by Andrew Frisicano

Nellie McKay playing piano (more by Chris La Putt)


Highline Piano Series, eight nights of piano-centric pop and jazz at Highline Ballroom, kicks off Wednesday night (8/18, tonight) with a performances by Vienna Teng & Alex Wong and songwriter Joey Ryan. Tickets are still on sale. One highlight of this year's series will be Nellie McKay on August 29th (tickets are on sale). Nellie's only other upcoming NYC performance comes October 15th as part of Broadway Melody Makers (multiple performers doing Broadway tunes) at Town Hall. Tickets are on sale.

Last year, Highline Piano series hosted jazz legends like McCoy Tyner and Cecil Taylor. This year, Tyner will play his second free outdoor show of the summer (the first was June 23rd at Central Park SummerStage) on Saturday, August 28th at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. That's the first day of the Charlie Parker Jazz Fest, which features Jason Moran and the Bandwagon, JD Allen Trio, and Revive Da Live, who'll be performing a special Charlie Parker tribute set. The next day (8/29), Jimmy Scott, Vijay Iyer, The Cookers and Catherine Russell continue the fest at Tompkins Square Park. Both shows are free and start at 3pm.

The full Highline Piano Series schedule and Nellie McKay's tour dates are posted below...

Continue reading "the Highline Piano Series, Nellie McKay dates, Jimmy Scott"

DOWNLOAD: Christopher O'Riley - True Love (Elliott Smith) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Christopher O'Riley - Us & Them (Pink Floyd) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Christopher O'Riley - Heart Shaped Box (Nirvana) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Bad Plus - Heart of Gold (Neil Young) (MP3)

Cecil Taylor & McCoy Tyner

The Highline Ballroom Piano Series, which includes shows from Christopher O'Riley, McCoy Tyner, the Bad Plus and Cecil Taylor, kicks off at the Highline Ballroom in NYC tonight (8/17) with a set from the Benevento/Russo Duo, with "prog piano electronica" opener Jeff Bujak. Tickets to that and the rest of shows in the series are still on sale.

We have four pairs of tickets to give away to every show in the series. So that's four winners who will get two tickets each to ALL ELEVEN SHOWS. Each prize is worth like a zillion dollars. Details on winning are below.

The schedule is also posted below with some updates. The previously-announced Matthew Shipp show on Tuesday, Agusut 18th has been replaced by an August 29th show with classical pianist Jeremy Denk. Other openers and lineup changes are reflected below too...

Continue reading "the Highline Piano Series kicks off --- win tix to every show"

by Andrew Frisicano

Cecil Taylor & McCoy Tyner...

Born Dec. 11, 1938, [McCoy] Tyner made his name as a member of the legendary John Coltrane Quartet in the 1960s. Since then, he has brought his distinctive playing style, and his compositions, to dozens of records on which he leads his own bands.

[What's his secret?]

Tyner says the secret is simple: Drink carrot juice.

"Well, I like carrot juice," he says. "I have a juice machine at home that helps. Carrot juice is real good for you. Carrot and celery. Don't forget celery." [NPR]

You can buy him a glass at the Highline Ballroom on Sunday, August 23rd, where he'll perform as part of the venue's Piano Series, an 11-night lineup of piano-driven acts that runs from August 17th through August 28th.

We previously reported that Tyner's Lincoln Center shows in May would be his last NYC gigs for a while, and though according to his website that's still true, Tyner will bring his Trio (bassist Gerald Cannon and drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt plus guest saxist Gary Bartz) to the Highline for one two-set night.

Another Hall-of-Fame level jazz great, Cecil Taylor, will play as part of the series too. He'll perform solo on Tuesday, August 25th (two sets also).

The series mixes those legends with a slew of younger but equally impressive acts like the The Bad Plus, Matthew Shipp, and the Benevento/Russo Duo, who are all playing the series.

Tickets to all the shows are on sale now.

The Piano Series' full schedule, which includes non-jazz pianists too, is posted below...

Continue reading "Highline Ballroom Piano Series - 11 shows @ the NYC venue"

DOWNLOAD: Diana Krall - What Are You Doing New Years Eve (MP3)

Rude Bear @ a Muggabears show (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

• Grandmaster Mele Mel, Mickey Factz, Ninjasonik, Trouble & Bass, and more @ Studio B
• The World Famous Pontani Sisters @ The Bell House
• RUDE year's eve HEARTSREVOLUTION (Live+DJ set) plus Nick Catchdubs / Bubblyfish / RUDE (DJ set) / hosted by RUDE BEAR @ Glasslands Gallery
• Surprise Me Mr Davis (members of The Slip) and The Benevento/Russo Duo (late show) @ BB King's
• Famous Friends & Palms Out Sounds Present NYE 2008! featuring Kill The Noise / AC Slater / The American Dream Team / Udachi / Bradley D & VDRK / Hosted by Chaz & Jason Pants of Palms Out Sounds @ Europa
• EVERYTHING ELSE

Mr. Brownstone played Bowery Ballroom recently. It was a very drunken affair - the kind of party that would go well with New Years. Bowery Presents thinks so too. Mr. Brownstone are playing New Years Eve at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY. They go on at 9pm (early). Tickets are on sale.

A 9pm show in Brooklyn should leave plenty of time to get to Manhattan before the late-late Les Savy Fav show begins at Bowery Ballroom. I still don't know what time they go on (2 or 3?), but it's definitely after the Patti Smith show which probably doesn't even start until 10. Tickets for Les Savy Fav go on sale Monday November 26th.

Also playing late-late (2am doors), but at Mercury Lounge: The Virgins. Tickets are on sale. That show happens after Earl Greyhound and the Big Sleep finish up.

Also happening in NYC on New Years: Dresden Dolls @ Manhattan Center, Dean & Britta @ Maxwell's, Moe @ Radio City Music Hall, Gov't Mule @ Beacon Theater, and Benevento/Russo/The Join/U-Melt @ Highline Ballroom. What else?