January 2025 & 2024 Year in Review

Combination January Newsletter and 2024 Review Post

Greetings Guests!

Hope all your holidays were good or are currently going well!

Today we’ve got a special post that includes dates and announcements for January 2025, as well as a some highlights from 2024. It’s like a combination Long John Silver’s/Taco Bell — convenient, but a little weird.

Since this post is a little different than my typical monthly posts, here’s a table of contents…

1. January performances + bigger 2025 events

2. Announcements

3. 2024 review

4. Looking ahead to 2025

5. Photo/video highlights

6. Spam

A brief note for new-comers:

Unfortunately the algorithms that run mainstream social media have made it increasingly difficult to reach people through the noise of sponsored content, ads, and suggested posts (e.g., Taylor Swift sightings, abandoned house tours, etc). Substack offers a convenient way to give fans, friends, and family a monthly report of what I’m up to, straight to your inbox — no ads or doomscrolling required! All of my “content” is free, and you do not need to make/pay for an account to receive these posts.

If you don’t want to receive these updates, I won’t be offended — feel free to trash or unsubscribe at any time.

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January 2025

Rolling out some new projects, finishing up some old ones, and refocusing for the year ahead.

Where am I playing next? Good question!

Here are some public performances you can check out this month. Keep in my that my schedule is subject to change as other performances come up. The best way to stay fully up to date is check the calendar at wyattambrosemusic.com/calendar and follow me on instagram and facebook.

You can also ask for more details on any performance by contacting me at wyattambrosemusic@gmail.com.

Thursday 1/16, 8-10pm — Avella-Ambrose & Assoc. at the Van Dyck Music Club, Schenectady NY. Tickets are $20 (fees included) available here. Featuring Thom Avella (Sax/co-leader), Brian Halliday (piano), Jason Emmond (bass), Nick Anderson (drums). Definitely one to mark in your calendar!

Friday 1/17, 6-8pm — W.A.T. at The Tasting Lab, Greenville, NY. Trio featuring Jason Emmond (bass), Matt Niedbalski (drums). Free admission, food and drinks required.

Saturday 1/18, 8-11pm — Organ Party (the return) at The B-Side, Oneonta NY. Funky/jazzy/jammy organ grinding from Conor Murphy, Evan Jagels, and Sebastian Green. $10 cover charge, 1 drink minimum.

Sunday 1/26, 1-3pm — Soloists in the Round at The Gatehouse, Morris NY. The second outing of soloists in the round — a unique concert format featuring three soloists performing for the audience and each other — featuring Blake Fleming and Evan Jagels. Free admission, donations strongly encouraged.

Further ahead in 2025:

Friday 2/7, 7:30-9pm — Up There Release Concert/Artist Talk/Faculty Recital, Hartwick College, Oneonta NY - FREE!

Thursday 2/20, — Up There: Park Theater Release Concert in Glens Falls NY.

Friday 4/4, 8pm — Sara Caswell with Killdeer Trio at the Van Dyck Music Club - tix TBD

Saturday 4/5, all day — Hartwick Jazz day w/ guest artist Sara Caswell, Oneonta NY - FREE!

January: A chance to slow down and refocus

January is usually a quieter time where I can rest, recoup, and get some projects done that require a bit more extended focus. This year I just have a few gigs, which leaves some breathing room to finish the rollout of longer-term projects that have been on the back burner — primarily the release of my latest album, as well as concert planning for 2025 and class prep for my first go of the “History of Rock” class at Hartwick.

Besides work, I’m also taking the chance to breathe. I always find that taking a break helps me refocus and work smarter — especially after a big push. So, Katie and I will be taking a trip to Philly to hear some music, see friends, and visit museums at the end of the month. Snow-shoeing is also on the agenda for January, weather permitting.

Here are a few things coming up that I’m excited to tell you about…

Avella-Ambrose & Assoc. at The Van Dyck

No, I did not start a law-firm — I am debuting a new quintet co-led by myself and Thom Avella at the historic Van Dyck Music Club in Schenectady NY!

Thom is a fantastic musician, composer, saxophonist, and bandleader based near Glens Falls NY. For the past 2-3 years, they have been one of the most in-demand side-musicians in the NYS Capital region working with the area’s top musicians. Recently, Thom has been focusing on presenting original music through their chordless trio, TA+2 (video attached below), featuring Jason Emmond on Bass and Nick Anderson on drums.

Thom and I met in Joe Barna’s Sketches of Influence last December (which you can hear here), and have been playing together in various capacities since then. When given the opportunity to collaborate on a show at the recently revamped Van Dyck, we both jumped at the chance to put together a larger group that could flesh out our original works and arrangements.

The band will feature the TA+2 rhythm section of Jason and Nick, plus my friend and fellow SUNY Purchase Alum, Brian Halliday. We’ll play mostly originals, with a few renditions of standards and other stuff as well.

The Van Dyck used to be a staple of upstate jazz tours, hosting luminaries such as Dizzy Gillespie and Chick Corea. It’s really exciting to see the tradition continue for new generations of musicians and listeners.

