Category: Blues/Jazz

  • Northern Current Returns to Saranac Lake this September

    Northern Current is back for another year of live music on Labor Day weekend. The annual free festival takes place on Sept. 3 at Riverside Park in Saranac Lake. The celebration gets underway at Noon and runs until 9:30 PM. 

    Located at the base of Lake Flower, Riverside Park provides a picturesque setting for the event. The festival looks to celebrate the beauty and richness of Saranac Lake and the surrounding Adirondack Mountains. Northern Current is focused on enriching the cultural and artistic diversity of the town by presenting a diverse set of performing artists. This year’s lineup features offerings of Rock, Blues, R&B, Afrobeat, Americana, Old Time Folk, Jazz, Country, and more.

    www.northerncurrentadk.org

    Headlining Northern Current is Canadian outfit Bywater Call. The group’s blend of rock, blues, and R&B results in a soulful and powerful sound. Standout vocalist Megan Parnell fits perfectly with the cascade of horns and noisy guitars that usually features in Bywater Call’s music. Together the group has carved out a lane somewhere between Southern Soul and modern blues-rock. 

    Local bands High on the Hog and Midnight Stargazers will open up the festival. Other New York acts include Afro-funk outfit Kaleta & Super Yamba Band and Americana pairing Richie & Rosie. The festival will also feature Huntress & the Holder of Hands, The Soggy Po Boys, Badenyah Drum & Dance, and DiTrani Brothers. 

    In addition to live music, Northern Current boasts a designated “kid zone,” merchandise, and local food vendors. The event is scheduled to take place rain or shine. Visit here for details and information about the event. 

  • Full Count Big Band Releases Anthem “I Met New York”

    Jazz and swing musical organization the Full Count Big Band are happy to release a new song, an anthem about New York City, rightfully called “I Met New York.”

    Consisting of 17 different instrumentalists and one vocalist when performing, the band initially began 20 years ago as a community group, later growing to the professional level. Much of the Full Count Big Band has experience in the music industry, with musicians, for the most part, currently playing or have played/toured with popular groups or are music education teachers.

    The song’s inspiration comes from Jeneal Teander, who isn’t from New York but instead from North Carolina, who thought that New York City with all its problems, could use a lift through an inspirational song. Bender discovered the Full Count Big Band through their website and the group’s proximity to New York City, a perfect blend for what he was looking for. Following the band’s tweaks and adjustments to the track for about a year, Bender is finally ready to release his work.

    The band performs and rehearses weekly for weddings, concerts, private parties, dances, fairs, fundraiser events, and jazz clubs across the metro New York area.

    To listen to “I Met New York,” you can visit the band’s website, where you can find booking information, listen to other songs, and additional background on the New Jersey group.

  • Blind Boys of Alabama Share “Work Until My Days Are Done” Ahead of Upcoming Album “Echoes Of The South”

    After 80 years of hard work, the Blind Boys of Alabama continue to wow audiences and touch souls with the recent release of their praiseworthy single “Work Until My Days Are Done.” The doo-wop, gospel ditty is the second release from the group’s upcoming album Echoes Of The South, which will officially be released to the public on September 8th through Single Rock Records.

    The Blind Boys of Alabama have faced more struggles and success in the music industry than most musicians will in their lifetimes. Their eight decades of experience and pure talent has led them from street performances in the Jim Crow South all the way to being the soundtrack of the Civil Rights Movement, giving them the chance to perform for three different United States Presidents and landing them as legends in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

    This dedication and persistence to one another and to their love of music is epitomized in their newest single, as they will not only “work” but “sing” until their days are done. There is no stopping the powerhouse group as they rely on one another and the shared agreement that “as long as everybody gives all that they have to give and we sing songs that touch the heart, we’ll live on forever.”

    Now, after losing their brothers in arms Paul Beasley and Benjamin Moore, the remaining members carry on, releasing their new album Echoes Of The South in their name and memory. Echoes Of The South not only marks the first album that the Blind Boys of Alabama have released in six years but also marks their first ever fully made in their home state, giving the tracks a deeper significance than can be imagined for the music vets.

