NYS Music 2023

Category: Capital Region

  • Croce Plays Croce Coming to Troy, NYC and Rochester

    Multi-faceted singer/songwriter A.J. Croce is hitting the road again– visiting New York City, Rochester and Troy — in celebration of two more of his father Jim Croce’s legendary albums, 1973’s Life and Times and his final release, I Got A Name, in addition to songs from You Don’t Mess Around With Jim.

    The Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary show features a legendary band (including drummer Gary Mallaber, bassist David Barard, guitar/violin James Pennebaker) and a moving multi-media presentation accompanying Jim’s songs (which on the previous tour included memorable hits, “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)”, “Time in a Bottle,” and others).

    Over the past three decades, A.J. Croce has established his reputation as a piano player and vocal stylist who pulls from a host of musical traditions and anti-heroes — part New Orleans, part juke joint, part soul. From his 10 studio albums, it’s clear that he holds a love for all types of musical genres: blues, soul, pop, jazz, and rock n’ roll. A.J. toured with B.B. King and Ray Charles before reaching the age of 21, and over his career, he has performed with a wide range of legendary musicians, from Willie Nelson to the Neville Brothers, to Béla Fleck and Ry Cooder. His albums have all charted on an impressive array of charts: Top 40, blues, Americana, jazz, college, and Radio 1.

    A.J. felt a camaraderie with the audience at past shows and with the connection to his father’s timeless music, he was inspired to embark on a 50th anniversary tour. “The audience reaction has been so great,” says A.J. “The shows we did last year were not only met with a huge response, but I learned so much about what works and what resonates, we knew we had to keep going.”

    The gifted multi-instrumentalist says, besides the two albums Life and Times and I Got A Name, tracks from the popular You Don’t Mess Around With Jim – which fueled last year’s run – will also be part of the new show.

    “We’ll be playing songs representative from all three albums, and also some songs the audience might not know from more obscure artists that I realized connected me and my father. It was those songs that eventually led me to do this show in the first place.”

    A.J. Croce

    During last year’s performances, A.J. shared intimate aspects of his dad’s career. He also drew praise for his own style and musicianship (he’s known for one of the most unique keyboard styles in music) as well as his sensitive insight into Jim Croce’s enduring musical canon. While Jim Croce’s music catalog still resonates on classic radio, streaming platforms, and more recently on hit films and TV shows like Django Unchained and Stranger Things, it is A.J.’s unique showmanship that has helped enliven Jim’s amazing legacy. One reviewer aptly noted: ‘…A.J. Croce invites the sold-out crowds into his father’s worldview and work mindset, culminating in the playing of Jim Croce tunes…making for an intimate experience riddled with wryness and humor…’

    Fans and critics who attended last year’s 50th Anniversary Celebration shows are thrilled that A.J. is readying another affectionate interpretation of his father’s enduring legacy. The shows have renewed interest in Jim Croce and garnered praise for A.J: “I think they come as a Jim Croce fan but also leave as fans of mine. That’s something that has also made this whole experience really amazing.”  

    CROCE PLAYS CROCE 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

    Oct 27 / Aria Ballroom @MGM Springfield / Springfield, MA

    Oct 28 /The Wilbur / Boston, MA

    Oct 30 / Count Basie Center for the Arts / Red Bank, NJ

    Nov 1 / Santander Performing Arts Center / Reading, PA

    Nov 2 / Sandler Center for the Performing Arts / Virginia Beach, VA

    Nov 4 / The Town Hall / New York City, NY

    Nov 5 / Keswick Theatre / Glenside, PA (SOLD OUT)

    Nov 7 / Kodak Center / Rochester, NY

    Nov 8 / Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall / Munhall, PA

    Nov 9 / Taft Theatre / Cincinnati, OH

    Nov 11/ Goodyear Theatre / Akron, OH

    Nov 12 / Royal Oak Music Theatre / Royal Oak, MI

    Nov 15 / Hoyt Sherman Place / Des Moines, IA

    Nov 16 / Grand Theater / Wausau, WI

    Nov 17 / Pantages Theatre / Minneapolis, MN

    Nov 25 / Florida Theatre / Jacksonville, FL

    Nov 26 / Parker Playhouse / Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Nov 28 / Capitol Theatre / Clearwater, FL

