With hip hop’s ever-changing landscape, it had been a decade since Brooklyn native AZ graced fans with an album. The reserved hip hop legend has maintained status as a result of his pen and classic album cuts. However, his long-teased sequel, Doe Or Die II, became one of 2021’s undeniable success stories and proved AZ’s potent hip hop poetry still had a place in the rap game.
Since the release of Doe Or Die II, AZ has appeared on Westside Gunn’s “99 Avirex” Rick Ross’ “Vacheron,” Statik Selektah’s “Historic” and most recently on Tony Touch’s “Rampage 2.0” for Def Jam’s mixtape Documentary.
Now AZ is back with the release of his single “This Is Why” in anticipation of his latest album, Truth Be Told, set for release on December 1. “This Is Why” interpolates a classic Slick Rick sample throughout, as the hip hop veteran takes on the role of the “been there, done that” MC. In light, he shouts out two Brooklyn legends — The Notorious B.I.G. and Mike Tyson — for serving as inspirations behind his success. With his effortless delivery and poignant rhymes, AZ embodies the grace and knowledge that comes with having survived some of New York City’s roughest eras.
Album Details
After contributing behind the boards on both Doe Or Die and Doe Or Die II, AZ and legendary producer Buckwild team up once again. The GRAMMY-nominated Buckwild handles all of the production on the new album. With his own crate of classic production, Buckwild will look to recreate the mafioso, final-boss themed production that the elder AZ has thrived on in his late career surge. In addition, the album will feature guest appearances from fellow New York rhymers Fat Joe and Pharoahe Munch, adding diversified flavor and point of views.
Mcguire has served as an associate artist and has frequently been on stage at Capital Repertory Theatre, which is also a part of Proctors Collaborative. As the new director of theatrical programming, McGuire will continue to direct the Broadway Camp productions as well as the High School Musical Theatre Awards, which recognizes outstanding local musical theatre productions and students. McGuire will also help support the development of student training classes and be a consultant on theatrical training classes across Proctors Collaborative.
“When looking for someone to fill this important position, we didn’t have to look further than Kevin. He has proven through his time as the director of Broadway Camp and his experience on and off Broadway that he is the perfect person for this role. We’re honored that our students will constantly have the opportunity to learn from one of theatre’s greats.”
– Christine Sheehan
McGuire will also be using his skilled experience from Broadway productions such as “Les Miserables,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “The Secret Garden” and many more productions as theREP such as “Man of La Mancha,” “The Full Monty,” “The Irish and How They Got That Way” and “The Wizard of Oz” to teach and direct the students at CSOA, allowing them to explore and reach their full potential in theatrical arts.
“It has always been my contention that the most important thing I can do is pass on to a new generation the incredible training I had in my youth. I love to teach. I love watching talent emerge.”
The New York Youth Symphony has debuted a brand new orchestra, Crescendo, set to play their first concert titled Breaking New Ground on November 20 at Merkin Hall at The Kaufman Center. Directed by Tanya Chanphanitpornkit, the youth orchestra is a free program for New York City students.
The New York Youth Symphony provides NYC students access to music in an immersive and educational experience. Crescendo, the new orchestra group for string players aged 10-18, will play a selection of six pieces at Merkin Hall, including Mendelssohn, Bologne, and more.
The Kaufman Music Center presents music programs for students, performers, and audiences alike. Merkin Hall is the center’s most intimate venue, hosting workshops, performances, and competitions throughout the year.
Crescendo will debut Breaking New Ground on November 20 at 7PM at Merkin Hall at The Kaufman Center. Tickets are available here.
After a long absence from the front of the stage, Mike Kelley brings a few of his Sharks bandmates together as The Hammerhead Horns, plus friend and pianist Leslie Barkman, for a rare performance at The Rustic Barn in Troy on Friday, November 17.
