Amy Rigby has established herself as one of America’s enduring underground/cult/indie artists, combining the insight and humor of country and folk songwriting with classic rock craftsmanship and punk DIY spirit. Raised in Pittsburgh, schooled in late 70s lower Manhattan, she formed pre-Americana country band Last Roundup and Richard Hell’s favorite girl group the Shams in NYC's East Village before launching a solo career with 90s classic album Diary Of A Mod Housewife. 

Amy’s honest, kinetic songwriting has earned her praise from critics (“pithy wisdom, acerbic pen and sterling American guitar classicism” MOJO) and other artists: “Think Randy Newman and Loudon Wainwright, at their best,” says Steve Earle. Her songs have been covered by Laura Cantrell, Ronnie Spector and John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants. Her 2019 memoir GIRL TO CITY was called “an instant classic” by The Big Takeover. “You can smell the damp, see the clothes, hear the guitars!” says Goldmine. The follow up, GIRL TO COUNTRY, comes out later this year.

New album Hang In There With Me (2024), eleven up to the minute songs written by Amy and recorded by husband Wreckless Eric, is a bracing look at mortality, aging and youthful missteps, refracted through Amy’s insightful lyricism. Some people turn to the moon and stars for inspiration while Amy Rigby looks to creative heroes like Bob Dylan and Mike Leigh. She finds poetry in haircuts and live chat boxes. Her music is the sound of everyday people getting by, just like the classic country artists she loved and learned to write songs from.

Amy performs solo in the US and UK Autumn 2025, with stories/songs from Girl To Country + new and old classics. New book is out september 23rd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW5PavtxGKQ

Dylan In Dubuque https://youtu.be/D9iTxYcrB5A?si=hoKTWFY8FpepjvZZ

The Farewell Tour https://youtu.be/wEYeOUdSZIU?si=FoOLIiplKTnTh_0_

Bricks https://youtu.be/nUSYvN9TYa0?si=J9KCb9NBdAbQIyAt

Tenor saxophonist Ricky Ford studied at the New England Conservatory, with, among others, Gunther Schuller and Ran Blake; while still in his early 20s, he toured with both the Duke Ellington Orchestra (under Mercer Ellington's leadership) and Charles Mingus. By the 1980s, he was considered one of the leading tenor saxophonists of his generation. He worked with Dannie Richmond's Quintet, Lionel Hampton, Mal Waldron, Beaver Harris and Abdullah Ibrahim’s Ekaya, and also more than a dozen albums as a leader. He has lived in France since the 1990s.

Thurman Barker Grew up in Chicago in the 1950s, Thurman Barker was exposed to the city’s rich musical heritage, regularly hearing R&B, doo-wop, soul, jazz, and blues. Accordingly, he began his professional career at age 17 by anchoring the rhythm section for blues legend Mighty Joe Young. He then attended the American Conservatory of Music and later Roosevelt University, where he received classical training. While serving as percussionist for the city’s Shubert Theatre throughout much of the 1960s, Barker played for numerous national touring productions, including Hair, The Wiz, Grease, One Mo’ Time, and Ain’t Misbehavin’. A versatile drummer and percussionist, he also performed with singers Billy Eckstine, Marvin Gaye, Bette Midler, and Vicki Carr, and worked with classical groups like the Chicago Chamber Players and the New York City Opera. Perhaps Barker’s most notable musical experience has been with the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), an organization founded in the 1960s to promote innovative music and its players. A charter member of the group, Barker first appeared in AACM productions with Joseph Jarman’s pioneering ensemble. He then went on to play with many other members, including Muhal Richard Abrams, Amina Claudine Meyers, Anthony Braxton, Leroy Jenkins, Roscoe Mitchell, and Henry Threadgill. In the 1970s and ’80s, after moving to New York, Barker worked with jazz giants Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers and Billy Bang, touring with their groups and recording numerous albums with them. Most recently, he has performed with trombonist and composer George Lewis at the Festival International Musique Actuelle in Victoriaville, Quebec. Since creating Uptee Records in the late 1980s, Barker has released five recordings as a leader, including Voyage (1987), The Way I Hear It (1999), Time Factor (2001), Strike Force (2004), and Rediscovered (2008). In 1994, his work “Dialogue,” commissioned by Mutable Music, premiered at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. The Woodstock Chamber Orchestra premiered Barker’s chamber piece “Expansions” in May 1999, and that same year he became a lecturer at Smolny University in St. Petersburg, Russia. Barker has taught jazz history and performance at Bard College since 1993. Through his efforts to develop the program, he was appointed professor of jazz studies in June 2016.

