NYS Music 2024

Author: Faith Logue

  • Matt Steckler Janus Quartet Coming to Alias Coffee in Troy

    The Matt Steckler Quartet featuring John Esposito, Otto Gardner, and Joe Barna has announced it is coming to Alias Coffee in Troy on January 14, from 6-7:30 p.m.

    Saxophonist Matt Steckler is teaming with John Esposito (piano), Otto Gardner (bass), and Joe Barna (drums), for an evening of fresh takes on original works for jazz quartet. The Roman God Janus represents “beginnings, transitions, looking back and forward,” the impetus behind this adventurous and versatile lineup.

    Matthew Steckler, aka Matty Stecks, performs primarily on woodwinds and composes in several musical settings internationally. As an artist, he has appeared at The Blue Note and Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Operetta Teatrul (Bucharest), House of Blues & Jazz (Shanghai), and more. He has received commissions from Chamber Music America, Meet the Composer, and American Composers Forum, has recordings on Ropeadope, Cuneiform, and Innova labels, and has made Best CD lists in Downbeat and Jazz Times.

    John Esposito is an American pianist/composer/drummer/producer who works on a wide array of creative music projects, extending across the stylistic boundaries of the Stride Piano, Swing, Bebop, Modal, and Free Music movements. He has performed and recorded with artists including Nick Brignola, Dave Douglas, Dave Holland, Carter Jefferson, and more.

    Joe Barna is a drummer/composer/bandleader originally from Troy whose passion and dedication to music have taken him around the world. He studied at SUNY Purchase with Jon Faddis, Hal Galper, Adam Nussbaum, John Riley and Todd Coolman, and has had the honor of playing with GRAMMY recipients Gary Smulyan and Ralph Lalama. He has taken his passion and talent abroad to Canada, Australia, Russia, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, New Zealand, Dubai UAE, Turkey, Egypt, and many other destinations, and recorded on over ten albums as a sideman and has six albums as a bandleader. 

    Otto Gardner is an American bass player and teacher, playing music for 40 years throughout the Northeast, California, and Canada. he is a founding member of Schenectady’s Empire Jazz Orchestra, in which he has played for more than 22 years, along with such Jazz Master guests as Jimmy Heath, Lou Soloff, Curtis Fuller, Rufus Reid, and Benny Golson. In addition to performance and recording, Otto’s teaching experience spans three decades, and since 2010, he has been a member of the Bard College community as an adjunct professor in the Jazz Department. 

    The Matt Steckler Quartet is playing at Alias Coffee on Jan. 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. Attendees must pay a $20 minimum donation at the door. For more information, visit here.

  • Dead of Summer Music Festival Announces Lineup

    The fifth annual Dead of Summer Music Festival is coming to Hunter Park from July 12-14, nestled on 25 acres in the Green Mountains of Manchester, Vermont.

    Dead of Summer Music Festival

    Dead of Summer features three days of live music on two stages, with over 20 food and craft beer vendors. It is family/kid-friendly, with various activities including yoga, a kids set with Andy The Music Man, tie-dying, disc golf, and RV and tent camping opportunities. The event is rain or shine.

    The lineup includes a variety of well-known jam bands, including Pink Talking Fish performing the Grateful Dead’s album Terrapin Station and a fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and Phish. The Ensemble includes THE WOLFPACK string & brass quintet along with members of Twiddle, Remain In Light/Cool Cool Cool, and Dead Set.

    Special guests include Neighbor, Max Creek, Bearly Dead, Dead Man’s Waltz, Deadgrass, Bar Maids, Lizards: A Phish Tribute, Annie in The Water, Misty Blues Roadhouse Revival, Mystic Dead, Harvest & Rust: A Neil Young Tribute, Rev Tor’s KlusterFunk, Saints and Liars, Organ Fairchild, The Rejuvenators w/ Wanda Houston, Woody and Rebel Alliance, and The Morning Dudes.

    Gates open at 9 am on Friday, July 12. For more information about the Dead of Summer Music Festival and to purchase tickets, visit here.