Mike Kelley and some of this Sharks bandmates
Mike Kelley started out as a bandleader and songwriter leading The Sharks, a seven-piece combo whose popularity and fan base rivaled those of any Albany band in the 1980s. Kelley has spent the last two and a half decades as a sideman extraordinaire, as a studio keyboardist and on stage with The Lustre Kings, The Tichy Boys, Johnny Rabb, Nite Train, Lost Radio Rounders, Marc Tolstrup & Jill Burnam, The Lazy Suns, Off the Record, The Jagaloons and a reported ‘at least’ 20 other bands.
Kelley has worked with Rockabilly Hall of Famer Wanda Jackson, Joan Jett and Kenny Laguna, and was chosen to play piano on several of the tracks on Jackson’s 32 album, Encore.
Deemed one of the nicest guys in the local scene and a hell of a pianist, Mike Kelley continues to play more than 200 shows a year, all without any social media, website or YouTube channel.
Expect an evening of originals penned by Kelley, Barkman and trumpet player Bob Button, familiar covers and undiscovered gems, and don’t miss this rare show from Mike Kelley and The Hammerhead Horns on Friday, November 17 in Troy at The Rustic Barn.
Indie country-rocker band Divining Rod released the first single “King of The Night” on Friday, October 20, from their upcoming EP entitled The House Will Always Win, due for release in January 2024.
Originally, Divining Rod was the solo project of Hawaiian native Miyuki Furtado of the former TooPure recording artists, The Rogers Sisters. The band includes lead Miyuki Furtado, guitarist/vocalist Patrick Harmon, bassist Matt Svigals, and drummer John Malone.
“King of The Night” combines a vocal performance that’s full of confidence and force with dynamic chords and soulful production to create a blues rock gem. The song explores themes of nightlife and the excitement of hitting the town on the weekend, with the monotony of misbehaving with the same folks, listening to the same tunes and ordering the same rounds of drinks. The song uses prominent and smooth country driven vocals, fused with the rhythm of rock and blues. The backbeat sets the tone and emphasizes the vocal-centric structure to make up the story of two gamblers who are headed for romance and heartbreak.
The new single will accompany four other songs to be released on their upcoming EP The House Will Always Win due for release in January. The EP was crafted during the same sessions as their previous EP, Santa Monica And Other Golden Classics. Divining Rod headed into the studio after a month-long residency on New York’s famed Circle Line. The House Will Always Win speaks of the affordability and accessibility of the city. Despite being a fun town, Miyuki sees a sense of sadness and desperation in the city.
moe. has announced that they will ring in the New Year with a special 2-night run at the renowned Kodak Center in Rochester.
With deep roots in nearby Buffalo and an enduring connection to Rochester, these special performances are not just another set of gigs, instead they are a testament to the band’s resilience, in light of guitarist Chuck Garvey’s recent health challenges, triumphant return to the road, and addition of Nate Wilson (keys) to the moe. lineup.
Alongside the announcement of moe.’s NYE run, the band along with several other musical acts and venues, are lending strong support to The American Cancer Society (ACS) through its inaugural “Rock The Pink” campaign. This initiative aims to harness the influence of the music community to combat breast cancer.
To date, the band has already raised more than $4,500, and efforts are ongoing. Having collaborated with the ACS’s breast cancer initiatives for the past two years, this year moe. has combined efforts with Umphrey’s McGee, Goose, the Disco Biscuits, Andy Frasco & the U.N., Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Kitchen Dwellers, and Doom Flamingo, as well as venues like The Capitol Theatre & Garcia’s.
Each participant is contributing in their own unique way, from selling limited-edition merchandise to flaunting pink instruments on stage and wearing pink-themed outfits, all to generate funds and awareness. 100% of the proceeds go directly to ACS, the nation’s premier nonprofit for cancer research funding. For more information and various donation options, fans and supporters can visit moe.org.