Jerome Harris Electric guitarist and bassist Jerome Harris is best known for his work as a sideman with Sonny Rollins, and for his later work in groups led by drummer Bobby Previte and by trombonist Ray Anderson, among others. Harris was already a skilled musician when he went to Harvard with the intent of becoming a psychiatrist. During his college years, he became known as a guitarist on campus who played in a variety of bands, from R&B to free jazz, including a fusion band with fellow student, drummer Akira Tana. After graduation, Harris decided to focus on music full-time and first began appearing on recordings during the late '70s, such as Sonny Rollins' Don't Stop the Carnival (Milestone, 1978). In addition to continuing his work with Rollins throughout the 1980s, Harris worked with Oliver Lake and Bill Frisell, among others. The second half of the decade also found him playing with Bob Moses and Marty Ehrlich, while much of his work during the 1990s was with Bobby Previte and Ray Anderson. Harris has toured internationally in various ensembles, including trips to Japan with Rollins, tours of the Middle East and India with Jay Hoggard, of Africa with Oliver Lake, the U.S. with Previte's Latin for Travelers, and more. Some of the other renowned musicians that he has worked with include Don Byron, Ned Rothenberg (Sync on Intuition, 1999), Mark Helias, Pheeroan AkLaff and Kenny Werner. In addition to his work as a sideman, Jerome Harris has led several recording dates of his own, including Algorithms (Minor Music, 1986), Hidden in Plain View (New World, 1995) and Rendezvous (Stereophile, 1999). In 1999, Harris also played a large role in a July concert in New York City that was a tribute to Joni Mitchell, in which he wrote many of the transcriptions and arrangements, in addition to performing. As of the late '90s, Harris was based out of Brooklyn.

John Kordalewski is the leader, arranger and pianist for the Makanda Project, a 13-piece group performing previously unrecorded Makanda Ken McIntyre compositions. He has performed with musicians such as Charlie Rouse, Cab Calloway, Julius Hemphill, Odean Pope, Ricky Ford, Carl Grubbs, Webster Young, Byard Lancaster and Oliver Lake. For many years, he led a trio featuring Boston drummer Bobby Ward. He has conducted clinics and workshops at many colleges and universities, most recently at the University of KwaZulu Natal in Durban, South Africa, where his arrangements of compositions by pianist Ndikho Xaba and trumpeter Feya Faku have been performed. He is also currently collaborating with saxophonist Chico Freeman, writing first-ever big band arrangements of Freeman’s compositions.

Tickets: $30

With a career spanning over 50 years, Hank Roberts has performed at prestigious venues worldwide alongside celebrated artists such as Bill Frisell, Petra Haden, Rudy Royston, Aurora Nealand, Tim Berne, Gordon Grdina, Mark Dresser, Mark Feldman, as well as with the Hank Roberts Sextet and the Italian-based group "Pipe Dream." His extensive discography includes more than a dozen albums as a leader, and his album Green (featuring Jim Black and Marc Ducret) won the 2008 German Recording Critics’ Award in the Jazz category. Roberts was also named “Rising Star” in the Miscellaneous Instrument (cello) category in Downbeat Magazine’s 2022 Critics' Awards.

Drummer Ashley Ickes brings a highly developed sense of rhythmic complexity, stylistic diversity, and excitement to every group she performs with, including regional favorites like the funk band The Comb Down and the hip hop group Felix Free & the Rxcketeers. Since her arrival in 2016, she has been a vibrant central figure in the Ithaca music scene.

Pianist Chad Lieberman, influenced by traditional Cuban music and the University of Miami’s renowned Jazz program, studied music composition and electronic music at Ithaca College. He has performed both locally and internationally and is a founding member of the MAQ ensemble and the Strong Maybe experimental music trio.

What the writers are saying

“Roberts’s approach to the cello is a treasure to be cherished… ‘has long been a master at shaping the envelope of his sound to tell organic stories”

— Gary Chapin - Free Jazz Collective

Cornetist Kirk Knuffke aims to make beautiful, emotionally resonant music—even in avant-garde settings. A prolific artist, he’s released about 20 albums as leader/co-leader. His 2022 album Gravity Without Airs, with Matthew Shipp and Michael Bisio, earned 4½ stars from DownBeat and praise from The New York Times. A sought-after sideman, he’s worked with Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mary Halvorson, Matt Wilson, and James Brandon Lewis. All About Jazz hails him as a master of balancing freedom and swing.

