Arts/entertainment

The year was 1970. I was a ten year old on vacation with my family in Lake George, NY. Vacation that year had been planned around the Engelbert Humperdink concert to be held in Saratoga, thirty miles from Lake George. He was my Mom’s favorite and this was the closest he was playing to Buffalo that tour. It was the first “big” concert I would attend. (I still have my ticket stub) Fast forward fifty five years to April 5, 2025 when I would go to see Engelbert again, somewhat out of nostalgia and partly to see if at 89 he still had the pipes, charisma and stamina to put on one of his legendary performances. He did not disappoint.
The full house at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, NY greeted Engelbert and his Last Waltz Tour with a rousing round of applause as he hit the stage for a ninety minute performance. With a career that spans over fifty years and over 140 million records sold, he remains a music and entertainment icon. He has amassed 65 gold and 35 platinum albums and has stars on the Hollywood and Las Vegas Walk of Fame. Tonight’s performance would feature many of the hits from his storied career and some choice cover tunes to round out the set. Highlights from the show include “Man Without Love”, “After the Lovin’”, “Quando, Quando, Quando”, a lovely ballad that Engelbert wrote for his late wife that he promised her he would always perform “Everywhere I Go”, “The Last Waltz”, “Release Me” and a medley of more hits featuring “This Moment in Time”, “The Way It Used to Be”, “Les Bicyclettes de Belize”, “There Goes My Everything” and “Spanish Eyes”. Other highlights include covers of the late Toby Keith’s “Don’t Let the Old Man In”, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes’ “If You Don’t Know Me by Now”, a couple of songs from his upcoming album of ‘80’s and ‘90’s tunes with The Cars “Drive” and Journey’s “Faithfully”, Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and a rousing version of Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll”. Encores included a very nice run through the Michel Legrand penned “How You Keep the Music Playing” and a sentimental “We’ll Meet Again”. As the band played a closing vamp Engelbert worked the front of the stage shaking hands and signing autographs as he left the stage. A true consummate performer and class act. For more information about upcoming shows at the Seneca Resorts visit https://senecacasinos.com

Spyro Gyra, out on the road in support of their latest album Jubilee and their 50th anniversary stopped by Electric City in Downtown Buffalo on March 12, 2025 before a full house of old and new friends and fans. Buffalo of course is where the band was formed and cut their chops to become one of the pre eminent forces in contemporary jazz music. Led by founding member Jay Beckenstein on Saxophones along with Julio Fernandez on guitar and vocals, Scott Ambush on bass, Lionel Cordew on drums and Chris Fischer on keyboards they performed selections from their vast catalog of songs and from their latest album Jubilee during the ninety minute set. Kicking things off with “Cape Town Love” off the Original Cinema album they followed that up with “50/50” a celebration of the band’s anniversary off the new album Jubilee. Next up was the Julio Fernandez track about his emigration from Cuba as a child “The Crossing” followed by the powerful “Unknown Soldier” inspired by Beckenstein’s visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. They picked things up with a couple of fan favorites “Old San Juan” and “Heliopolis” before serving up a new and as yet unreleased track titled “Frequent Flier” a sly nod to the band’s late vibraphone/marimba player David Samuels who had a dreaded fear of flying. Another nod to a former player this time retired keyboardist Tom Schuman came with a nice run through “City Kids” followed by another Fernandez composition “De La Luz” and Ambush’s intricate piece “Wiggle Room”. They closed the show with two of their biggest hits “Catching the Sun” and “Morning Dance” before returning for an encore of “Daddy’s Got a New Girl”. For more information about Spyro Gyra visit https://spyrogyra.com

Rockabilly Steve and BR3 have released a new album titled Lonely Thursday Night an eleven song selection featuring a bit of everything from Americana to Zydeco to blues and more all penned by Rockabilly Steve. The band, Steven Durusky guitar and vocals, John Durusky Palatino upright bass, Lynnie Durusky on rhythm guitar and the always solid Al Hury on drums recorded the album at GRC Studios in Buffalo along with guests Cathy Carfagna on accordion and vocals, Dave Meinzer on backing vocals, John Maguda on trumpet, Kenny Parker on Saxophone, Dale Rugg Sr. on baritone Saxophone, Melissa Sauers on clarinet and Guy Nirelli on the Hammond B3 Organ. Highlights off Lonely Thursday Night include the in the pocket track “Where You Been So Long”, the title cut “Lonely Thursday Night” a breezy love tale with a Zydeco vibe, the horn soaked jump blues number “Ooo Wee Baby”, “My Baby’s Six Feet Tall” an ode to big women, the lean and smooth rocker “I’m Gone”, the funky horn driven “Why You Got To Be So Mean” and the foot stomping LP closer “I Just Love You So”. For more information about Rockabilly Steve and BR3 including tour dates and how to purchase their latest album Lonely Thursday Night head on over to https://rockabillysteveandbr3.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/blueroadhousefamilyband

