One of the world’s premier jazz archives, The Dave Brubeck Collection at Wilton Library (Wilton, CT), announced the launch of its enhanced and interactive digital archive, making the 22,000+ item collection catalog easily searchable and browsable online for the first time to everyone worldwide.
Dave Brubeck & Louis Armstrong (The Brubeck Collection). Credit: Don Hunstein/SONY Records
This new digital archive includes a thousand digitized photos, recordings, scores, and documents. For more than 128 years, Wilton Library has served as the cultural and intellectual center of Wilton, CT with the mission to inform, enrich, connect, and inspire the community.
This robust collection, established by Dave Brubeck and his wife features unreleased music, interactive tour maps, photos, correspondence, concert programs, posters, and song timelines from the biggest–selling jazz single of all time “Take Five” – which Dave Brubeck Quartet memberPaul Desmond composed 65 years ago – to Brubeck’s achievements in the classical world with his prolific compositions.
Made available on International Jazz Day, this rich resource shares Brubeck’s legacy with musicians, students, researchers, jazz aficionados, and anyone curious about the artist’s broad cultural impact and many dimensions: from his music and family life to his involvement in the 1950s and 60s Civil Rights Movement and beyond.
Creating an online digital archive for The Brubeck Collection was an essential step in making its broad scope of materials accessible worldwide. Dave Brubeck was an internationally renowned musical pioneer and we have been honored to steward his legacy, at Wilton Library and now everywhere. We hope people will enjoy visiting us online as well as in person, where the full range of this large and important collection can be experienced.
The Brubeck Collection Curator Michael Bellacosa.
Dave Brubeck (1920-2012), pianist and composer whose legendary career spanned more than six decades, was one of the most popular and innovative musicians in the jazz world. The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s acclaimed 1959 Time Out album was the first jazz album to sell a million copies, and the album’s track “Take Five” remains the biggest–selling jazz single of all time. Other well-known Brubeck works that have become jazz classics include “Blue Rondo à la Turk,” “In Your Own Sweet Way,” “Unsquare Dance,” and “The Duke.”
In addition to his decades of success in jazz, Brubeck had a lifelong interest in interweaving jazz and classical music. His compositions include the popular Christmas choral pageant “La Fiesta de la Posada,” ground-breaking collaborations with Leonard Bernstein, “Upon this Rock”—written for Pope John Paul II’s U.S. visit, and “Elemental Brubeck,” choreographed by Lar Lubovitch and part of the San Francisco Ballet’s repertoire.
He was a revered performer at international jazz festivals and concert halls and performed at the White House many times. Throughout his career, he received numerous honors and awards including the National Medal of Arts from President Clinton, the GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a 1954 TIME magazine cover as the leader of a new jazz age. Brubeck was designated a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress and on his 89th birthday in 2009, he received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors Award.
Active in the 1950s & 60s Civil Rights Movement, Brubeck refused to play anywhere audiences were segregated, saying“jazz would always represent the music of freedom.” While serving in World War II, Brubeck’s Wolf Pack Band was the first integrated military band.
After amassing the archival collection, Dave and Iola Brubeck sent the materials to their alma mater in 2000. After Dave and Iola passed, the Brubeck family decided to place the Collection at Wilton Library located in the family’s hometown for more than 60 years.
For more information and to explore the Brubeck Collection, visit here.
Saratoga Springs music venue Caffe Lena has announced their top picks for the month of May. From May 1 to 31 Caffe Lena sees a massive lineup of shows and performers for the community to enjoy.
Caffe Lena is a well-known host of talent for the Upstate New York community. Various walks of life see the stage at this venue through a wide range of genre and background. The venueâs mission is to keep a diverse set of programs and artists, regardless of fame, to present to the community. Caffe Lena is where musical discovery begins on all fronts. All shows held in-person in Lenaâs historic listening room are also streamed live to living rooms around the world.
In May, the venue showcases a lengthy, talent-packed lineup of shows including musical performances, poetry open mic nights, and more. Genres like folk, bluegrass, jazz and roots are showcased this May along with songwriting workshops, poetry nights, and kids club concerts. There’s something for all members of the community this month.