Harold Danko is a distinguished jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader whose career spans over 50 years. He has collaborated with iconic artists such as Chet Baker, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, and James Moody, performing at major jazz venues around the world. Danko’s artistry is well documented across numerous acclaimed recordings, television appearances, and popular video clips—including Baker’s 1987 Tokyo concert, which has garnered over five million views on YouTube. His legacy reflects both depth and versatility in jazz.

What happens when the 13-member Dave Rivello Ensemble plugs in? DRE I RED! Sharp angles contrasted with smooth textures and combined with dynamic solos make for an evening of continuous color. This is an extension of the Dave Rivello Ensemble, and continues to be Dave Rivello's vehicle for his original work, and his main orchestral voice. From the beginning, this ensemble has blurred lines, and crossed genres - come get lost in DRE|RED!

A Stereo Field Recordings event

Guitarist Jim Yanda creates music at the nexus of Jazz, New Music, Free Improvisation, Blues, Country and Folk traditions.

He grew up the youngest son of a dairy farming family near Anamosa, Iowa. His earliest professional experience included performing western swing music in regional dance halls. In high school, gigging garage Rock bands added to his stylistic influences, as Yanda fell in love with guitarists Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page.

He attended Coe College where he was introduced to jazz and avant garde 20th Century music by maverick trumpeter & university mentor, Paul Smoker. Yanda then spent several years on Chicago’s jazz scene before moving to New York to work with longtime collaborator Phil Haynes. Since then, Yanda has recorded his own music on Regional Cookin’ and Home Road and released recordings with Phil Haynes & Free Country, Damon Short, and Herb Robertson.

Tickets $20 in advance on-line or at the door. A $20 tickets will get you into both shows too!
Free for students with valid ID

A Stereo Field Recordings event

Guitarist Jim Yanda creates music at the nexus of Jazz, New Music, Free Improvisation, Blues, Country and Folk traditions.

He grew up the youngest son of a dairy farming family near Anamosa, Iowa. His earliest professional experience included performing western swing music in regional dance halls. In high school, gigging garage Rock bands added to his stylistic influences, as Yanda fell in love with guitarists Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page.

He attended Coe College where he was introduced to jazz and avant garde 20th Century music by maverick trumpeter & university mentor, Paul Smoker. Yanda then spent several years on Chicago’s jazz scene before moving to New York to work with longtime collaborator Phil Haynes. Since then, Yanda has recorded his own music on Regional Cookin’ and Home Road and released recordings with Phil Haynes & Free Country, Damon Short, and Herb Robertson.

Tickets $20 in advance on-line or at the door. A $20 tickets will get you into both shows too!
Free for students with valid ID

I’ll be spinning some of my favorite 45s at the Skylark Lounge (40 North Union St., Rochester) on July 25th and August 22nd 6-9pm. I’ll be digging deep into the crates and pulling out gems from my stash — think funk, punk, twang, garage, and the just plain weird. Expect the unexpected — and come hang out!

Aaron Lipp is from Naples, NY and has been a professional musician since age 16. From performing on stage, recording in the studio and teaching lessons, he has found his place in music . Throughout a multitude of different genre adventures and instrumentation, he has found home in songwriting with genre-defying sounds and lyrics.

Aaron is releasing his new album, "We Must Build Fire" at the store. He'll have vinyl records for sale, naturally!

This is a rare Rochester appearance for Aaron; don't miss the chance to see this incredible musician in a solo setting!

Tickets are $20 at the door, or online.

Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 8pm.

I’ll be spinning some of my favorite 45s at the Skylark Lounge (40 North Union St., Rochester) on July 25th and August 22nd 6-9pm. I’ll be digging deep into the crates and pulling out gems from my stash — think funk, punk, twang, garage, and the just plain weird. Expect the unexpected — and come hang out!

 In the music of Charlie Parr, there is a sincere conviction and earnest drive to create. The Minnesota-born guitarist, songwriter, and interpreter of traditional music has released 19 albums over two decades and has been known to perform up to 275 shows a year. Parr is a folk troubadour in the truest sense: taking to the road between shows, writing and rewriting songs as he plays, fueled by a belief that music is eternal and cannot be claimed or adequately explained. The bluesman poet pulls closely from the sights and sounds around him, his lyrical craftsmanship built by his influences. The sounds from his working-class upbringing—including Folkways legends such as Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie—imbue Parr’s music with stylistic echoes of blues and folk icons of decades past. Parr sees himself merely as a continuer of a folk tradition: “I feel like I stand on a lot of big shoulders,” he said in an interview. “I hope that I’ve brought a little bit of myself to the music.” 