    Nov 29 / King Center for the Performing Arts / Melbourne, FL

    Nov 30 /The Savannah Center / The Villages, FL

    Dec 2 / Mars Music Hall / Huntsville, AL

    Dec 3 / The Factory / St. Louis, MO

    Dec 5 / Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center / Oklahoma City, OK

    Dec 6 / Cotillion / Wichita, KS

    Dec 8 / The Paramount / Austin, TX

    Dec 10/ Bayou Music Center / Houston, TX

    Dec 11 / Majestic Theatre / Dallas, TX

    Dec 12 / Tobin Center for the Performing Arts / San Antonio, TX

    Dec 14 / Buddy Holly Hall / Lubbock, TX

    Feb 10 / Troy Savings Bank Music Hall / Troy, NY

    For a complete schedule of 2023 dates, visit ajcrocemusic.com

    For tickets, visit this link.

  • Comedy-Bluegrass Show “FOIA Love” Makes Troy Debut

    FOIA Love: A Comedy and Bluegrass Show About Public Records, is making its one-night Troy debut on October 22 at the Arts Center of the Capital Region. The show is a comedy and music performance, with all humor inspired by actual public documents, such as FCC complaints about Big Bang Theory being too violent, FBI profiles of sports stars, and misguided visa rejections.

    Foia Love

    The show’s musical performances feature Grammy-nominee Tristan Scroggins, Martha McDonnell (Broadway’s Girl From the North Country), and BB Bowness (winner of the Steve Martin Banjo Prize). The show was written by Curtis Raye, who spent eight years working in Washington D.C. and on Iowa’s presidential caucus. This gave his access to observe the inherent comedy in public records, spanning school board meetings and court testimony, to real White House menus.

    Tristan Scroggins was recently featured on the Grammy-nominated The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 1. A native of Albequerque and Denver, he is now based in the historical music city of Nashville, where he is a leading voice of bluegrass and mandolin music. 

    Tristan Scroggins
    Credit: Nico Humby

    FOIA Love has had successful shows at landmark spots across the country, from Los Angeles’s UCB Theater, to the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Performers will read from real, unintentionally funny public records, as elite musical talents add their skill to tunes inspired by topics revealed in the documents.

    FOIA Love: A Comedy and Bluegrass Show About Public Records will be on October 22, 2023 at 6pm at the Arts Center of the Capital Region, located at 265 River St, Troy, NY 12180.

    Tickets start at $25 and are available at foialove.com. For questions or inquiries contact foiacomedy@gmail.com.

  • Adequate Phil Drops New Psychedelic Track “Peaches”

    Adequate Phil, the self-described freak-folk group hailing from Troy, released “Peaches,” their brand new track on August 20. The song is a dreamy, lo-fi tune with a rap verse that takes the group in a new direction.

    Adequate Phil
    Credit: Sarah Straight @sarahestraight

    “Peaches” features harmonizing, distorted vocals reminiscent of the group’s cited influences from classic psychedelic acts like Animal Collective, The Beatles, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Radiohead. Synth lines and beats create the backtrack of the song, ensuring a consistent tone and rhythm for listeners to dance and sway to.

    Adequate Phil
    Credit: Headless Relatives @headlessrelatives

    Adequate Phil is a four-piece group, comprised of L Nino (guitar, vocals, percussion, production), Showerpanther (effects, synths, vocals), Phil (bass, guitar, vocals, mixing, production), and Andrew Golden (drums, percussion). 

    The group recently participated in the Jive Hive Live Halloween Special, an upcoming mini video releasing on October 31, Halloween Day. Jive Hive Live is an intimate studio facility built for live recordings and livestream productions.

    Upcoming Shows

    September 27 – No Fun, Troy, NY (supporting Activity)

    September 28 – El Dorado, Troy, Ny (supporting Heathmonger)

    Stream “Peaches” from Adequate Phil below.

  • Classic Jams Headline Outlaw Music Festival 2023 at SPAC

    Willie Nelson brought his Outlaw Music Festival to Saratoga for a late-summer jam session. With a tour that celebrates Willie’s lifelong musical genius and his legacy of hits, this tour seems extra special as Willie turned a remarkable 90 years old this year. The show brings an “Outlaw Village” with it, which is a little village of vendors that travel with the festival. And there is certainly a festival vibe as attendees ate and partied all throughout SPAC’s beautiful grounds.