Caffe Lena’s Top Shows for May
May 1 – 7 PM Poetry Open Mic Night feat Darcy Smith
May 2 – 7 PM Kruger Brothers
May 3 – 8 PM Dan Navarro
May 7 – 7 PM Live Stream: Storytelling Night feat Miki Conn
May 11 – 8 PM Bandits on the Run
May 12 – 7 PM Peter Rowan
May 17 – 8 PM Ana Egge
May 22 – 7:30 PM Willi Carlisle
May 30 – 7 PM Abigail Lapell
For more information on Caffe Lena’s upcoming dates and performers, click here.
April 20 saw year three of the Buffalo Blues and Roots festival at Buffalo RiverWorks. With help from Three Chords Bourbon, Ray Barry and Barry Entertainment has brought some strong Chicago-esque blues to Buffalo’s waterfront on April 20.
Starting in 2022, Barry Entertainment has taken on the daunting task of organizing a full day of music, arts vendors, and bourbon tasting. Over this time they have welcomed international stars, Grammy award winners, and local talents to Buffalo. Vanessa Collier, Selwyn Birchwood, and Colin James to name a few. Pair theses with rising names and local talent and you now have the Buffalo Blues and Roots Festival.
Like previous years, Three Chord Bourbon, from nearby Clarence, was named sponsor of this event, and offered up some sample of their goods. 2024 saw a Kentucky Straight Bourbon on display, along with a blended bourbon and Rye Whiskey. The straight bourbon was a nice offering subtle notes and smooth finish that left the consumer ready for more. The chatter heard around the tasting table was very positive, and seemed as though the Kentucky straight was the fans choice.
Starting of the day was Diane Kallay. Originally from the Western NY area, Kallay has earned regional recognition over the years, winning accolades for Best Female Blues Vocalist, as well earning nominations for Best Acoustic Duo (for Kinship, with her brother), and Best Female Vocalist. Her vocal range, and ability to cover multiple genres with relative ease has led to sharing the limelight with such acts as .38 Special and The Marshall Tucker Band.
On this night, though, Kallay performed a beautiful set along with Barry Arbogast, Paul Beringer, Sal Marino, Keith Spurlock, and Michael Mietlicki. A nice mix of sultry blues and gentle roots to welcome music fans as they entered the venue.
Next up was Rusty Fisher. If you enjoy classic blues guitar riffs, you need to check out Rusty. Unlike 2023, where he sat in for a couple acts, Fisher had his own set time this year and made it count. Teaming up well known Western New Yorkers Dan Shurtleff (of The Growlers) and Nate Coffey, he took the stage for about an hour and did nothing but amaze the growing crowd. Lucky for locals, he is out and about often. He can be found at Fanatics Pub & Pizza on June 16th, among other venues that kick ass. Riffs, licks, and shredding seem to be the way of life for Rusty.
Planned accordingly or pure coincidence, Shurtleff was able to remain on stage with his drum set as he is the guy for The Growlers (Facebook). With the incomparable John Lewandowski leading the charge on harmonica, Shurtleff sits comfortably at the drums and does his thing. For the third year in a row, Lewandowski and the rest of the team shook the stage and got fans yearning for more. Seeing them last year for the first time was a treat. 2024 has me looking for more of their shows.
Joining the band on stage was local star Pat Harrington. Growing up about 45 minutes north of Buffalo, Harrington joined Victor Wainwright and The Train in 2016 and has provided a fresh youthful explosion to the band that Wainwright was seeking. Well known around the Buffalo area, Harrington has taken the blues world by storm and is has been heralded as one of the best young blues guitarists. As the night goes, Harrington would continue to join in and jam with everyone.
Pat Harrington – Buffalo Blues and Roots FestivalPat Harrington
As the show progresses, it seems like the next act couldn’t possibly top the previous. Enter Scott Celani and his band. Covering early music from Black Crowes, the Buffalo native and 2021 inductee to the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame came out rocking a Buffalo Bills cap, black leather jacket and aviator sunglasses, ready to play the part. I can assure you he excelled. As John Popper said “Scott has some pipes!” Not as raspy as Chris Robinson, Celani for sure has what it takes for these covers, and it was on full display as he paraded around nailing every note.
Following the amazing faux Black Crowes show, a handful of the musicians called an audible and took the stage for a little tribute to the late Dickey Betts. On stage were Ray Barry, Pat Harrington, Guy Nirelli, Dan Shurtleff, Eric Weinholtz, and Dave Thurman. An amazing tribute to a musical legend that the fans and musicians will never forget
Next up, Patti Parks. Another member of Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, Parks delivered a soulful set, donned in a black and red dress and fedora style hat. High energy and smooth vocals are on full display as Parks proves her worth better than a Buffalo Sabres coach.