With a discography simultaneously transcendental in nature and grounded in roots music, Charlie Parr is the humble master of the 21st century folk tradition. Parr started recording in Duluth in 2002, where he lives today. Life in the port town on Lake Superior has a way of bleeding into his work the same way his childhood in Austin, Minnesota does. Parr self-released his debut album, Criminals and Sinners, and did the same for his sophomore album 1922 (2002). With growing popularity abroad, Parr signed with Red House Records in 2015, where he recorded break-out albums Stumpjumper (2015) and Dog (2017). Parr’s music has an overwhelming sense of being present and mindful, and his sound is timeless.

Parr’s mastery of his craft is only more apparent when contextualized within the history of folk tradition of which Parr has dedicated his practice The land and lives around and intersecting with Parr have always influenced him, from the hills and valleys of Hollandale, Minnesota to the Depression-era stories from his father. Parr strives to listen to everything: “I don’t see that I’d ever be capable of creating anything if it weren’t for these inspirations and influences, books and music as well as the weather and random interactions with strangers and animals. So, the well never runs dry as long as my eyes and ears are open,” Parr said in a 2020 interview. Before he was even 10 years old Parr was rummaging through his father’s record collection—sometimes drawing dinosaurs on the vinyl sleeves—and listening to country, folk, and blues legends, many of whom are staples in the Folkways catalog. When Parr sings and plays his resonator or 12-string, you can hear influences like Mance Lipscomb, Charley Patton, Spinder John Koerner, Rev. Gary Davis, and Dock Boggs. This is especially true in his playing, when, after a diagnosis of focal dystonia, Parr turned to greats like Davis, Doc Watson, and Booker White for two-finger picking inspiration. Gifted a 1965 Gibson B-45 12-string by his father, Parr has never had a formal lesson and learned by to listening records and watching musicians he admired. 

Parr’s first album with Smithsonian Folkways, Last of Better Days Head (2021), foregrounded his lyrical craftsmanship and sophisticated bluesman confidence, with spare production highlighting Parr’s mastery of guitar and elevating his poetry. Last of Better Days Ahead is a portrait of how Parr saw the world in that moment, reflecting on time and memories that have past while holding an enduring desire to be present. In his 2024 release, Little Sun, Parr weaves together stories celebrating music, community, and communing with nature. Putting forth an ambitious and raw album that exemplifies the best of Parr's sound: a blend of the blues and folk traditions he continues to carry with him and the steadfast originality of a poet. 

Get a little taste of Charlie Parr here from the last time he was here, enjoy!

 In the music of Charlie Parr, there is a sincere conviction and earnest drive to create. The Minnesota-born guitarist, songwriter, and interpreter of traditional music has released 19 albums over two decades and has been known to perform up to 275 shows a year. Parr is a folk troubadour in the truest sense: taking to the road between shows, writing and rewriting songs as he plays, fueled by a belief that music is eternal and cannot be claimed or adequately explained. The bluesman poet pulls closely from the sights and sounds around him, his lyrical craftsmanship built by his influences. The sounds from his working-class upbringing—including Folkways legends such as Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie—imbue Parr’s music with stylistic echoes of blues and folk icons of decades past. Parr sees himself merely as a continuer of a folk tradition: “I feel like I stand on a lot of big shoulders,” he said in an interview. “I hope that I’ve brought a little bit of myself to the music.” 

With a discography simultaneously transcendental in nature and grounded in roots music, Charlie Parr is the humble master of the 21st century folk tradition. Parr started recording in Duluth in 2002, where he lives today. Life in the port town on Lake Superior has a way of bleeding into his work the same way his childhood in Austin, Minnesota does. Parr self-released his debut album, Criminals and Sinners, and did the same for his sophomore album 1922 (2002). With growing popularity abroad, Parr signed with Red House Records in 2015, where he recorded break-out albums Stumpjumper (2015) and Dog (2017). Parr’s music has an overwhelming sense of being present and mindful, and his sound is timeless.