    The evening opened with Waylon Payne playing a solo acoustic set of country and bluegrass. (Particle Kid (Willie’s Nelson’s son’s group) was not there to start the night off.) Highlights from Payne’s set include an excellent cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” and Payne’s own classic “Born to Lose.” Payne was genuinely thankful to be performing and expressed that gratitude many times. Payne showed up later in the night as Willie’s right hand man during Willie’s set. A good night for Waylon Payne.

    Los Lobos was up next. It’s unfortunate that the festival was held on a week night. Even though it was Friday, it was slow to fill and was still visibly empty when Los Lobos took the stage. They handled it like the classic professionals they are though and put on a hell of a set. Even with attendance low, one could look anywhere in the amphitheater and see people dancing to Los Lobos’ hits. With what had to be a nod to Bobby Weir, they opened with their song “Will the Wolf Survive?”. They followed that up with Three Midniters’ “Love Special Delivery.” The standout for the set was the set closing “La Bomba” segueing into The Olympics’ “Good Lovin’” and then back into “La Bomba.” With the set opening and closing with a nod to Mr. Weir, the crowd was warmed up indeed!

    Hitting the stage next was The String Cheese Incident. Having been 20 or so years since this listener last saw SCI, it was special to hear them open with “Smile.” Michael Kang busted out his violin and the jam took off into classic Outlaw territory. With a blend of deep cuts and new tunes, it was good to hear these guys again. The highlight for this listener was the 20ish minutes of “Missing Me” segueing into “Just One Story.” Looking around the venue, one could see many Friends of Cheese dancing to the jams.

    Setlist: Smile, Get Tight, Suntan, Barstool, Missin’ Me, Just One Story, Bhangra Saanj, Can’t Stop Now.

    While this constant listener is not an old-school Deadhead with hundreds of Grateful Dead shows under his belt, but I have been listening to them for about 40 years now, and they remain in regular rotation at my home and in my car. Having been at this show, and from seeing chatter online, what occurred with the Bobby set this evening was one hell of a Dead set. Bobby Weir and the Wolf Bros Featuring the Wolfpack dropped an incredible set of music on SPAC. The Wolfpack brings horns to jam. Drop a horn section into a “Dark Star”, a slow-building “Dark Star”, and magic happens. Add a “West LA Fade Away”, a “Wharf Rat”, and wrap it up with a “Sugar Magnolia” and you have one incredible set. And all this fails to mention the “El Paso”, the “Greatest Story Ever Told”, and the “New Speedway Boogie”! Listen to this set over Nugs.Net, and don’t you think of skipping that “Lost Sailor” with horns!

    Setlist: Bertha, Greatest Story Ever Told, Dark Star, El Paso, Lost Sailor, Saint of Circumstance, West LA Fadeaway, New Speedway Boogie, Wharf Rat, Sugar Magnolia

    To cap the evening off, Willie Nelson came on stage and amazed the crowd with his never-ending charisma and charm. His opening number “Whiskey River” segued into “Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer).” Listening to Willie is always a trip down Nostalgia Lane. He has written so many classic tunes, it’s mind-blowing. Highlights for this listener were “Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys”, “On the Road Again” and that all-time classic “Always on My Mind” (written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James).

    The patience shown by die-hard fans waiting for their statesman Willie Nelson paid off that evening. Sitting through the noodle-ly dancing of the Cheese- and Deadheads, fans were now saying they were glad that people were sitting so they could see Willie on stage. Willie was remarkable. At 90 years of age, he came out on stage unassisted, sat and played for an hour, and then left after waving and throwing his bandana into the crowd. Imagine catching Willie Nelson’s bandana? What a keepsake!