Following the dynamite set from Parks, Miller and The Other Sinners hit the stage for the third year in a row. David Miller has nothing to prove to Western NY. He and his Sinners have made a name for themselves at this event as well as others from Buffalo to Syracuse. Some would say he is a household name, and rightfully so. He has shared the stage with names such as Tedeschi, Bonamassa, Vaughn, and Copeland. In doing so, David Miller has paid his dues earned his keep. While Buffalo is not a hotbed for Southern Soul, Miller makes an exception and delivers a world class set. New album for 2024 Thieves in The Breadline includes “Better Times Better Days” which was written pre-Covid and hits on the affect of social media on our lives.
Based out of Central NY, Tas Cru is a blues-roots songwriter/musician, with a splash of funk thrown into the mix. Take your standard blues jam and kick it up a notch, you wind up with Tas Cru. Soft, subtle lyrics and quick fingers on the guitar are only part of what makes him special. Amid a couple samples of Three Chords Bourbon, Cru flawlessly floats around and interacting with the crowd, he jokes around quips of his time touring, which all turn out to be segways into the next song. Such stories as about a young man saying he should be paid more for helping out. Cru’s response was “welcome to the blues, kid”.
Rounding out the 9-hour jam session, Victor Wainwright came out to crowd that was the loudest it had been all day. The headlining act of the Buffalo Blues and Roots Festival was at the end of an intense leg of their tour, including back-to-back shows at the aforementioned Fanatics Pub, in Lima, NY. Regardless of that, Wainwright and his Train of musicians, including hometown favorite Pat Harrington, were full of energy as if they had downed a couple red bulls backstage. Playing the ivories and swaying on his stool, ala Ray Charles, Wainright had a story for everything. He talked about getting his musical inspiration from older Disney movies, although he came from a musical family. The music for movies like The Jungle Book were what got Victor into the blues and roots scene. His parents were happy, though, that he was still into music of some sort. Subsequently, he and the band broke out into a very jubilant version of “I Wanna be Like You”, which the crowd really took in.
Grammy nominated and winner of Blues Music Awards for Piano Player of the Year (3x) and BB King Entertainer of The Year, Victor Wainwright is a name you will hear often and if you ever have the chance, you need to go see the show. Truly amazing and inspiring for all ages.
The blues and roots don’t always have to be the classic sounds of Elmore James or Cab Calloway. One song from Miller and The Other Sinners or Victor Wainwright will convince you of that. Still blues and roots, but with some modern flare and ingenuity, the artists on stage today make the genre much more marketable to the new generation.
Year three of Buffalo Blues and Roots didn’t see as many visitors as the first two years, but when you are going against a big show at the Highmark Stadium and numerous 420 events around town, you are bound to see a decline. Craft vendors, bourbon tasting and nine hours of outstanding music for a respectable price tag, one would be foolish not to check it out. Despite that, organizer Ray Barry said next year is in the works, and I will be there. In addition to this festival, Barry Entertainment (Facebook) organizes other events in and around the Buffalo area, please go check them out.
Rusty Fisher Band
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Respected blues and roots music songwriter and performer Joe Louis Walker from the Hudson Valley of New York brought his diverse blues driven songs, incredible musicianship and warm performance skills to a packed house at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs on Sunday, April 21.
Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.com
Walker did two sets of his original contemporary blues, R&B and rock, infused with a hint of gospel, from “Run Me Down”, which he opened the show with, to “Too Drunk To Drive Drunk”, which he did as an encore and said emanated from when he and a friend were in a bar and the friend looked at someone and said “that guy’s too drunk to drive drunk”, delivering a truly energetic show throughout to a highly appreciative crowd.
He interspersed his performance with crowd-pleasing stories about what brought him to write some of the songs he performed and what they mean to him, such as “Don’t Walk Away” which he wrote for his wife, and “The Blues Comin’ On” which he wrote with Dion of Dion and the Belmonts.
At the end of his show Walker credited those he referred to as the creators of rock ‘n roll, of which he said there could not be a better mousetrap, and launched into a rock ‘n roll tribute performance that included an instrumental medley of measures from multiple chart topping rock songs that spanned decades and brought the crowd to its feet.