Parr’s mastery of his craft is only more apparent when contextualized within the history of folk tradition of which Parr has dedicated his practice The land and lives around and intersecting with Parr have always influenced him, from the hills and valleys of Hollandale, Minnesota to the Depression-era stories from his father. Parr strives to listen to everything: “I don’t see that I’d ever be capable of creating anything if it weren’t for these inspirations and influences, books and music as well as the weather and random interactions with strangers and animals. So, the well never runs dry as long as my eyes and ears are open,” Parr said in a 2020 interview. Before he was even 10 years old Parr was rummaging through his father’s record collection—sometimes drawing dinosaurs on the vinyl sleeves—and listening to country, folk, and blues legends, many of whom are staples in the Folkways catalog. When Parr sings and plays his resonator or 12-string, you can hear influences like Mance Lipscomb, Charley Patton, Spinder John Koerner, Rev. Gary Davis, and Dock Boggs. This is especially true in his playing, when, after a diagnosis of focal dystonia, Parr turned to greats like Davis, Doc Watson, and Booker White for two-finger picking inspiration. Gifted a 1965 Gibson B-45 12-string by his father, Parr has never had a formal lesson and learned by to listening records and watching musicians he admired. 

Parr’s first album with Smithsonian Folkways, Last of Better Days Head (2021), foregrounded his lyrical craftsmanship and sophisticated bluesman confidence, with spare production highlighting Parr’s mastery of guitar and elevating his poetry. Last of Better Days Ahead is a portrait of how Parr saw the world in that moment, reflecting on time and memories that have past while holding an enduring desire to be present. In his 2024 release, Little Sun, Parr weaves together stories celebrating music, community, and communing with nature. Putting forth an ambitious and raw album that exemplifies the best of Parr's sound: a blend of the blues and folk traditions he continues to carry with him and the steadfast originality of a poet. 

Get a little taste of Charlie Parr here from the last time he was here, enjoy!

PAKT
with
PERCY JONES - bass
ALEX SKOLNICK - guitar
KENNY GROHOWSKI - drums
TIM MOTZER - guitars, electronics

It's the PAKT time with four extraordinary musicians: Percy Jones (Brand X, Brian Eno, David Sylvian, Suzanne Vega), Alex Skolnick (Testament, Alex Skolnick Trio, Metal Allegiance, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Kenny Grohowski (John Zorn, Brand X, Imperial Triumphant, Hipster Assassins), Tim Motzer (Bandit65, Jaki Liebezeit, David Sylvian, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, ORION TANGO).

PAKT recalls the fearless attitude and daring approach that originally defined progressive music: where the magic of the moment always triumphed over preconception. Templates be damned ... this music blazes its own path! This is truly exquisite fare, serving as a reminder to aficionados of what initially drew them to this most creative, visionary of genres.

"This is not simply a group of virtuosos flexing their chops — it is a collective, its members deeply attuned to one another, creating music that is alive and electric in the moment. The album is an invitation to throw out the rulebook and embrace the unknown, with PAKT as a fearless guide. In a world of predictability, No Steps Left to Trace is a refreshing reminder of what happens when musicians abandon the script and simply play. It is challenging, adventurous and thrillingly free. In addition, this is a production that affords the listener more discoveries on subsequent listens.” - All About Jazz

“..an authentic powerhouse of virtuoso musicians blending and intersecting innovative sounds within the realms of avant-garde rock, electrifying jazz, experimental, atmospheric, psychedelic, and more, is an immersive encounter as much as a musical endeavor.” - Hi-Res Edition

Discography:

• PAKT (2021, MoonJune Records)

• No Steps Left To Trace (2024, MoonJune Records)

https://pakt-moonjune.bandcamp.com

Video links:

https://youtu.be/ErSSbGrle9E

https://youtu.be/zJQExCrCvrUT

tickets: $25 advance / $30 at door
Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm
Tickets on sale now!

The debut of “Remedy” on the Polish label FSR was voted among the “Best Releases of 2021” in New York City Jazz Record’s annual poll. The trio includes trumpeter Thomas Heberer, bassist Joe Fonda, and drummer Joe Hertenstein, who all contribute compositions to the repertoire.

The band was founded during the early stages of the Coronavirus pandemic in the summer of 2020 in Brooklyn and is currently in the process of finalizing their second album. The trio draws on influences from World music, jazz, and contemporary classical music.