    Setlist: Whiskey River (Johnny Bush cover), Stay a Little Longer (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys cover), Still Is Still Moving to Me, Bloody Mary Morning, I Never Cared for You, Workin’ Man Blues (Merle Haggard and The Strangers cover), Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys, Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground, On the Road Again, Always On My Mind, Good Hearted Woman (Waylon Jennings cover), Help Me Make It Through the Night (Kris Kristofferson cover) (Waylon Payne – lead vocals), Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, Still Not Dead, Georgia (On My Mind) (Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra cover), I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train (Billy Joe Shaver cover), Write Your Own Songs (Willie Nelson & Kris Kristofferson cover), Move It on Over (Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys cover), Me and Bobby McGee (Kris Kristofferson cover), Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (William MacEwan cover) (with Bob Weir), I’ll Fly Away (Rev. J.M. Gates cover) (with Bob Weir), It’s Hard to Be Humble (Mac Davis cover), Saw the Light

  • Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces Return of Caffè Lena @ SPAC Festival

    In partnership with Caffè Lena, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced that the popular Caffè Lena @ SPAC Festival will return for a free 1-day concert on Saturday, October 7 from 12-5:30pm. Taking place at SPAC’s Charles R. Wood stage, the festival will feature five bands, exploring genres including rock, bluegrass, jazz, reggae and more. 

    Saratoga Performing Arts Center

    The featured performers will include Upstate, Los Sugar Kings, Soggy Po’ Boys, Amythyst Kiah, and The Clements Brothers. The Caffè Lena @ SPAC Festival highlights an ongoing collaboration between the arts center and the folk music venue in Saratoga Springs. 

    Upstate will close out the night with their signature blend of folk, bluegrass, jazz, and soul. The Woodstock-based collective is known throughout the state for their passionate songwriting, vulnerability, and stellar instrumentation.

    This event combines the intimacy and style of Caffè Lena with the expansive outdoor setting of SPAC. Our organizations have had a great time collaborating on this project and the crowd has gotten bigger every year. This year’s line-up is really exciting featuring five inspiring artists, including our first GRAMMY nominee.

    Sarah Craig, executive director of Caffè Lena.

    The collaboration between SPAC and Caffè Lena first launched in 2017, resulting in jointly curated programs at both venues. Guests are welcome to bring food, drink, blankets, and lawn chairs for the concerts. Food concessions will be available. The concert will take place rain or shine. 

    For more information, visit spac.org and caffelena.org for details.

  • The Blues Project to Perform at Caffe Lena This October

    The Blues Project, a band first formed in the mid 60s, will be performing in Saratoga Springs on Oct 8 at Caffe Lena. With the eclectic experiences of each band member, all with different backgrounds and history, it’s sure to be an experience audience members won’t forget.

    The Blues Project poster

    The Blues Project was formed in the mid-’60s in Greenwich Village by guitarists Danny Kalb and Steve Katz, flutist/bassist Andy Kulberg, drummer Roy Blumenfeld, and singer Tommy Flanders. Al Kooper joined later in his early twenties after sitting in on the band’s Columbia Records audition (though they ended up signing to Verve).

    The eclectic résumés of the musicians– folk, jazz, blues, and rock backgrounds– reflected their choice of material. While they did sing covers, they also sang the group’s own originals. These original songs were typically penned by Kooper, who had already built songwriting credentials as the co-writer of Gary Lewis’ huge smash hit “The Diamond Ring,” as well as his contributions to Bob Dylan‘s mid-’60s records.

    After the release of their debut live album, they recorded their second album Projections in the fall of 1966. Projections is a good reflection of their eclectic group, as the album combines blues, R&B, jazz, psychedelia, and folk-rock.

    …we’re not reviving the blues, we’re looking to interpret what’s happening today.

    Danny Kalb (guitarist), 1966

    Soon after Projections‘ release, Kooper and Katz left the band, and in 1968 they joined forces to form their own: Blood, Sweat & Tears. Kooper led the band on its first album Child Is Father to the Man, but he did not take part in any releases after that. Later, Kooper– then a producer for Columbia Records– recorded with Blumenfield, Stephen Stills, and Harvey Brooks for the album entitled Super Session. Katz remained with Blood, Sweat & Tears until the 1970s, and went on to produce Lou Reed’s best-selling and still-influential live LP Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal.

    The Blues Project reformed briefly in the early ’70s with a modified lineup, releasing three further albums: Lazarus, Blues Project, The Original Blues Project Reunion in Central Park. Once they were again disbanded, Blumenfeld formed Seatrain and in the 2000s performed with former Country Joe & the FIsh member, Barry Melton.

