NYS Music 2024

Category: News

  • A Look at New York Nominees for the 67th GRAMMY Awards

    The nominations for the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards have been announced and a host of New York artists are among the nominees. Today we take a look at the nominees hailing from across New York State.

    One of the most prestigious music awards in the industry, The GRAMMY Awards are held annually to recognize the best of the best in music each year, both on stage and behind the scenes. Now in its 67th year, the Recording Academy has released its nominees ahead of this year’s presentation of awards on February 2, 2025.

    To little surprise, several nominees on this year’s ballot hail from the state of New York. With some of the industry’s biggest names rooted in the state and rising stars cropping up each and every day, you can check out our list of this year’s GRAMMY nominees who call New York home below.

    A$AP Rocky

    Most recognized as A$AP Rocky, Rakin Mayers returns for his third GRAMMY nomination to date with Best Music Video for “Tailor Swif”. Born and raised in Harlem, Rocky’s career was launched within the hip hop collective ASAP Mob- hence his stage name- and has since skyrocketed into the limelight with a BET Award, two BET Hip Hop Awards, an MTVU Woodie Award, and an MTV Video Music Award Japan, among several nominations.

    The Baylor Project

    Husband and wife and musical duo Marcus and Jean Baylor are nominated for Best Jazz Performance for their track as The Baylor Project “Walk With Me, Lord (SOUND | SPIRIT)”. Based in New Jersey, the two will add this nomination to their roster of seven previous nominations, including two for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

    Béla Fleck

    Béla Fleck 

    With an astounding five nominations for this year’s awards added to his collection of eight wins thus far, banjo virtuoso and New York City native Béla Fleck has an impressive list of accolades and accomplishments under his belt already. Having won in an array of categories already, Fleck’s nominations for the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards are Best Jazz Performance, Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, Best Instrumental Composition, and Best Arrangement.

    Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra 

    Nominated for the second year in a row for Best Orchestral Performance is the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra alongside conductor and fellow nominee JoAnn Falletta. Founded in 1935, the Orchestra has presented live symphonic music and other adjacent events to the folks of Buffalo and beyond for nearly a century now. With more than 120 classical, rock, pop, kids and youth concerts each year, this nomination marks another major recognition for the already GRAMMY Award-winning Philharmonic.

    Cardi B

    Born in Manhattan, Cardi B- or Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar- is up for Best Rap Performance with her track “Enough (Miami)”. Cardi was raised in the South Bronx but spent much of her time in her grandmother’s home in Washington Heights, the region she accredits her accent to. She also attended Renaissance High School for Musical Theater & Technology, a vocational high school on the Herbert H. Lehman High School campus.

    Catherine Russell

    Catherine Russell

    Native New Yorker and graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts Catherine Russell is in the running for Best Jazz Vocal Album for My Ideal with Sean Mason. Born into musical royalty, Russell’s father Luis Russell was a lifelong pianist, composer, bandleader, and musical director for Louis Armstrong, and her mother Carline Ray performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Sy Oliver as a pioneering vocalist, guitarist, and bassist. 

    After graduation, Russell toured and recorded alongside the likes of Carrie Smith, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, and more, with a total of over 200 appearances on various albums made thus far in her career.

    Cory Henry

    A jazz organist, pianist, gospel artist, producer, and musical prodigy, Cory Henry began his musical career at just two years old when he was introduced to the piano and the B3 organ. Performing an astonishing show at the Apollo Theater at just six years old, the Brooklyn-Born artist was first a member of the unit Snarky Puppy before launching into his solo career in 2018. Henry has been nominated for Best Roots Gospel Album for his collection Church.

    Photo: Shervin Lainez

    Daniel Nigro

    Long Island local Daniel Nigro is nominated for Producer Of The Year and Best Song Written For Visual Media, and if you’re a fan of today’s pop princesses it’s likely you have Nigro to thank. With credits in Olivia Rodrigo’s “girl i’ve always been”, “so american”, “stranger”, and “Can’t Catch Me Now” as featured in the Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes soundtrack, as well as the entirety of breakout star and fellow GRAMMY nominee Chappell Roan’s debut album The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, Nigro’s impact on the past year’s most popular music cannot be understated.

    Raised in Massapequa Park, Daniel took piano, guitar, and voice lessons in his youth and attended Fordham University for philosophy during his college years. Nigro has accrued a total of 16 GRAMMY nominations across his career thus far in addition to winning Best Pop Vocal Album with Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour in 2021.

    Photo: Monhand Mathurin

    Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II

    Hailing from Brooklyn, Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II is up for a Producer Of The Year for his work on tracks like Usher’s “I Love U” and “One Of Them Ones”, Lucky Daye’s Algorithm and “That’s You,” “Power of Two” from Star Wars: The Acolyte featuring the voice of VIctoria Monét, and song of the year nominee “Die With A Smile” with Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.

    Elaine Martone

    Born in Rochester, raised in Long Island, and graduating from Ithaca College with a Bachelors in Music, Elaine Martone is a New Yorker through and through. With a background in the oboe, editing, and recording, Martone has been nominated for Producer Of The Year in the Classical category.

    The Harlem Gospel Travelers

    Formed with members hailing from throughout the five boroughs of New York City, The Harlem Gospel Travelers gathered originally as members of the Gospel For Teens music education program before launching their own collective rooted in their shared passion for gospel music. The group has been nominated for Best Roots Gospel Album for their album Rhapsody.

    JoAnn Falletta Conducting

    JoAnn Falletta 

    A decorated musician and conductor, JoAnn Falletta was raised in Queens and spent her college years at Mannes College of Music and Juilliard. Beginning her career as a guitar and mandolin student, Falletta began conducting the Mannes student orchestra in her freshman year despite administrative doubts concerning women in music directorship. JoAnn rose above and beyond these doubts, however, going on to Queens College for her Masters and Juilliard once again for her Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting.

    JoAnn’s nominations for Best Orchestral Performance and Best Classical Compendium this year stem from her work as conductor for fellow nominee, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

    Joe Bonamassa

    Blues rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa has been nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album with his release Blues Deluxe Vol. 2. Born in New Hartford and raised in Utica, Bonamassa began playing the guitar at just age four.

    First influenced and taught by his father, Joe would go on to be mentored and trained by American guitar legend Danny Gatton at just 11 years old, and by age 12 he was touring around western New York with his band named Smokin’ Joe Bonamassa and even opened for the likes of B.B. King. Since then, Bonamassa has released a total of fifteen solo albums, with eleven charting number one on the Billboard Blues chart. This year’s GRAMMY nomination will be Joe’s fourth.

    Photo: Danielle Neu

    Kim Gordon

    Rochester native Kim Gordon has earned nominations for both Best Alternative Music Performance and Best Alternative Music Album, for “BYE BYE” and The Collective respectively. Returning to New York after her college years to pursue the arts, Gordon discovered her love for no-wave music and the artistic freedom it offered.

    Lady Gaga

    Needing little introduction, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta- better known as Lady Gaga– is nominated for Song Of The Year for her collaboration with fellow pop superstar Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile”. Born in Manhattan and raised on the Upper West Side, Gaga famously spent her college years at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, playing gigs with her band in the Lower East Side’s club scene as she honed her skill.

    Once her solo career as the famed Lady Gaga began to take shape, she played iconic Manhattan venues such as Mercury Lounge, the Bitter End, and the Rockwood Music Hall, slowly developing a following- and the rest is history.

    Lakecia Benjamin armed with her saxaphone. Courtesy of ropeadope.com

    Lakecia Benjamin 

    Nominated for Best Jazz Performance and Best Jazz Instrumental Album is Lakecia Benjamin with Phoenix Reimagined (Live). Born and raised in New York City, Benjamin has been writing and performing music since grade school. After winning admission to the Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, Lakecia attended the New School for its renowned jazz programming.

    At The New School Benjamin studied with veterans of the genre including Billy Harper, Workman, Buster Williams, and Gary Bartz, who proved to be a key mentor in her studies and musical touch. Her deep roots in jazz and reputation for innovation landed her performance opportunities of all kinds, including a touring gig with Anita Baker.

    Marc Anthony

    The top selling salsa artist of all time, New York City native Marc Anthony has returned to the GRAMMY docket once more with a nomination in Best Tropical Latin Album for MUEVENSE. Raised in East Harlem, Anthony’s career is nothing short of admirable with over 12 million album sales recorded to date. This year’s nomination will sit on the shelf beside his eight Latin GRAMMY Awards, 29 Lo Nuestro Awards, and four GRAMMYs.

    Madison Beer

    Up for Best Dance Pop Recording is Madison Beer with “Make You Mine”. Born in Jericho, Beer saw a rise to fame after a cover she posted to YouTube was reposted by Justin Bieber. Debuting in 2013 with “Melodies”, Beer has since released two studio albums, the second Silence Between Songs earning her a nomination for Best Immersive Audio Album at the 66th GRAMMY Awards.

    Marin Alsop

    Marin Alsop is nominated for Best Orchestral Performance for her work with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and it’s little wonder why. As the first woman to win the Koussevitzky Prize for conducting, the first conductor to earn a MacArthur Fellowship, a musical director and chief conductor for several orchestras, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, Alsop has achieved quite a lot in her career thus far.

    Born in New York City and raised on the Upper West Side, Alsop attended The Masters School and studied violin at Juilliard’s Pre-College Division, eventually graduating from the school with a Bachelor of Music and Master in violin. While studying, Alsop also played in the New York Philharmonic and the New York City Ballet.

    Norah Jones 

    Awarded singer-songwriter and Manhattan-born musician Norah Jones has been nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for her release Visions. Music is practically in Jones’ blood, having been raised by her mother, the concert producer Sue Jones, and father, the Indian Bengali musician Ravi Shankar. 

    With nine GRAMMY wins already under her belt, over 50 million record sales recorded to date, and the title of Billboard’s top jazz artist of the 2000s decade, this nomination adds to her already impressive collection of accolades.

    Pete Rock

    Born in The Bronx and raised in Mount Vernon, Pete Rock is nominated for Best Rap Performance alongside Common on their track “When The Sun Shines Again” featuring Posdnuos. Having grown up in an environment of live music, Rock was influenced by his father’s part-time DJ gig and extensive record collection, often accompanying him to watch his father perform. His passion was sparked at age seven after his parents bought him a Fisher-Price record player toy.

    Post Malone performs onstage during the Global Citizen Festival.(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

    Post Malone

    Known professionally as Post Malone, Austin Richard Post is up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen and Best Country Album for F-1 Trillion. Born in Syracuse, Malone was heavily influenced by his father who had been a DJ in his youth, subsequently introducing his son to a myriad of genres including rock, country, and hip hop, all of which make appearances in his professional work.

     This year’s nomination will add to his collection of other GRAMMY nominations in addition to a whopping ten Billboard Music Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, and three American Music Awards.

    Run DMC

    The three-member hip hop group RUN DMC has been nominated for Best Music Film for their piece “Kings From Queens”. Fittingly titled, Run DMC hails from Hollis. Formed in 1983, the trio is recognized as one of the most influential hip hop acts in history for pioneering the new-school sound and ushering in what many consider to be the golden age of the genre.

    Samara Joy 

    Rising jazz star SamaraJoy is nominated for Best Jazz Performance for “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” with Sullivan Fortner and Best Jazz Vocal Album for A Joyful Holiday. A native of Castle Hill in the Bronx, Joy’s life has been entwined with music since the very beginning. Her grandparents led the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and her father Antonio McLendon has produced, composed, and arranged his own astounding original works. 

    Beginning her jazz journey during her studies at SUNY Purchase, Samara won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition which put her name on the map for those within the scene. Debuting in 2021 with a self-titled album, her career quickly took shape and her second release Linger Awhile garnered her first GRAMMY win with Best Jazz Vocal Album in addition to the headline-making Best New Artist.

    Shemekia Copeland

    Born in Harlem, Shemekia Copeland is up for two nominations in Best American Roots Performance for “Blame It On Eve” and Best Contemporary Blues Album for her release of the same name. The daughter of blues guitarist and singer Johnny Copeland, Shemekia began singing at an early age and made her first public performance at just ten years old at the Cotton Club on 125th street. Copeland has released 12 albums and received eight Blues Music Awards to date.

    Tony Trischka

    Born in Syracuse and raised in a household that was almost overflowing with music, Tony Trischka has been nominated for Best Bluegrass Album with his release Earl Jam. Recognized as one of the most influential banjo players of today, Trishka is credited with the inspiration of a generation’s worth of progressive bluegrass artists.

  • “Phil Lentz Presents…Vol. II” Invites You Into a World Of Jazz, Pop, And Classical Music

    With Phil Lentz Presents… Vol. II, New York City-based jazz composer and pianist Phil Lentz returns with his signature sound, crafting a genre-blending album with new emotional heights and technical finesse.

    Building on the warm reception of his 2022 debut, Lentz delivers a fresh, diverse, and uplifting listening experience that feels both timeless and unmistakably current.

    Featuring standout tracks like “Play Your Melody,” “I Remember the Early Days,” and “Bebopping Along,” the album weaves jazz, pop, folk, and classical influences into a seamless tapestry, making it an instant favorite for music lovers of all backgrounds. The album’s lush arrangements blend alto saxophones, violins, and rich vocal textures, creating a soundscape that invites listeners to lose themselves in a melodic journey filled with nostalgia, joy, and introspection.

    “This time, I wanted to step beyond the boundaries of traditional jazz,” Lentz shares. “Drawing in elements of folk and classical felt natural, adding layers of texture and depth to the compositions. Each track aims to capture those fleeting moments of peace and joy we all seek.”

    phil lentz

    Phil Lentz Presents… Vol. II is brought to life by a talented ensemble, including Dennis Harte on guitar, Wolfgang Lugomarsini on bass, Dave Young on drums, and features the soulful sounds of Red Heller and Richard Philbin on alto sax, with Bob Cohen’s violin adding a dynamic flair. Produced by Dennis Harte, recorded at Studio Mozart in New Jersey, and expertly mastered by Tom Hutten at Bionic Mastering, the album offers a finely crafted and resonant listening experience.

    Released on November 22 on CD and across all major digital platforms, Vol. II is more than just a follow-up, but rather a testament to Phil Lentz’s artistic growth and his boundless vision for contemporary jazz.

  • Jess Novak Announces Upcoming EP WOMAN

    Syracuse-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Jess Novak has announced her newest release WOMAN, slated for December.

    jess novak the joke

    With a sharp electric fiddle, impactful vocals, and an enrapturing sound, Jess Novak is a musical force to be reckoned with. Having performed on stages from California to the likes of New York City’s own The Cutting Room in solo, duo, or band formation, Novak has played over 150 shows each year and has an impressive count of twelve original album releases under her belt- and a published book to boot.

    In addition to her own musical endeavors, Novak is the founder and presenter of the F.I.R.E. Festival, an acronym for females inspire, rock, empower. Hosted for the first time in 2022, the annual F.I.R.E. festival continues to highlight and empower female artists, musicians, and business owners across the industry.

    Returning for her 13th release since debuting as an artist in 2013, Jess has announced the WOMAN EP slated for release this December. A call to action for women as well as a celebration of those who take a stand in the face of seemingly daunting odds, WOMAN will feature two original songs in addition to a surprise cover of a Taylor Swift track.

    Made in partnership with the producer and engineer behind her last EP Sonrise, Justin Spaulding, WOMAN is a promising fan to the already burning flame that is female empowerment.

    “I felt like I needed to capture the spirit of the [F.I.R.E. Festival] in a song, specifically combining the words ‘fire’ and ‘woman.’ I did in this song, but didn’t expect the timing to be so meaningful. I want to give faith and inspiration to women who are standing up for themselves and others all the time.”

      – Jess Novak

      Jess Novak has also teased a music video publication coinciding with the release of WOMAN. While no further information is available on this exciting development, you can keep up to date on all of the latest updates on WOMAN and beyond on Jess’ official website here.

    • Artpark Introduces Dave Wedekindt As New President

      Western New York based arts and cultural non-profit venue Artpark has announced the induction of their new president, Dave Wedekindt.

      Established in 1974 in collaboration between New York State Parks and the Artpark & Company nonprofit, Artpark has presented the folks of Western New York with astounding performing arts programs each summer for the past fifty years. 

      With over 150 acres to their name, Artpark hosts a myriad of creative endeavors including but not limited to those of visual artists, dance and cirque arts performers, cutting-edge theater casts, local, national, and international musicians across all genres, poets, writers, and more. 

      Artpark weaves their creative environment with that of the Niagara River and Gorge through forested trails, sculpture gardens, and outdoor recreation areas that encourage visitors to not only appreciate the creative minds around them but the earth that enables such endeavors and its significance within Western New York’s Indigenous population.

      Now in its 50th year, Artpark has announced the appointment of their newest president, Dave Wedekindt. A lifelong Western New Yorker and Amherst local, Wedekindt has worked with Artpark & Company for six years already, first as Director of Marketing & Sales and then as Vice President of Concerts & Marketing, eventually being promoted to Vice President in 2022 before stepping up as the Interim President in April of this year, just prior to the non-profits anniversary.

      Wedekindt’s career as an arts management professional spans nearly 30 years. With extensive experience in strategic planning, leadership, programming, marketing, development, finance, and event operations for other large not-for-profit organizations, his new position is promising.

      Beyond and prior to his work with Artpark & Company, Dave is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia with a BS in Business Management and subsequently an alumnus of internship programs at Rockefeller Arts Center, Chautauqua Institution, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Rockwell Hall, and Shea’s Performing Arts Center where he took on his first full-time role as Associate Director of Development in 1995. 

      From there, Wedekindt was recruited for the University At Buffalo Center for the Arts’ Associate Director of Marketing role. Growing the presence of the then only four-year-old organization, Dave was promoted to Director of Marketing in 2003 and served on a number of committees beyond his personal responsibilities across the University.

      Flaming Lips at Artpark – photo by Patrick Htoo

      Dave is also a steadfast advocate for a wide variety of arts organizations in the area, having served on the Board of Directors of MusicalFare Theatre in Amherst since 2017 in addition to chairing the Marketing Committee and serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Arts Services Inc. in Buffalo from 2017-2023. Throughout his career, Wedekindt has volunteered his time and expertise across several other committees, professional panels, and more.

      In his new position, Dave is pointing the organization forwards towards its Power 2030 strategic plan alongside the Board and its many stakeholders to include a continued revitalization of Artpark’s grounds and venues, expansion of its programmatic season, and more.

      To learn more about Wedekindt’s initiatives as Artpark’s newly announced president and the organization at large, be sure to check out their official website here.

    • Independent Venue Bronx Music Hall Celebrates Grand Opening

      The Bronx’s newest independent live music venue and community center, Bronx Music Hall, recently celebrated its grand opening as the first venue of its kind in the Bronx in over 50 years.

      Bronx music hall

      Located at 438 East 163rd Street in Melrose is the Bronx Music Hall, a newly constructed $15.4 million facility that celebrates the history and future of the Bronx’s vibrant music scene.

      The space boasts a total of 14,000 square feet for its music hall and community cultural center made in development with the nonprofit Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation, or WHEDco for short. Bronx Music Hall aims to not only provide a space for local musicians to perform but to also allow creatives of all kinds to gather, create, and celebrate their works.

      Constructed as a part of WHEDco’s Bronx Commons mixed-use development, the Bronx Music Hall features a 250-person capacity performance theater, a grand lobby and exhibition hall, a multipurpose room and dance studio, a green room, a recording studio and post-production room, and two adjacent plazas with amphitheater-style seating for outdoor performances.

      Designed to serve an estimated 20,000 visitors annually, the center will offer live music, dance, and spoken word performances, classes in music and dance, theater workshops and productions, a youth orchestra, film screenings, art exhibitions, community showcases, and more. 

      “The opening of the Bronx Music Hall marks a new chapter in the cultural and economic renaissance of the South Bronx. This project embodies our commitment to supporting vibrant, inclusive communities through strategic investments in the arts and creative industries. This new venue will not only celebrate the borough’s incredible musical legacy but also serve as a catalyst for job creation, tourism, and long-term economic growth.”

      – Hope Knight, Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner

      Beyond displaying the skills of the Bronx, the BMH plans to foster the next generation of creatives within the borough through educational and cultural partnerships to inspire community engagement and the pursuing of careers in the arts. 

      In addition to the facility’s new endeavors, it now provides WHEDco’s Bronx Music Heritage Center a bigger and better space to call home. Founded in 2010, the BMHC preserves and promotes the rich musical history of the Bronx while cultivating and reviving the borough’s music scene today. 

      “Over decades the Bronx produced more popular music than any place in our country for the simple reason that different cultural traditions lived alongside one another… The Bronx Music Hall will spotlight the sounds of new Americans from around the globe, as well as Bronx born artists like Prince Royce, Romeo Santos, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, French Montana, and Samara Joy.”

      – Nancy Biberman, Founder of WHEDco and President Emerita

      BMHC highlights the evolution of the Bronx as a people and how periods of successive migration introduced distinctive sounds to one another, evolving into entirely new genres such as hip-hop, which saw its inception in the 1970s within the borough’s communities.

      With their new space and resources at hand, the BMHC will continue the Bronx’s history of creative innovation with free cultural programs and free or low-cost music and dance classes for folks of all ages.

      This giant step forwards in the Bronx creative community was made possible by a series of grants awarded to the WHEDco from the New York City Regional Economic Development Council, I LOVE NY’s Market New York program, and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

      To learn more about what the Bronx Music Hall has to offer, how to visit, and events to attend, be sure to check out their official website here.

    • Amy Bloom Named Saratoga Arts New Executive Director

      Saratoga Arts Board of Directors has appointed long-time resident of Saratoga Springs Amy Bloom as the new Executive Director.

      Amy Bloom Named Saratoga Arts New Executive Director

      Founded in 1986 by and for artists and audiences, Saratoga Arts’ mission is to enrich the region by cultivating a vibrant arts community and by ensuring that the arts are accessible to all. In its 30+ years, Saratoga Arts has brought the arts to over 1,000,000 people through its programs and provided performing and visual artists opportunities to earn over $3,000,000 in art sales and performance fees. Saratoga Arts is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization that relies on the support of our members, friends and community.

      Amy Bloom is an experienced leader in strategy, operations, marketing, and fundraising. Amy has worked regionally as an Executive at Planned Parenthood, Hudson Headwaters Health Network, and Alliance for Better Health. In 2020, she and colleagues founded and grew a local primary care organization and then led it towards acquisition by a national health care company.

      For the last several years, Amy has been a management consultant solving organizational challenges and bringing about culture change in not-for-profit organizations and for-profit corporations around the country. Amy is passionate about evolving the landscape of the arts and the arts community in the Capital Region. Over the last 20 years, Amy has served as a board member for several arts and community organizations including: SaratogaArtsFest, SPAC Action Council and Saratoga Independent School.