Tickets: $20

Joshua Smith, sax/electronics
Joe Tomino, drums/electronics
Jeremy Bleich, bass/electronics

Formed in 1998, BIRTH, the Cleveland-bred saxophone, electric bass, drums trio, carved a musical niche with the sound of their no-holds-barred creative music. Bringing together elements of free jazz, electro-acoustic improvisation, rock and melodic balladeering, this group defies convention, and executes its music with precision, and emotive mastery.

“So good that it's scary." - Harvey Pekar

Tickets are $20 in advance or at the door
doors at 7pm, show at 8pm

Featuring:
Joe Fonda - bass & compositions
Harvey Sorgen - drums
Jeff Lederer - clarinet
Michael Rabinowitz - bassoon

How we found this sound?

I hired this group of musicians to do a weeklong tour in the USA in 2022. I had written and organized the music months prior to the tour and sent it to everyone so they could check it out and look it over before the first rehearsal. So, when we got together for the first rehearsal everyone had had a chance to work on the music.

I had thought that it would be Tenor Saxophone and Bassoon as the front line, but at the first rehearsal, Jeff Lederer who I had hired to play Saxophone said, Joe do really want saxophone and he went on to explain how when he was practicing the music he was not hearing it played on saxophone but on clarinet and Flute and on one piece piccolo. I was not so sure, but Jeff was persistent. He said that to him the written material sounded like Stravinsky or something more classical.

So, we tried it and we all really liked the sound of the Bassoon with Jeff's clarinets and flutes. The sound became less jazz and more like a chamber Ensemble.

Jeff was right, it sounded great.

While we were on tour playing 7 nights in a row the sound of the quartet developed into something quite unique.

So sit back and enjoy the sound of something you most likely have never heard before.

Tickets are $20 at the door, or online.
Half price for students with valid ID!
Doors open at 7pm, and concert will begin at 8pm.

Rhett Miller - Acoustic!

Special Show featuring..
RHETT MILLER - ACOUSTIC!
Saturday, June 14, 2025...Doors 7pm, Music 8:30pm
Abilene Bar and Lounge
153 Liberty Pole Way, Rochester, NY 14604
Tickets: $35 advance, $40 day of show

Buy Tickets

SELWYN BIRCHWOOD-SUMMER 2025!

SELWYN BIRCHWOOD-SUMMER 2025!

Friday, June 13, 20259:15 PM

Abilene Bar & Lounge Rochester, NY

Buy Tickets

“Where It All Began!...One Night Only!
SELWYN BIRCHWOOD
Friday, June 13, 2025….Doors 4pm, Music 9:15pm
Abilene Bar and Lounge
153 Liberty Pole Way, Rochester, NY 14604
Tickets: $25 advance, $30 day of show

From now on, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering a 10% discount on everything in our store every Sunday. Yes, you heard that right—everything is included in this special promotion. This is a fantastic opportunity to snag some of our rarest and most sought-after records at a reduced price. Be sure to take advantage of this awesome oppertunity!

A Stereo Field Recordings event:

Please join us for a special recording event; a live and intimate live set featuring local favorites The P.V. Nunes Band.

The P. V. Nunes Band is just different.  “Think Harry Chapin meets the Grateful Dead” said one club owner. The songs (written by Paul Vincent Nunes) are smart, funny, passionate, personal…  and way too true.  They are driven by a jamming North Coast Americana groove of dobro and electric guitar (Bernie Heveron), acoustic guitar (Paul), washboard (Dave Paprocki) and bass (Greg Franklin).

 Band members have an esoteric history of playing in (or with) The Color Blind James Experience, Bat McGrath (Bernie),  The Chesterfield Kings, The Occasional Saints (Paul),  Chanka-Chank, The Crawdiddies (Dave), Marjorie Thompson, and The Dave North Trio (Greg).

 Fan favorites include, “New Guitar”, “Drive All Night”, “My Daughter’s Diary”, “I’m Gonna Walk”, “The Diner”,  “Mama Loves the Reverb”, and “Some of Us Rise, But We Don’t Shine”. 

 Their new EP, “The P.V. Nunes Band “ was released on the independent label Lighthouse Records, and is available on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and YouTube. Also, you can listen at https://pvnunes.hearnow.com/the-p-v-nunes-band 

 “We’re a cover band,” says Paul, “that covers ourselves really well. We even look like us.”