Whether you’re in rural upstate NY or a big city, it’s not always easy to find close collaborators. I feel extremely lucky to be in the company of like-minded musicians of a high caliber living in such a rural area.

Up There: Out Feb 7th, 2025

I’ve slowly been dispensing info about this for a few months now, but we’re finally here — my latest record, Up There, will be released on Friday February 7th, 2025.

The music for Up There was developed in conversation with the local landscape – both real and remembered. I visited places throughout Otsego County that hold significance to me as an artist and as an individual, reflecting upon my experiences and memories through journaling and musical improvisation. Full liner notes describing the composition process, context, and concept will be available on my website upon the album release.

The music was recorded, mixed and mastered by Scott Petito at NRS studios this fall, and was performed by Keith Pray (saxophone), Jason Emmond (bass), Matt Niedbalski (drums) and myself on Nov. 3rd 2024.

The album will be available for streaming on all major platforms, and for purchase at bandcamp and on physical CDs. My wife Katie designed the CD jacket using film photos she took throughout Otsego county, and it turned out beautiful — it’s worth having even if you don’t own a CD player!

The original Up There Quartet will be performing an album release concert on Feb. 7th at Hartwick College’s Anderson Theater. The concert will also include an artist talk where I’ll briefly discuss the composition process, providing context for each piece. The concert is 100% free and will include refreshments afterwards.

Of course, any acknowledgment of the release means the world to me. But, if you’re able to come to the release show it would make me very happy! If you can’t make it, we will also be doing a show at The Park Theater in Glens Falls on Feb. 20th (but that one isn’t free).

Shoutout to the wonderful people at Earlville Opera House who funded this project:

This project is funded by Earlville Opera House's Arts in the Community Grants Program, made possible by the NYS Legislature with support of the Office of the Governor, and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts.

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2024 in Review

We made it!

Although I always find the holidays a bit stressful, I do look forward to New Years. I like the opportunity to reflect on my own and also with family, friends, colleagues, and collaborators.

2024 was one of my busiest years yet, and I really can’t be anything but grateful. If you’ve been to a show, listened to a recording, read one of these newsletters, or shown support in any other way — thank you so, so much.

What happened…?

Here’s a few things I’m thankful to say I was able to do this year:

1. Played 102 “professional” performances (my first year breaking 100)

2. Made 2 studio recordings of all original material, and 1 live recording.

3. Released one live album: Solo ‘24

4. Was awarded my first grant through the NYS Council on the Arts / Earlville Opera House

5. Helped organize the first annual Hartwick Jazz Day, featuring Ray Vega

6. Played a blues with Joel Frahm at the Alias Jazz Festival

7. Worked for 8 different bandleaders

8. Ran the second year of my Young Improvisers Collective workshop

9. Finished my 10th semester teaching at Hartwick College

10. Conducted my first college jazz big-band

Killdeer Trio round-up

I can’t have any sort of year-end-review without adding a section for my band, Killdeer Trio. This year we each put a lot of effort into taking our band from a fun group-project/experiment to one of our primary vehicles for expression.

Here’s a few things we were able to do this year:

1. Open for the Joel Frahm Trio at the 2024 Alias Coffee Winter Jazz Festival in Troy NY. Thanks Joe Barna for booking us!

2. Played across NYS in towns & cities including Utica, Ithaca, Mt. Kisco, Schenectady, Albany, Troy, New Paltz, Walton, Oneonta, Cooperstown, Sidney, Delhi, and Greenville…

3. Recorded our second studio album with Andris Balins at Dry Hill Studios in Oneonta NY.

4. Collaborated with two guest musicians — Laura Leguía, and Thom Avella.

5. Played more shows in 2024 than we did in 2022 and 2023 combined.

Above all… I am most proud of and grateful for the opportunity to share our music with so many great people this year. It’s very reassuring and uplifting to have people connect with our music in such an unlikely part of the world.

THANK YOU!

What’s next…?

Who knows…? Why are you asking me?

This year was pretty busy, and I can say that one of my most important goals for 2025 is to take better care of my body and mind so I can continue to make the most of the opportunities I’ve been afforded.

Resolutions? Ask me at the next show.

Here are a few things to look out for in the coming year, though:

1. 2nd Hartwick Jazz Day feat. Sara Caswell and Killdeer Trio

2. New Killdeer Trio album

3. More concerts and music from my Trio and Quartets

4. More collaborations with other musicians

5. The unknown

Highlight Reel

KDT at Alias Winter Jazz Fest:

KDT Live in Utica:

KDT at Jazz on Jay

Up There recording session: Keith, Jason, Matt, Me

Solo ‘24 live recording/filming:

The End!

Thanks so much for reading all this — I really appreciate it a lot!

That’s it for this month! If you enjoyed this newsletter and aren’t subscribed, feel free to subscribe with button below or by contacting me at wyattambrosemusic@gmail.com.

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