  • Bernie Williams to debut with New York Philharmonic at Spring Gala

    Former New York Yankees star Bernie Williams has announced he is making his debut with the New York Philharmonic on April 24 at the Philharmonic’s Spring Gala at the Lincoln Center.

    Williams, who won four World Series and the 1996 ALCS MVP as part of the franchise’s dynasty of the late 1990s, is a classically trained guitarist and will perform in the orchestra under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel. He made his debut as a musician during his playing career with the Yankees, releasing his first album The Journey Within in 2003, going on to study guitar and composition at SUNY Purchase, receiving his Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music in 2016. His 2009 album Moving Forward reached the No. 2 best-selling ranking among U.S. Jazz albums.

    Gustavo Dudamel will formally join the New York Philharmonic in 2026 upon finishing a 17-year tenure as the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He will conduct the Philharmonic in the Spring Gala, with the soloists consisting of artist, actor, author, and activist Common (in his NY Phil debut), soprano Hera Hyesang Park, and Bernie Williams. The Philharmonic will perform several works side-by-side with student musicians from communities across New York City who are being chosen through auditions to participate in this weeklong celebration. The repertoire will be announced at a later date.

    Gala events will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m. on the Leon and Norma Hess Grand Promenade and continue with the concert, at 7:00 p.m., concluding with a post-performance seated dinner, attended by New York Philharmonic musicians, on the Hess Grand Promenade and Hearst Tier 1. Gala dress will be cocktail attire. For more information visit here.

  • Spafford Announces Spring Tour Coming to Brooklyn

    Spafford has announced they are embarking on their highly anticipated Spring Tour, coming to the Brooklyn Bowl on April 20.

    Coming off an incredible and unprecedented 2023 which saw the emergence of Spafford with a revitalized sound and an array of new songs following the addition of keyboardist Cory Schechtman, their iconic type two jams continue to transcend boundaries. This spring tour promises yet another extraordinary musical adventure.

    Spafford is known for their astonishing improvisational ability and off-the-cuff extended jams, painting a picture in real-time each night with a musical palette known only to each other. Each show is a sonic pilgrimage, the journey of a team of musicians so in tune with each other that a single note communicates intent and purpose. Spafford is amongst the most creative and hard-traveling bands on the contemporary jam scene, performing countless sold-out headline dates and high-profile festival sets at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Firefly Music Festival, and many others.

    Spafford’s Spring Tour tickets go on sale this Friday, January 5th at 10 AM EST. You can also check them out in Buffalo on January 17.

    SPRING TOUR DATES:

    3.16  Frozen Dead Guy Days – Estes Park, CO
    3.20  The Broadberry – Richmond, VA
    3.21-23  5 Points Music Sanctuary – Roanoke, VA
    3.24  Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC
    3.26  Tally Ho Theater – Leesburg, VA
    3.28-29  Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH
    3.30  Madison Theater – Covington, KY
    4.18  XL Live – Harrisburg, PA
    4.19  The Warehouse at FTC – Fairfield, CT
    4.20  Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY

    WINTER TOUR DATES:

    1.10-11  Broad Brook Opera House – Broad Brook, CT
    1.12  Aura – Portland, ME
    1.13-14  Soundcheck Studios – Pembroke, MA
    1.17  Buffalo Iron Works – Buffalo, NY
    1.18  Thunderbird Music Hall – Pittsburgh, PA
    1.19  Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
    1.20  El Club – Detroit, MI
    1.24  Bell’s Eccentric Cafe – Kalamazoo, MI
    1.25  The Castle Theatre – Bloomington, IL
    1.26  Moontown Brewing Company – Whitestown, IN
    1.27  Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL
    2.02-4  Gem & Jam Festival – Tucson, AZ
    2.22-25  Old Town Pub – Steamboat Springs, CO
    2.29-3.3  The Public House – Crested Butte, CO

  • moe. Share Statement on Deadly Attack Outside Rochester New Year’s Concert

    Jam band moe. has shared a statement regarding the deadly potential terrorist attack outside their show at the Kodak Center in Rochester on New Year’s Day, which killed two people and injured nine.

