Otesi – Night one tickets / Night two tickets

    Fri, May 20 – Spanish Harlem Orchestra “Imágenes Latinas” Album Release Concert – tickets

    Sat, June 4 – Mike Stern – tickets

    Thu June 9 and Fri June 10 – Django New Orleans” featuring Stéphane Wrembel – tickets

    Wed, June 15 – Yiddish New York’s Summer Klezmer Extravaganza –tickets

    Tue, June 28 – Ara Dinkjian with NY Gypsy All Stars play the Ara Dinkjian Songbook – tickets

    Fri, July 1 – Sexmob –tickets

    Wed, July 14 – Pedrito Martinez presents Echoes of Africa –tickets

    Fri, July 22 – NY Gypsy All Stars with special guest Ibrahim Maalouf – tickets

    Sat July 30 – Summer for the City at Damrosch Park, globalFEST at Summer for the City, Presented in collaboration with Drom NYC and Barbès Brooklyn – free

    Sun, November 6 – Pierre Bensusan –tickets

    Wed, December 14 – BronX BandA featuring Arturo O’Farrill – tickets

  • NYO Jazz Summer Tour, Debut Album “We’re Still Here” Announced By Carnegie Hall

    Carnegie Hall has announced the release of the debut album from NYO Jazz, We’re Still Here. Comprising young musicians ages 16–19 from across the United States, the album will be available everywhere June 24. The musicians of NYO Jazz will also embark on a tour this summer, including shows at Carnegia Hall and Chautauqua Institution.

    NYO Jazz’s debut album features a range of classic and contemporary charts

    Along with this, the album features Artistic Director and Bandleader/Trumpeter Sean Jones and special guest Melissa Aldana on tenor saxophone, plus an appearance by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon. 

    We’re Still Here presents four new works written for the band since its inception. NYO Jazz’s debut album features a range of classic and contemporary charts that are hallmarks of its live concerts. Along with works exploring themes that include social justice, resilience, and the power of music to spark joy.  

    “We’re thrilled for NYO Jazz to release its debut album this spring—the first recording by any of our national youth ensembles,”

    said Sarah Johnson, Chief Education Officer and Director of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.

    “It’s a tremendous opportunity for these gifted young players to train, perform, and now record alongside some of today’s leading jazz artists including special guest Melissa Aldana. It was especially meaningful for the musicians to gather for an extended residency last summer as it marked the first time many of them had the opportunity to come together to play in a full ensemble since the start of the pandemic”

    “With We’re Still Here, we are proud to showcase the incredible depth of talent and high level of musicianship of these standout jazz musicians from across the country who will help ensure one of America’s quintessential art forms is preserved for generations to come.” 

    “The big band has always been America’s orchestral format and one of the most wide-ranging ensembles ever devised,” said Jones, NYO Jazz’s Artistic Director and Bandleader. “It can convey nearly any style of music in a sonically stimulating and interactive way. This recording exhibits that diversity by placing classics by Duke Ellington and Neil Hefti alongside pieces that utilize the big band as a vehicle for contemporary American music and represent a wide variety of genres.” 

    “You close your eyes and think they’re all 20 years older than they are,”

    said Sean Jones who pays it forward through his passionate leadership of NYO Jazz, carrying on the tradition of mentorship in jazz. 

    The album will be released by Platoon and available for digital download and on all streaming platforms. Likewise, the album is available for pre-order here.

    Carnegie Hall has also announced the schedule for the first-ever US tour by its acclaimed NYO Jazz set to take place on the heels of the release of We’re Still Here. The NYO Jazz US Tour kicks off at Carnegie Hall on July 28 featuring GRAMMY® Award-nominated vocalist Jazzmeia Horn as Special Guest.

    NYO Jazz US Tour Dates

    July 28 | Carnegie Hall | New York, NY

    July 30 | Tri-C Metro Auditorium | Cleveland, OH

    August 1 | Chautauqua Amphitheater | Chautauqua, NY

    August 2 | The August Wilson African American Cultural Center | Pittsburgh, PA

    August 4 | Navy Pier, Lake Stage in Polk Bros Park | Chicago, IL

    August 5 | The Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center | Detroit, MI

    August 7 | Wisconsin Union Theater | Madison, WI

    August 9 | John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts | Washington, D.C.

