Potsdam, NY, Jul 15, 2011 — The Jewish "fusion" group, Zetz will perform their unique array of Jewish genres, including Klezmer, Israeli and Ladino music in Potsdam this Sunday. The concert, at noon at Temple Beth El, is in honor of the Crane School of Music's 125th Anniversary. Their first CD, Hine Ma Tov...How Good It Is, has received outstanding reviews. Todd Moe has a preview.

The concert begins at noon after a 10:30am brunch at the synagogue. All are welcome. RSVP at info@potsdamsynagogue.org  Go to full article

Waddington, NY, Jul 01, 2011 — The Northern Lights Orchestra's first cd is out, just in time for the ensemble's summer season. The group, composed of professional and part time musicians from Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, has a concert tonight in Waddington in Island View Park (7 pm).

The orchestra began three summers ago out of what contrabassist David Katz calls a group of musicians who said, "We don't play enough -- let's start an orchestra." Todd Moe spoke with Katz, one of its founding members, about their new recording, titled Celtic Journey, and love of music.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Nov 12, 2010 — The Potsdam ensemble Piquant! joined us in the studio for some live music. Just the thing for an autumn morning. Like their brand of Latin/bistro music? You're invited to a live recording session at the Russell Opera House on Sunday at 3 pm for their next cd, The South of My North.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Jul 09, 2010 — We'll close out this sizzling week with the spicy sounds of the Potsdam group, "Piquant!" They joined Todd Moe in the studio for some live Latin/bistro music. The ensemble has a busy weekend performing at the Potsdam Summer Festival on Saturday and at the Norwood Village Green Concert Series on Sunday night.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Mar 19, 2010 — The Potsdam Latin/bistro ensemble Piquant joins Todd Moe in the studio to help get us moving into spring. Dance along with the radio!  Go to full article

Mar 27, 2009 — The SUNY-Potsdam campus is quiet this week for Spring Break, but earlier this month a practice room at the Crane School of Music was sizzling with salsa! The 21 musicians represent nearly every aspect of music life at Crane - strings, brass, percussion, piano, woodwinds and voice. They're preparing for another trip to Mexico this summer. Todd Moe sat in on a rehearsal and spoke with some of the students and director Marsha Baxter who started the group when she arrived ten years ago with a passion for Latin music.  Go to full article

Sep 10, 2008 — Walk into a coffeehouse or boutique almost anywhere, and you may see a display of brightly-colored world music CDs. Putumayo Records' compilations are famous for bringing little-known global artists to American ears. The man who discovers those musical gems lives right here on the east side of the Champlain Valley, and he's started his own world music label. Jacob Edgar has brought musicians from Central America, Asia, and Africa to his studios in Charlotte, Vermont. His latest artist, Chiwoniso of Zimbabwe, was rehearsing at a little farmhouse nearby for her upcoming North American tour. David Sommerstein stopped by and has this profile.  Go to full article

Sep 10, 2008 — If you love world music, Jacob Edgar of Cumbancha Records is the guy to talk to. Edgar's on the inside of the world music industry. Cumbancha recently won a major industry award. David Sommerstein sat down with Edgar to talk about the inner workings and future of world music.  Go to full article

Aug 24, 2007 — A chance encounter by two filmmakers in a refugee camp in Guinea, West Africa brings us our next story. Zach Niles and Banker White met the Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars in 2002. They documented the story of survivors of the deadly civil war in Sierra Leone who played music to pass the time in the refugee camp. The resulting film made the festival circuit. It snowballed into a POV documentary on PBS, an appearance on Oprah Winfrey, and a record contract for the band. The Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars' second U.S. tour makes a stop Sunday night in Burlington at the Higher Ground Concert Hall. David Sommerstein spoke with the group's founder.

**Tune in to the Beat Authority from 3-4:45 pm today for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the concert**  Go to full article

Jul 12, 2007 — The Reverend Dr. Fred Garry from First Presbyterian Church of Watertown, NY talks about the Mzuzu Youth Choir's visit to the North Country. The choir toured Northern New York and Vermont for nearly a month in Summer 2007.  Go to full article