    At about 12:50 a.m., 35-year-old Michael Avery from Syracuse drove a Ford Explorer heading eastbound, striking a Mitsubishi Outlander, killing both himself and two passengers in the other car as concertgoers were leaving the Kodak Center after moe.’s show.

    Justina Hughes, 28, of Geneva, Ontario County, and Joshua Orr, 29, of Webster were in the car’s rear in a ride-share. Rochester Police Chief David Smith spoke in a news conference about the incident, saying “Avery sped up, crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic and appears to have intentionally been driving towards the pedestrian crossing.” The collision hit a group of pedestrians who were in the crosswalk, and then two other vehicles. There was an ignited fire that took over an hour to extinguish, and first responders found at least a dozen gasoline canisters in and around Avery’s car.

    Last night’s events outside the Kodak Center have left us all in profound shock and sadness. On a night that was meant for celebration and togetherness, we are faced instead with a tragedy that defies understanding. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of those who lost their lives, and our thoughts are with those who were injured.

    moe.

    moe. went on to thank the first responders for their “swift and courageous actions in securing everyone’s safety,” ending the statement by speaking about the resilience of their fans, saying “We believe in the power of music to heal and unite, and it is in this spirit that we will continue to move forward.”

    CNN reported that so far the FBI has not recovered any information that makes them believe this is a terrorist act, but are still looking into it. They do believe it could be an intentional act though, as he drove from Syracuse to Rochester, checked himself into a hotel room, went to the store, and made at least six purchases of gasoline and gas containers between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. that day.

    This story is still developing and is a tragedy for the victims, the band, and all those who were in attendance at the show.

  • RMSC Announces Eclipse Experience with fivebyfive

    In collaboration with fivebyfive, the RMSC (Rochester Museum & Science Center) announced they are presenting a one-of-a-kind concert experience with live music and immersive visuals presented on the dome of the RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium on Jan. 20 and 21, 2024.

    fivebyfive, the artist-led Rochester-based ensemble, formed in 2015 with a simple mission, to engage audiences by performing music of leading and emerging composers. Composed of a flutist, clarinetist, electric guitarist, bassist, pianist, and audio/video engineer, the group advocates for creators who are underrepresented in the field and chooses to collaborate with artists across disciplines, while staying committed to performing new music. fivebyfive has been inspired to connect people in an engaging public event to build awareness and excitement for the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024.

    “We’re thrilled to be partnering with fivebyfive for this collaborative concert in January,” said Jim Bader, RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium Director. “Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in newly commissioned works by fivebyfive, while celestial visuals illuminate the Planetarium dome, creating a truly unforgettable atmosphere.”

    The mission of the RMSC is to inspire a better future for all through curiosity, exploration, and participation in science, culture, and the natural world. The RMSC includes the RMSC Museum & Science Center, the RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, and the RMSC Cumming Nature Center. Offering experiences at the Museum & Science Center with more than 200 interactive exhibits, the Planetarium with a 65-foot dome screen and several hands-on exhibits, and the Nature Center on 900 acres of land and 14 miles of trails, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration.

    fivebyfive will present its eclipse-inspired program Light & Dark: Eclipse Music in Rochester at the Planetarium and other communities within the path of totality. Performances will include newly commissioned works by composers Jessica Meyer, Marc Mellits, Kamala Sankaram, Glenn McClure, and a new arrangement by Julie Herndon. 

    “These concerts will truly be the prelude to the Total Solar Eclipse,” exclaimed Laura Lentz, fivebyfive Artistic Director. “We can’t wait to share this multi-level concert of brand new eclipse-inspired music with new beautiful images, making for an incredible all-sensory eclipse experience!”

    Tickets are now on sale for this one-of-a-kind concert here. The RMSC is also offering experience gift packages for the holidays including tickets to the Light & Dark concert, admission to the RMSC ROC The Eclipse festival, and RMSC eclipse glasses to use for the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse.