Cynthia Sayer

Hi!  

A quick note to let you know that tomorrow, June 6, I’ll be giving a lunchtime concert at St Peter’s Church in NYC, 1:00-2:00pm, as part of their Midday Jazz Series.  I’ll be in great musical company with Adrian Cunningham on clarinet & sax, and Mike Weatherly on string bass.  If you’re in the NYC area, I hope you’ll join us for a swinging midday break! Details below:       

Cynthia Sayer Jazz Trio

Wed, June 6, 1:00-2:00pm

St Peter’s Church in the Main Sanctuary

Lexington Ave @ E 54^th St, NYC

Midday Jazz Series

(They request a donation at the door)

With: Cynthia Sayer – banjo & vocals              

          Adrian Cunningham – clarinet & sax

          Mike Weatherly – string bass & vocals

Cynthia Sayer’s Hot Jazz Banjo Show

Cynthia Sayer’s Hot Jazz Banjo Show
Thursday 3/15
Award-winning instrumentalist/vocalist/bandleader Cynthia Sayer is acclaimed by musicians, critics, and fans alike as one of the top 4-string jazz banjoists in the world today. Her eclectic, swing-based shows embody the rarely heard range and versatility of the 4-string banjo in the hands of a master, celebrating historic jazz banjo stars, Vaudeville, American Songbook favorites, virtuoso classics, fun anecdotes, and more.

Sayer first rose to international prominence as a founding member of Woody Allen's New Orleans Jazz Band, all the while exploring her wider musical interests and playing with jazz, popular & roots artists such as Bucky Pizzarelli, Dick Hyman, Wynton Marsalis, Andy Statman, Wycliffe Gordon, Scott Robinson, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, Marvin Hamlisch, John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) ), Charlie Giordano (with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band), and many others.

Featuring Cynthia Sayer’s Joyride Quartet

“Cynthia Sayer is a rarity; a woman who plays banjo with drive and virtuosity.” — THE NEW YORK TIMES

“The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest 2017’s best moments [include] Cynthia Sayer and her Joyride Quartet.” — OFFBEAT MAGAZINE

"Notable women in jazz have stood out as singers and sometimes as pianists. Cynthia Sayer has made her mark in the jazz world in an almost unheard of way, on banjo." — INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN JOURNAL

"Cynthia Sayer is a talented jazz musician who sings and plays banjo with equal expertise. Her voice carries warmth and color ... and her rapid-fire style is phenomenal." — JAZZ TIMES

Photo credit: Gary Spector
https://www.birdlandjazz.com/attraction/cynthia+sayer/

from #CynthiaSayer

Happy Summer!  It's been a while since I've written, but I wanted to be sure to let you know about some upcoming gigs:        
 
Tonight with Woody Allen at the Cafe Carlyle, NYC, 8:45pm
A last-minute heads up that tonight I'll be on piano, not banjo, with Woody Allen’s jazz band. I was in the band for 10+ years but it's been ages since I last played with them…. looking forward to it! 
 
Sat, July 1:  Rochester Jazz Festival 
Next Sat eve I’ll be performing at the Rochester Jazz Festival, with ace reed player and Diva member Alexa Tarantino, and top string bassist and Eastman School of Music Jazz Studies chair  Jeff Campbell.
 
Sun, July 2:  Workshop – Bernunzio’s in Rochester, NY @ Noon
If you play a fretted instrument and enjoy playing  – or aspire to play -- trad jazz/hot swing, come and join us at Bernunzio’s!!  This workshop is open to all levels, so if you strum or pick, I’d love to work with you!  Sign up online.
 
Wed, July 5:  FREE concert, Dobb’s Ferry, NY @ 6:30pm
With my Joyride Quartet: yours truly + Dennis Lichtman on clarinet/violin, Mike Weatherly on string bass/vocals, Larry Eagle on drums.  If it rains, we’ll move indoors to Hudson Social. 

Sat, July 22:  FREE concert, NYC Riverside Park Tennis Lawn, W 97thSt @ 7:00pm 
Bring a picnic blanket/lawn chair and watch the sunset while listening! 
With my Joyride Quartet: yours truly + Dennis Lichtman on clarinet/violin, Mike Weatherly on string bass/vocals, Larry Eagle on drums. 
 
Sun, July 30 – Museum Of Making Music concert, Carlsbad, CA @ 2:00pm
Hope to see you at my Hot Jazz Trio’s matinee concert in beautiful Carlsbad!  I’m looking forward to playing again with former New Yorker Dan Barrett on trombone, and renowned string bassist Dave Stone (along with his amazing jazz creds, you’ve heard him on countless feature films and tv shows).

NOTE: Date change!
My lecture/performance at Lincoln Center's Jazz Academy, "America's Unlikely Jazz Instrument: The 4-String Banjo" has been changed from Aug 7 to Sept 19 -- it's at 7:00pm and FREE -- mark your calendars! 

Warm wishes,
-Cynthia

e-mail from Cynthia Sayer

Hi! A quick last-minute note to let you know about a FREE show TONIGHT on Manhattan’s Upper West Side for the Winter’s Eve @ Lincoln Square 2015. It’s an outdoor festival – yes, you read that correctly – so bundle up and enjoy some Hot Jazz in the cold!  I’ll be doing back-to-back sets with Dennis Lichtman’s wonderful band, Brain Cloud.  There’s also food and other events…. Hope to see you there!   

Monday, Nov 30

Cynthia Sayer & Her Joyride Quartet

6:00 PM & 7:30 PM

Broadway @ 65th St (Richard Tucker Park)

Cynthia Sayer - banjo & vocals 

Charlie Giordano - accordion 

Mike Weatherly - string bass & vocals 

Larry Eagle – drums

www.cynthiasayer.com

Celebrated banjoist Cynthia Sayer

Celebrated banjoist Cynthia Sayer has confirmed the 1st NYC Banjo Bash for Oct 11 at City Winery NY, bringing together the worlds of banjo music to intermingle and share the same stage for a day. The Banjo Bash is a family-friendly daytime event where people of varied musical interests can spend time immersed in the music, history, and popular culture of the banjo, America's only indigenous instrument.

The concert—featuring internationally known banjo stars Kristin Scott Benson (four-time International Bluegrass Music Association’s Banjo Player of the Year), Bruce Molsky (celebrated old-time clawhammer banjoist, fiddler & vocalist), and Cynthia Sayer (acclaimed swing banjoist)—is itself worth the price of admission for anyone who enjoys the banjo.

For enthusiasts & players, there will also be an open jam session, workshops, vendors, and a special mini-exhibit of stunning historic banjos from the collection of The American Banjo Museum, the first exhibit of its kind in NYC!  

Pickers, frailers and strummers of all levels are encouraged to bring their instrument and take part in the day's offerings.  For everyone else, there will be plenty to hear and see and eat and drink -- relax and enjoy some great food and good old foot-stompin' fun.

"We're very excited to present this first ever gathering in New York that welcomes ALL kinds of banjo and shows the fun & great diversity of the instrument," says Sayer. "We hope to really show the instrument's importance in American music and look forward to hearing attendees perform in our open jam sessions."

Schedule:

10:30am - Doors 

11:00am – 1:30ish pm - Onstage Jamming 

11:00am -12:15pm - Workshop with Kristen Scott Benson

11:30am – 12:45pm - Workshop with Cynthia Sayer

12:15 – 1:30 – Workshop with Bruce Molsky

2:00pm – 4:00pm - Concert 

*Rare banjo exhibit, vendors & food available throughout the day

City Winery NY, 155 Varick St, NYC 212.608.0555  citywinery.com

Celebrated banjoist Cynthia Sayer

International Banjo Stars Come Together For Cynthia Sayer's 1st NYC Banjo Bash

Oct 11 at City Winery, New York City

City Winery NY, 155 Varick St, NYC 212.608.0555  citywinery.com

Celebrated banjoist Cynthia Sayer has confirmed the 1^st NYC Banjo Bash for Oct 11 at City Winery NY, bringing together the worlds of banjo music to intermingle and share the same stage for a day. The Banjo Bash is a family-friendly daytime event where people of varied musical interests can spend time immersed in the music, history, and popular culture of the banjo, America's only indigenous instrument.

The concert—featuring internationally known banjo stars Kristin Scott Benson (four-time International Bluegrass Music Association’s Banjo Player of the Year), Bruce Molsky (celebrated old-time clawhammer banjoist, fiddler & vocalist), and Cynthia Sayer (acclaimed swing banjoist)—is itself worth the price of admission for anyone who enjoys the banjo.