    The tracklist is similarly rooted in coming home, drawing from the music that’s most inspired them over their careers: long-lost gospel classics, traditional spirituals and timeless R&B/soul cuts made famous by artists like Pops Staples and Curtis Mayfield. These incredible personal touches establish Echoes Of The South as a “homecoming” in countless senses of the word.

    With the two released singles from the album, “Friendship” along with “Work Until My Days Are Done,” it is evident that the Blind Boy’s newest music is some of their best. Their harmonies and messages touch hearts, while their bridges and power take listeners by surprise and never fail to get people on their feet with rafter-raising moments. This is something special that anyone with ears will not want to miss. Until September 8th, the Blind Boys of Alabama’s current members; McKinnie, Jimmy Carter, the Rev. Julius Love, Sterling Glass, and Joey Williams, will be touring the country from this July well into 2024.

    Blind Boys of Alabama Tour

    July 19 – Mendocino Music Festival 2023 – Mendocino, CA

    August 19 – CHOMP – Redmond, CA

    August 27 – Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival – Vancouver, WA

    September 9 – Paramount Center for the Arts – Saint Cloud, MN

    September 10 – Reif Performing Arts Center – Grand Rapids, MN

    September 11 – Pablo Center at the Confluence – Eau Claire, WI

    September 15 – City Winery Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA

    September 16 – City Winery Boston – Boston, MA

    September 17 – City Winery New York – New York, NY

    November 19 – Edwin J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall – Akron, OH

    November 26 – Lone Tree Arts Center – Lone Tree, CO

    January 13-20 – Sandy Beaches Cruise 2024 – Fort Lauderdale, FL

    February 8 – Fred Kavli Theatre (with Bobby Rush) – Thousand Oaks, CA

  • New York Musical Icon Tony Bennett Dead at 96

    New York’s own Tony Bennett, one of the most awarded singers of his generation, has passed away at age 96. His death marks the end of a recent battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and a life filled with chart-topping hits and almost every musical accolade possible, including 20 Grammys, a Lifetime Achievement Award and two Primetime Emmys. His signature jazzy singing style and notable duets with contemporary superstars allowed Bennett to forge a career that lasted nearly 70 years in total.

    (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

    Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born in Long Island City in Queens on August 3, 1926, the son of Italian immigrants. He and his older siblings grew up in poverty in New York, in the face of The Great Depression. Although his father passed away when Tony was only 10 years old, he helped him develop a love for arts and music like Al Jolson and Louis Armstrong. With the help of an uncle who worked in vaudeville. Tony Bennett was already performing live at 13 years old, singing at various Italian restaurants in Queens. He attended New York’s School of Industrial Art but dropped out at age 16 to help support his family. He never gave up on his dream of being a singer though, continuing to amass gigs as a singing waiter at restaurants as well as a a successful run at a Paramus, NJ night club.

    In 1944, Bennett was drafted into the US Army during the latter stages of World War II and even spent time on the front lines at one point in Germany. Upon discharge, he studied at the American Theatre Wing on the GI Bill. Here, he was taught the bel canto singing discipline which would allow to sing him for as long as he did. It was at this time that he also first started to develop his atypical approach of imitating, as he sang, the style and phrasing of other musicians.

    Pearl Bailey gave Tony his big break in 1949, asking him to open for her at a show in Greenwich Village. This led to a deal with Columbia Records where Bennett’s career first started out as a commercial pop singer. His first big hit was “Because Of You,” a ballad with a lush Percy Faith-led Orchestra. It reached #1 on the charts in 1951 and stayed there for ten weeks.

    Bennett continued to score more number ones in the early part of the 50s with songs like his rendition of “Blue Velvet” and “Rags To Riches.” He even had a short-lived television variety show in 1956, The Tony Bennett Show, which served as a replacement to The Perry Como Show. As the age of rock and roll ushered in, Bennett adapted accordingly with more jazz-oriented long form recordings like Cloud 7 and the critically acclaimed The Beat Of My Heart which featured icons like Art Blakey and Candido Camero. He even became the first male pop vocalist to sing with the Count Basie Orchestra.