  • Hank-O-Rama Celebration in NYC May 13th

    Hank Williams will be honored 69 years after his death with the 18th annual Hank-O-Rama celebration. This ‘honky tonk tradition’ takes place on May 13th at The Cutting Room in New York City.

    Hank-O-Rama Celebration in NYC May 13th

    The Hank-O is a symbolic rain date for the last show Hank would ever miss. Originally scheduled for its usual date in January, this year’s unique springtime Hank-O-Rama is a rain date itself because of his death on January 1st.

    After the New Year’s show was postponed due to last winter’s omicron surge, the remembrance of Hank Williams goes on with the 18th annual Hank-O-Rama celebration. The show features dozens of Hank’s hits and rarities performed live by The Lonesome Prairie Dogs.  

    The group features Lenny Kaye (guitar) and host Alex Battles. In addition, featuring guest stars Tammy Faye Starlite, Cliff Westfall, Sean Kershaw, and others from the Brooklyn & NYC country music firmament. Songs including “Cold, Cold Heart,” “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” and many others will be played in Hank’s celebration.  

    During the spring of 1952, Williams flew to New York with steel guitarist Don Helms, where he made two appearances with other Grand Ole Opry members on The Kate Smith Show. He sang “Cold, Cold, Heart”, “Hey Good Lookin’”, “Glory Bound Train” and “I Saw the Light” with other cast members, and a duet, “I Can’t Help It (if I’m Still in Love with You)” with Anita Carter. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtolv9kM1qk

    The singer made his early recordings for Sterling (based in New York) that produced the regionally popular song “Honky Tonkin.” Hank was only 29 when he was found dead in the back seat of his Cadillac on the morning of Jan. 1st, 1953, in WV. He was en route to a New Year’s Day gig in Canton, Ohio.

    Ticket Information

    Doors open at 6 and music starts at 7, tickets range from $20-25. To buy tickets, click the link here. For more information, click the link here. 

  • Governors Ball Announces After Dark Shows

    Founders Entertainment have announced the lineup for the Governors Ball After Dark shows this June. The shows take place at intimate venues across NYC in the late night hours after the festival at Citi Field ends.

    governors ball after dark

    On Thursday, June 9th, the night before the start of Gov Ball, fans have a choice of three excellent shows at longstanding small venues in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Tove Lo headlines Irving Plaza, Beabadoobee is at Warsaw, and Ultra Q play Mercury Lounge.

    On Friday, Soccer Mommy returns to NYC after their incredibly successful 2021 tour for a headlining show at Bowery Ballroom and Benee plays further uptown at Irving Plaza.

    Saturday night is stacked six shows but standout performances include Kaytranada (DJ Set) at Elsewhere and a mysterious “Gov Ball Hall of Fame w/ Bucket Listers” performance at the Fotografiska photography museum in Gramercy. The full schedule and ticket links can be found below.

    There is a Citi cardmember presale happening right now for Governors Ball After Dark shows, with a general on-sale this Friday, May 6th at 10AM ET. More information and ticket links can be found here.

    Stay tuned for the daily schedule announcements in the coming weeks.

    Thursday, June 9th
    Tove Lo @ Irving Plaza (Tickets)
    beabadoobee @ Warsaw (Tickets)
    Ultra Q @ Mercury Lounge (Tickets)

    Friday, June 10th
    Benee @ Irving Plaza (Tickets)
    Soccer Mommy @ Bowery Ballroom (Tickets)

    Saturday, June 11th 
    Kaytranda (DJ Set) @ Elsewhere (Tickets)
    The Teskey Brothers @ Irving Plaza (Tickets)
    Surf Curse @ Bowery Ballroom (Tickets)
    Plastic Picnic @ Mercury Lounge (Tickets)
    Gov Ball Hall of Fame w/ Bucket Listers @ Fotografiska
    Ping Pong Dance Party w/ Bucket Listers @ SPIN

    Monday, June 13th
    Almost Monday @ Mercury Lounge (Tickets)