Weaving passages of musical tension and release into each song on his triple humbucking pickup electric guitar and with his melodic larger-than-life singing of his well-crafted lyrics, he delivered a performance that owned the room at Caffe Lena, giving the audience a clear understanding of what lies behind his being an inductee of the Blues Hall of Fame, his Grammy for Contemporary Blues for “Everyone Wants A Piece”, his multiple M. C. Handy awards, and his place as a featured performer at countless blues festivals.
Joe Louis Walker was backed up with stellar performances by Scott Milici on keys and backing vocals, Geoff Murfitt on electric bass and John Medeiros Jr on drums, all of whom also played on his Weight Of The World album.
Scot Milici, Keys & Vocals, Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.comGeoff Murfitt, Bass, Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.comJohn Medeiros Jr, Drums, Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.com
The show was part of his 2024 tour covering locations as wide-spread as New York, California and Morocco, with performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on April 26 and in the Netherlands at the Holland International Blues Festival. He will next appear in New York State at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian on June 26th. The tour is also in support of his 2023 album “Weight Of The World” which was recorded in a studio outside of Woodstock, NY.
During the show Walker, who has played at Caffe Lena before, mentioned how much he felt honored to play in the same place that legends like Bob Dylan had, and after the show he said he truly enjoyed performing in this special place with such an appreciative audience.
Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.comJoe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.comJoe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.comJoe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.comJoe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.com
Danielle Nicole and her band, Kevin Burt, Big Medicine and Soulful Femme put on a fantastic night of blues at Retro Live in Plattsburgh on Saturday, April 20.
Danielle Nicole headlined the show as part of her 2024 tour throughout the US and overseas and in support of the recent release of “The Love You Bleed”. Nicole wrote all but four of the songs on that project and co-wrote the remaining four with Brandon Miller. The album hit number one on the Billboard, iTunes and Spotify charts. Nicole performed cuts from both her new release and prior albums.
Kevin Burt photo by Carl Rubino
With a powerful voice, skillful musicianship, and dynamic stage presence she gave the packed crowd just what it came for – blues that reaches your core. Switching between two four string electric bass guitars, and together with Brandon Miller on electric guitar and vocals and Go-Go Ray drums, she blew the roof off the place, bringing the diverse crowd to enthusiastic dancing and cheering.
Grammy nominated in Contemporary Blues, inducted into the Kansas City Hall of Fame, recipient of multiple Blues Music Award, and charted on the Billboard Blues Charts, it’s no surprise that she has logged over 10 million streams on Spotify.
Nicole’s set included a stellar guitar solo by Brandon Miller alternating between fingerpicking and flatpicking on a Les Paul and a killer drum solo by Go-Go Ray, both of which found the audience screaming with excitement.
Danielle Nicole photo by Carl Rubino
Kevin Burt and his band Big Medicine preceded Nicole’s performance with an excellent set comprised of Burt’s own songs and covers of songs by Bill Withers and well-known blues artists. Burt is a triple first-place winner of the International Blues Challenge and nominee for Best Acoustic Artist at the Blues Music Awards.
With his big voice, excellent guitar skills, blues harp and warm stage presence, Burt delivered a compelling performance of blues and soul music, backed by guitarist Ken Valdez. He performed in support of his newly released album, Thank You Brother Bill, A Tribute To Bill Withers, with all but Burt’s song “Thank You Brother Bill” being performances of some of Wither’s most recognized, and not so well known, songs, which reached the top of the Billboard charts.
Danielle Nicole photo by Carl Rubino
Between songs, Burt touched the hearts of his audience when he spoke of his recent experience teaching music in a local school when it went into an active shooter lockdown, as well as his work to bring music to young people and musical instruments to youth who cannot afford them.
Soulful Femme, a duo consisting of Stevee Wellons on vocals and Cheryl Rinovato on guitar, opened the show with a captivating mixture of Rinovato’s skilled guitar playing and Wellons’ vocals.
Drawing upon influences as varied as Jimi Hendrix and Marvin Gaye the pair presented a unique sound with elements of blues, rock and soul. The pair performed in support of both their current East Coast Tour thorough May and their recent album release ATTITUDE, with all but one of the songs written by Wellons and by Rinovato.
Danielle Nicole with Brandon Miller photo by Carl Rubino
Following Danielle Nicole’s set, she and her band were joined on stage by Kevin Burt and his guitar player Ken Valdez, where the combined forces did a fantastic rendition of Bill Withers’ “Use Me Up”, sung by Burt with guitars by Valdez and Brandon Miller.
