Discovering a new angle of an old friend

When my dear wife Karen and I settled in to eat bodadcious barbecue Sunday night before Castle Creek took the stage at Upstairs at Upstairs at the Dinosaur, two friendly faces asked if two chairs either side of us were taken. Peter Allen and his wonderful wife Sherry joined us. We’ve been friends through three…

A rocking party to celebrate a special album

Many of you took the time to comment about my Friday review of Castle Creek’s new recording “The Only Life,” so I thought you might like to share the vibe of the duo’s Sunday night CD release party at Syracuse’s cool room Upstairs at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. I had my iPhone 6 warmed up and…

New rooms, familiar players, cool release … and I still dig the Syracuse sound

Back when I covered the Central New York music scene for the big daily, I always had it in the back of my mind somewhere that these voices, these talents, these people I was hearing, seeing, watching, following, talking with, tracking, well, they were as good as the folks other people doing this job in…

I can hear music: An afternoon with the Heath Brothers

Jimmy Heath said he’d love to meet me. Albert “Tootie” Heath said I should check in to say hello. But when you talk to great musicians on the phone — legends of jazz, this time — it’s always a judgment call as to whether somebody’s merely being polite as an interview is winding down. This…

Fabulous Ripcords, Gunrunners, Joanne Shenandoah up for Native American Music Awards

No doubt, Fabulous Ripcords can rip with the blues. I’ve been appreciating these guys’ talent for years, since my time covering the Syracuse scene for the big daily. I remember walking around the outdoor festivals, spying them on an outdoor stage, and stopping for a song. Two. Three. Half the day. Well, that’s a bit…

For Jimmy and Tootie Heath, the brotherly love of music started in Philadelphia

In 1975, three siblings who grew up in Philadephia thought they’d pool their vast talents in jazz as the Heath Brothers. The eldest, Percy Heath, played double bass. Middle man Jimmy Heath was a star of alto sax. Kid brother Albert “Tootie” was the drummer. They’d been in the bands of Dizzie Gillespie and John…

Carlos Santana soars, with no obstructions

It had been while since my dear wife Karen and I had gone to a concert in the Turning Stone Resort and Casino Event Center, but when I heard the word that Carlos Santana was bringing his guitar to the 5,000-seat room just 30 miles east of Syracuse, I knew that would make one heckuva…

Mick Fury, Seth Faergolzia back for Syracuse shows

When I posted the link to last Friday’s piece about Jason Teska’s return from Nashville to play a homecoming show for his Syracuse area fans, friends and family on my Facebook page a week ago, Mick Fury was quick to comment. Why he’d just run into Jason in a Nashville bar, Mick told the world…

Mary Fahl sounds great with Syracuse’s backing

Mary Fahl sounds great playing with musicians from Syracuse. Mark Doyle told me so this spring, when we were talking about his “Guitar Noir” performances coming up at the Auburn Public Theater and the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest. One of the important musical elements in the veteran Syracuse musician, band leader, arranger and producer’s life…

A trip home from Nashville feels right for Jason Teska

Back in the day, Jason Teska was one of the hardest working guys in the Central New York music scene. The guitarist and singer for country-rockers The Back Alley Boys was always putting in the effort to be the best he could be. I admired, respected and liked him a lot in those years when…