With a tapping foot and a slapping hand for percussion, fantastic fingerpicking mixed with slide guitar and strumming, and a voice as rough as gravel, Doug MacLeod is the ultimate one-man blues band. Over the last four decades he’s paid his dues working with greats like Big Joe Turner, Big Mama Thornton and Eddie “Cleanhead” […]
Ron Netsky
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Album review: ‘Cuerno Exotica’
Ken Wiley ‘Cuerno Exotica’ Krug Park Music kenwiley.com French horn may not be the first instrument that comes to mind when you think of jazz, but when played by Ken Wiley, it works beautifully. Wiley is a top Los Angeles studio musician who plays regularly on the soundtracks of TV shows like “Family Guy.” But […]
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Album review: ‘Connect the Dots’
The Verve Jazz Ensemble ‘Connect the Dots’ LightGroove Media verve-jazz.com When I first put on The Verve Jazz Ensemble’s “Connect the Dots,” I couldn’t help thinking it must be some generic group the famous label threw together. But during the opening tune, Lalo Shifrin’s “Bistro,” I found myself thinking, who is this great flute player? […]
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JAZZ | Pat LaBarbera
UPDATE: This concert has been postoned. Born in Warsaw, New York, tenor saxophonist Pat LaBarbera grew up in one of Upstate New York’s great jazz families, along with his brothers — drummer Joe LaBarbera and trumpeter John LaBarbera. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Pat LaBarbera toured with the bands of Louie Bellson and […]
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JAZZ | Brian Krock’s LIDDLE
After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music, multi-instrumentalist Brian Krock played in the bands of John Faddis, David Liebman, Jim McNeely, and others. When he was home, he was doubling in the pit bands of shows like “Dirty Dancing” and “The Book of Mormon.” When Krock leads his own progressive quartet, the music takes […]
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JAZZ | Mike Kaupa Quartet
Trumpeter extraordinaire Mike Kaupa has been a leading performer on the Rochester jazz scene for over two decades. A first-call player, Kaupa has lent his gorgeous tone to Ray Charles, Joe Locke, Mel Tormé, Steve Gadd, Gary Bartz and many others. When he takes the stage at The Little Theatre Café, he’ll be joined by […]
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Album review: ‘Future Memories’
Yotam Silberstein ‘Future Memories’ Jazz&People yotammusic.com Since landing in New York in 2005, Yotam Silberstein has been enlisted by top artists like The Heath Brothers, James Moody, Roy Hargrove, and many others. Rochester jazz festival attendees have heard his wonderful solos and sensitive coloration supporting Tessa Souter. On “Future Memories,” his sixth album as a […]
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Album review: ‘The Transitory Poems’
Vijay Iyer and Craig Taborn ‘The Transitory Poems’ ECM vijay-iyer.com When two fascinating people converse, a great dialogue can result. The same came be said for a musical conversation between two exceptional pianists. “The Transitory Poems” is the result of just such a dialogue between Vijay Iyer and Craig Taborn. The live piano duo performance […]
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ACOUSTIC | Preston Reed
Put a guitar in the hands of Preston Reed and get ready to be amazed. No traditional chords, strums or finger picking here — just an astounding sonic display of melody, harmony, and percussion that is as exciting to watch as it is to hear. While others (notably Stanley Jordan) have tapped their way to […]
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JAZZ | Afro-Cuban All-Stars
Ever since “Buena Vista Social Club” thrilled moviegoers two decades ago, Afro-Cuban music has enjoyed a world-wide revival. Rochester is about to get a potent shot of musical adrenaline when the Afro-Cuban All-Stars take the stage at Kodak Hall on Saturday. The band was organized by musical director Juan de Marcos González, the arranger of […]
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JAZZ | Doc Severinsen and the Sonic Era Jazz Orchestra
At 91, Doc Severinsen remains one of the top trumpet players on the planet. His long-term, Grammy-award-winning collaboration with Rochester’s own Jeff Tyzik enters a new phase with the premiere concert of the Sonic Era Jazz Orchestra. In this benefit for Jazz 90.1 WGMC-FM, Severinsen will front a powerhouse ensemble featuring Bobby Militello and John […]
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Saxophonist Billy Harper comes to Eastman
Billy Harper may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of tenor saxophonists of the last half-century, but he’s been at the center of some great jazz. Harper will be a guest artist with the Eastman Jazz Lab Band, directed by Rich Thompson, Friday night at Kilbourn Hall.
