Friday November 2nd Charlie Smith & Rob Aronstein— Blues
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
Check out their new CD Steppin’ Down Blues Lane. – two cuts were originally recorded at Carmen’s Cafe.
Charlie Smith Engaging and dynamic performer, prolific songwriter, blues guitarist and vocalist of the highest caliber are just some of the descriptions one could apply to Charlie Smith. Entertaining listeners in New York’s Capital District for nearly 40 years, Charlie is happy to have found in the players listed below a virtuoso backing group equal to the task of expressing and extending his musical vision. For more on Charlie himself, click here (dedicated page under construction).
Rob Aronstein Piano, Hammond Organ, Vocals
Rob Aronstein has been working with and promoting Charlie and the Charlie Smith Blues Band since 1999, performing on and producing Charlie’s CD, “Hardly Ever Blue”. Rob currently performs with Charlie and as a solo and freelance pianist/organist.
Three friends playing rock, folk, blues –
Offering jazz and Latin their dues;
A few jug tunes to add some spice,
With maybe some naughty and maybe some nice!
Drinking coffee is part of the share
Trying to keep the caffeine spare,
Cause these three players don’t need much
To keep their motors hot to the touch!
Pickin and drumming and singing the songs
With Dangerous on Decaf your night can’t go wrong!
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, August 24
Chicken Breast Wrapped in Cuban Pancetta
w/ Mango-Black Bean Salsa
over Saffron Rice & Plantains
Strip Steak Au Jus
w/ Pureed Yucca & Seasonal Veggie
Pan Seared Salmon
w/ Red Pepper Coulis
over Saffron Rice & Veggies
Friday July 13 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 Menu Specials for Fri Jul 13 ~
Chicken Croquettes w/ Spicy Chipotle Aioli
Spicy Grilled Chicken Breast W/Mango-Avocado Salsa, served with rice and beans.
Pan Seared Pork Tenderloin Medallions W/ Papaya Black Bean Sauce served with yucca fries
Sauteed Garlic Shrimp W/ Rum Sauce, served over saffron rice
Potato Kneidlach W/ sauteed seasonal veggies in a white wine sauce.
George Fletcher’s Folding Money Plays the Blues Live at Carmen’s Cafe Friday, July 6, 2012
George Fletcher’s Foldin’ Money plays a variety of blues that teeters on rock, occasionally jazz, and even a little reggae. Expect to hear Foldin’ Money’s takes on the music of Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Howlin’ Wolf, Little walter, Freddy King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, …Stevie Ray Vaughan, George Benson, Bo Diddley, Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana. In addition, some standards from the great American songbook occasionally find their way in to the set as well as a bunch of great original tunes.
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
This Friday, July 6, is Paella Day at Carmen’s!
Sample Three Paellas—
Mark Emanation and Acoustic Sky Special Tribute To Ernie Williams This Friday, June 29 at Carmen’s
Shows at 6 & 8, $5 Cover
Mark Emanatian’s Acoustic Sky will be playing two shows on Friday, June 29. This special show will feature songs of Ernie Williams. Mark Emanatian was a longtime member of Ernie’s band and he will honor Ernie’s memory with acoustic renditions of some of Mr. Williams’ best loved tunes.
Folding Sky. Blues for the new century. Ancient Rhythms. Melodies from the turning of the earth. Songs that touch the sky while staying rooted in the ground. Beauty, power, passion, grace. Folding Sky will touch your heart, move your body and inspire your soul.
Folding Sky is first and foremost a band. A band in the old and real sense. Family. Committed. Telepathic. Folding Sky, based in Albany New York, has released 5 albums of original material: The brand new “Lost Roots” (2010), “Dancing with My Guitar” (2002), “Ghostyard” (2004), “FOUR DAYS IN THE GARDEN”(2006), and “Acoustic Sky” (2007). These albums have received rave reviews and have received extensive radio airplay. Anthony Sica of ELMORE Magazine called “Four Days In The Garden” “one of the best I’ve ever heard”. Folding Sky has been joined on stage by blues legend Big Time Sarah and guitar legend Rhett Tyler.
Led by Mark Emanatian, guitarist/singer/songwriter, who made a name for himself as the lead and slide guitarist for the highly acclaimed blues band Ernie Williams and the Wildcats. Emanatian recorded six independent-label albums with the Wildcats, co-producing and writing more than his share of the material. Emanatian has appeared on stage with blues notables such as Hubert Sumlin, Lonnie Brooks, and Buddy Guy. In addition, Emanatian has performed on stage with Patty Smith, Levon Helm, and Bruce Willis. Emanatian was voted Bandleader of the Year in 2000 by Metroland Magazine. After a decade with the Wildcats, Emanatian formed Folding Sky.
He is joined by the legendary drummer Al Kash. Kash, a master musician and force of nature, has toured and recorded for over thirty years. Kash, a self-taught drummer, started playing in 1964 in Perth, West Australia and moved to Sydney in 1969. There he joined Blackfeather and toured & recorded the self-titled album [with guest Bon Scott]. Kash moved to New York in 1977 and formed the Units/Fear of Strangers. His credits include Kim Simmonds/Savoy Brown, Billy C. Farlow, Commander Cody, Bo Diddley, Dave Hole, Ellen McIllwain, and Ernie Williams.
On bass is the longtime roots musician and extraordinary instrumentalist Tom Dolan. His impressive resume includes The Slugs; Good Friday; the Jim Carrey Blues Band; the Chromatones; and Dolan, Dolan, Dolan.
