Ron Netsky

The title of Harold Danko’s upcoming concert, “Solo Piano Improvisations and Contrafacts” may cause a bit of head scratching. It’s well known that Eastman professor Danko is a keyboard master who has played with Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan, and Chet Baker, so the solo piano part needs no explanation. But some may wonder, what’s a […]

Bassist extraordinaire Tony Levin is best known for his work with Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, and Stick Men. But when he takes the stage at Lovin’ Cup he’ll be reuniting with his brother Pete Levin, a formidable B3 organist who has worked with artists ranging from Jaco Pastorius to Paul Simon. The Levin Brothers will […]

Charlie Parr looks and sounds like he just walked out of a time machine or, at the very least, an early-20th-century freight car. Drawing deeply from the well of American music, Parr covers blues and roots in a manner reminiscent of Lead Belly, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Woody Guthrie. He’s equally adept at fingerpicking a 12-string […]

In recent years guitarist Joel Harrison has branched out in myriad directions, ranging from chamber jazz to Indian music. One of the most vibrant of his many ensembles is Mother Stump, a trio fusing jazz, rock, and soul with Americana. The tunes cover a broad swath from Luther Vandross to Leonard Cohen as Harrison’s guitar […]

You probably would not expect to hear Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing In The Name” played intensely on bass clarinet and marimba. Or Michael Jackson’s hit “Man In The Mirror” performed like a jazz standard. But those are just two examples of how The Rita Collective turns genres upside down. The band, inspired by a […]

EIO, or Ensemble of Irreproducible Outcomes, may seem to be a strange name for a trio, but it nicely captures the group’s mission. David D. McIntire (clarinet, ocarina, electronics), Ryan Oldham (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Brian Padavic (double bass) have vowed never to play a tune the same way twice. Their compositions tend toward the avant-garde […]

Drummer Andy Watson can power a big band like the New York Nine Nonet or drive the smaller ensembles of greats like Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano, and Tom Harrell. He’s also lent his talents in the studio, enlivening the recordings of Jim Hall, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Larry Goldings, and many more. He’ll be playing with future […]

Since graduating from the Eastman School of Music, percussionist extraordinaire Dave Mancini has supplied the beat for greats like Rosemary Clooney, Doc Severinsen, Maynard Ferguson, Tony Bennett, and many more. When he takes the stage for a special Valentine’s Day concert at Downstairs Cabaret Theatre, he’ll be joined by Andy Calabrese on keyboards; Chet Catallo, […]