The past year has seen both highs and lows in the music world, locally, regionally and nationally. Here are a few favorites worth noting...

But in other ways, I am blessed that so many people have taken me under their wing and helped expand my head and horizons in such a short period. My coworkers have been incredible and encouraging, always backing my initiatives to try new communication methods like blogging, video, photography, social media and more.

Music has always been a powerful communication tool for all types of social and political messages. Whether it’s Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son,” John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” or anything from Woody Guthrie to Rage Against the...

Music has been recognized as a universal language many times over. From the first moments of a song to the last, a person can go from feeling one emotion to another, regardless of lyrics. Very often the communication is in the notes, not the words.

In “The Queen of Kings,” the Dec. 7 Syracuse New Times article with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings that previewed their Dec. 10 show at the Westcott Theater, Jones laid it on the line: “We’re not playin’ around.” Honey, she meant it.

There are classical violinists, there are jazz cats, and there are experimental musicians. Caryn Lin, however, carved herself a niche composing “Native American, West African, technotribal, Australian, cosmic, Celtic rock” pieces. With looping pedals tucked beneath her toes and an electric violin in hand, Lin weaves one-woman soundscapes onstage. She brings techniques learned in Germany to the 99-seat Nelson Odeon for an 8 p.m. show on Saturday, Oct. 10.

Syracuse scene for jazz music crops up at summer get-togethers like the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival, weekly gigs at downtown restaurants such as the Syracuse Suds Factory and Pastabilities, and sporadic concerts held at Jazz Central. And no, we’re not forgetting the local participants at the annual Syracuse Jazz Fest at Onondaga Community College.

There’s music playing in the background when Sharon Jones answers her phone in South Carolina, where she relocated in April after living in New York City since 1959. Jones excitedly dishes about her recent discovery on Facebook literally minutes before the interview. It seems that The Jelly Jazz Radio Show is featuring her first major performance with her backing band, the Dap-Kings, at the time called the Soul Providers, back in London circa 1999. And she’s loving listening in.

“We actually came up with it {the bio},” Fuzz explains in a phone interview from his home in Connecticut. His wife, Carrie, also on the line, chimes in, “’Cause nobody got it. You know what your influences are and what elements stick out. The Beatles: the harmony vocals, the songwriting we use.

Multi-hyphenate musicmaker Isreal Hagan does it all on his new CD Balance