Idle Chatter

Getting Randy: Trumpet and flugelhorn player Randy Brecker blew the minds of a packed house on March 2 when he made a stop at Onondaga Community College’s Storer Auditorium as the third artist in the 2011-2012 Legends of Jazz Series, part of the Arts Across Campus initiative championed by Syracuse Jazz Fest maestro Frank Malfitano. Brecker brought along Ada Rovatti on tenor and soprano saxophone, Oli Rockerberger on keys, piano and vocals, Rodney Holmes on drums, Mitch “Moose” Stein on guitar and Dean Johnson on upright bass for the intimate and lively show that ran nearly two hours. 

MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO

Peace out, Syracuse: Music Editor Jessica Novak is headed down to Austin, Texas, where everything is bigger—including the giant music, film and interactive festival, South By Southwest (SXSW). Novak will join a group of other Syracuse music industry fans and professionals to make the trek for the music portion of the fest, running from Tuesday, March 13, through Sunday, March 18. Keep an eye on syracusenewtimes.com, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to follow along as she chases keynote speaker Bruce Springsteen, performers Gary Clark Jr., Alabama Shakes, Lukas Nelson and more. 

Bow quest: Many of Syracuse’s top musicians are expected to visit New Comer Funeral Home, 705 N. Main St., North Syracuse, on Saturday, March 10, to pay tribute to fiddling great Hal Casey, who died on Jan. 17. Calling hours will run from 1 to 4 p.m. with a memorial service to follow. A tribute and benefit event is planned for later this year.