On co-lead guitar is the equally accomplished Grant Perry. Grant began his performance career as the cofounder of The Majestics, playing high school dances, college frat parties, and local clubs. Looking beyond the Capital Region for more musical opportunities, he traveled south and west. After adventures in Miami and Austin, Grant settled in the French Quarter of New Orleans Louisiana for nearly a decade, playing Bourbon Street clubs and local uptown venues such as Tipitinas. Moving west, Grant’s home base became San Francisco for the next decade, performing professionally in venues reaching from Las Vegas, Los Angles, Reno, and of course back home in San Francisco. Grant has backed well known artists such as, Elvin Bishop, Doug Kershaw, Frankie Ford, Vikki Lee, and Chris Rowan, just to name a few. He has recorded albums at Sea Saint Studios in New Orleans, Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, and The Plant in San Francisco.
~ Dinner Specials for Friday June 29th ~
–Many Veggies are F-r-r-r-e-s-h from the garden–
APPETIZERS
Gazpacho….Served Chilled w Crackers
Chicken Croquettes
TAPAS SPECIALS
Corn Meal Crusted Salmon w/Grilled Peach Salsa, over Red Jasmine Basmati Rice
Cuban Chicken Wings w/Spicy Mango Sauce, Served w/Rice & Beans
Pulled Pork w/Guava BBQ Sauce, Served w/Yucca Fries
Friday June 8 Charlie Smith & Rob Aronstein bring the Blues back to Carmen’s.
Get rhythm when you get the blues. These guys have the stuff to get your feet happy as you start tapping your toes, bopping to the beat these cats lay down as they have for decades. Charlie can evoke that sophisticated big city Chicago blues in the vein of Otis Rush, or just as handily, take you on a river cruise of the Mississippi Delta. Rob is going to tickle those ivories in a perfect weave to Charlie’s guitar licks.
It’s a killer combination, it’s a blues sensation.
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
~ Friday Night Specials Menu June 8 ~
Appetizer Bacon wrapped scallops w/avocado sauce.
TapasSpecials
Cuban BBQ Spare Ribs, served w/arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas) and veggie.
Fried Chicken…boneless thighs w/ a spicy mango sauce, served with saffron rice and black beans.
Grilled Salmon w/black bean mango salsa, served w/yucca fries and veggie.
Crispy Tofu w/seasonal veggies in a cool coconut curry sauce.
Eggplant sliders….grilled, and served with avocado slices and guava glaze on a multigrain roll.
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
And the Graham Tichy Trio is gonna rock and swing the night away. Let’s heat up the night with some good friends, some great tapas, homemade sangria, and the rockin beat of Graham Tichy’s trio.
Dinner Specials for Friday, June 1:
Ropa Vieja
Shredded Beef in Spicy Tomato Sauce
w/ Peppers & Onion, Served w/ Yucca Fries & Veggies
Seafood Bouillaibasse
w/ Shrimp, Scallops, Tilapia & Red Snapper over Saffron Rice
Marcus Benoit, well known local jazz artist, saxophonist, pianist and composer who performed and recorded with the Cole Broderick Quartet for ten years and is featured on his Seasons of Saratoga CD series. Since then he has recorded three original music CDs that incorporate the musical styles of jazz-fusion to blues to R&B and beyond.
Noelle Marie is native to this area. Noelle has created and directed various small choral groups and church choirs over the past 15 years. She is a song-writer/collaborater/lyricist on Marcus Benoit’s last CD release, “Let’s Get Away” and is co-writing and producing on his newest CD to be released late in 2010.
The Tichy Boys—Father, Son, and Holy Crow, that’s Doc Scanlon on Bass!
It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!
And the Graham Tichy Trio is gonna rock and swing the night away. Let’s warm up the December night with some good friends, some great tapas, homemade sangria, and the rockin beat of Graham Tichy, the legendary John Tichy of Commander Cody fame and the amazing globe-trotting – swing-master Don “Doc Scanlon” Dworkin.
This Friday December 9, Open 5-10, Music 6:30-9:30, $5 Cover
Tapas Specials for Friday, December 9:
Pan Seared Chicken Breast
With Tomato Onion Jam
Served With Fried Yucca
Pan Seared Salmon
With Rum-Honey Glaze
Served With Saffron Rice
Cuban Beef Stew With Grilled Roll
Vegetarian Pot Pie With Grilled Roll
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Breakfast Specials for Saturday & Sunday December 10 & 11
Flan French Toast
Drizzled With Carmel Sauce
Life By Chocolate Pancakes
Topped With Homemade Raspberry-Pear Compote
and Creme Fraiche
Get rhythm when you get the blues. These guys have the stuff to get your feet happy again despite the drop in temperatures, the longer nights, and the chill winds coming over the ice floes. You can put it all away as you start tapping your toes, bopping to the beat these cats lay down as they have for decades. Masters of facilitating good times is what they do best. Charlie can evoke that sophisticated big city Chicago blues in the vein of Otis Rush, or just as handily, take you on a river cruise of the Delta. Bob is going to tickle those ivories in a perfect weave to Charlie’s guitar licks. It’s a killer combination, it’s a blues sensation.
If these words could only conjure the experience. Perhaps the best way is to experience this yourself, live and in person. What could be better than to gather your best friends to this small out-of-the way cafe to enjoy some delicious tapas and homemade sangria wine? Get the picture? Get rhythm! Get on down! Friday December 2nd. Cafe is open 5-10PM. Music 6:30 – 9:30. Only 5 bucks cover and plenty of on-street parking. If it’s your first time, click on these good directions wherever you’re coming from
~ Tapas Specials for Friday December 2nd ~
Crab cakes w/ lemon dill sauce served with arroz con gandules Beef tamale w/ cumin scented demi glace served yucca fries Vegetarian Stew w/ grilled roll Braised Chicken Thighs in spicy tomato sauce served with arroz con gandules
Carmen's Bistro 