    Bennett was also a notable advocate for civil rights. He participated at the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches and performed at a rally the night before Martin Luther King’s “How Long, Not Long” speech. His career and popularity took a noticeable dip in the ’60s and ’70s where he tried, unsuccessfully, to record contemporary rock songs. He bounced around between different labels and even started his own record company called Improv which was out of business by 1977.

    After a near fatal overdose and an ongoing battle with the IRS, Bennett hired his son as manager in an effort to turn his career around. He was able to get his expenses under control, moved him back to New York, and began booking him in colleges and small theaters to distance him from a “Vegas” image. By 1986, Tony Bennett was re-signed to Columbia Records, this time with creative control, and released his first album to reach the charts since 1972, The Art Of Excellence.

    He continued to stay relevant throughout the ’80s and ’90s thanks to the guidance of his new management which regularly booked him on TV shows like Letterman and Late Night With Conan O’Brien. In 1993, Bennett played a string of benefit concerts organized by alternative radio stations around the country, introducing a whole new generation to composers like Cole Porter and Gershwin. He even made an appearance at the MTV Movie Video Awards alongside the Red Hot Chili Peppers, cementing the gap between his and the current generation. His 1994 appearance on MTV’s influential Unplugged is heralded as one of the better episodes and may have marked the peak of Bennett’s popularity.

    Bennett continued to tour extensively throughout the 90s, including a memorable appearance at Glastonbury in 1998, with his financial worries long a thing of the past. He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1997. Tony Bennett is also a member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

    The latter part of his career may have produced one of his more successful recordings of all time in Duets: An American Classic, which was released in 2006 as part of a celebration of Bennett’s 80th birthday, receiving two Grammy awards and resulting in a slew of corresponding concerts and TV specials. A sequel, Duets II, was released five years later featuring collaborations with artists like Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson and Lady Gaga. His recording of “Body and Soul” for the album with Amy Winehouse is reportedly the last one she made before her death.

    In 2021, Tony Bennett announced his retirement from concerts and released his final album Love For Sale, another collaboration with Lady Gaga. With this, he broke the record for longest span of top-10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart for any living artist. He also broke the Guiness World Record for the oldest person to release an album of new material, at the age of 95 years and 60 days. Fittingly, his last live performances were also with Lady Gaga in 2021 that was later aired as a television special. Bennett is survived by by his wife, Susan Benedetto; his two sons, Danny and Dae Bennett; his daughters, Joanna Bennett and Antonia Bennett; and nine grandchildren.

  • A Guide To Summer Concert Series Around The Catskills

    From never ending winters to erratic springtime temperatures, New York weather can be brutal. For communities across the Empire State, summer is a time to work outside, enjoy wildlife, and of course catch some live music. Residing in the southeastern corner of NY, the picturesque Catskill Mountains provide the perfect setting for local performances and shows.

    Taste of County Music Festival
    Catskill Mountains – Taste of Country Music Festival

    Warm weather means it’s time for residents in the region to trade in snowboards and skis for folding chairs and picnic blankets. Teeming with countless unique small towns and villages, there’s plenty of live performances to catch in the area. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best Catskill summer concert series and performances to see this year. 

    Greenville Summer Concert Series

    The Greenville Summer Concert Series is a free, family-friendly concert series that happens Tuesdays from 6–7:30 PM at Veterans Park in Greenville, New York. The concerts are held at the intersection of Routes 32 and 81. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, pack a picnic, or buy dinner from Church Street Caterers. The kickoff event features the Michael Benedict Quartet and ice cream from Stewart’s Shops of Greenville. Other acts include Lustre Kings, Moonshine Mule, Dusk Til Dawn, and more. The series is sponsored by the Greenville Rotary, among others.

    Here for more details and information.