The event was put together by Plattsburgh Blues & Jazz, a non-profit organization which brings world class blues and jazz musicians to the Plattsburgh region of Northeastern New York, hosted at Retro Live, a relatively new, and up and coming music venue that is very much a regional North Country jewel.
The Blue Note Jazz Club unveiled the lineup for their much-anticipated 13th annual Blue Note Jazz Festival 2024, featuring performances by Wynton Marsalis, Andra Day, Corinne Bailey Rae, Yo La Tengo with the Sun Ra Arkestra, Stanley Clarke, the Yussef Dayes Experience, Soulive, The Soul Rebels featuring Ghostface Killah and many more.
Blue Note is unique in curating its namesake New York festival, looking beyond the confines of genre, geography, and time to craft a one-of-a-kind lineup. Pulling together history-shaping innovators, cultural icons from around the world, and contemporary artists pushing the boundaries of music today, the festival captures the social fabric of New York City like no other.
Since 1981, the Blue Note Jazz Club has been a cultural institution in NYC and one of the premiere jazz clubs in the world. It strives to preserve the history of jazz, and the club practices the foundations of jazz on a nightly basis and carries the torch for the genre in the 21st century.
The club has been frequented by celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, Colin Jost, Zoe Kravitz, and Jon Hamm and has featured musicians like Robert Glasper, Ron Carter, Pat Metheny, Ms. Lisa Fischer, Christain McBride, Keyon Harrold, Meshell Ndegeocello, and more.
Kicking off the Blue Note Jazz Festival 2024 on June 1 is Soulive at the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club in Greenwich Village. The festival spans five beloved venues across the city including Sony Hall, SummerStage in Central Park, Town Hall, Brooklyn Bowl, and performances in partnership with Jazz At Lincoln Center.
This year, Blue Note Jazz Festival is focused on spotlighting diverse global cultures in a range of venues throughout New York City, including artists from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Niger, Brazil and beyond. The lineup features iconic and legendary artists that have made a tremendous impact in music and on generations of artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Stanley Clarke, Fred Wesley and hip-hop icon Ghostface Killah. The lineup is complemented by a wave of progressive and contemporary artists ranging from Ezra Collective, the Yussef Dayes Experience and Julius Rodriguez. We’re also focused on spotlighting powerful and impactful female voices including Andra Day, Corinne Bailey Rae and Lisa Fischer to name a few.
Blue Note Director of Programming Alex Kurland.
Kurland continued, “Presenting artists who make an immense impact in music culture and inspire is a common thread of the annual Blue Note Jazz Festival. This mirrors the festival’s partnerships with impactful institutions in New York City including SummerStage in Central Park, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and The Town Hall, which enrich the festival’s depth of programming, experience, and culture.”
The Blue Note continues to grow its programming, most recently with three sold-out nights of performances by legendary artist André 3000. Upcoming shows at the Blue Note include Christian McBride, The Bad Plus, Infinity Song, BJ The Chicago Kid, and more.
Tickets and further information about The Blue Note Jazz Festival 2024 can be found here.