  • Big Apple Bike Messenger Turned Street Music Star Sammy Buttons Makes National TV Debut on Rachael Ray

    Before Covid-19 closed down NYC in March 2020, Sam Pritchard had spent nearly 30 years running a successful bike messenger company. But when the pandemic shuttered every business that might need his service, Pritchard decided to close up shop. But he didn’t leave the streets; he just took to them with a new name and a new passion.

    sammy buttons
    photo by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn for The New York Times

    Sam Pritchard pivoted and became Sammy Buttons – New York’s funkiest, keyboard-wielding pop-up jam session/dance party host.  Together with a wide array of guesting singers, drummers, horn and guitar players, The Sammy Buttons Experience has been spreading the gift of groove heavy funk music to this shutdown weary city of 8 million for over two years, and often seven days a week. Sam and his rotating cast of collaborators have been serving it up on street corners, in parks and transit stations – attracting large, happy crowds from Wall Street to Harlem. And he’s been making a pretty good living at it too, one he says is far better than many musicians playing in NYC ‘s clubs.

    I have known Sam since the early 1990s, when his messenger company began serving my Manhattan-based PR firm. I knew his Covid career reinvention was an interesting one, something I had the chance to relate in a story I wrote for the New York Times. But it was not Covid alone that drove him to music. Like many of us, Sam had been a lifelong player in his off-hours, someone who always dreamed of playing music fulltime, just like his idols Sly Stone and Stevie Wonder.  He finally took to the street with his music, not only because Covid interrupted his business, but because of a promise made to one of his closest musician friends, the late bass player Tony Russell.  Russell was someone with whom he played with briefly on the streets who passed tragically at the beginning of the pandemic. You can find out more about this and Sam’s life story by reading the New York Times profile here.

    Watch Sammy Buttons performing in Sheridan Square

    There’s a saying in the world of PR that “publicity begats publicity.” And that has certainly been the case for Sammy Buttons. 

    As a result of his newfound fame,  Sammy has received some great opportunities to be a part of events that take place indoors.  He and his most frequent collaborator, saxman Bernell Jones II, enjoyed a two-week residency performing at the luxurious Soundview Inn in Greenport in February, one they will reprise this coming summer. This past month, Sammy was invited to begin hosting periodic Sunday Jam sessions at Sid Gold’s Request Room, the popular piano and karaoke bar co-founded by Loser’s Lounge piano man Joe McGinty.  Sam’s legend will soon spread to Australia when a segment shot this past month airs on SBS Television, that country’s equivalent of PBS.

    On March 3rd, New York’s new street music star made his national TV debut on the much-watched Rachael Ray Show.  Though host Ray was out on a Covid quarantine and not in the studio during the taping, she and her 2 million viewers across America got to hear Sammy’s story and experience his uniquely uplifting music and personality.  Check it out here.

    To keep up on the latest, follow The Sammy Buttons Experience on Instagram.

  • Lil Nas X To Perform Back-to-Back Nights At Radio City Music Hall

    Lil Nas X, two-time GRAMMY winner, will be touring his debut self-titled album MONTERO, this year. The acclaimed artist will be performing two back-to-back nights at Radio City Music Hall, on September 20th and 21st.

    Lil Nas X
    (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

    The 23-year-old rapper from Atlanta quickly rose to popularity in 2019, after the release and successful marketing campaign of his country-rap song “Old Town Road.” Critics were quick to judge the song, however, arguing that the song was not country enough to deserve its #16 spot on Billboards Hot Country Songs Chart, and it was quickly moved to the Hot Rap Songs Chart the following week. This controversy shot Lil Nas X to notoriety and the song eventually shot to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

    This quick fame would even land him a featured remix of the song with country-pop star Billy Ray Cyrus, which would become the longest-running #1 single in Billboard Hot 100 history after 19 weeks atop the chart.

    Lil Nas X Long Live Montero North American Tour Dates:

    Tue Sep 06 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore

    Sat Sep 10 – Chicago, IL – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom

    Thu Sep 15 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY

    Sun Sep 18 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

    Tue Sep 20 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall

    Wed Sep 21 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall

    Thu Sep 22 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met

    Sun Sep 25 – Washington, DC – The Anthem

    Tue Sep 27 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy

    Sat Oct 01 – Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium

    Mon Oct 03 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live

    Tue Oct 04 – Miami, FL – James L Knight Center

    Tue Oct 18 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater 

    Fri Oct 21 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre

    Sun Oct 23 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

    Tickets for the Long Live Montero Tour are available at https://www.longlivemontero.com/.