A special artist pre-sale kicks off on Wednesday, October 4th @ 10am ET [PW: GOUDA], and the general public begins on Friday, October 6th @ 10am ET. For more information visit moe.org
moe. 2023 Fall Tour Dates Wednesday, October 4th – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO Thursday, October 5th – Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NE Friday, October 6th – Hillberry Fest – Eureka Springs, AR Saturday, October 7th – Liberty Hall – Lawrence, KS Friday, October 20th – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO Saturday, October 21st – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO Friday, December 8th – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY Saturday, December 9th – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY Saturday, December 30th – Kodak Center – Rochester, NY Sunday, December 31st – Kodak Center – Rochester, NY
BlueStar Radiation and Al & Rob moe.stly acoustic dates
Wednesday, November 15th – The Homestead – Morristown, NJ* Thursday, November 16th – Putnam Place – Saratoga Springs, NY* Friday, November 17th – Metronome – Burlington, VT* Saturday, November 18th – The Met – Pawtucket, RI* Sunday, November 19th – Soundcheck Studios – Pembroke, MA* Thursday, November 30th – Pour House – Charleston, SC^ Friday, December 1st – The Society Garden – Macon, GA^ Saturday, December 2nd – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA^~ Sunday, December 3rd – Visulite Theatre – Charlotte, NC^
moe. 2024 Winter Tour Dates
Thursday, January 18th – The Observatory North Park – San Diego, CA Friday, January 19th – Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA Saturday, January 20th – Sunday, January 21st – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA Tuesday, January 23rd – Crystal Bay Club Casino – Crystal Bay, NV Thursday, January 25th – Midtown Ballroom – Bend, OR Friday, January 26th – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR Saturday, January 27th – Neptune Theater – Seattle, WA Friday, March 6th-Tuesday, March 10th – Egyptian Theatre – Park City, UT Thursday, March 12th – Mesa Theater – Grand Junction, CO Saturday, March 14th-Sunday, March 15th – Sheridan Opera House – Telluride, CO Monday, March 16th – Vilar PAC – Beaver Creek, CO Tuesday, March 17th – Strings Music Pavilion – Steamboat Springs, CO Thursday, March 19th – Belly Up – Aspen, CO Saturday, March 21st-Sunday, March 22nd – 10 Mile Music Hall – Frisco, CO Monday, March 23rd-Tuesday, March 24th – Washington’s FOCO – Ft. Collins, CO
Cortland Repertory Theatre has announced their 52nd annual summer season to be held at the Little York Pavilion in Preble, NY in 2024. The season will run from June 5 – August 17 and contain three musicals and two plays.
The Cortland Repertory Theatre opened its doors on July 5, 1972 at Dwyer Memoral Park. Being one of New York State’s longest running professional theatres, they continue to support and showcase popular musicals and plays for theatre lovers in the area.
Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson says, “we always strive to select a season that falls under the umbrella as ‘something for everyone’ and I’m very excited about this coming summer’s selections!”
One change in the CRT schedule of note: most of the summer productions will be completing their runs on a Friday, not on Saturdays as in previous years. Also, the theatre will be adding a 2:00PM matinee on the second Tuesday of the performance schedule to make a less hectic, less stressful, and safer changeover from one production to the next. Thompson also notes that matinees are very popular and adding another to the schedule opens more seating options for those who choose the afternoon shows.
Kicking off the season from June 5-14 is a show that has been called “one of the greatest musicals of all time”: My Fair Lady. With book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, this musical was adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play and Gabriel Pascal’s movie “Pygmalion” and was originally directed and staged by Moss Hart.
In this story, Eliza Doolittle is a young flower seller with an unmistakable Cockney accent which seemingly keeps her in the lower rungs of Edwardian society. When Professor Henry Higgins tries to teach her how to speak like “a proper lady”, an unlikely friendship begins to flourish. The musical’s score is loaded with familiar songs, including “The Rain in Spain,” “I Could Have Danced All Night”, “On the Street Where You Live”, “Get Me to the Church on Time”, and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.”
From June 19 – 28 is the CRT debut of the heartwarming comedy The Last Romance, by Joe DePietro. CRT audiences will remember DePietro’s work from the 2005 and 2022 productions of Over the River and Through the Woods.