BLUE NOTE JAZZ FESTIVAL DATES June 1 /// Soulive /// Blue Note June 2 /// Soulive /// Blue Note June 2 /// Harlem Gospel Choir /// Blue Note Brunch June 2 /// Paula Cole /// Sony Hall June 3 /// Derrick Hodge /// Blue Note June 4 /// Derrick Hodge /// Blue Note June 5 /// Derrick Hodge /// Blue Note June 5 /// Lisa Fischer /// Sony Hall June 6 /// Soulive /// Blue Note June 7 /// Soulive /// Blue Note June 7 /// Michel Camilo /// Sony Hall June 7 /// ALJO with Hamilton de Holanda and Yamandu Cost /// Town Hall June 8 /// Soulive /// Blue Note June 8 /// The Music of The Buena Vista Social Club /// Blue Note Brunch June 9 /// Soulive /// Blue Note June 9 /// Jazz is Dead /// Sony Hall June 9 /// Harlem Gospel Choir /// Blue Note Brunch June 10 /// Brandee Younger /// Blue Note June 11 /// The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis /// Blue Note June 12 /// The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis /// Blue Note June 12 /// Yemi Alade /// Sony Hall June 13 /// The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis /// Blue Note June 14 /// Jazz at Lincoln Center presents Wynton Marsalis with The Future of Jazz Septet /// Blue Note June 14 /// Eliane Elias /// Sony Hall June 15 /// Jazz at Lincoln Center presents Wynton Marsalis with The Future of Jazz Septet /// Blue Note June 15 /// Yo La Tengo with the Sun Ra Arkestra /// Sony Hall June 15 /// Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra /// Blue Note Brunch June 16 /// Jazz at Lincoln Center presents Wynton Marsalis with The Future of Jazz Septet /// Blue Note June 16 /// Victor Wooten /// Sony Hall June 16 /// Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra /// Blue Note Brunch June 17 /// Julius Rodriguez /// Blue Note June 17 /// Haley Reinhart /// Sony Hall June 18 /// Julius Rodriguez /// Blue Note June 19 /// Julius Rodriguez /// Blue Note June 19 /// Mulatu Astatke /// Sony Hall June 20 /// Julius Rodriguez /// Blue Note June 20 /// Mulatu Astatke /// Sony Hall June 21 /// Ghostface Killah with The Soul Rebels /// Blue Note June 21 /// Fred Wesley with The Brecker Brothers /// Sony Hall June 22 /// Ghostface Killah with The Soul Rebels /// Blue Note June 22 /// Antibalas with Hailu Mergia /// Sony Hall June 23 /// Ghostface Killah with The Soul Rebels /// Blue Note June 23 /// Harlem Gospel Choir /// Blue Note Brunch June 24 /// Ozomatli /// Blue Note June 25 /// Ozomatli /// Blue Note June 25 /// Stanley Clarke /// Sony Hall June 26 /// Ozomatli /// Blue Note June 26 /// Stanley Clarke /// Sony Hall June 27 /// Chief Adjuah /// Blue Note June 27 /// Gino Vannelli /// Sony Hall June 28 /// Chief Adjuah /// Blue Note June 28 /// Bombino with Etran De L’Air /// Sony Hall June 28 /// Os Mutantes /// Brooklyn Bowl June 29 /// Chief Adjuah /// Blue Note June 29 /// ProgJect with Bill Bruford /// Sony Hall June 29 /// Brass Queens /// Blue Note Brunch June 30 /// Chief Adjuah /// Blue Note June 30 /// Harlem Gospel Choir /// Blue Note Brunch July 1 /// Joey Alexander /// Blue Note
Finnish indie folk artists Tuomo & Markus have joined forces with legendary guitarist Marc Ribot on a new song titled “Waiting Room.” It marks the first offering from the duo’s upcoming album, comprised solely of cinematic instrumental pieces recorded and mixed in immersive Dolby Atmos. The newly released track, which can be heard below, also features Nordic jazz trumpet virtuoso Verneri Pohjola.
Essentially a 1970s jazz-funk track with some Afrobeat grooves also heavily in the mix, “Waiting Room” finds the Finnish musicians taking a left turn and exploring the urban jazz scenes of Lower East Side NYC. Tuomo & Markus ditch their typical vocal harmonies while Marc Ribot provides the spoken word-like vocals along with his signature guitar play. As a result, the song has strong a coffee house Jazz Night vibe to it.
“’Waiting Room’ was originally just a studio jam number, built around a bluesy, slightly Tuareg-sounding guitar riff,” Tuomo & Markus recall. “It wasn’t really until Marc entered the studio that we found a sense of purpose for the track. His amazing intensity and willingness to jump into the deep end turned it from a jam to a gem.”
Keyboard player Tuomo Prättälä’s sound is inspired by the sounds of a vintage Vox Continental organ (similar to the one used by Ethiopian music pioneer Mulatu Astatke) while Verneri Pohjola adds unorthodox live effect treatments to “Waiting Room” on trumpet. The two drummers – Juho Viljanen and Jaska Lukkarinen – lay down a steady West African groove, together with bass player Jeremias Ijäs and rhythm guitarists Markus Nordenstreng and Miikka ‘McGyver’ Paatelainen. It all combines to give the song a spirited underlying groove with heavy international flavoring that drives the tune along.
Tuomo & Markus’ most recent album, Game Changing, was released to critical acclaim in January 2023 and focused heavily on apocalyptic lyrics, psychedelia, indie folk jangles and multi-layered Laurel Canyon harmonies. Its predecessor, Dead Circles (2018) was more of an Americana affair, as the duo held court in a recording studio in Tucson AZ, backed by their friends from Calexico and Wilco. They’ve also been compared to The Grateful Dead by noted music writer David Fricke for their ability to shift from one musical genre to the next without blinking an eye, while sounding totally unique.
