News stories tagged with "jazz"

(01/19/12) The Canadian play, 2 Pianos, 4 Hands, has played on five continents and in more than 150 cities since it first opened 15 years ago. Its success worldwide is due to its universal themes of dreams and discipline.

The set consists of two grand pianos, and the cast is just two actors. It's a simple show, ostensibly about piano lessons, that's moving, profound and lots of fun. It was written and first performed by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt, both brilliant actors and pianists. They're back on stage at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa this month for the farewell tour.

2 Pianos, 4 Hands continues through Saturday, January 28th at the National Arts Centre's English Theatre. NCPR's resident theater critic Connie Meng and Todd Moe share a review of the show.

(08/03/11) Three master guitarists from Potsdam: Paul Meyers, Danny Gotham and Richard Stephan, will be getting together for the first time as a trio tomorrow night at the Norwood Village Green Concert Series. There will be plenty of jazz standards, some original tunes and a few surprises. Joel Hurd has a preview.

(06/23/11) The Kingston Jazz Festival takes place today through Saturday with five headlining performances and other jazz activities around the city. Recently Joel Hurd spoke with Brian McCurdy, the cultural director for the City of Kingston, Ontario, to find out more.

(05/31/11) The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival kicks off this Friday at various venues around Burlington, and this year features more music than ever before. Joel Hurd spoke with the festival's Managing Director Brian Mital.

(04/15/11) It's Friday morning, and the Canton/Potsdam band Crescent Street Jam was live in the studio for their brand of jazz and blues. Jim Akins, Martin Heintzelman, Stephen Bird, David Barnes, and Victor Caamano join Todd Moe during The Eight O'Clock Hour for some fresh takes on music from the '50s and '60s.

(03/23/11) A jazz legend who has played professionally for over 65 years will be playing a special concert in Potsdam Thursday night. Joel Hurd has a preview.

(03/23/11) The Reese Project is an unlikely pairing of Jazz flute and Classical cello. Laurie and Tom Reese reside in the heart of Pennsylvania's Amish country. She is classically trained cellist and he is a lifelong jazz artist. They'll be in Saranac Lake this weekend to perform at Saranac Village at Will Rogers with their jazz trio. The concert is titled "Bach, Bolling and Bop". Todd Moe and Barb Heller have this preview.

(03/09/11) A world-renowned jazz pianist with a strong North Country connection returns this weekend to give workshops in Keene, Canton and Potsdam as well as three live performances. Joel Hurd has a preview.

(02/04/11) A fast-rising band with Vermont roots that won the 2009 Boston Music Award for "Best Live Act" will be making a stop in Saranac Lake Saturday night to help celebrate this year's winter carnival. Joel Hurd has this profile of Rubblebucket.

(12/09/10) SUNY Potsdam will bestow an honorary degree on jazz legend Wynton Marsalis this week. He thought it would be nice to have some company at the event, so Marsalis invited five jazz students from the Crane School of Music to play in New York City on Friday at the gathering.

The students and professor Bret Zvacek, director of Crane's Jazz Studies program, will perform as part of a ceremony to award an honorary Doctorate of Music to Marsalis. They hope to play at least one song with the internationally known trumpet player. Todd Moe has more.