This play explores the transformative power of love, no matter what age one may be. On an ordinary day in a routine life, widower Ralph takes a different path on his daily walk and meets Carol while she’s sitting on a bench in a dog park. Relying on his boyish charm and a fictional dog named Rex, Ralph woos Carol and they embark on a hilarious and touching journey that proves it’s never too late for romance. This laugh-filled comedy cleverly explores relationships between people in their golden years, and how the invisible bonds of family often tie our hearts tighter than any love affair.
A recent Broadway musical, with the regional premiere from July 3 – 12, is Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville, with a book by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia and Emmy nominee Mike O’Malley, and music and lyrics by Jimmy Buffett. The Pavilion stage will transform into a tropical paradise where love and laughter are the keys to “growing older but not up.”
The story centers around Tully, the “mayor” of Margaritaville, a part-time bartender, part-time singer, and full-time charmer who’s got life all figured out until a beautiful tourist steals his heart and makes him question everything he knows. This energetic score features Jimmy Buffett’s classics, including “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Fins,” “Volcano,” “It’s Five o’clock Somewhere,” and many more.
Running from July 17 – 26 is a thrilling new adaptation of the Broadway classic that inspired the 1967 film starring Audrey Hepburn, Wait Until Dark, originally written by Frederick Knott and recently adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher.
Murder, secret identities, and a switchblade set the stage for this white-knuckle thriller that takes place in the quaint 1944 Greenwich Village basement apartment of Susan, a blind yet capable woman, and her husband Sam. While Sam is away on business, Susan finds herself threatened by a trio of men who will stop at nothing to get a stolen item hidden in the apartment. As the climax builds, Susan discovers that her blindness just might be the key to her escape, but she must wait until dark to reach the shattering conclusion.
Wrapping up the summer, from July 31 – August 17, Cortland Repertory Theatre presents their debut production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book by Linda Woolverton. This “tale as old as time” was originally directed on Broadway by Robert Jess Roth, and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Original music supervision and new arrangements are by Michael Kosarin with dance music arrangements by Glen Kelly and orchestrations by Danny Troob. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, this stage adaptation includes all those wonderful songs and characters that kids of all ages know and love.
The story revolves around Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end, and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.
Cortland Repertory Theatre is currently selling 5-show summer subscriptions which are $190 for center seats and $180 for side seats and allow the patron to see all five productions. Also available are Flex Pass Packs for 5 shows ($195) or 6 shows ($234) and allow the patron to choose the shows they see and when they see them. A two-pack Youth Flex Pass is also available for $40.00. CRT’s gift cards are available for purchase at any time, for any dollar amount, with no expiration date. Individual tickets will go on sale starting May 20, 2024, with Adult Tickets for $42.00 (center seats) and $40.00 (side seats).
A $2.00 discount is available on individual tickets for seniors 62 and up, active military and veterans, first responders, and groups of 10 or more. All youth tickets, 22 and under, are $25.00 at all times.
Current box office hours at CRT Downtown, 24 – 26 Port Watson Street in Cortland are Mon-Fri, 9:00-4:00; summer hours will be extended starting on May 20 to Mon-Fri 9:00–6:00, Saturdays noon-6:00. More information can be found online or by calling 800-427-6160.
On the corner of Lark and Hudson, one building hosts a great deal of women’s history that continues to be written to this day.
photo via Historic Albany Foundation
Built over 100 years ago, this building served as the location for the 48th Annual Suffrage Convention, as a chapter house for the Daughters of the Eastern Star (the female equivalent to Free Masons), as well as hosting USO events, dances, and a then serving as the eba Center for Dance & Fitness from 1977 until 2017.
Lark Hall, opened in 2021, continues this tradition of music and the arts at Lark and Hudson still being written 11 decades later, with the opening of a coffee house/bar/taproom, The Eleven.
Owner and manager of The Eleven, Jenn Miller, looks at The Eleven as bringing the building vision to full capacity, replacing Lark Street Yoga and Lark Street Mercantile in the downstairs of the building. Connecting to Lark Hall upstairs makes this an ideal pre-show stop, unique among all the choices Lark Street has to offer.