Is it possible to win 20 Grammys and even more “Best Jazz Guitarist” polls, to be an inductee into a variety of Halls of Fame including those of Downbeat Magazine and your home state and still be underrated? The answer is a yes if you are the ceaselessly creative and melodic Pat Metheny.
Michael Torres, Photographer
Instagram @michaelatorresphotography
Pat’s latest venture is “The Dream Box Tour,” a solo concert extravaganza unlike any before it in the world of guitaring. Pat’s nearly two and a half hour performance on April 13 at The Bardavon was not just a showcase of his massive skills as an instrumentalist, composer and interpreter of classic songs. It was a revelatory journey through new technology being brought to the fore through Pat’s perpetual experimentation and innovation of the guitar in partnership with his longtime luthier, Linda Manzer.
Throughout his career, Metheny’s signature has been his lyricism – his unchallenged capacity to weave a world of gorgeous melody and lush harmony in his original compositions and interpretation of jazz standards like “I Fall in Love Too Easily” and pop tunes like the Beatles’ “And I Love Her.” Not as resonant with fans have been his periodic excursions to jazz’s freer edges and even noise rock. These include his collaborations with Ornette Coleman on the album Song X and The Sign of Four with avant-garde guitar pioneer, Derek Bailey.
To me, Pat is a bit like Marilyn Monroe, the talented actress who doesn’t quite get the full credit she deserves because you are blinded by her simple beauty. In Pat’s case, it’s the relentless pretty he pulls out of his guitar.
At this concert, Metheny performed on at least ten different axes by my count, the majority modified in intriguing ways via their amplification, number of strings and their gauges (to enable deep bass accompaniment), his alternative tunings and electronics. The showstoppers were his 42-string guitar named Pikasso and his truly ingenious Orchestrion. The latter is a Rube Goldberg-like device through which his guitar triggers an ensemble of other acoustic and electric instruments, from various oddball percussion to a duo of xylophone-like devices and much more.
Pat began his performance with a 15-minute suite on a traditionally-tuned nylon stringed guitar. Here he interweaved bits of songs like his popular “Phase Dance” and “This Is Not America.” This was a followed with a set pulled from his duo album with bassist Charlie Haden, Beyond Missouri Sky. This medley included “Waltz for Ruth,” “Two for the Road” and his take on Ennio Morricone’s theme from the Italian cinema classic, “Cinema Paradiso (Love Theme).”
Metheny provided some shock-and-awe when he moved to one his modified 8-steel string acoustics for a super-percolated version of the strum-fest “Over on 4th Street” from his album One for the Boys. Next he unleashed his inner Derek Bailey/Eugene Chadborne when conjured a cacophony by string-bashing and pick scraping – a bit of noise rock, all done on an acoustic.
Pat also brought out his 42-string Pikasso for a long improvisation. This instrument’s sympathetic strings enable Metheny to do harp-like glissandos and pluck melodies and anchor it all with very deep bass notes courtesy of Pikasso’s 90+ gauge strings.
He then moved to his uniquely strung baritone guitar for a medley of serene covers included on popular albums like 2011’s “What’s It All About.” This guitar combines two uber-low bass strings with higher range and doubled third and fourth strings and mid-ranges on the traditionally higher tuned first and second strings. Pat says he approaches playing and composing on this guitar as if he was a one-man string quartet. This and most of Pat’s acoustic guitars are outfitted with microphones within the body to provide extra resonance and depth. During this chapter of his master class on guitar, Metheny performed gorgeous versions of “Alfie,” “Rainy Days & Mondays,” Carly Simon’s “That’s The Way I Always Heard It Should Be” and the Bossa Nova staple, “The Girl From Ipanema.”
Metheny then went to another modified guitar, a hollow body electric, for extended versions of several tunes including “Morning of the Carnival.” He first laid down deep bass and chordal loops for accompaniment before ripping into more bebop-inspired improvisations.
Pat’s hard-working guitar tech, Andre Cholmondeley, then ran about the stage to unveil the many parts of The Orchestrion, which Metheny used for a dazzling improvisational display. He would then go to his vintage 1984 synth guitar to solo over the well-tempered musical maelstrom he triggered with The Orchestrion. He would end this outstanding showcase of virtuosity with luminous versions of “Seuno con Mexico” and the Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell classic, “Wichita Lineman.”