    July 11—Lustre Kings—rock

    July 18—In the Dust—country

    July 25—New York Players—top 40, dance

    Aug. 1—Onkor—classic 70’s to modern day

    Aug. 8—The Tailgate Band—modern country

    Aug. 15—Roadhouse 60—oldies 60’s

    Aug. 22–Hell or High Water—rock

    DUTCHMAN’S LANDING PARK, CATSKILL

    Music in the Park Summer Concert Series

    Voted “Best Place for Live Music” in the Best of Greene County Awards, enjoy Music in the Park every Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at Dutchman’s Landing Park on Main Street in Catskill. Concerts are free to the public. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy great live music on the shores of the beautiful Hudson River. If rainy, concerts are moved to the Historic Catskill Point at 1 Main Street. Presented by the Heart of Catskill Association. Photo credit: Keith Collesides. 

    Here for more details and information | 518-943-0989

    June 22 — Guilty Pleasure—pop rock

    June 29 — Lustre Kings—rock and roll

    July 6 — Back to the Garden—Woodstock tribute

    July 13—Lex Grey and The Urban Pioneers—award-winning blues band

    July 20—Thunder Ridge—country rock

    July 27—Conehead Buddha—genre-blending jam band

    July 28—Lex Grey and The Urban Pioneers—blues/rock

    Aug. 3—The Lost Cowboys—classic country

    Aug.10—Soul Purpose—Motown soul

    Aug. 17—In The Dust—country & Western

    Aug. 24—Second Chance—local rock heroes

    Aug. 31—Dead Beats—Grateful Dead tribute band

    Sept. 7—Alexis P Suter—award-winning blues singer

    WINDHAM MOUNTAIN RESORT, WINDHAM

    Windham Mountain Facebook

    Music on the Mountain Series

    Music on the Mountain takes place Fridays from 6-8:30 p.m. at Windham Mountain. This free concert series features local artists, cover bands and some of New York City’s favorite performers. Additionally, there are raffles, a BBQ and scenic sky rides during the early portion of the event. No tickets or reservations needed. Outside food, beverages and pets are not allowed. Windham Mountain is located at 19 Resort Drive, Windham, NY. 

    Here for more details and information | 518-734-4300

    July 7—10 Most Wanted —soul/funk/R&B/rock

    July 14—Soul Purpose—soul/funk/R&B

    July 21—Guilty Pleasure—pop rock

    July 28—The Four 26—rock 

    Aug. 4—Serene Green—bluegrass

    Aug. 11—Rollin’Rust—indie/folk

    Aug. 18—Dial Up!—1990s songs

    Aug. 25—Die Schlauberger—renditions of German favorites

    Sept. 1—The Outcrops—blues-infused rock n’ roll

    RIVERSIDE PARK, COXSACKIE

    Coxsackie Music in the Park Series

    Every Sunday from 6-8pm.  Concerts are free to the public.  Pack a chair or blanket and enjoy riverside entertainment at the spacious Coxsackie Riverside Park, Betke Boulevard, Coxsackie

    Here for more details and information | 518-731-2718

    June 25—Lex Grey & the Urban Pioneers—fusion of old-school blues & classic rock

    July 2—Donna Tritico Band—mix of blues, R&B and rock

    July 9—Nite Train—award-winning rockin’ blues, funk & R&B

    July 16—Samantha Jane Band—jazz standards quartet 

    July 23—Hammerhead Horns—old-timey blues, ragtime and honkytonk

    July 30—Playing with Fire—classic rock & roots 

    Aug. 6—Night Moves—classic rock; country; 50’s thru 90’s

    Aug. 13—Silver Chain Band—playing BB King, Muddy Waters & other greats

    Aug. 20—Nite Train—award-winning rockin’ blues, funk & R&B

    Aug. 27—Lustre Kings with Mark Gamsjager—rockabilly; real roots rock & roll

    RIVERFRONT PARK, ATHENS

    Athens Performing Arts Corporation 2023 Summer Concert Series

    Athens Summer Concert Series takes place every Friday night from 7-9 p.m. at Riverfront Park, 1 Water Street, Athens. Spend a night under the stars and enjoy this free concert series on the banks of the Hudson River.