    The original Blues Project disbanded one final time in the 90s, but realizing they still had a passionate fan base who cared about the band and its music, Katz and Blumenfeld decided to give it another go in 2021.

    Fast forward to 2023, and The Blues Project is alive and well, with Blumenfeld leading a powerful new lineup including three new talented members: Chris Morrison (lead guitar), Scott Petito (bass), and Ken Clark (keyboards/vocals).

    Catch them at Caffè Lena on October 8, from 7-9PM. Doors open promptly at 6:30pm.

    For more information on The Blues Project, visit their website and follow their FaceBook.

  • Skidmore’s Frances Young Tang Museum and Gallery To Run New Arts Series

    The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College has announced a public series of talks, screenings, performances, and more this fall. The series is in collaboration with the new exhibition “Forms of Awakening: Selections from the Jack Shear Collection of Himalayan Art.”

    Forms of Awakening: Selections from the Jack Shear Collection of Himalayan Art Frances Young Tang Museum

    “Forms of Awakening” displays traditional Tibetan objects from the Jack Shear Collection alongside work from contemporary Tibetan artists. Together, the works reveal how such objects change our perspectives and bring light to aspects of reality unnoticed in daily life.

    “Forms of Awakening” is open from August 19 through December 10. The exhibition is organized by Benjamin Bogin, Associate Professor of Asian Studies, Skidmore College; Rachel Seligman, Malloy Curator, Tang Teaching Museum; and Ariana Maki, Associate Director of the Tibet Center and Bhutan Initiative at the University of Virginia.

    Forms of Awakening: Selections from the Jack Shear Collection of Himalayan Art Frances Young Tang Museum

    The Museum and Art Gallery’s new series includes a two-day symposium, with a focus on contemporary poetry and translation, featuring visiting poets and scholars. Featured guests include Sonam Tsomo Chashutsang, Lekey Leidecker, Tsering Wangmo Dhompa, and Dominique Townsend on Sept. 22–23; concerts by musician and activist Tenzin Choegyal on Oct. 13 and singer-songwriter Techung and singer-artist YESH on Dec. 2; a screening of four films by exhibiting artist Tenzin Phuntsog on Oct. 16; a dialogue between Phuntsog and Mary Kate Donovan, Skidmore College Associate Professor of Spanish and Director of Media and Film Studies, on October 19; and a tour with the exhibition curators and artist Palden Weinreb on Oct. 21.

    All events are free and open to the public. For the latest information, visit tang.skidmore.edu.

  • Caffè Lena School of Music Presents ‘Fiddles and Foliage’ This September

    The Caffè Lena School of Music will present a special fundraiser at Saratoga Springs‘ beautiful High Rock Park: Fiddles and Foliage. This is a festival like no other, styled after an old-time carnival, showcasing Caffè Lena’s School of Music.

    Caffè Lena’s School of Music has been serving the community with classes for children, adults, and seniors, both in person and online. Swing by High Rock Park (112 High Rock Ave Saratoga Springs, NY 12866) to support Caffè Lena’s programming, and for fun games, songs, and food by PJ’s BAR-B-QSA, that’s fitting for the whole family. The event will run from 12-4PM on September 24, rain or shine.

    See schedule and ticket information below.

    12:00PM – Opening Welcome & Land Blessing with Joe Bruchac

    12:10-1:00PM – Oona Grady, James Gascoyne, Matt Griffin, and Folk Ensemble students

    2:00-2:45PM – The Adirondack Song Dogs

    3:00-4:00PM – Open Mic/Band Scramble

    Tickets are $10/adult and $8/kid under 14. For more information, visit their website. For questions and inquiries, call 518-583-0022, or email musicschool@caffelena.org.

    Swing by to enjoy an afternoon of music, food, and community, with all proceeds benefiting the programming of Caffè Lena’s School of Music.

  • Jazz at the Lake Celebrates 39th Year

    Jazz enthusiasts near Lake George, NY: mark your calendars for the highly anticipated Jazz at the Lake festival, taking place Friday, September 15 through Sunday, September 17. In its 39th year, curated by Daniel Kelly, Jazz at the Lake continues to be one of the Northeast’s premier jazz festivals.