Legendary blues guitarist Buddy Guy graced the stage of Westbury Music Fair on April 14, as part of his highly anticipated “Damn Right Farewell Tour.” The evening was a celebration of a storied career that has spanned decades, marked by electrifying performances and soulful melodies that have captivated audiences around the world.
Buddy Guy and Bobby Rush
The tour, which kicked off in February 2023, encountered a brief hiatus in September of the same year due to what was described as a “standard medical issue.” However, Guy returned stronger than ever, picking up the tour in April 2024 to the delight of fans eagerly awaiting his return.
Opening the evening was the incomparable Bobby Rush, whose set warmed up the crowd and set the stage for an unforgettable night. Rush’s performance featured an array of blues classics, including “Let Me In Your House,” “Chicken Heads,” “Garbage Man,” and “Got Me Accused,” showcasing his remarkable talent and stage presence.
Bobby Rush
As excitement mounted, Buddy Guy stepped onto the stage, met with a resounding wave of applause and cheers from the audience. Despite the specter of retirement on the horizon, Guy’s fervor and dedication to the blues remain unwavering as he delved into a setlist brimming with cherished hits and enduring classics.
From the heartfelt melody of “Damn Right I Got the Blues” to the famous guitar riff of “Hoochie Coochie Man,” Buddy Guy’s performance showcased his exceptional skill in blues guitar. Every note he played seemed to carry the same intense emotion and depth that has characterized his remarkable career.
Buddy Guy
Buddy’s band rocked the stage with skill and unity. Drummer Tom Hambridge set the beat, while guitarist Ric Hall added soulful solos. Keyboardist Dan Souvigny added depth, and bassist Orlando Wright kept the groove steady. Together, they made Buddy Guy’s performance shine, showing how well they worked together.
During the encore, the stage was graced by the presence of both Bobby Rush and Buddy Guy’s son, Greg Guy. Together, they delivered a powerful rendition of Willie Dixon’s “The Same Thing,” creating a moment that resonated with the audience and highlighted the familial bond shared between Buddy Guy and his son. The addition of Bobby Rush added an extra layer of excitement and camaraderie to the performance.
Buddy Guy and Bobby Rush
Following this captivating collaboration, the night reached its climax with Bobby Rush and Buddy Guy teaming up on stage for a soulful rendition of “Got My Mojo Working.” Their chemistry was electric as they traded licks and shared the spotlight, leaving the audience energized and wanting more.
At Westbury Music Fair, Buddy Guy showed why he’s seen as one of the best guitarists ever. Every chord and lyric reminded everyone why he’s a legend, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who saw him play.
Setlist: Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues, Hoochie Coochie Man/She’s Nineteen Years Old, I Just Want to Make Love to You, Rock Me Baby, Fever, Five Long Years, Love Her With a Feeling, Feels Like Rain, Sunshine of Your Love, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Boom Boom, Down the Road, How Blue Can You Get, The Same Thing, Got My Mo-Jo Working, Outro Jam
Dan Gerken, a staple of the Albany music scene, has debuted his most recent project from Jericho Sailors with the single “Silver Miner.”
Known for his work as the guitarist and singer for Timbre Coup, Gerken has moved on to a new position with Jericho Sailors, contributing his skills to bass, piano, guitars, and lyrics in addition to vocals. Jericho Sailors, accompanied by drummer Dave Berger, creates a sound that is both modern and symbolic of classic Western twang with rock and blues aspects.
With the release of their first single, “Silver Miner,” on March 29, Jericho Sailors are off to a promising start. Setting the tone for an amazing album full of equally captivating material, “Silver Miner” is a blend of blues and blues rock with Western influences.
In a recent statement, Dan Gerken said, “We have a whole album of material, and I want to build up a little then release what I consider to be some of my best writing.” This feeling is reflected in the lyrics of “Silver Miner,” where listeners are struck by themes of reflection and longing:
“Last couple miles on empty, I see the setting sun and it tempts me, return to the land of the plenty, Hold your own, know your soul, come and join the many.”
The distinctive “Dark Country” vibes and boogie shuffles of Jericho Sailors takes listeners to the heart of the American West and leaves them wanting more. For that reason, Jericho Sailors is well worth a listen.
