Category Archives: Live Music

Live Music at Carmen’s Café! Tapas and live music and good friends!

We will reopen on Friday, January 25, with Mundo Nuevo

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The next week, Jan 25th we reopen with Mundo Nuevo  and hope to see you all  happy and full of love  from a wonderful year’s end and new beginning.

With All Our Hearts,

— Carmen &  Jim

Mundo Nuevo is a musical quartet that is dedicated to preserving the classic repertoire of the Spanish speaking Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Jose Cruz, Walter Ramos, Fernando Gomes, and Jose Melendez.


Cafe open from 5–10pm with music in two live shows from 6–7:30 or 8–9:30 5$ Cover.

Call 518 326 2064 for reservations

Photo courtesy by Kathleen Lisson

12/14: Mundo Nuevo Returns to Carmen’s!

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12/14:  Mundo Nuevo Returns to Carmen’s!

Mundo Nuevo is a musical quartet that is dedicated to preserving the classic repertoire of the Spanish speaking Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Jose Cruz, Walter Ramos, Fernando Gomes, and Jose Melendez.


~ Dinner Specials for 12/14 ~

~ SOUP ~

Black Bean and Corn Soup

~ TAPAS ~

Stuffed Clams

Seafood Bouillabaisse
over saffron rice

Grilled Flank Steak
w/Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Veggie

Pulled Chicken
w/ peppers and onions in a spicy tomato sauce, served w/rice and beans

Risotto
w/sauteed seasonal veggies

~ DESSERTS ~

Flan
Chocolate Cheese Cake

Cafe open from 5–10pm with music in two live shows from 6–7:30 or 8–9:30 5$ Cover.
Call 518 326 2064 for reservations

Sensemaya Trio: Latin Jazz Salsa Dance Rhythms

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12/7: Sensemaya Trio

Sensemaya Trio fuses hot Latin dance rhythms with the cool sophistication of jazz improvisation. Their repertoire includes funkified interpretations of classic salsa to originals written in the revolutionary timba style of Cuba. Their own uniquely fresh Latin jazz compositions include a variety of styles from Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Brazil and the Dominican Republic. While Sensemaya can cater to the intimate jazz listener, their true purpose is to get audiences out of their seats and on to the dance floor.


Cafe open from 5–10pm with music in two live shows from 6–7:30 or 8–9:30 5$ Cover.
Call 518 326 2064 for reservations

~ SOPA ~

Potato-Leek Soup

~ TAPAS ~

NY Strip Steak w/a chimichurri sauce
served with garlic mashed potatoes and veggie

Grilled salmon over saffron rice
w/a roasted red pepper sauce

Roast Chicken
w/yucca fries and veggie

Polenta Cakes w/portobello mushrooms,
fresh mozzarella, and grilled veggies w/a sundried tomato tapenade

~ DESSERTS ~

Chocolate Cheesecake

Flan

~ SPECIALS FOR SAT & SUN –  DEC8 & 9 ~

Huevos Benedictus
poached eggs over rice cakes w/bacon and house made hollandaise sauce

Apple-Walnut-Cranberry Pancakes
multi grain or regular

The Nellies perform at CArmen's CAfe for The Troy Victorian Stroll

Sunday, 12/ 2: Victorian Stroll Come Hear The Nellies: energetic rootsy, alt-country, Americana band

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Sunday, 12/ 2: Victorian Stroll Come Hear The Nellies 2-6PM, No Cover

Victorian Stroll Special: Fresh Scratch-Made Spicy Hot Chocolate

photo

From http://www.thenellies.com/

The Nellies are an Albany, NY based, rootsy, alt-country, Americana band. The band is driven by core singer-songwriter duo, Karen Ann Gilpin (acoustic guitar/banjo) and Peggy Lecuyer (mandolin/harmonica) who both contribute driving rhythms and beautiful two part harmonies to their songs. They are joined by Gene Lemme who keeps The Nellies in line on the upright bass. Also joining The Nellies at shows are an assortment of stellar lead players such as Kevin Maul and Mike McMann, as well as others. You will find The Nellies’ energy contagious. Their fun loving stage presence will put a smile on your face.

Karen Ann and Peggy write a number of the songs that The Nellies perform and combine them with well chosen covers performed by Fred Eaglesmith, Donna the Buffalo, The Grateful Dead, Kasey Chambers, Gram Parsons, Abigail Washburn, Bob Dylan and Gillian Welch as well as the inclusion of some favorite, traditional bluegrass songs.

The Nellies have proudly released their first CD in October of 2011 and are laying the musical groundwork for their next release. You will find The Nellies playing at a variety of events and venues in the greater Albany, NY area – please go to our gigs tab to see where we’ll be playing next and feel free to contact us to play at a venue near you!

Sonny & Perley / Tapas / Make Brunch Plans / The Nellies

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Here’s what’s happening this weekend at Carmen’s:

Sonny & Perley Live Friday: Enjoy a wonderful evening of  Tapas, Jazz, Bossa Nova, American Songbook Standards, and International Cabaret…

We are serving our famous Cuban inspired Breakfast and Lunch this Saturday & Sunday. You’ve cooked enough last week, take a break, sleep in and let us do the fixing this weekend.