    Jazz at the Lake is an annual celebration of the vibrant and diverse world of jazz music, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Lake George. The festival showcases the talents of exceptional jazz musicians from across the entire country, creating an immersive experience like no other.

    Friday, September 15:
    (6PM) Endea Owens & The Cookout. 

    • Known as one of Jazz’s most promising emerging artists, Endea Owens is a Detroit-raised artist, bassist, and composer. The triple-threat has been mentioned by jazz icons such as Marcus Belgrave, Rodney Whitaker, and Ron Carter. She has toured and performed with Wynton Marsalis, Jennifer Holliday, Diana Ross, Rhonda Ross, Solange, and Jon Batiste. Since Endea had graduated from The Juliard School in 2018 and joined the Late eShow with Stephen Colbert as a member of the house band, Stay Human, she has won an Emmy, Grammy Award, and a George Foster Peadbody Award.

    (7:30PM) Jazz Around Town
    Immerse yourself in great food, drink and jazz at various venues across town featuring exceptional regional jazz acts that include: 

    Scott Hopkins Trio 

    • Performing at Gaslight Wood Fired Bistro (91 Canada Street, LG), the Scott Hopkins Jazz Trio features stalwart jazzers: Lou Smaldone on bass and Brian Melick on drums, with Hopkins on electric banjo. Repertoire of the trio includes a combination of standards and contemporary tunes with flares of bluegrass and folk undertones.

    Heard

    • Performing at The Barnsider Restaurant (2112 U.S. 9, LG), Heard is a collective of musicians that bring their skills and passion for world music, jazz, and improvising together to create irresistible grooves set in a unique sonic tapestry. Together for 15 years, their electrifying sound incorporates influences from West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and beyond.

    Ria Curley, Chuck Lamb & the Curley Lamb Nu-Soul-Jaz Project 

    • Performing at The Caldwell Lake George Library (336 Canada St, LG). The Listening Room: The Ria Curley, Chuck Lamb & the Curley Lamb Nu-Soul-Jaz Project group features the dynamic duo of singer/songwriter Ria Curley & pianist/composer Chuck Lamb, joined by an alternating lineup of one or more of their talented musician friends, performing a unique combination of instrumental & vocal, original and standard, Jazz/Fusion and Smooth R&B/Pop/Rock.  

    Dylan Perrillo and Brad Brose 

    • Performing at The East Cove Restaurant (3873 NY-9L, LG). Bassist Dylan Perrillo (from Hot Club of Saratoga and the Dylan Perrillo Quartet) will be joined by NYC-based guitarist Brad Brose for a one-of-a-kind jazz experience that will have fans of swing jazz dancing in their seats.

    Saturday, September 16:
    (10AM) Coffee and Jazz

    • Performing at The Caldwell Lake George Library (336 Canada St. LG). For the jazz early birds: join the new Jazz at the Lake program that combines the melodies of jazz with coffee, all surrounded by fellow jazz enthusiasts. Indulge in a free coffee and enjoy the music of James Rissacher: a jazz musician who has performed in classic music venues throughout the U.S. and Europe for over 20 years, and has recorded with numerous other musicians.
    • Coffee and Jazz is made possible by a Long Time Fan of Jazz Weekend.

    (1PM) Naya Baaz: Rez Abbasi & Josh Feinberg

    • Awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship in 2021 for composition, Voted #1 Rising-Star Guitarist in the 2013 DownBeat Critics Poll and subsequently placed in the top-ten guitarists alongside luminaries Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny, guitarist and composer Rez Abbasi, is one of the most original voices on the current scene. Making New York home for the past 25 years, Abbasi is considered by many to be one of the foremost modern jazz guitar players. He has honed his skills with performances throughout Europe, Canada, the U.S., Mexico and India. He has performed and recorded with many jazz greats, including: Grammy winner Ruth Brown, Peter Erskine, Kenny Werner, Barre Phillips, Gary Thomas, Dave Douglas, John Beasly, Ronu Majumdar, Kadri Gopalnath, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Vijay Iyer, Marilyn Crispell, Greg Osby, Howard Levy, and a host of others. He will be sure to bring his best performance every single time.

