Michael Mwenso conducts the Shakes with every bone in his body. He’s like a human metronome or a man-sized baton, pouring himself out on the stage in an unrelenting display of positivity. It’s an eclectic collision of jazz and world beat affirmation. Born in Sierra Leone and raised in London, Mwenso packs visceral energy and […]
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PSYCHEDELIC ROCK | The Mushroom Cloud
Get down and dirty to the funky rock variations of Connecticut-based quartet The Mushroom Cloud. Featuring guitarist-keyboardist Paul Harris, guitarist Matt Cuddy, bassist Ryan Berry, and drummer Russ Harris, the band has been sharing its mostly instrumental jam sessions with audiences since 2011. The Mushroom Cloud mixes rock, funk, electronica, and psychedelia into a danceable […]
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Publick Musick explores Dido myth in season-opening concert
Dido, Queen of Carthage, is one of the most memorable women in ancient lore. Seduced and jilted by the Trojan War hero Aeneas, Dido took her own life rather spectacularly, building her own funeral pyre and stabbing herself as she lay on it. But Dido if was only a temporary inspiration to Aeneas, she proved to be a much more lasting inspiration for composers of the Baroque era, as Publick Musick’s October 27 concert demonstrates.
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Album review: ‘For the Record’
Jack West ‘For the Record’ Self-released jackwestlive.com Local fourteen-year-old prodigy Jack West collaborated with famed producer Barrett Jones at Laundry Room Studio in Seattle for his debut studio album, "For the Record," released back in August. The eight-song album is an homage to old-school vinyl records, while West’s lyrics reflect the simultaneous feeling of jumping […]
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Album review: ’64’
Vanishing Sun ’64’ Self-released vanishingsun.com Local jazz fusion sensation Vanishing Sun is about to release its third studio album, "64." Originally formed as an instrumental collective in 2016, Vanishing Sun now boasts six members, including its powerhouse vocalist Zahyia. "64" combines jazz, pop, electronica, and hip-hop, bringing the heat and attitude with an emphasis on […]
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The F Word: Our Lady of the Blessed Three Heads
In the latest edition of The F Word, CITY Music Writer Frank De Blase shares his thoughts on performances by SuicideGirls Blackheart Burlesque and Amy Helm.
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Album review: ‘Dream Float EP Vol. 1’
Dream Float ‘Dream Float EP Vol. 1’ Self-released dreamfloat.bandcamp.com Rochester piano trio Dream Float performs with little to no written material, allowing compositions to flow from improvisations focused around a theme. Drummer Chris Palace and keyboardist Thomas Mariano originally formed the group in 2018, adding bassist Jordan Rabinowitz later that year. In September, the instrumental […]
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Album review: ‘Always There’
Full Body ‘Always There’ Five Kill Records fullbody.bandcamp.com After four years together and a recent personnel change, local quartet Full Body is about to release its third studio album. Recorded mostly at Headroom Studios in Philadelphia, "Always There" delivers a sludgy mix of hardcore, grunge, slowcore, and shoegaze. Lead singer Dylan Vaisey’s vocals cut through […]
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JAZZ | Nabaté Isles with Eastman Jazz Lab Band
[ UPDATED AND REVISED 10/23/19 ] On his debut album, “Eclectic Excursions,” Grammy-winning trumpet player Nabaté Isles plays tunes ranging from smooth jazz to hard bop, with a detour to funk. Since graduating from the Eastman School of Music, Isles has played with Christian McBride, Jill Scott, Dianne Reeves, and many others. When he joins […]
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ROCK | Screaming Females
Beneath her shaggy ‘do and proto-Amish duds, Screaming Females frontwoman Marissa Paternoster positively guts her guitar in a pure rock ‘n’ roll spectacle. It isn’t so much a scream as a desperate, vibrato-drenched, and snotty howl from her pipes. The New Brunswick trio has seven albums in its short history, including its most recent, 2018’s […]
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Meredith Monk visits U of R for artist residency
Meredith Monk is a living legend in the world of contemporary classical music. Monk will bring her Vocal Ensemble to the University of Rochester for a residency entitled “Dancing Voice/Singing Body” from Sunday, October 20 through Wednesday, October 23.
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JAZZ | Thomas Heberer’s X Marks the Spot
Fast-rising trumpeter Thomas Heberer has worked with a “who’s who” of jazz luminaries, including Steve Lacy, Dave Douglas and Oliver Lake. Born in Germany in 1965, Heberer began playing at age 11. His wide-ranging activities include a long-time stint with the ICP Orchestra and composing music for Pina Bausch’s dance company. In his own quartet, […]