 FaceBook - https://www.facebook.com/PVNunesBand/

 tickets are $10 in advance and at the door. Free for students
Doors are ay 7pm, show starts at 8pm

Jonathan Reisin: Saxophonist, Composer, and Improviser

Saxophonist and composer Jonathan Reisin presents Too Good X Unreality, a project that explores the connection between complexity and simplicity in music. Each composition reflects this balance, with thoughtful ideas that highlight the importance of this relationship. Following his debut album Option B (2022, Habitable Records) and the collaborative release Earthquake (2023, 577 Records) with drummer Francisco Mela, Too Good X Unreality marks a new chapter in Reisin’s evolving sound. Together with pianist Shinya Lin and drummer Jarred Chase, Reisin shaped the album over two years through sound exploration and dynamic interplay, blending prepared piano, intricate drumming, and expressive saxophone into a cohesive yet unpredictable work.

Jonathan Reisin - Tenor & Soprano saxophone

Alvaro Torres - Piano

Jarred Chase - Drums

Jonathan Reisin is a Brooklyn-based saxophonist, composer, and improviser . His artistic vision revolves around crafting original music deeply influenced by contemporary music, jazz, and the avant-garde. Throughout his career, Jonathan has collaborated with notable artists such as Francisco Mela, Kris Davis, Anat Fort, Val Jeanty, and Cooper Moore, performing at the Vermont Jazz Festival, Forward Festival (Brooklyn), M3 Festival (NY) , Gangneung International Art Festival (South Korea), and venues worldwide. Jonathan’s debut album, Option B (2022, Habitable Records), and his collaboration with drummer Francisco Mela on Earthquake (2023, 577 Records), both received critical acclaim, establishing him as an innovative voice in contemporary jazz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LElog_XOg0

Tickets are $20 at the door, or online.
Half price for students with valid ID!
Doors open at 7pm, and concert will begin at 8pm.

60 years ago, a teenaged Bill Kirchen saw Bob Dylan go electric at Newport and was “ruined for normal work”.

Join Bill for an evening of songs and stories featuring some of Dylan’s 1964 – 1965 Newport sets with favorites from Bill’s own catalog – from the Commander Cody years until now.

Celebrate the launch of the new rock biography, Richard Manuel: His Life and Music from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to the Band, by Stephen Lewis.

Join us for conversation with the author, light refreshments, and the chance to pick up a copy of the book (and maybe a record while you’re there!). Let’s honor the incredible legacy of Richard Manuel and The Band together. We’d love to see you!

The Levin Brothers was founded by Pete and Tony Levin in 2013, After 5 decades of glorious career playing with virtually who is who in all genres of music – jazz, fusion, rock, pop and world music, and after guesting on each other’s projects, two brothers finally decided to have their own jazz band. Levin Brothers released 2 albums: the self-titled first album in 2014, and the follow up live album ’Special Delivery’ in 2017. The band has toured all over the USA, and has performed also internationally in Mexico, El Salvador, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Japan.

Doors @ 7pm | $30 advance / $35 day of show
Show @ 8-10pm

A Stereo Field Recordings event

There will be two sets for the purposes of recording—one at 7:00 PM and another at 8:30 PM.
Both sets will feature essentially the same material, but as is the nature of jazz each performance will differ in feel and interpretation. This approach allows us to capture the best takes for a future release.

You're more than welcome to stay for both performances if you'd like. It promises to be an engaging and memorable evening.

Dave Rivello is an American-born composer, arranger, conductor and bandleader working primarily in Jazz, Contemporary Media, and Modern Classical idioms. He apprenticed with Rayburn Wright, Bob Brookmeyer, Manny Albam, Bill Holman, and Sam D’Angelo.

He leads a 12- piece ensemble (The Dave Rivello Ensemble) that is his main orchestral voice. He is also the author of the book, Bob Brookmeyer in Conversation with Dave Rivello (ArtistShare).His debut recording, Facing The Mirror, received strong praise from reviewers in the United States, Italy and Ireland. The Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll chose Facing The Mirror as the Debut Release of that year.

He co-produced the Gil Evans Project live recording, Lines of Color – with leader Ryan Truesdell, which was nominated for a Grammy. He also recently co-produced Jennifer Bellor’s recording, Reflections at Dusk, on Innova Recordings.

He has served as composer-in-residence at a number of schools, writing for their ensembles, giving clinics as well as private lessons. His residencies have been sponsored by Meet The Composer, Harvard Project Zero, and The New York Council of the Arts. He has written for and been commissioned by: The Smithsonian Institute, The United States Air Forces in Europe Band, The University of North Carolina-Wilmington, The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, The Penfield Symphony Orchestra, The Eastman Wind Ensemble, Bobby McFerrin, David Taylor, Phil Woods, Randy Brecker, Regina Carter, the Airmen of Note, The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and many others. His music has been widely performed throughout the U.S. as well as in Germany and Spain. He is also on the faculty at the world-renowned Eastman School of Music.

