Three-time Syracuse Area Music Award-winning vocalist Hanna Richardson, a Westcott Nation habitué who has played concerts in the U.S. and the U.K., has formed a new quartet for a gig outside the World Reclamation Art Project (WRAP) building at Nottingham Road and East Colvin Street.

She’ll perform in front of that former gas station from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 3.
Because Hanna’s husband, Phil Flanigan, is now playing bass in Switzerland with Allan and Warren Vaché Jr., the singer has hired Ithaca’s Pete Chwazik to hold down the bottom. Her formidable foursome also features keyboardist Andrew Carroll and drummer Josh Dekaney...

CATEGORY: General Entertainment

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Teen trumpeter to play Monterey with Maceo and McBride
Syracuse trumpeter Nick Frenay will perform alongside Maceo Parker and Christian McBride at the 2008 Monterey Jazz Festival in California.
A 16-year-old junior at Manlius Pebble Hill High School, Frenay has won a chair in the brass section of the 2008 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the Monterey Festival’s renowned high-school all-star big band. This is the second year in a row that Frenay was chosen for the orchestra.
In February, Frenay performed in Los Angeles with the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensembles, also for the second year in a row.
Locally, he occasionally leads his own quartet as he did last summer, opening for the Mario DeSantis Orchestra at an Armory Square Candlelight Concert...

CATEGORY: General Entertainment

TAGS: Frenay,Blue Lightning,Bertini

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Silent Fury’s Saturday night morphs into ‘Sunday Stilettos’
More than 70 rock fans filled the cozy basement bistro known as Funk N’ Waffles in Crouse Alley last Saturday night. While paninis sizzled on the waffle grills, Silent Fury sizzled on stage showcasing the songs on its new disc, “Sunday Stilettos.”
The sex-obsessed power trio ably fronted by singer-guitarist Mick Fury is propelled by the thunderous rhythm section of drummer José Varona and bassist Joe Santorelli.

Mainstream appeal
While the amps may be turned up to 10, the band wisely tempers its fury with silence. The resulting music remains heavy while boasting a pop sensibility that could easily win mainstream appeal. Think White Stripes meet Nickelback...

CATEGORY: General Society

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Ithaca musician London McDaniels is a man of many talents.
He teaches guitar and performs across upstate New York as well as in Manhattan. He sings like an archangel and he writes music ranging from folk to rock to jazz. For several years, McDaniels directed one of Cornell University’s Jazz Lab ensembles, often in performances of his own compositions.
McDaniels has recorded with industry heavyweights such as John Medeski.
His father is the great vocalist and composer Gene McDaniels, perhaps best known for his 1961 hit “A Hundred Pounds of Clay” as well as his jazz charts such as “Compared to What?”
London grew up in Seattle and is a graduate of the Berklee School of Music...

CATEGORY: General Society

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In most major metropolises, the populace rocks out on weekends.
Here in Syracuse, when the snow finally stops at last, we get down Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Friday and Saturday nights are almost afterthoughts. Of course, you’ll be hangin’ at your favorite club diggin’ the sounds of your favorite live musicians.
So give yourselves credit, CNYers, you’ve got dancing stamina. You know how to pace yourselves. You’re robust and resilient. You go for it and go for it all!
Here’s a bonus. You can throw away your PDA. Your summer is already planned...

CATEGORY: General Society

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