Maria Aurigema has been wowing audiences from clubs to festivals for a while now. She has built a loyal legion of fans throughout Western New York and Canada with energetic and fiery live performances. She is a true student of not just the blues but other musical genres that she seamlessly weaves into her original compositions. Aurigema is not to be considered one of the best woman blues guitars players because one, that would be a disservice to her and second, she is among the best of ALL the blues guitarists out there. Not just among the girls. Her latest album titled Kindred Spirits features twelve original songs that Aurigema (guitar/vocals) and her band Sal Iannello (bass) and Michael Haggerty (drums) recorded at GCR Studios in Buffalo. Tracks of note off Kindred Spirits include the rocking “Bobby B”, the slide blues workout “”Spinning Around”, the blues hoedown “Going For A Ride”, the high energy title track “Kindred Spirits”, three instrumental numbers “Brother’s Lament”, the sizzling “The Cottage” and “Easy Breezy”, the soaring rocker “Larry’s Lounge”, the Juke Joint rave up “Hey There Baby” and the album closing ballad “You Are There”. For more information about Maria Aurigema including upcoming shows and how to purchase her latest album Kindred Spirits go to her website at https://www.mariaaurigema.com or you can visit https://www.facebook.com/MariaAurigemaBand

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The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Destiny Rawls, daughter of soul blues legend Johnny Rawls, has released a new album titled Carry On featuring ten tracks written by dad Johnny. Destini Rawls is a fine blues vocalist herself and is assisted on this album by her Dad on guitar, Kid Anderson on guitar, Donny Mederos on bass, Nic Clark on harp, June Core on drums and Chris Burns and Bob Welsh on keyboards. Highlights off Carry On include the soulful title track a duet with her Dad about passing the torch, the rocking harp howler “I Don’t Want No Man”, the slow smoky blues moaner “You Give Me the Blues”, the swing blues number “Walking Shoes”, the lazy blues of “Blues Party”, the outstanding sweet, sexy and sassy all rolled into one “When You See Me Coming”, the preaching about the high cost of living tune “Whole Lot of Money” and the acapella spiritual LP closer “Motherless Child”. For more information about Destini Rawls and her mighty fine new album Carry On go to https://johnnyrawlsblues.com/biography-destini-rawls or visit https://www.facebook.com/destini.rawlskeyes.7

Singer songwriter Shari Puorto has released a new album titled Hold On an enticing mix of blues, roots, rock and a little funk. Based in Annapolis, MD by way of Southern California, Puorto (vocals) is assisted on the album by Ryan Ball (guitars/background vocals), Byron Isaacs (bass), Randy Schrager (drums), Scott Chasolen (keys/background vocals) and Doug Woolverton (trumpet/background vocals). Woolverton who produced the album with Chasolen is known for his work with Kenny Wayne Sheppard and Roomful of Blues to name a couple. Highlights from Hold On include the upbeat piano driven lament felt by many “Where is all the Great Music Going?”, the big foot stomping roots rockin’ title cut “Hold On”, the slinky and funky ‘70’s vibe of “In the City”, the jilted lovers blues belter “Why Not Me?”, the swinging, sexy and sassy “You’re Right, I’m Wrong For You” and the soaring rocker “Home Bound”. The latest album from Shari Puorto, Hold On, is an infectious, raw, honest and emotional collection of songs. For more about Shari Puorto and her latest release Hold On head over to her website https://sharipuorto.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/ShariPuortoBand

Singer songwriter and ace harmonica player Tim Gartland has released a new album titled Right Amount of Funky an eight song mix of blues, rock, soul and roots music. Recorded in Nashville TN Gartland and his smooth baritone voice and hot harmonica is joined by Jack Bruno on drums, Mike Joyce on bass, Robert Frahm on electric guitar, Nalani Rothrock on backing vocals, Andy Peake adds percussion and background vocals, Dennis Drummond on acoustic guitar and backing vocals and Jolie Grace Wareham also on backing vocals. Lots of nuggets to choose from off Right Amount of Funky including the smooth soulful blues number about a man who loses his job and his woman at the same time “Waste A Worry”, the in the pocket groove of the title cut “Right Amount of Funky”, the hard luck tale of dreams “A Better Life” with its subtle Rumba groove that adds spice and the bittersweet “Walk Away” both co-penned with Karen Leipziger, the one drop Reggae beat of “Alone Times” , the outstanding take it to church blues weeper “About to Cry” and the driving blues rocker “Stop Working Me” which closes the album. For more information about Tim Gartland and his outstanding new release Right Amount of Funky visit his website at https://www.timgartland.com or go to https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014096288148