Front Row Syracuse: Recent Episodes
Steven Simon
The show for lovers of Syracuse regional artists, movers, makers & creators:
intimate conversations with the talented people leading the way.
It’s the best seat in the house to hear from CNY's most talented musicians, artists, authors, educators, venue owners, & more.
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Leo Crandall was a musician, filmmaker and teacher whose artistic expression was an authentic expression of his individuality. He passed away in 2021, leaving behind an impressive body of work, a community of friends and collaborators, and students who were challenged to view the world through his special lens. This is Part 1 of a two-part Tribute Episode. Twelve of his friends and collaborators were interviewed for this series. Guests in Part 1 include Nancy Keefe Rhodes; Zeke Leonard; Curtis Waterman; Hanna Richardson; David L. Prince, and Hymie Witthoft. Special thanks to Jeremy Johnston for his artistry in sound editing. Part 2 will include Tom Fay; Amanda Rogers; Chip Osborne; Sam Kogon; Colin Aberdeen and Joellen Kwiatek.
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Joining us today is the two-time Sammy Awards winner, Diana Jacobs. She is a super talented musician, writer, vocalist, arranger, pianist, percussionist, and performer of rock, gospel, jazz, and R&B music.
Alongside her husband, Mettis Jacobs, she founded the Diana Jacobs Band, a high-energy funk, soul, and R&B horn band. Their first album, Good Metticine, earned them the 2018 Sammy Award for Best R&B Recording. She has also taught English for 34 years; she has four children and five grandsons.
In this episode, we invite Diana to take a look back at herself, the influence of music throughout her childhood, her experience living in a small village in Alaska, and the relationship her sons and grandsons have with music. We also talk about how she feels making music live versus recording in a studio, how she manages to bring a live's presentation energy into the closed room, and her relationship with her husband as an artistic collaborator.
We enjoy bits of her mesmerizing music, and we talk about her future plans as a musician and educator.
Some Questions I Ask:
- Could you talk about your exposure to music as a child? (2:18)
- From that early music exposure, you had your first band when you were 14 years old. Tell us a little more about that (3:43)
- How did your children feel about mom and dad being out there performing a lot? (9:27)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- Diana talks about the first band she ever belonged to and their experience at a music contest (3:53)
- Diana describes her experiences living in a bush village in Alaska (4:53)
- The different processes of making music in a studio and performing live for an audience (11:23)
- The love for open mic communities. Diana shares the creation process of the album that earned her the 2020 Sammy Award for Best Blues (18:43)
- Future plans for Diana (22:45)
Resources:
- Diana Jacobs website
Connect with Diana:
- YouTube
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Before becoming an elected member of the Syracuse City Common Council, our guest, Joe Driscoll, played worldwide and formed a fantastic duo with Sekou Kouyate, a Guinean musician considered one of the most innovative virtuosic players of the kora, the 21-stringed West African harp.
Joe's relationship with music started when he was a kid; his mother would use music as a pacifier to soothe little Joe's rambunctious and hyper-energetic personality. Fast forward many years, Joe decided to travel to London and then tour around Europe, where he would meet Sekou at a festival in Marseille. Together, they played at hundreds of festivals and venues across Europe, North America, and Africa, generating incendiary musical reactions whenever they set foot on stage.
In this episode, we delve into Joe's fascinating life story. We talk about how he developed his unique style, blending folk, funk, and hip-hop, his decision to leave the US, and the breathtaking experience of playing for tens of thousands of people at festivals all over the world. We also talk about his passion for beatboxing, the influence Colin Aberdeen had on his career, and the magical moment when he was locked in a room with Sekou, both non-speakers of each other language, and managed to write a whole album together.
Joe also shared why he decided to come back to America and participate in Bernie Sanders' campaign and why he decided to get involved and become an elected official.
Tune in and listen to episode 2 of Front Row Syracuse and get a closer look at this progressive politician, talented musician, and gifted son of Syracuse.
Some Questions I Ask:
- What was your first musical influence? How did you get hooked? And when did you first know that it was your calling? (2:15)
- You went off to college for a short while, which wasn't your calling. So you ended up back here trying to make it as a musician. Could you talk a bit about that? (6:31)
- Let's take the audience to Europe. Could you talk about your experience there? (10:17)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- From John Lennon and The Beatles to beatbox. Joe talks about his musical influences and his evolution in music (4:01)
- Joe's brand new loop pedal and thousands of hours of playing with sounds (7:53)
- About Colin Aberdeen's influence on Joe's career as a musician (10:32)
- About the transcendental aspect of music (17:04)
- How Joe met Sekou and the beginning of an epic duo (22:54)
- How and why Joe decided to come back to America and get involved in politics (26:34)
Resources:
- Joe Driscoll and Sekou Kouyate on cumbancha.com
Connect with Joe:
- Joe's profile on Syracuse City Common Council website
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This podcast is an invitation to discover the flavor, the colors, and the texture the authors, artists, and creatives give to The Salt City, Syracuse. The city is a regional hub for entertainment and cultural expressions of all kinds, and this show will spotlight the creative minds that make a difference in our community with their performances, creations, and actions.
Today, in our first episode, I'm joined by Colin Aberdeen, a bluesman who has perfected his craft over the last couple of decades, touring nationally and playing with several Grammy Award-winning artists. Colin played with numerous bands, including The Barking Loungers and the Westcott Jug Suckers; he has released multiple albums with Los Blancos in their 15 years as a touring band and has been featured as a guest musician for many others.
Our conversation delves into Colin's upbringing, his relationship with music during his childhood and early teen years, his self-teaching journey into writing wax poetic on social media, and his experiences playing virtually during the pandemic. We also talk about Colin's family, his relationship with his parents, and the life values he got from them.
For our conversation at The 443 Social Club & Lounge, kindly lent by Jules from 443, Colin came prepared with his 1936 National Trojan Resophonic guitar to gift us with his sweet waltz: Oh, Margaret River.
Hop on and join me on this first episode of Front Row Syracuse and get to know better this fantastic father, musician, and poet.
Some Questions I Ask:
- You were a teenager; you picked up a guitar. Tell us about how it came about that you got a little bit more into it (4:22)
- Did you think, "I could actually make a living at this”, or “I enjoy this enough to do it regularly"? (5:43)
- Have you ever considered doing more with your writing? Writing a book, writing a collection of essays? (11:57)
- You're a dad of a beautiful young girl who needs more effort to help her through life. How do the influences of your parents help you carry through to this day? (13:59)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- When did Colin decide to turn into a full-time musician (6:39)
- Colin's relationship with the school and how he decided to teach himself to write poetry (12:35)
- Colin's relationship with music and his experiences hanging out with America's most creative musicians (20:35)
- Colin shares his thoughts on criticism as a tool to improve (25:57)
Connect with Colin:
- Colin Aberdeen Music Facebook
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The Front Row Syracuse Podcast with Steven Simon. Coming April 21st!
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.