With a staff of four full time employees and another 20 part time between Lark Hall and The Eleven – including Chef Dale Hajdasz and General Manager Neil Benjamin, Jr. – Miller’s experience in the restaurant industry during college as well as many years within the live music scene puts a hospitality driven focus towards the guests, artists and staff. Whether it be the restaurant industry or music industry, knowing how to treat people so they want to come back, and bring their friends, is at the forefront of her business ethos.
photo by Zak Radick
Now is the time of returning
Miller attended college at Eastern Connecticut State University, and would meet her husband, Justin, in Saratoga Springs. The pair married in 2002, having three kids and relocating to Rochester where she earned a Masters in Counseling, then moving back to Albany with their family. Working as a guidance counselor in Rochester, Schenectady and Albany City Schools, after 15 years she looked to move out of education and into something new.
photo by Zak Radick
The Millers are true live music aficionados who have traveled the country and beyond seeing the best of live music and music festivals, as well as their favorites: My Morning Jacket and Phish. When they would return back to Albany, they lamented the music scene not having certain bands and shows, let alone a venue that club/bar bands can graduate from. At first, they joked about the idea of opening a music venue, and soon it became a goal, and then a serious venture.
Since purchasing the building in 2018, the Millers have invested more than $1 million into the space to increase accessibility to Lark Hall, and also received a grant from the City of Albany for further work. Now with two businesses both opened in the past two years, the vision has come full circle, with a dedicated bar/restaurant downstairs and music venue upstairs.
photo by Zak Radick
Now is the time past believing
The Eleven came to be about a year ago when they sought to utilize the vacated Lark Mercantile space downstairs. With a tenant gone and a grant for small business renovation from the City of Albany, they began work on refurbishing the downstairs into a waffle/charcuterie/taproom, something different and not found elsewhere on Lark. Add in a coffee bar, pastries and desserts, it took about a year for the vision to come full circle and be complete, with a grand opening coming on Saturday, November 11, featuring the music of Holly Bowling.
photo by Zak Radick
Dining on small plates of local, French or Italian meats and cheeses, waffles, and Grateful Dead themed sandwiches – “Reuben and Cherise” a fresh take on a classic reuben – the menu is not overwhelming and invites you back to try more of these samplings, carefully curated by Chef Dale. A selection of 12 beers – that’s Eleven, plus (the other) one – from around the Northeast pair well with all culinary offerings, was accompanied the evening of November 3 with a crackling fireplace on the widescreen TV, along with an acoustic set of covers from Jeff Becker.
A décor of Grateful Dead posters, Stealies, Garcia handprints, and classic show posters from upstairs at Lark Hall around the soffit, the Grateful Dead roots abounding through the modern setting in the perfect neighborhood in Albany for it. Chuck Berry, who played Lark Hall in the 1950s, would smile seeing how far rock ‘n roll has progressed, inspiring the genesis of Lark Hall and The Eleven.
photo by Zak Radick
Thought Jewels Polished and Gleaming
Bringing Lark Hall and The Eleven to where they are now has not been easy, as Miller recognizes and recounts the struggles she has experienced as a woman in the music industry. Miller faced an oft male dominated music industry upon the purchase of the building, which led to more skepticism and in-group favoritism against Miller as she navigated getting bands to play at Lark Hall, in the process bringing Albany a needed mid-size venue (current capacity is ~325). Despite opportunities, Miller found a scene less than responsive at first, yet persevered and has proven skeptics wrong, and does so a second time with the addition of The Eleven.
photo by Zak Radick
Working with Dan Smalls and Ed Maier – two promoters covering a great deal of Upstate New York and the Northeast – as mentors to Miller, offering guidance on booking shows and bringing in a variety of acts to Lark Hall. Miller sees the bigger picture of what is possible in the area as a result of this mentorship.
“With the growing scene in Albany, what should be happening is everyone in the local industry – tourism, businesses and promoters – working together to grow the scene for all benefit.”