    (3PM) Aubrey Johnson Group

    • Aubrey Johnson is a New York-based vocalist, composer, and educator who specializes in jazz, Brazilian, and creative contemporary music both with lyrical and purely instrumental. She holds a Master of Music degree in jazz performance from the New England Conservatory. As a student, she won two DownBeat Collegiate Student Music Awards for “Best Jazz Vocalist” and “Jazz Vocalist, Outstanding Performance.” She currently teaches at Berklee College of Music in the Voice Department, and in the Jazz Masters Program at Queens College in New York City. She also held faculty positions at the New England Conservatory and Montclair State University.

    (5PM) Jared Schonig Quintet

    • Grammy-Award winning drummer, composer & bandleader Jared Schonig has toured and/or recorded internationally with Nicholas Payton, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Donny McCaslin, Darcy James Argue & Secret Society, The 8-Bit Big Band, and Ernie Watts among others. A favorite among vocalists, Schonig has toured with Grammy Award-winners Kurt Elling, The New York Voices, Kristen Chenoweth, Cynthia Erivo, Katherine McPhee, Jessica Vosk and singer/songwriter Donna Lewis. He has performed around the world, from sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall, to festivals in Zimbabwe. Schonig co-led The Wee Trio, which released five critically-acclaimed albums over the past 8 years and recently released two solo albums of original music (one quintet and one big band) in the fall of 2021 to critical acclaim. When back home in the big apple, Schonig is a jack-of-all-trades, dipping his toes in both jazz and Broadway. He recently held the drum chair for the critically acclaimed Tony, Grammy, and Emmy-award winning Broadway Revival of The Color Purple, and is currently playing drums and percussion for the esteemed 10-time Tony-winning Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

    (8PM) Jane Bunnett and Maqueque

    • Five-time Juno Award winner, Jane Bunnett has turned her bands and recordings into showcases for the finest musical talent from Canada, the US, and Cuba. She has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, received The Order of Canada, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and, most recently, The Premier’s Award for Excellence. With Maqueque, Bunnett has created something new and phenomenal in the world of jazz. What started out five years ago as a project to record and mentor young brilliant Cuban female musicians has become one of the top groups on the North American jazz scene. Since 2015, they have played in major jazz festivals like Newport and Monterey, been featured on NPR’s program Jazz Night in America, won a Juno Award for their first album. Both Jane Bunnett and Maqueque were even nominated for a Grammy Award for their second release, Oddara, and were nominated for a Juno Award for their latest release, On Firm Ground/Tierra Firme. Most recently, they were voted as one the top ten jazz groups by the prestigious DownBeat magazine’s critics poll.

    Sunday, September 17th

    (1PM) Duduka Da Fonseca & Quarteto Universal

    • The Percussionist; author and producer, born in Rio de Janeiro, Duduka Da Fonseca is a 4-time Grammy® Award Nominee Drummer. He has appeared on over 250 albums alongside American Jazz and Brazilian Jazz icons, including 25 albums as a leader/co-leader, making him one of the most recorded Brazilian drummers in this idiom. In 2002 Duduka’s first solo album, Samba Jazz Fantasia, was the first “Samba Jazz” instrumental album ever to be nominated for the American Grammy® Award. He has recorded and toured with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gerry Mulligan, Astrud Gilberto, Phil Woods, Kenny Barron, Lee Konitz, Eddie Gomez, Herbie Mann, Wynton Marsalis, Nancy Wilson, John Pizzarelli, John Scofield,Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano, Oscar Castro Neves, and many others.

    (3PM) Richie Goods / Chien Chien “Connected”

    • “CONNECTED” was formed in 2020. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Richie Goods and Chien Chien decided to do a project that would unify people and invoke imagery of love and peace. As often happens, music was the catalyst that bridged the gap and resulted in a rare collaboration; a partnership that produced “The Path” Sep. 2020, “We Three Kings” Nov. 2020, and “Rain” Dec. 2021. They decided to cement their musical relationship by creating “Connected.” Together, Richie and Chien Chien create an exciting, new, energetic listening experience and attract audiences everywhere. Their new release, “Richie Goods & Chien Chien – Connected” was released January 13, 2023, and has been on the jazz charts for 12 weeks.

