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Ma Rainey was quite a colorful character
Posted by rtarby | 09/05/08
She wasn’t much to look at, but Ma Rainey sounded like a million dollars. Heavyset and satchel-mouthed, she had piercing brown eyes and a voice that could melt the coldest of hearts.
Ma Rainey was born to sing the blues.
Gertrude Malissa Nix Pridgett made her debut in this world in 1886 in Columbus, Georgia. Her family performed in minstrel shows, and she first appeared onstage in 1900. She later claimed to have discovered the blues when she heard a girl in a St. Louis tent show singing a “man-done-left-me” song.
Long about 1904 she married song-and-dance man William “Pa” Rainey and from then on was known far and wide as Ma Rainey. The couple formed an act that featured blues and popular songs...
CATEGORY: Entertainment News
TAGS: irish fest,syracuse,
Lieh’s & Steigerwald’s ‘festival sausage’ titillates the taste buds
Posted by rtarby | 08/27/08
Sausage sandwiches dominate our epicurean experiences this time of year. With the New York State Fair in full swing, people are chewing plenty of Italian sausages slathered in peppers and onions duly sautéd in the meat’s flavorful grease.
Fair vendors such as Santillo’s, Paisano’s, Basilio’s, P-Z-O’s and Gianelli’s sell thousands of sausage sangwiches daily.
All those famous places serve hearty Italian meats, I’ll admit, but there’s a new sausage in town and it’s better than any of them and you won’t find it at the fair.
‘Festival sausage’
It’s Lieh’s & Steigerwald’s “festival sausage,” a slightly skinnier dog with an absolutely addicting aromatic flavor unlike anything I’ve ever tasted...
CATEGORY: Music
TAGS: state fair,hoyt,tarby,benson,brother ray, asleep at the wheel
Rock’n’roll dreams sometimes come true
Posted by rtarby | 08/22/08
A half-century ago, Old Liverpool Road glittered and gleamed. For local rock’n’rollers, it was a veritable street of dreams.
Vinal’s Club 320
Vinal’s Club 320, named after its next-door neighbor, the powerful International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 320, did boffo business at 602 Old Liverpool Road booking big-name talent supported by area acts.
Recording artists such as Frankie Avalon and The Belmonts played Club 320 in 1957, according to Ron Wray, the former deejay and long-recognized “Syracuse Music Authority.” In 1958, WNDR-AM brought The Twin Tones there along with local bands The Eldaroes (featuring Bobby Green), and the Rhythm Cadets with Beevo Singleton and Otis Smith (who later fronted Otis & the All-Night Workers)...
CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: entertainment,tarby,
Tito Allen, ‘El Elegante de la Salsa,’ sings here Sunday
Posted by rtarby | 08/14/08
Tito Allen is known worldwide as “El Elegante de la Salsa.” The Puerto Rican-born vocalist is a favorite in London, England where a critic once declared, “He has the smoothest, truest, warmest voice of the many salseros singing today.”
Allen will headline the 2008 Festival Latino Amnericano with a 9 p.m. set Sunday Aug. 17, in Clinton Square.
Born Roberto Romero, Allen started singing in 1962, relocated to New York City ten years later and hooked up with Ray Barretto’s band, singing the monster hit “Indestructible” in 1973. During the 1980s and ’90s he worked with all the superstars of salsa, including Ruben Blades and the late Tito Puente.
Some of his biggest hits are “Ahora y Siempre,” “Maldades” and “Unique.” In 1995 Allen made his first foray to the U.K...
CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: little georgie,hungarians,frisinia,soundcheck,syracuse,onondaga,radio
Blues hues
Posted by rtarby | 08/07/08
Sunny and muggy or cloudy and wet. Take your pick.
Regardless of the weather, July 12 and 13 were two solid days of hot blues in Clinton Square at the 17th annual New York State Blues Festival.