For enthusiasts & players, there will also be an open jam session, workshops, vendors, and a special mini-exhibit of stunning historic banjos from the collection of The American Banjo Museum, the first exhibit of its kind in NYC! 

Pickers, frailers and strummers of all levels are encouraged to bring their instrument and take part in the day's offerings.  For everyone else, there will be plenty to hear and see and eat and drink -- relax and enjoy some great food and good old foot-stompin' fun.

"We're very excited to present this first ever gathering in New York that welcomes ALL kinds of banjo and shows the fun & great diversity of the instrument," says Sayer. "We hope to really show the instrument's importance in American music and look forward to hearing attendees perform in our open jam sessions."
 

Schedule:
10:30am - Doors
11:00am – 1:30ish pm - Onstage Jamming 
11:00am -12:15pm - Workshop with Kristen Scott Benson
11:30am – 12:45pm - Workshop with Cynthia Sayer
12:15 – 1:30 – Workshop with Bruce Molsky
2:00pm – 4:00pm - Concert
*Rare banjo exhibit, vendors & food available throughout the day

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Jim Eigo Jazz Promo Services

E-Mail: jim@jazzpromoservices.com
http://www.jazzpromoservices.com/

Cynthia Sayer On Piano Jazz

by GRANT JACKSON, June 14, 2013 3:12 PM
Cynthia Sayer is widely regarded as one of the best banjoists in the world, able to perform in virtually any genre. Her accolades include the National Banjo Hall of Fame, a New York Philharmonic appearance and performances for two U.S. presidents. Sayer has played with Woody Allen's jazz band for more than a decade, and on this episode of Piano Jazz With Jon Weber, she whips up a fresh take on an old-time sound. Her latest album is titled Joyride.
Read more: http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191666399/cynthia-sayer-on-piano-jazz?ft=3&f=126134671&sc=nl&cc=jn-20130616

Cynthia Sayer is regarded as one of

Drawing by Boss Queraud
“Cynthia Sayer is a rarity; a woman who plays banjo
with drive and virtuosity.” -- THE NEW YORK TIMES

“She takes us into places where you’d never expect the banjo to be admitted and makes
herself completely at home.” -- DICK HYMAN

Cynthia Sayer is regarded as one of the top 4-string banjoists in the world today. A member of Woody Allen's jazz band for over 10 years, Cynthia's solo career has taken her well beyond these New Orleans roots to become an acclaimed bandleader and guest artist. She has a unique and expansive approach to the instrument which is all her own, and she is also a respected vocalist. Her eclectic repertoire ranges from swing and hot jazz to tango, western, classical, and more.

Sayer has worked with a variety of leading jazz and popular artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Marian McPartland, Dick Hyman, Bill Cosby, Warren Vaché, Les Paul, Wycliffe Gordon, Marvin Hamlisch, Kenny Davern, Bucky Pizzarelli, Milt Hinton, Randy Sandke, Scott Robinson, and many others. She has also played with some top bluegrass/roots/country artists, including Tony Trischka, Bill Keith, Andy Statman, Eric Weissberg, Mike Marshall, Odetta, and John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band).

Cynthia began playing the banjo at age 13, when, after begging her parents for a drum set, she one day discovered a banjo on her bed, clearly intended as a more peaceful substitute. Years later, after Cynthia chose the banjo over law school, her banjo teacher, Patty Fischer, would apologize to Cynthia's mother whenever they crossed paths at the local grocery store. Her mother always kindly reassured the woman that it wasn't her fault: Cynthia was bound to find her way into music one way or the other.

Cynthia's extensive career includes performances in New York City's Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, playing for two U.S. Presidents, appearing with The New York Philharmonic, feature film and TV soundtracks including "Anything Else," Bullets Over Broadway," "Purple Rose Of Cairo," "Sophie's Choice," "The Cosby Mysteries," TV commercials and radio jingles, and numerous national TV and radio show appearances in the USA and abroad. On the lighter side, she is the subject of a Trivial Pursuit game question and was the official banjoist for the New York Yankees.

Read more: http://www.cynthiasayer.com/bio.html