Read a review of the Dave Rivello Ensemble’s CD, Facing The Mirror, here.

Tickets $20 in advance on-line or at the door
Free for students with valid ID

The Joshua Smith Quartet

leading a jazz quartet is a natural calling for a modern saxophonist, and for Joshua Smith, it has been a way of life since his teenage years in Cleveland, Ohio, in the mid-1990s. With the saxophone and rhythm section as his trusted companions, Smith has cultivated a dynamic interplay that captures the essence of jazz: swinging, cohesive, and alive with communicative energy. Over the years, he has collaborated with some of the most notable players in jazz, bringing depth and skill to every performance.

Last November, The Joshua Smith Quartet delivered a blistering set to a packed house at the Jazz Museum of New Orleans for the Jazz Foundation of America. Their more recent performance in Oakland, California, electrified the Bay Area, earning rapturous applause from a captivated audience.

The upcoming tour will reunite Smith with three longtime collaborators, each a master in their own right:

• Kim Cass (bass): Known for his work with John Zorn, Bill McHenry, and Noah Preminger, Cass brings inimitable energy and precision.

• Keigo Hirakawa (piano): An exceptional talent who has performed with Robert Hurst and whose touch on the keys brings life to any tune.

• Jeff Mellott (drums): A versatile force in jazz (Tuneyards) with over a decade of history performing alongside Smith.

This quartet promises a performance overflowing with musicality, versatility, and the unbridled communicative power of jazz. Whether reinterpreting standards or delivering Smith’s original compositions, the group strikes a balance between reverence for tradition and bold exploration, appealing to casual listeners and seasoned jazz aficionados alike.

About Joshua Smith

Joshua Smith is a saxophonist whose music bridges worlds. From his roots in Cleveland’s jazz culture to his avant-garde experiments, Smith embodies the spirit of jazz evolution. A co-founder of the avant-jazz trio Birth in 1998, he’s equally at home playing straight-ahead jazz as he is delving into highly refined improvisational landscapes.

Smith’s musical pedigree is undeniable. He’s performed with luminaries like Joe Lovano, experimental innovators such as Nels Cline and Nate Wooley, and creative music giants like Cuong Vu and Ben Goldberg. His collaborations span decades and genres, with a rich history of work in Cleveland, New York, the Bay Area, and his current home in New Orleans.

Joshua spent 16 years in the Bay Area, where he was a core member of The Scott Amendola Quartet and played with a who’s who of the local music scene. Since relocating to New Orleans in 2020, Smith has continued to lead and innovate, performing with New Orleans stalwarts such as Johnny Vidacovich, Papa Mali, and Quinn Sternberg.

Smith’s forthcoming tour with The Joshua Smith Quartet in May 2025 will showcase a cross-section of his musical universe: original works that highlight the breadth of his influences, from the tonal richness of classic jazz to the adventurous spirit of creative improvisation.

Smith’s career is a testament to his versatility and dedication to the craft. Whether leading his quartet, collaborating with legends, or exploring new musical horizons, Joshua Smith remains a saxophone trailblazer and an essential voice in the jazz world.

Tickets are $20 at the door, or online.

Half price for students with valid ID!

Doors open at 7pm, and concert will begin at 8pm.

From now on, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering a 10% discount on everything in our store every Sunday. Yes, you heard that right—everything is included in this special promotion. This is a fantastic opportunity to snag some of our rarest and most sought-after records at a reduced price. Be sure to take advantage of this awesome oppertunity!

From now on, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering a 10% discount on everything in our store every Sunday. Yes, you heard that right—everything is included in this special promotion. This is a fantastic opportunity to snag some of our rarest and most sought-after records at a reduced price. Be sure to take advantage of this awesome oppertunity!

Spring Edition 2025 of the Rochester Record Fair

brought to you by Hi-Fi  Lounge and Needle Drop Records

APRIL 27, 2025 11am to 4pm - FREE

EARLY BIRD ADMISSION at 10AM for $10 fee!

at Radio Social

20 Carlson Rd. Rochester, NY

Presented by HiFi Lounge and NeedleDrop Records

40+ tables of art/records/cds/tapes and more