A Friendly Five

Featuring the Jeff Houston Experience Syracuse has abundant musical talent, but much of it is underexposed. Syr JAMS’ Music Stand — which stands for Syracuse’s Joined Artists Musicians and Singers’ Music Stand — is a new feature created by The Stand’s A Friendly Five columnist Reggie Seigler and intended to be a platform for talent.

A Ghanaian musician uses music to bring American and African cultures together David Etse Nyadedzor believes it is important that the messages one expresses through music be positive. In his view, “music is a powerful medium that can carry a message farther than anything.” David, 43, is from Accra, Ghana. He has lived in the United States for about 14 …

Local women praised for inspiring through teaching, music, worship March is set aside as Women’s History Month to show appreciation, love, respect and honor for women and their achievements in areas such as arts, culture, business and politics. Its roots can be traced to the early 1900s when women stood up in solidarity to create a day in which to …

Gospel background helps band establish style, gain loyal following For five years now, the Brownskin Band has pounded the local circuit while establishing itself as a household name. The band’s music is a blend of funky soul with a twist, according to Nate Brown (drummer) and Joe Cummings (keyboardist). Members perform at bars, clubs, festivals and private functions such as …

Local legends share their secrets to staying on top of the music scene Over the years, Syracuse has enjoyed its share of traditional quartet-style gospel singing groups, including the Davis Sisters, Five to Life, The Flying Eagles and Foundation. But none has endured the test of time like The Bells of Harmony or the Pilgrim Gospel Singers.

Stevie Wolf and Carolyn Kelly have taken different career paths, but both currently perform locally When I decided to do a story about the Blues on the South Side, interviewing Syracuse’s “Bluesman” Little Stevie Wolf immediately came to mind. I also figured that while I was at it, I would finagle a guitar lesson from him as well. Wolf was …

Marcus Curry, 75, still performs locally, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon Cat(s) is a popular slang term affectionately used by musicians and music aficionados to show respect for musicians ­— usually men — of stellar ability. During the early years of jazz in America, many would refer to players like Benny Carter (jazz composer, saxophonist, clarinetist), Dave …

As the Saxman and I stood in front of the Suds Factory on Clinton Street in Armory Square, we could see an apparatus for a festival being erected up the street in Clinton Square. The Saxman 51, moved to Syracuse from Trenton, NJ about 20 years ago. He has seen many of these types of festivals come and go over …

Another original member of the Mississippi-Syracuse singing group The Friendly Five has recently passed away.

The JProject Band and His Vision to Use Music for Change The JProject Band won’t be constricted to a genre but more so a feeling. “We play feel good songs; we’re just eclectic lovers of music,” said co-founder and guitarist Jeffery Houston. His band will perform Sunday, June 20, at the Southwest Showcase Sundays.