Orange and blue
Looking radiant in white and sounding just as splendid, North Carolina blues belter Toni Lynn Washington jump-started the Budweiser Main Stage on Saturday under sunny skies. She acknowledged America’s present struggles overseas by dedicating a song to those serving in the armed forces, “Every Day will be Like a Holiday.”
San Francisco-based harmonica-blower John Nemeth was raised way up in Idaho, where he became familiar with Syracuse by watching SU basketball games on TV...
CATEGORY: General Society
Creativity explodes downtown during ArtsWeek
Posted by rtarby | 07/24/08
Downtown’s gonna be bustlin’ this weekend!
There’s the Arts & Crafts Festival in Columbus Circle and the Jazz in the Square festival in Clinton and Hanover squares. Put the two together under the umbrella of ArtsWeek (thank you, Fly Syracuse!), and you have the best of both worlds – visual arts and music.
Jazz in the Square suggestions
The jazz ignites tonight, Thursday July 24, as Nancy Kelly and Ronnie Leigh vocalize with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra in Clinton Square. The SSO’s 8 p.m. performance follows a 5 p.m. set by Seaflight, a forward-looking jazz foursome featuring Horseheads saxophone prodigy Chad Lefkowitz-Brown performing compositions by Syracuse guitarist Jason Kessler...
CATEGORY: General Society
East Side West Side, all around the town !
Posted by rtarby | 07/18/08
But remember, West Siders here in the Salt City call it the West End.
Nevertheless, POMCO Presents Jazz in the City 2008 returns to the neighborhoods of Syracuse, on the South Side, West End, North Side and East Side with four free Thursday-evening concerts in July and August.
Since 2001, this inner-city series has featured the finest in local talent, area students, and impressive guest artists. Jazz in the City is a joint presentation of the City of Syracuse and the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation.
BlackLites July 31
The music begins from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday July 31 with a South Side Neighborhood Concert at Dunk & Bright, 2648 S. Salina St. The BlackLites will play an R&B tribute to their late keyboardist, Donald Ransom, while Buffalo saxophonist will show off what he learned from his work with Najee.
Jazz in the City moves to the West End on Aug. 7, with a 7 p.m. Latin Dance Party, at Skiddy Park, at the corner of Oswego and Otisco streets. Music will be performed by La Familia de La Salsa Latin All-Stars, La Rumba Cubana Afro-Cuban Drum Ensemble and by trumpeter Eudy Fernandez’ Latin Jazz Quintet.
I’ve caught Fernandez sitting in with groups such as the John Rohde Trio and the Salt City Jazz Collective, and the man has chops to spare.
Monaco & Marshak
On Aug. 14, Jazz in the City moves to the North Side where Hammond B-3 organist Tony Monaco will be featured at a Little Italy Block Party on North Salina Street, along with saxophonist Joe Carello and trumpeter Jeff Stockham from the CNY Jazz Orchestra.
The series climaxes Aug. 21 on the West Side when Syracuse sax sensation Evan Knight blows up a storm in the POMCO parking lot across from Cummings Field. That night’s headliner is versatile Manhattan-based guitarist Mike Marshak.
All Jazz in the City shows are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Patrons should bring lawn chairs and umbrellas. Nearby establishments will set up sidewalk dining for the events. No coolers or pets will be allowed, and the organizers will serve no alcohol.
For information, call 479-JAZZ or visit cnyjazz.org.
Harbor gets Bomb-ed
Three rock bands – The Reissues, Kane and Dead Rose – get the crowd boppin’ at the Inner Harbor Block Party tonight at 6:30 p.m. Thursday July 17.
Next Thursday, July 24, the triple bill includes Brand New Joe, The Bomb and Under the Gun. The music rings out rain or shine.
Admission is free, but concertgoers ages 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult; 475-2500.
Foxy Boxing
For a left hook like no other, check out the Foxy Boxing show set at The Alpine, on the night of Wednesday July 23. One of the oldest-running topless bars in Syracuse, The Alpine is located on the North Side, at 401 Butternut St.; 475-8582.