    Here for more details and information | 518-522-9470

    July 14—Les Dudek—rock music legend

    July 21—Dark Desert Eagles—world premier Eagles tribute

    July 28—Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen—Grammy-winning New Orleans funk

    Aug. 4—Double Vision-The Foreigner Experience—rock cover band

    Aug.11—Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds—soul, rock, dirty funk

    Aug. 18—Conehead Buddha—rock, ska, funk, Latin, reggae, jam, hop 

    Aug. 25—The Dave Matthews Tribute Band—cover band

    Sept. 1—Carolyn Wonderland—fiery Texas blues-rock icon

  • Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s Upcoming Midsummer Nights Concert Series

    The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music (BKCM) has announced the dates of events for its upcoming Midsummer Nights concert series, which will kick off with a special event featuring the recent recipients of the Jazz Leader Fellowship. The free events will take place in July and August, and will be outdoor in front of the BKCM building.

    BKCM is dedicated to giving every New Yorker access to high-quality music instruction and music therapy, as well as to supporting the musical talents of traditionally underserved New York communities. The all-ages event has been curated by BKCM Jazz Leaders Fellow Jasmine Wilson. All events are held at 6:30 p.m..

    Upcoming Shows

    Courtney Wright and Jazz Leader Fellowship Recipients – July 20

    Courtney Wright is a composer and baritone saxophonist based in Brooklyn, and she leads her own quintet and jazz orchestra that plays her original compositions. She will be joined by the winners of the third year of the BKCM Jazz Leaders Fellowship, Melanie Charles and Olithea Anglin (also known as Miss Olithea).

    Melanie Charles has made a name for herself through genre fusions with jazz, soul, rhythm and blues. She has lead a project called “Make Jazz Trill Again” since 2016, focused on taking jazz out of the museum and onto the streets.

    Miss Olithea is a singer, songwriter, producer, and sound healing practitioner, as well as a proud member of the renowned Burnt Sugar Arkestra Chamber. In November 2020, she started her own private studio known as “The Vocal Journey.”

    Courtney Wright

    Akua Dixon – July 27

    Akua Dixon is a cellist, composer, conductor, and educator. She has been at the forefront of improvising string since 1973, and was the first cellist to win the Downbeat Critics Poll. Dixon is also a multi-laureate of the National Endowment for the Arts in composition and performance.

    Akua Dixon

    Milena Casado – Aug. 3

    Milena Casado is a composer, flugelhorn, and trumpet player hailing from Spain. Casado has played with prominent artists, such as Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Aaron Parks, Jazzmeia Horn, Jorge Rossy, Francisco Mela, and Kenny Werner.

    Milena Casado

    Charisa the ViolinDiva – Aug. 10

    Charisa the ViolinDiva is a souljazz violinist and vocalist who has challenged the preconceptions of what a violinist can do in contemporary music. Her talent has led her to perform alongside artists such as Lauryn Hill, Paul McCartney, Vivian Green, Kim Burrell, Cyndi Lauper, and Quincy Jones.

    Charisa the ViolinDiva

    No RSVP is needed to attend any of these free events. More information can be found on BKCM’s website.

  • In Focus: Sweet at Alive at 5

    On Thursday, July 13th, Sweet raced against the storm to deliver for Albany’s fifth installment of Alive at 5.

    Sly Fox at Alive at 5 – Photo by Jarron Childs

    Sly Fox and the Hustlers opened classic rock night under I-787. They formed in Albany in 2010 after Sly’s long time friend decided to embark on a solo career. He enlisted the help of guitarist, Zak Young and drummer, Sean Ireland to form the band. They created a classic blues rock and roll sound which has so far produced two albums. Sly Fox and the Hustlers are working on releasing their third album sometime this year.

