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Posts Tagged ‘Caffe Lena’

Be Here Now: A Benefit for Roy “Poncho” Hurd @ Caffe Lena, 9/3/10

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Roy Hurd

On the night of Wednesday, July 21, the home of Adirondack singer-songwriter Roy Hurd burned to the ground. (More info.) He and his wife Amy lost everything in it – including musical instruments, recordings, artwork and his newly completed recording studio.

On Friday evening at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, friends, fans and fellow musicians will join together to raise money to help them through this troubled time.

Donating their time and talents to this benefit concert are Christopher Shaw, the Stony Creek Band, Kay Olan and Joe & Jesse Bruchac. Joe Bruchac will also serve as the emcee for the evening’s presentation.

The performance begins at 8pm on Friday. Suggested donation is $20, and all proceeds will go directly to Roy and Amy.

If you can’t make it to the show but would like to make a 100% tax-deductible donation, please make your check out to Southern Adirondack Musician’s Fund, and write “Roy Hurd” on the memo line.

Checks can be sent to:
Southern Adirondack Musician’s Fund
240 Parker Road
Corinth, NY 12822

Tags: Caffe Lena, Roy Hurd, Saratoga Springs
Posted in Be Here Now, Music | No Comments »

Five Firsts: Jeanne O’Connor of the New Standard

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Jeanne O'Connor NAME: Jeanne O’Connor
BAND AFFILIATION: Jeanne O’Connor and the New Standard; String of Pearls jazz vocal trio; Jeanne O’Connor jazz groups
INSTRUMENT: Voice

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … I think it was Joni Mitchell’s “Ladies of the Canyon,” which came out in 1970. So many gals who liked to sing back then wanted to BE Joni, myself included! After a musical life mostly devoted to jazz, I’m returning to the great songs and songwriters of my youth with my New Standard group. We’re re-interpreting Joni, Carole King, Burt Bacharach and others, and it’s such a blast.

2. THE FIRST CONCERT THAT I EVER SAW WAS … I believe it was John Sebastian at C.W. Post College on Long Island. I adored him. So cool that he’s still playing.

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Tags: Caffe Lena, Jeanne O'Connor, Saratoga Springs
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Interview: Holly & Evan @ Caffe Lena, 8/25/10

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Holly And Evan

Niskayuna singer-songwriter Holly Taormina and Amsterdam singer-songwriter-bassist Evan Conway – known simply as Holly & Evan – have been presenting their mix of traditional and original blues-based acoustic songs and paying their dues at whatever open-mic they can get to, set up and perform at.

“We’ve played all around the area at places like TJ’s Flightline Pub, the Daily Grind, the Judge’s Inn, the Moon and River Cafe, the Bread and Jam Café and at Caffé Lena’s open mics,” explains Holly. “These venues have all been incredibly receptive to us, and we’ve managed to book shows at all of them based on the quality our performances at their open mics.

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Tags: Andrzej Pilarczyk, Caffe Lena, Holly & Evan, Saratoga Springs
Posted in Music | 2 Comments »

Five Firsts: Chris Kyle of Railbird

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Chris Kyle

NAME: Chris Kyle
BAND AFFILIATION: Railbird, Rodeo Barons, Mississippi Hot Dogs, etc.
INSTRUMENT: Guitar

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … The first album I bought was A Tribe Called Quest’s “Peoples Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.” I have two older sisters, and I think one of their boyfriends at the time was into hip hop. I got into that album. I’m still thinking about covering “Ham and Eggs” off of it.

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Tags: Caffe Lena, Chris Kyle, Railbird, Saratoga Springs
Posted in Five Firsts | 2 Comments »

LIVE: Kevin Welch @ Caffe Lena, 7/9/10

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Kevin Welch

Nashville singer-songwriter Kevin Welch has one of those resonant tenor voices that haunts you long after the song’s last note has faded away, and the guitar has been packed away in its case.

Since so many of Welch’s songs have been covered by the likes of Waylon Jennings, Ricky Skaggs, Roger Miller and Trisha Yearwood, there is something much more to his melodies and words than just another alt-country or progressive-folk troubadour singing a tune or two to get noticed.

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Tags: Andrzej Pilarczyk, Caffe Lena, Kevin Welch, Marc Douglas Berardo
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LIVE: The Frank Vignola Quartet @ Caffe Lena, 6/6/10

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Frank Vignola

After just one minute of watching guitar virtuoso Frank Vignola’s fingers dance up and down the fretboard, you’ll be convinced that he must be a man possessed.

But unlike the Devil ‘possession’ of the great violinist Paganini, Vignola is possessed by the spirit of Django Reinhardt, swing-jazz and the Great American Songbook.

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Tags: Andrzej Pilarczyk, Caffe Lena, Frank Vignola Quartet, Saratoga Springs
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Caffe Lena Photo of the Day

Friday, May 28th, 2010

A big thank you goes out to Sarah Craig and the volunteers that helped make the 50th anniversary of Caffe Lena such a wonderful and memorable event.

We’d like to offer one last photo from the vast archives of longtime house photographer Joe Deuel. It’s a 1989 photograph of Dave Van Ronk clowning around after Lena Spencer’s memorial service. He’s surrounded by Anna McGarrigle, Utah Phillips and Roy Book Binder. It’s also the only one of Joe’s photos that we’ve published that wasn’t taken at the Caffe. This one’s from the Parting Glass:

Dave Von Ronk

Tags: Anna McGarrigle, Caffe Lena, Dave Von Ronk, Joe Deuel, Parting Glass, Roy Book Binder, Saratoga Springs, Utah Phillips
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LIVE: Caffe Lena’s 50th Anniversary Open House, 5/22/10

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

Jim Gaudet

Open house? I think not. It really was an old-time, down-home city block party and more!

On the beautiful, sunny Saturday, Phila Street was blocked off from Henry down to Maple with a tented stage and a few tables set up in between. At one, the iconic Hattie’s Chicken Shack offered a wonderful gumbo in a cup – free of charge. Caffé Lena had a merchandise table with a whole mess of mason jars lined up with the day’s individual performers names on them – in case you wanted to throw a bit of financial love their way. After all, they came as far as Boston to perform – for free.

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Tags: Andrzej Pilarczyk, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs
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Caffe Lena Photo of the Day

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

Congratulations go out to Sarah Craig and the tireless volunteers who made Caffe Lena’s 50th anniversary possible this month. We’re joining in the celebration by publishing one photo each day from the collection of house photographer Joe Deuel.

Here’s a 1989 photograph of John Hartford lounging backstage with Lena Spencer (and Sasha):

John Hartford and Lena Spencer

Tags: Caffe Lena, Joe Deuel, John Hartford, Saratoga Springs
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Caffe Lena Photo of the Day

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

We’re joining in the celebration for Caffe Lena’s 50th anniversary by publishing one photo each day this month from the wonderful archive of photography by the Caffe’s Joe Deuel.

Here’s a shot from 2009 of the wry and timeless Mose Allison at the piano:

Mose Allison