Jenn Miller
The result is a calendar with a wider variety of shows than any other venue in the Capital Region. This summer, Lark Hall featured a month long residency of musical RENT, and in the past year welcomed Daniel Donato, The Motet, Ghost Light, Circles Around the Sun, The Seapods, LaMP, Karina Rykman, Yo La Tengo, Midnights: A Taylor Swift Dance Party, among dozens of others.
photo by Zak Radick
With a background of a guidance counselor as well as a business owner, I asked Miller what resources she would suggest for ambitious female entrepreneurs who are looking to open their own business or venture. Research through experience, as well as patience, are the keys to Miller, starting with making sure to find your spot in the scene. Beyond that, it is most important to learn the backend tasks that no one sees, as she sees that knowledge and experience to be where everything comes together. Indeed, getting involved and off the periphery is the best start, but diving in and finding a niche can bring greater curiosity and reward.
photo by Zak Radick
Were Miller able to give advice to her younger self, she shares a nod to the Grateful Dead, “Without love in a dream it will never come true.”
Albany’s Lark Street – the “Village in the City” – gains a feather in its cap with the City Winery vibe found at The Eleven, and along with Lark Hall upstairs, this double threat venue on Lark Street brings new life to an old building and neighborhood. Tickets for Holly Bowling at Lark Hall on November 11 can be found here.
Jerry Seinfeld is scheduled to resume his residency at the historic Beacon Theatre, with six new performances added for a total of 12 shows at the Upper West Side venue. The legendary comedian will play two shows per night across six dates in January, February, and March of 2024.
Jerry Seinfeld will continue his record-breaking residency with shows on January 12 and 13, February 2 and 3, and March 8 and 9. Two performances will take place each night at 7PM and 9:30PM.
Jerry Seinfeld currently holds the record for the most comedy performances at the Beacon, currently at 105. He celebrated his 100th performance in April 2023, having begun his residency in 2016. As a co-creator of one of the most successful shows in television history, Seinfeld, and a renowned comedian, actor, and writer, Jerry Seinfeld is one of New York’s biggest names.
Photo Credit: Rich Fury
The Beacon Theatre is a historic landmark on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Many great performers have made appearances at the Beacon, including The Rolling Stones, Ray LaMontagne, Coldplay, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and Steely Dan.
Tickets for Jerry Seinfeld’s new upcoming shows at the Beacon Theatre will go on sale on Friday, November 10 at 10AM. Tickets are available via ticketmaster.com or at box offices at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre on November 11.
Jazz at Lincoln Center have announcedthe fall programming at Dizzy’s Club featuring a range of artists from diverse backgrounds celebrating mentors and musical heroes; debut performances, Latin-influenced sets, and more.
Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center celebrates the community for jazz through performance, entertainment, education and advocacy, encouraging personal freedom and individual expression. Welcoming the fall program for October and November, packed with artists including vocalist Ashley Pezzotti whose repertoire allows her to take stylistic risks that elevate her artistry and spotlight her warm, resonant tone.
The month of November highlights the Louis Hayes Quintet featuring Abraham Burton, Steve Nelson, David Hazeltine, and Dezron Douglas and pianist and composer Bill O’Connell. The Quintet delivers a high energy performance intercutting clave, bebop, lyrical ballads, and surprising critically acclaimed arrangements with a heavy ensemble of master practitioners and legends including Randy Brecker, Craig Handy, Santi Debriano, and Billy Hart.
The Fall programming also features first-time appearances at Dizzy’s including sets by drummer and composer Lenny White and singer-songwriter Antonia Bennettwho will perform songs from her recent album in addition to tunes she performed with her father Tony Bennett. Late Night Sessions also return with a packed weekly lineup of established and emerging talent.
Artiste : Jacques Schwartz Bart
Groupe :
Festival : Caraib in Jazz Festival 2010
Date : 23/01/2010
Lieu : Paris – l’Olympia
OCTOBER 2023
Oct 23 – Juilliard Jazz Ensembles: Mary Lou Williams: The Secular and the Sacred