Victorian Stroll Entertainment by the Nellies on Sunday December 2nd. 2-6PM, No Cover

11/30: Sonny & Perley Jazz, Bossa Nova, American Songbook Standards, and International Cabaret

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From sonnyandperely.com

The exciting duo of Sonny Daye and Perley Rousseau achieves a rare musical symbiosis. The husband and wife team have spent the last several years developing and perfecting their unique blend of Jazz, Bossa Nova, American Songbook Standards, and International Cabaret which has become their musical signature. They engagingly perform the timeless standards of the Great American Songbook such as Berlin, Gershwin and Porter as well as the irresistible Bossa Nova melodies of Antonio Carlos Jobim.

11/23: tophenjammin — Soulful, Jazzy Bluegrass – Ice Cream for the Ears

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tophenjamin is Benjamin Lane on mandolin (and occasional melodica) and Christopher Lane on guitar. They both sing. The brotherly duo plays a wide variety of styles, but their sound is firmly rooted in bluegrass and gospel and heavily influenced by jazz and R&B. vocal harmonies frequently compliment their acoustic picking.

Annie and The Hedonists / Tapas! / South Troy through Outsider Eyes

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Here’s what we have in store for you this weekend in the Heart of the South Troy Arts District:

Annie and The Hedonists return to Carmen’s Friday November 16th— Acoustic blues, swing, and folk! …A band with a great lead singer and tight harmonies, covering an eclectic mix of acoustic music, torchy blues, standards, bluegrass, gospel, labor ballads, early jazz.

Tapas! Tapas! Tapas! All made fresh from scratch because we make everything that way.

South Troy Inspires! We have a wonderful new art exhibit at “South trough  Outsider Eyes.” A lot of young folks are moving in to South Troy and starting families. Housing is cheap, lots are large, access is good, and there is a growing sense of community plus a lot of local color.  We wanted to see what these artists would make of it.

Photo courtesy Katria Foster

Tonight! Annie And The Hedonists—Acoustic blues, swing, and folk!

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Friday November 16th— Annie & The Hedonists—Acoustic blues, swing, and folk!

…A band with a great lead singer and tight harmonies, covering an eclectic mix of acoustic music, torchy blues, standards, bluegrass, gospel, labor ballads, early jazz, …A wild ride across the vast acoustic music landscape Greg Haymes, Times Union

Annie and the Hedonists blew the place away Ralph Hunt, Heartland Music

Annie Get Your Fun! Tom Keyser, Times Union

Cafe open from 5–10pm with music in two live shows from 6–7:30 or 8–9:30 5$ Cover.
Call 518 326 2064 for reservations

~ Tapas Specials for Friday, November 16 ~

Fried Marinated Chicken Breast
w/Arroz con Gandules—Rice w/Pigeon Peas and Plantains

Guiso de Mariscos-Hearty Fisherman’s Stew
over saffron rice

Grilled Flank Steak w/Yucca fries and veggie

Eggplant stuffed with asparagus, manchego cheese
and tomato-lime sauce over saffron rice

~ Full Tapas Menu Here ~

~ Dessert Specials ~

Flan
Mango-Lime Cheesecake

~ Specials for Sat & Sun, Nov. 17 & 18 ~

Steak and eggs, served with home fries and toast

Pumpkin cream cheese mouse served over pancakes/Short Stack

~ Full Breakfast Menu Here ~

MasterCard  —  Discover  —  Visa  —  American Express accepted.

Christine & Elliot Spero — Jazz, Latin & Pop Friday 11/9

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November 9th : Christine & Elliot Spero – Playing a mix of Jazz, Latin & Pop Our unique versions of Jobim to Joni / Brazil 66 to Burt Bacharach, Carole King to Carlos, Beatles, Originals & more. Jazz, Latin, Brazilian improvisational NU jazz Music Group.

Photo of jazz musicians Christine & Elliot Spero

Christine & Elliot Spero – Playing a mix of Jazz, Latin & Pop Our unique versions of Jobim to Joni / Brazil 66 to Burt Bacharach, Carole King to Carlos, Beatles, Originals & more. Jazz,Latin,Brazilian improvisational NU jazz Music Group

Cafe open from 5–10pm with music in two live shows from 6–7:30 or 8–9:30 5$ Cover. Call 518 326 2064 for reservations

~ Tapas Specials for Friday, November 9 ~

Soups: cup/bowl
Roasted Corn Chowder w/ Yucca & Avocado
Black Bean w/ Chorizo & Bacon
Black Bean w/ Corn

Yucca Chicken Croquettes
w/ Red Pepper Sauce

Mixed Grill Plate
Lamb Chop, Duck Breast, & Filet Mignon
served w/ Garlic Mashed Yucca & Braised Greens

Sauteed Shrimp
w/ Coriander-Cream Sauce over Saffron Rice

Pan Seared Chicken Breast
w/ Red Pepper Sauce & Yucca Fries

Cilantro-Lime Crispy Tofu
Served over Rice & Veggies

~ Desserts ~

Mango-Lime Cheesecake
Flan

~ Full Dinner Menu Here ~