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A Pianist’s Pursuit: This Is Maria Kaushansky
For pianist Maria Kaushansky, the piano is not just an instrument; it is a lifelong pursuit of intense passion.
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Kuddlybear Returns with Reflective Sophomore Album The Permanent Now
Recording under the name Kuddlybear, longtime Capital Region musician Joel Lilley returns with The Permanent Now,…
Karina Rykman: The Road to Webster Hall and Beyond
“I’m still floating on a cloud of disbelief that this is my life,” Karina Rykman confided recently, her voice…
Melissa Errico Brings Her “Sondheim in the City” Magic to NJPAC and…
Tony Award® nominee Melissa Errico, one of Broadway’s most magnetic performers, is bringing her acclaimed concert…
Louis Armstrong: Pioneer of Jazz
On August 4, 1901, Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans. Until the age of five, Armstrong's grandmother was his…
The Soulquarians: A Cultural Revolution in Soul and Hip-Hop
The late 1990s seemed like a revival for musical styles that had lost their prior appeal while also propelling…
Hiromi Uehara’s Sonic Odyssey: From Dazzling Virtuosity to Sheer Joy
Over more than 20 years as a recording artist, the jazz piano phenomenon Hiromi has shifted seamlessly from one…
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Sound: N.J. D.I.Y on the Rise
Mixed influence rock band Ordinary People is making waves in the Northern N.J. D.I.Y. music scene with groove,…
Billie Holiday: Improving the Improv
Eleanora Fagan was born on April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia. As a child, she started going by Billie Holiday, Billie…
Remembering Ma Rainey and the Harlem Renaissance
Born Gertrude Malissa Nix Pridgett, Rainey would go on to become one of America's most influential blues singers, a…
Syracuse’s Sibling Duo Astronaut Aardvark Attack Discusses “Monster,” Upcoming…
Syracuse-based sibling duo Matthew and Scott Smith of Astronaut Aardvark Attack’s new resonant single, “Monster,”…
Fats Waller: Composer, Pianist and Clown Prince of Jazz
On May 21, 1904, Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller was born to Adeline Locket Waller, a musician and Rev. Edward Martin…
Bessie Smith: The Empress of the Blues
On April 15, 1894, Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her parents and brother had died by the time…
Irv Lyons Jr. Releases New Album, Nominated for 2025 Native American Music Awards
Irv Lyons Jr has released his newest album Euphonius, two songs of which have been nominated for the 2025 Native…
A Look Into Utica-based J. Schnitt’s New Album and the Wonders of Society
Folk singer-songwriter J. Schnitt’s new album, To Obscurity and Beyond, Vol. 1 (protest songs, social commentary,…
The Warnings of Past Leaders: Gil Scott-Heron’s Revolution, Now Our Own
In times of revolution, those in upheaval look to the leaders of their communities for guidance and support. The…
The Harlem Renaissance: ‘Count’ing Basie’s Life and Legacy
William James "Count" Basie was born in Red Bank, New Jersey in August 1904. Both of his parents played…
Method Man: The Wu-Tang Legend Who Turned Rhymes Into a Lifetime of Hits
One of the most influential emcees of hip hop's history, Method Man, aka Clifford Smith has seen successes in…
The Harlem Renaissance: Duke Ellington
On April 29, 1899, Edward Kennedy Ellington was born in Washington D.C.. Both of his parents were musicians, and…
Cab Calloway: The Hi De Ho Man
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was born on Christmas Day, 1907 in Rochester, living on Sycamore Street. His mother was…