Purcey’s an IL All-Star
Syracuse Chiefs left-hander David Purcey was the only player on the hometown ballclub deemed worthy enough to play on the International League All-Star team this week.
The good news is that Purcey had the honor of starting the Triple-A All-Star Game July 16 pitching for the IL against the Pacific Coast League’s best hitters in Louisville, Ky.
Starting for the PCL was another southpaw, Willie Collazo, who throws for the New Orleans Zephyrs.
If size counts, Purcey should’ve had an advantage. He’s 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 235, while Collazo is 5 feet 9 and 170.
Chiefs manager Doug Davis was one of two coaches assisting IL manager Dave Miley of Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees.
Leads league in Ks
Purcey’s 2008 record is 7-6 with a 2.76 ERA at the break, and he leads the league with 114 strikeouts in 111 innings. He’s fourth in ERA, but the three hurlers ahead of him -- Charlie Morton of Richmond, Charlie Zink of Pawtucket and his Syracuse teammate John Parrish -- were not available for Tuesday’s game in Kentucky.
A first-round pick in 2004 by the Blue Jays (16th overall), the 26-year-old Purcey made his big-league debut earlier this year and is enjoying an excellent comeback this year after missing most of 2007 following surgery to remove cysts in his shoulder and forearm.
Purcey is the only member of the Chiefs on the IL All-Star team. He hails from St. Charles, Ill. and attended college at Oklahoma.
Bulls at ABS this week
Since John Parrish now pitches for the Toronto Blue Jays, the Chiefs are banking on Purcey’s healthy left wing to keep them airborne. Midway through the IL season, the Chiefs (50-46) hope to make a run at the post-season.
The Chiefs plan to corral the Durham Bulls at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday July 17-19, and at 2 p.m. Sunday July 20, at Alliance Bank Stadium, at One Tex Simone Drive, off First North Street and East Hiawatha Boulevard.
Key Chiefs include Purcey, catcher Curtis Thigpen, infielders Russ Adams, Pedro Lopez and Hector Luna and outfielder Wayne Lydon, one of the league’s most effective lead-off hitters and base-stealers.
Ticket prices range between $4 and $9, and parking costs $3; 474-7833.
A symphonic ‘hoedown’
Clog dancers are all invited to Armory Square this Saturday when the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra presents an “Uptown Hoedown” at 8 p.m. July 19, as part of Armory Square’s Candlelight Series. The free concert will be staged at South Franklin and West Jefferson streets, in front of The MOST, and the music will range from light classic to big-band medleys.
The program includes Bernstein’s “Candide Overture,” Williams’ “Olympic Fanfare & Theme,” Copland’s “Hoedown from Rodeo,” and Berlioz’s “Roman Carnival Overture,” among other lively scores. Three Calvin Custer arrangements will also be performed: the National Anthem, “Salute to the Big Apple” and “Ellington Medley.” Selections by Mozart, Bizet and Holst will round out the two-hour performance.
During intermission, an animated film will be screened by the Syracuse International Film Festival.
Opening Saturday night’s concert will be a trio of rising stars – trumpeter Nick Frenay, trombonist Andrew Friedrichs and bassist Jared Mulcahy – who will lead
off at 6:30 p.m. with a jazz program.
The outdoor concerts are free; in case of rain, the concert will move to the Mulroy Civic Center, 401 Montgomery St.; 461-4601.
Bands Against Bombs
“Bands Against Bombs” will benefit the Syracuse Peace Council continuing efforts to agitate and organize against the burgeoning U.S. war machine. Five local music acts will perform from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday July 20, at the Dewittshire Tavern, 3010 Erie Blvd. East. The performers are Colleen Kattau, Ashley Cox, CD-R, Miss E and Lisa and Leo, performing a variety of rock, blues, soul, folk and originals.
Admission costs $5-$20 on a sliding scale, and food will be available for purchase from Sparkytown; 472-5478; peacecouncil.net.
Bear Cats on gazebo July 21
Dick Ames’ Bear Cat Jass Band will play a free concert of traditional jazz from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, July 21, at the gazebo in Fayetteville’s town center. The octet specializes in material by King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.
The Bear Cats include Ames on cornet, Jeff Stockham on trumpet and valve trombone, Bill Quick on drums, Jerry Exline on keyboards and tuba and Drew Frech on banjo. And you’ll never forget the dual bass saxophone parts played by the versatile reedmen Tom McKay and Carl Borek.
A standing-room-only crowd turned out for the Cats’ last outing in March at the Canastota Library, so arrive early in order to set up you lawn chair in a good spot; 637-6398.
The Doctor’s duo
Normally billed as Dr. Killdean, guitarist Chuck Dean will front the Chuck Dean Duo when the Hanover Square Happy Hour Concert Series continues its 2008 season from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday July 22 – where else? – at historic Hanover Square. The Tuesday evening performances, which go on rain or shine, are free; 422-4040.
Dean and his band, the Interns of Soul, wowed the Blues Fest crowd last Sunday with his renditions of ZZ Top tunes and standards such as “The Thrill is Gone” by B.B. King. Wearing a grey Confederate soldier’s cap and a Jim Beam T-shirt, Dean made liberal use of the whammy bar as he played his distinctive left-handed guitar style, ably backed by bassist Mike Schoeffter and drummer Dave Olson.
El Sabor déjà vu
Since it has been six months since the last Mark Nanni, Josh Dekaney, Kevin Dorsey gig, it’s about time for another!
“We started this project about a year and half ago because we just have so much fun playing together,” said Dorsey, the Syracuse Area Music Award-winning bassist. “But because of our schedules, it’s almost impossible to work on a regular basis.”
The NDD combo is booked from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday July 23, at the Syracuse Suds Factory, 320 S. Clinton St., in Armory Square, downtown, and they’ve invited a special friend.
For their Suds show they’ve added vibraphonist Dave DeSiro to the festivities. DeSiro was the bandleader of El Sabor in the early part of the millenium.
“Mark and I were fortunate enough to be members of that group and had a lot of great times playing music at The Mission and Awful Al’s,” Dorsey recalled. “So... what does this mean? We will be reprising many staples of the El Sabor book including music from Buena Vista Social Club. People might even end up dancing at this gig. Stranger things have happened.”
CATEGORY: Entertainment News
TAGS: John Rohde,La Rumba Cubana Afro-Cuban Drum Ensemble,BlackLites,Salt City Jazz Collective,POMCO,CNY Jazz Arts Foundation
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Downtown After DarkDowntown After Dark is award winning journalist Russ Tarby's weekly take on the best and brightest of happenings inside and outside of Downtown Syracuse. Each week he adds best bets too.
Bio:
Central New York journalist Russ Tarby has been writing about entertainment, crime, sports and politics since the 1970s. His reviews and feature stories have appeared in newspapers such as the Village Voice, the Dallas Observer, the Auburn Citizen and the Syracuse Post-Standard.
For 12 years, he worked as music and books editor for the Syracuse New Times and while there he won several Syracuse Press Club awards including a Best Feature Story award for 'The Sweet Man,' his 1998 profile of 95-year-old jazz trombonist Spiegle Willcox.
In 2000, he was named music writer of the year for weeklies with a circulation of less than 55,000 by the international Association of Alternative Newsweeklies.
Tarby was a member of the steering committees which founded the Syracuse Area Music Awards(Sammys) and the Syracuse Walk of Fame.
He has been a member of the Jazz Appreciation Society of Syracuse's Board of Directors since 1993.
In 2007, Tarby edited "Into The Deep," a book by Dr. Andrew G. Hodges about the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway on the island of Aruba.
Tarby now works as a free-lance writer and editor. He compiles two weekly columns, Downtown After Dark for the Syracuse City Eagle and Livin’ in Liverpool for The Review, both published by Eagle Newspapers.
He can be reached at 457-1517, or via e-mail at russtarby@netscape.net.
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