      Saratoga Arts is the community arts center located on the corner of Congress Park and Broadway in historic downtown Saratoga Springs. Accommodating all genres of creativity, they are home to arts education for both kids and adults in multiple studio style classroom spaces, a dedicated printshop, rehearsal and music studios, a gallery and exhibition space, a black box theater for film, music, theater, special events, a gift shop and so much more. Amy Bloom brilliantly compliments the arts center’s mission to celebrate all forms of artistic expression.

      For more information on Saratoga Arts and Amy Bloom’s new role as Executive Director, click here.

    • Introducing The Queens Jazz Trail Map

      Flushing Town Hall has shared a unique and interactive Queens Jazz Trail Map, an illustration come to life that teaches the A-Z of Jazz History in Queens.

      Queens Jazz Trail flushing town hall

      A cornerstone cultural and creative hub for the people of Queens, the Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts housed within Flushing Town Hall is a thriving multi-disciplinary arts center that boasts a theater, gallery, garden, classroom, and rehearsal space. 

      In membership with the New York City Cultural Institutions Group and in affiliation with the Smithsonian, the FCCA gave Flushing Town a major renovation to accommodate their versatile programming that has brought the Queens community together for over thirty years.

      Originally written by Marc. H Miller, illustrated by Tony Millionaire, and designed by Cindy Ho, The Queens Jazz Trail was an endeavor pursued by the FCCA in the hopes of shedding light on Queens’ neglected history as a key part of the jazz scene from the 1920s onwards. 

      The map received a major update in 2023 by jazz historian Ben Young and was brought into the digital world, expanding the map’s informational content tenfold. With icons that denominate musicians by their instrument type and a search function that accounts for instrument, name, or neighborhood, The Queens Jazz Trail Map is a treasure trove of information for jazz lovers and genre newcomers alike.

      Names that may grace your screen include but are not limited to Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dizzy Gillespie – all jazz greats that called the borough of Queens their home. 

      Make sure to check out the online Queens Jazz Trail Map here, and be sure to visit the Flushing Town Hall’s Gift Shop to pick up the physical version too.

      For more information on the Flushing Town Hall, Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts, and other similar and future ventures from their team, visit the official website here.

    • Swept Away – Featuring Music by The Avett Brothers – Opens on Broadway

      Swept Away, the new Broadway musical featuring the music of the beloved folk-rock band The Avett Brothers, opened on Tuesday, November 19 at the Longacre Theatre to a roaring standing ovation. The Avett Brothers joined the cast on stage for a special curtain call performance of the show’s title track. 

      swept away avett brothers
      Photo by Alyssa Greenberg

      The production incorporates songs from The Avett Brothers’ 2004 album, Mignonette, and others in their catalogue, plus one new song – “Lord Lay Your Hand on My Shoulder” – written by Seth Avett expressly for the production. The principal cast members, reprising their roles from the show’s previous sold-out and critically acclaimed runs at Berkeley Repertory in 2022 and Washington DC’s Arena Stage in 2023, include Tony Award winner John Gallagher, Jr. (Spring Awakening), Tony Award nominee Stark Sands (Kinky Boots), Adrian Blake Enscoe (Apple TV+’s Dickinson), and Wayne Duvall (1984). On Friday, November 22, The Avett Brothers will again join the Swept Away principals for a performance on NBC’s Today Show.

      The anticipated Broadway debut of Swept Away is the latest in a highlight-filled year for The Avett Brothers. In May, they released their first new album in five years, The Avett Brothers – now a Grammy nominee for Best Recording Package – followed by an extensive US tour.

      Swept Away is “a spellbinding tale” (The Washington Post) of shipwreck, salvation and brotherhood set on the high seas.

      An odyssey of “mythic proportions” (San Francisco Chronicle), Swept Away features a book by Tony Award® winner John Logan (Red, Moulin Rouge! The Musical), direction by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, American Idiot) and choreography by Tony Award nominee David Neumann (Hadestown).