    (5PM) Emilio Solla & the Tango Jazz Orchestra

    • Latin Grammy winner and multi-Grammy nominee, Argentine-born and New York-based pianist and composer Emilio Solla’s first band, Apertura, (1983-1989) was praised by Astor Piazzolla as one of the most interesting new sounds in the Buenos Aires scene in 1986. Today, with eleven CDs as bandleader and more than forty as arranger/producer, he is regarded by peers and critics as one of the most outstanding and unique composers in the Tango-Jazz field, a musical language which blends Argentine tango and folk with jazz and other contemporary music styles. He has performed all around Europe, Japan, the US and Latin America. The Tango Jazz Orchestra (TJO) is Emilio’s most ambitious project to date. A full 17-piece jazz orchestra which replaces the guitar by a bandoneon. This large ensemble has allowed Solla to take his blend of tango and Latin American music with jazz to a whole new level. The orchestra recorded and released its first work, “Puertos, Music of International Waters” in 2019. One of Solla’s compositions was nominated that same year for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement (sharing the honor with Vince Mendoza, John Williams and Jacob Collier) and the full album was awarded the 2020 Latin Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album.

    For more information on each individual artist, as well as more festival details, visit their website. For updates and festival highlights, be sure to follow their Facebook and Instagram.

  • Trevor Noah 2023 Tour to Hit Proctors, Beacon Theatres

    South African comedian and The Daily Show host Trevor Noah has announced dates for his 2023 Off The Record Tour, which includes stops at Schenectady’s Proctors Theatre and the Beacon Theatre in NYC.

    Trevor Noah in Toronto. (Photo credit: Matt Wilson/Netlflix)

    The U.S. leg, which begins on January 20 in Atlanta and wraps up December 3, 2023 in San Francisco, will feature 40 performances total. Coming to Proctors Theatre on May 19, Noah will hit the Beacon Theatre for a ten-performance run from October 9 to 18.

    Noah, in addition to hosting The Daily Show on Comedy Central, which was nominated for seven Emmy Awards this year, has sold out comedy shows across five continents, has hosted the last two Grammy Awards shows, and authored the #1 New York Times bestseller “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.” 

    Tickets for the dates at Proctors Theatre, Beacon Theatre, and the rest of Noah’s U.S. leg can be purchased on his website.

    Trevor Noah Tour Dates:

    January 20, 2023 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre

    February 10, 2023 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace

    March 3, 2023 – St. Louis, MO – Stifel Theatre

    March 9, 2023 – Baltimore, MD – Hippodrome Theatre

    March 24, 2023 – Durham, NC – DPAC

    March 31, 2023 – Denver, CO – Bellco Theatre

    April 5, 2023 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur^

    April 6, 2023 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur^

    April 7, 2023 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur^

    April 8, 2023 – Medford, MA – Chevalier Theatre^

    April 10, 2023 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur^

    April 11, 2023 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur^

    April 12, 2023 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur^

    April 13, 2023 – Medford, MA – Chevalier Theatre^

    April 20, 2023 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall

    April 27, 2023 – Spokane, WA – First Interstate Center for the Arts

    April 28, 2023 – Bozeman, MT – Brick Breeden Fieldhouse*

    April 29, 2023 – Missoula, MT – Adams Center*

    May 4, 2023 – Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre

    May 5, 2023 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

    May 10, 2023 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre at Old National Centre

    May 12, 2023 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre

    May 19, 2023 – Schenectady, NY – Proctors Theatre

    May 20, 2023 – Schenectady, NY – Proctors Theatre

    May 26, 2023 – Mashantucket, CT – Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino

    June 2, 2023 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl

    October 6, 2023 – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater

    October 9, 2023 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

    October 10, 2023 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

    October 11, 2023 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

    October 12, 2023- New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

    October 13, 2023- New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

    October 14, 2023- New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

    October 15, 2023- New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

    October 16, 2023- New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

    October 17, 2023- New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

    October 18, 2023- New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

    October 20, 2023 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre

    October 26, 2023 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre

    November 1, 2023 – Madison, WI – The Orpheum Theater

    November 3, 2023 – Milwaukee, WI – The Riverside Theater

    November 9, 2023 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre

    November 13, 2023 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre

    November 14, 2023 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre

    November 30, 2023 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic

    December 1, 2023 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic

    December 2, 2023 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic

    December 3, 2023 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic

    * Rescheduled Show