    Luke McNamee at Alive at 5 – Photo by Jarron Childs

    Sly Fox and the Hustlers played about an hour set with the addition of three members. Saxophonist, Luke McNamee, Brian Mangini on the keyboard and John Dievendorf on the bass took the stage to with Sly Fox to modest crowd of Albany’s most loyal rock and rollers. The mood was a bit more mellow as their music leaned more towards a classic blues sound than a typically head banging rock n’ roll beat. Many of the songs were centered more around love, which may have helped to audience understand Sly more. Most of crowd saved their energy by resting in their lawn chairs in anticipation for Sweet. They were left off with a warm farewell before the night was revved up.

    Steve Priest at Alive at 5 – Photo by Jarron Childs

    Sweet was a band in the 70s who gained popularity in the UK with from their single “Blockbuster!” They had many songs reach the charts in both the UK and England before they disbanded in 1981. Most of the founding members died between 1997-2020, but they did not stop the legacy from continuing. Guitarist Andy Scott, has formed his own version of Sweet that continues to play shows today and even make music. His version of Sweet, however, was not the version that was in Albany.

    Bassist Steve Priest came out of retirement in 2007 and formed his own version of Sweet. This version shares similarities with Scott’s version, but are not actively making new music. They still are keeping the legacy alive by playing some of Sweet’s best songs at their shows. Their show in Albany was no show for the week hearted as they really gave it their all with the short window they had.

    Jim Burkard at Alive at 5 – Photo by Jarron Childs

    The show was moved to Albany’s rain location under I-787, but a torrential storm was so strong the highway could not protect everyone. Nonetheless, the show still went on with a few changes to the set.

    Coming out strong with hits like “Teenage Rampage” and “Set Me Free”, there was not one person still sitting in their seat for the show. Lead singer, Patrick Stone, really meshed with the crowd well by encouraging participation from all. Stone stuck his mic over the crowd, stood on the front speakers, and even ran through the crowd twice to keep everyone energized.

    Patrick Stone singing with fan at Alive at 5 – Photo by Jarron Childs

    Even though they could not complete their whole set, they were able to get off their two most notable songs before they departed early. “Fox on the Run”, which regained popularity after being on the The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack, still hit the same as it probably did back in 1974. Crowd members needed very little encouragement to sing it word-for-word with Sweet. The set ended early with “Ballroom Blitz,” which still left the energy on high just before the downpour.

    Steve Priest’s Sweet continues to tour with their next stop being Louisville Kentucky on August 25th.

    Sly Fox and The Hustlers Setlist: Back in Funk, Rough Patch of Road, Giving Dream, Revolution 2012, Look At You, Let Me Down Easy, Smooth, Home By Morning, Forever Young, Find Someone, S.U.N.Y. Girl, American Gypsy, Sympathy

    Sweet Setlist: Action, Teenage Rampage, Set Me Free, Love Is Like Oxygen, Sweet F.A., No You Don’t, Done Me Wrong, Willie/Block/Wig, AC/DC, Fox on the Run, Ballroom Blitz

  • Huntington Summer Arts Festival Hosts Performances Throughout July

    The Huntington Arts Council (HAC) is bringing live music to Long Island during the entire month of July with the Huntington Summer Arts Festival. The festival is now in its 48th season and features performances from July 1- 30. Concerts will take place at the Chapin Rainbow Stage in Heckscher Park

    Free to attendees, the Huntington Summer Arts Festival aims to celebrate established acts while also highlighting up-and-coming artists. This year’s celebration features festival regulars Huntington Community Band, who perform each Wednesday of the month. Concertgoers still have the chance to see Huntington favorites North Shore Pops Concert Band. 

    Red Baraat

    This summer’s roster of musicians come from a diverse set of musical backgrounds. Genres like swing jazz, latin, R&B/Soul, rock, and classical are all represented at the festival. In addition to music, the Huntington Summer Arts Festival also includes dance and theatrical performances. The group Sol Y Sombra Spanish Dance Company performed earlier this month. Attendees however will still have the opportunity to catch the L.I. Dance Consortium is set to take the stage on July 23. 