      The Swept Away ensemble includes Josh Breckenridge, Hunter Brown, Matt DeAngelis, Cameron Johnson, Brandon Kalm, Rico LeBron, Michael J. Mainwaring, Orville Mendoza, Chase Peacock, Tyrone L. Robinson, David Rowen and John Sygar. Swings include John Michael Finley and Robert Pendilla.

      The Swept Away creative team includes Tony Award-winning set designer Rachel Hauck, Tony Award-winning costume designer Susan Hilferty, four-time Tony Award-winning lighting designer Kevin Adams, Tony Award-winning sound designer John Shivers, music arranger & orchestrator Chris Miller, music arranger & orchestrator/music supervisor Brian Usifer, music director Will Van Dyke, and casting director Jim Carnahan, Jillian Cimini, and Alexandre Bleau, CSA.

      Swept Away is produced on Broadway by Matthew Masten, Sean Hudock and Madison Wells Live. Wagner Johnson Productions serve as Executive Producers.

    • Caroga Lake Music Festival To Be Featured on Travel Channel

      The Caroga Arts Collective has announced that Colleen Ioele-DeCristofaro’s American Dream TV segment featuring the Caroga Lake Music Festival will air on the Travel Channel this Friday, November 22 at 7:00am EST.

      Originally part of The American Dream Network, the feature offers a look at the unique cultural experiences cultivated by the Caroga Lake Music Festival, spotlighting the vibrant arts scene, historic Sherman’s Park, and the natural beauty of the Caroga Lake region.

      caroga lake travel channel

      “Having this segment broadcast on the Travel Channel is an extraordinary opportunity to share the magic of Caroga Arts with a national audience,” said Kyle Price, Founder & Artistic Director of the Caroga Arts Collective. “We are deeply grateful to Colleen Ioele-DeCristofaro for her outstanding work and to the Travel Channel for showcasing our story.”

      Audiences nationwide can tune in live or set their DVRs to experience this special presentation celebrating music, community, and the stunning Adirondack setting—including the historic Sherman’s— that inspires the Caroga Lake Music Festival.

      Founded in 2012, Caroga Arts presents over 50 performances and community events each year, welcoming more than 150 artists from around the world to the Southern Adirondacks. Caroga Arts focuses on revitalizing the region through community outreach, partnerships with local businesses and non-profit organizations, and arts education programming for youth and adults.

    • Biography of The Band’s Richard Manuel Coming this Spring

      A biography of The Band’s Richard Manuel is slated to release this spring for the 50th anniversary of the group’s 1974 tour.

      Richard manuel

      The biography is titled, Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band (Schiffer Publishing, on sale May 28, 2025) celebrates Manuel’s immeasurable contributions to music, ensuring his soulful voice and profound artistry endure in the annals of rock. Richard Manuel sang and played piano for The Band, which originated in Toronto, Canada and Woodstock.

      The Band began as a backing group for the legendary Bob Dylan. The Band is often credited with helping to define the sound of roots rock and Americana, blending rock, country, blues, and folk into a cohesive and groundbreaking style. Their music was characterized by a raw, earthy quality that bridged the gap between traditional American folk music and modern rock.

      Richard Manuel was sweetly soulful and creatively multifaceted, leaving his mark on rock history that is still celebrated today. Through insightful analysis and interviews, his troubled yet inspired spirit is contextualized within music history. From his role in forming the Band to his iconic vocals and songwriting, Manuel’s influence resonates deeply.

      Author Stephen Lewis is a rock-and-roll archivist, collector, and storyteller. He owns and operates the Talk from the Rock Room website and podcast and has been writing about music for over 20 years, including contributing articles on Summer Jam and Little Feat for NYS Music. He delves into Manuel’s influence on the history of rock, along with discussing some of Manuel’s life as told through his forth coming book.

      The Band in London, June 1971. From left: Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson.

      For more information on the biography Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band click here.