  • Rhiannon Giddens to Curate Carnegie Hall Series

    Rhiannon Giddens has curated a four-concert perspective series for Carnegie Hall. During the 2022-23 season, she will appear in four performances alongside a number of other talented instrumentalists. 

    Rhiannon Giddens

    The performances will focus on music traditions from different regions and backgrounds as well as the history of Black influence in American music. The first performance, “When I Am Laid in Earth”, will feature Giddens alongside Francesco Turrisi in Weill Recital Hall. Together, they will use a range of musical sources to showcase the wonders of classical and modern music.

    The following performance will bring together banjo players Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla and Allison Russell for “Songs of Our Native Daughters”. Giddens will contribute to a tale of struggle and resistance while bringing a Black female perspective.

    In Stern Auditorium, Giddens and Francesco Turrisi will welcome bassist Jason Sypher for “They’re Calling Me Home”, a Grammy winning album recorded in Ireland during the pandemic. 

    Rhiannon Giddens
    Giddens with Francesco Turrisi

    She will conclude her perspective series with a performance featuring women and nonbinary members of the Silk Road Ensemble, along with Tuscarora and Taino singer-songwriter, Pura Fé. The final show will give audiences a taste of Indigenous North America.

    Giddens is an award winning singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist that has previously performed at Carnegie Hall in 2017. Her album, Freedom Highway, was the focus of her Sing Sing Correctional Facility concert. She has also appeared  alongside other artists on Hopes & Dreams, an album of lullabies written by NY parents through Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project.

    More information on the perspective series can be found here.

    Series Dates : 

    October 15 – 7:30 PM – Weill Recital Hall

    Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi: When I Am Laid in Earth

    November 4 – 8 PM – Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

    Rhiannon Giddens: Songs of Our Native Daughters

    January 24 – 7:30 PM – Zankel Hall Center Stage

    Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi: They’re Calling Me Home

    March 10 – 7:30 PM – Zankel Hall

    Rhiannon Giddens with Members of the Silkroad Ensemble: Indigenous Connections

  • American Symphony Orchestra Announce Free Performances Across NYC

    The American Symphony Orchestra (ASO) has announced a free show at Lincoln Center on June 5, and free chamber music performances at Bryant Park and the Brooklyn Bridge Park from May 16-June 9.

    American Symphony Orchestra free
    Leon Botstein conducts the American Symphony Orchestra.

    On June 5, ASO will host American Masters, a symphonic concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center featuring the world premiere of Roberto Sierra’s newly commissioned Concerto for Electric Violin, performed by acclaimed electric violinist Tracy Silverman. The program will also offer works by three Pulitzer Prize-winning composers: Melinda Wagner, Richard Wernick, and Shulamit Ran.

    The ASO is offering free admission to this performance as a gift to New York music lovers. Tickets are free but required, available at americansymphony.org beginning on May 5. Processing fees will apply. Ticket holders will need to comply with the venue’s health and safety requirements, which can be found here.

    From May 16 to June 9, the ASO offers free chamber music performances at Manhattan’s Bryant Park and at Brooklyn Bridge Park. These five performances will include music ranging from French impressionist composers and Italian works to Afro-Cuban Batá drumming. Featured artists include ASO percussionist and composer Javier Diaz, award-winning multi-instrumentalist Alexa Tarantino, trombonist Dion Tucker, and Grammy-nominated oboist Toyin Spellman-Diaz.

    Bryant Park Chamber Performances

    May 16- String Quartet- Celebrating Fête de la Musique

    May 17- Percussion Ensemble- Chants, Songs, and Rhythms from The Americas

    May 23 and 24- Jazz Ensemble- ASO Salutes America’s Jazz Royalty

    Brooklyn Bridge Park Chamber Music Performances

    June 9- String Quartet- Italian Expressiveness and Expressionists