    Created in 1963, The Huntington Arts Council has been a pillar in the Long Island arts scene. The organization looks to celebrate and nourish the cultural diversity of Long Island through different avenues. HAC is involved with constructing and sponsoring a multitude of activities, programs, and events. The Council maintains that “the arts create a vibrant, energized, and culturally rich environment”. 

    Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Co.

    Along with the Huntington Summer Arts Festival, HAC has also collaborated with the Folk Music Society of Huntington to bring back the Huntington Folk Festival on July 22. Co-headliners Lucy Kaplansky and Cliff Eberhardt take the stage at 8, with the festival getting underway at 12:30. 

    Below is the upcoming schedule for the Summer Arts Festival. Sunday performances start at 7:00PM, all others performances start at 8:00PM, unless noted. Here for a full list of the lineup and more details about the festival. 

    Remaining Schedule

    Wednesday, July 19 – Huntington Community Band, “Una Celebracion de la Musica Latina”- 7:00PM Jazz Band start time, 8:00 PM Concert Band start time

    Thursday, July 20 – North Shore Pops Concert Band– Northport Community Band- 8:30PM NPT Park

    Friday, July 21 – Huntington Latin Night: Tito Rodriguez Jr. Orchestra- 7:00 PM 

    Saturday, July 22 – 16th Huntington Folk Festival, Cliff Eberhardt & Lucy Kaplansky- Festival at 12:30PM, headliners at 8:00PM

    Sunday, July 23 – L.I. Dance Consortium, “Long Island Dances!- 7:00PM 

    Wednesday, July 26 – Huntington Community Band,”…and Home Again!”- 8:00PM

    Thursday, July 27 – Swing Sessions with Dudley Music & Guests- 7:30PM

    Thursday, July 27 – Northport Community Band- 8:30PM NPT Park

    Saturday, July 29 – Jazz Loft Big Band, Tom Manuel Conductor, and Nicole Zuraitis- 8:00PM

    Sunday, July 30 – Orchestra L.I., David Stewart Wiley, Conductor “In Concert With Nature”- 7:00PM 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUjUWYkZXZY&ab_channel=CarlosJimenez
  • Joe Bonamassa Releases “Well, I Done Got Over It” Ahead Of Upcoming October Album

    Legendary blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa recently released a new song titled “Well, I Done Got Over It”. The track was originally released by Guitar Slim back in 1953. Bonamassa’s rendition is part of his upcoming Oct. 6 album Blues Deluxe Vol. 2. The project comes 20 years after the New York native’s breakthrough album Blues Deluxe. 

    Joe Bonamassa Color and Shape
    Photo Credit: Robert Sutton

    “Well, I Done Got Over It’ is a high-energy tune that perfectly captures all of the attitude and groove of classic blues-rock songs. Packed with the rich sounds of horns and capped off with an impressive guitar solo, the track showcases every ounce of Bonamassa’s artistic ability. 

    “My father introduced me to Guitar Slim a long time ago, back when I was a kid… He has such a velvety smooth voice, and he had such a way of delivering a song. We did a very British take on this Guitar Slim song, it’s like the Blues Breakers meets Guitar Slim meets Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith and company”

    Joe Bonamassa

    Born in New Hartford but raised in Utica, Bonamassa discovered music at an early age. By the time he was 12, Bonamassa was traveling around the state playing various local shows. The guitarist made a name for himself off of debut 2000 album A New Day Yesterday, which reached the #9 spot Billboard Blues chart. From 2002-06 Bonamassa had five albums reach the Blues Top 10, including his 2003 effort Blues Deluxe

    Bonamassa’s new project will see the Grammy-nominated artist return to some of his original sources of inspiration. Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 features two new original songs as well as eight new covers. The album also gets contributions from Reese Wynans (keys), Calvin Turner (bass), Lamar Carter (drums), Kirk Fletcher (guitar), and Josh Smith (guitar). 

