If I could spend the next six weeks of winter in one spot, it would be tucked in a cozy corner of FourFiveSix (199 Richardson Street) surrounded by the eclectic decor and art, absorbing the rhythmic musical stylings of the St. Amour Jazz Collective. On Sunday evening, the collective performed at the popular neighborhood jazz bar, offering a carefree alternative to Super Bowl festivities.
The St. Amour Jazz Collective features Jim St. Amour on the vibraphone, Luke Markham on drums, and Alex Heigl on bass guitar. It’s St. Amour’s passion project: a percussionist of 35 years, he made a natural transition to the vibraphone to start composing his own works.
“As a composer, I am inspired by the drum n’ bass and neo-soul genres of music. The vibraphone is a beautiful instrument, and its range and percussive tonal characteristics really fit nicely with the harmony and melody of both styles of music,” St. Amour said. He integrated the drums and bass guitar into his compositions, thus shaping the group’s unique sound.
Markham has been a drummer for 19 years. He is well-versed in various genres and plays with a number of groups. When he plays, the drumsticks seem like extensions of his own arms. Both he and St. Amour also teach. Heigl was 15 when he started on the bass guitar. His initial genre was punk before classically training with a jazz bassist soon after. This was the groundwork for his success as an independent bassist. As a group, this trio feeds off each other’s energy, talent, and love of music in an authentic way that makes for a spirited and contemporary live performance.
The Wild Honey Pie’s Dinners at Archestratus All images: Ben Kaye/The Wild Honey Pie
Even in this day and age with Spotify and Soundcloud, even in a neighborhood like Greenpoint with its various venues and underground labels, it’s still hard to find new music that you like. What’s even harder is having an intimate experience with an up-and-coming artist without having to shell out serious cash. But Greenpoint’s own The Wild Honey Pie wants to change all that with their local dinner series.
First, The Wild Honey Pie is a local “collective of filmmakers, writers, designers, event producers and musicians curating great music.” Started by Westchester-native Eric Weiner and run out of a Brooklyn coworking space, the site hopes to help its visitors discover new music that wouldn’t find elsewhere. In addition to album reviews, buzz sessions, and columns, they hold events in an effort to bring together their music community. Their major one has been a late summer music camp in The Berkshires where guests have access to a variety of beloved summer camp activities plus musical performances from new artists, the ones you want to hear before they are cool. But they also hold smaller events around the city. Continue reading →
Greenpoint’s only outdoor/online radio station, The Lot Radio, is hosting a series of events with their neighbors the San Damiano Mission. Join them this Saturday evening for a special performance of 67Yarc.info, an interactive multimedia project by Joakim, followed by an ambient live set, befitting to the pious venue.
Brother Nick and Father Raphael with The Lot Radio DJs
The Lot Radio & Crowdspacer present: 67Yarc at The Mission Saturday, July 9th 8pm at The San Damiano Mission 21 Nassau Ave. (next to The Lot Radio) RSVP
Even before Laura and Greg took Manhattan (Ave), this indie pop duo was no stranger to the neighborhood. And it’s not just because singer Laura O’Neill is one of the people who brought us delicious artisanal ice cream and the flavors of Bali. I first heard of them when they were to play a free show at LOREN Denim, a Greenpoint gem that normally serves as a denim repair and design shop. I listened to their first record release and was pleasantly surprised by its sweet melodic tunes. Their music video for “Muscle Memory” (made by Greg) was mesmerizing. They continued to play at numerous small local businesses in the neighborhood including Academy Record Annex and we invited them to perform live at our Greenpointers Markets last year, starting with the Summer. Back then, I wrote “I have a feeling the days when we can go to a local record store to see them perform live for free are numbered.” So I’m not entirely surprised that they are nominated by Deli Magazine as one of the Best Emerging Bands of 2015.
If you love good music and are an appreciator of DIY, authentic, neighborhood talent, show some love to Laura and Greg!VOTE for them here! Continue reading →
Before, it served two purposes. You came to Sunshine Laundromat and Pinball because you either wanted to do your laundry, or you wanted to play a machine from the incredible collection of pinball. Or, of course, you wanted to hang out with the owner Peter and his awesome lab Choco.
Now, you’ll have so many more reasons. Sunshine, in case you haven’t noticed while walking past on your bleary-eyed morning stumble to Upright, has got a brand new bag. Continue reading →
(sponsored) Lost Kings and Bored Spacemen, is the fifth studio album from electronic musician and composer NAUGHT. Eric Scott, the man behind the moniker comes originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, lived in France and has permanent resident status in New Zealand, but he’ll say that he spent some of his most formative years in the area surrounding McGolrick Park, and is where he resides today. Continue reading →
Sunday is shaping up to be really special. You can check our sure-to-be-amazing Summer Market and then head over to Glasslands to see Melaena Cadiz perform for the release show of her great new album Deep Below Heaven. Continue reading →
Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, Hand Job Academy is vivacious trio of MC’s that came together for one common cause: to fuck shit up. Their Kicktarter campaign to create a music video for their song “Lena Dunham” was successfully funded this past weekend. I recently had a chance to chop it up with them on a rooftop in Greenpoint, where we discussed Hip Hop, having porn actor as fans, E-40 and touring. Continue reading →
As a follow up to our Northside Festival preview, here is a recap of some of the shows we got to catch during the past weekend long festival. Continue reading →
There are two releases by Greenpoint residents coming out on Tuesday June 10th that I want to make sure are on your radar. One is eyelids, an EP by Wharfer, a project of Kyle Wall. He’ll be playing a release show at Troost on Sunday. The other is by All Sensory Void, a project of Gold Eric. It’s an album called Everywhere You Go…There You Are. Continue reading →