    “Well, I Done Got Over It” follows the release of the album’s previous single “Twenty-Four Hour Blues” which dropped back in June. The song is a rip-roaring interpretation of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s classic song which was released in 1974. Bonamassa’s version includes an inspired and passionate vocal and guitar performance. 

    “The outro guitar solo is incredible… It happened live on the floor and has some deep lines you’ve probably never heard Joe play before. The band is absolutely smoking, and Calvin Turner did an incredible String and Horn arrangement. Super proud of this one”

    Guitarist Josh Smith

    Bonamassa has a slew of performance dates during the Summer and Fall. Stops in New York include shows at the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater and Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. 

    Here for album pre-orders and details. Check out here for tour tickets and additional information. 

    Summer 2023 U.S. Tour

    August 2 – Vina Robles Amphitheatre – Paso Robles, CA

    August 4 – The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Las Vegas, NV

    August 5 – Eccles Theater – Salt Lake City, UT

    August 6 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

    August 9 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA^

    August 12 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY

    August 13 – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – Bethel, NY

    Fall 2023 U.S. Tour

    October 23 – Memphis, TN – The Cannon Center                                                   

    October 25 – Shreveport, LA – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium

    October 27 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre                                          

    October 28 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre At Sugar Land

    October 29 – Austin, TX – ACL Live

    November 1 – Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center                                  

    November 3 – Little Rock, AR – Robinson Performance Hall                               

    November 4 – Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre

    November 5 – Oklahoma City, OK – Civic Center Music Hall

    November 8 – Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater

    November 10 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre

    November 11 – St. Louis, MO – The Fabulous Fox

    November 12 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Paramount Theatre

    November 14 – Rochester, MN – Mayo Civic Center        

    November 15 – Rockford, IL – Coronado Performing Arts Center

    November 17 – Fort Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre

    November 18 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre

    November 19 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre

    November 21 – Reading, PA – The Santander Performing Arts Center

    November 22 – Providence, RI – Providence Performance Arts Center

    November 24 – Springfield, MA – Symphony Hall

    November 25 – Baltimore, MD – The Lyric

    November 28 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theatre

    November 30 – Sarasota, FL – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

    December 1 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena

    December 2 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live

  • Binghamton’s Concerts In Every Corner To Feature The Empire Saxophone Quartet

    The Binghamton Philharmonic is set to kick off its free summer concert series, Concerts in Every Corner with four beautiful and unique performances by the Empire Saxophone Quartet. The series will begin on July 20th at 11:20 AM with performances by the quartet stretching into the 21st.

    The Binghamton Philharmonic is no stranger to introducing their community to rich and tasteful music as the group presents an annual series of classical, pops, and chamber music concerts in Downtown Binghamton and throughout Broome County. Concerts in Every Corner will feature the Quartet in four locations throughout the city including the Ross Park Zoo, Columbus Park, Cheri A. Lindsey Memorial Park, and Fairview Park.

    Bringing home the Empire Saxophone Quartet is quite the treat for the orchestra as the chamber music ensemble has a repertoire that includes classics from the Renaissance Era through the 21st century as well as pop, jazz, and ragtime selections. Their diverse musical abilities and delightful performances have astonished audiences for years and Binghamton should be prepared for nothing less. The quartet was originally founded by April Lucas who is now joined by saxophonists Daniel Miller, Crystal Fisher, and Nicole Mushalla.

    The concerts will be a family-friendly mix of jazz, pops, and contemporary classics suited and welcome to all ages, so come and celebrate the summer through the sweet sounds of music.

    Concerts in Every Corner

    July 20, 2023:

    • 11:20am: Ross Park Zoo, 60 Morgan Road, Binghamton
    • 12:30pm: Columbus Park, 26 Columbus Park East, Binghamton

    July 21, 2023:

    • 11:20am: Cheri A. Lindsey Memorial Park, 1 Truesdell Street, Binghamton
    • 12:30pm:  Fairview Park, 58 Fairview Avenue, Binghamton