Stanley Jordan and the Tradition of Excellence at The Towne Crier
Some Hudson Valley locals got a real treat last Friday as they got to enjoy their food while the live sounds of Jimi Hendrix rang through the air.
On the night of September 15, The Towne Crier in Beacon, NY hosted Stanley Jordan’s performance of a Jimi Hendrix tribute show.
Stanley Jordan, a hugely accomplished jazz musician, is one of many top tier acts that the crier has hosted. Other names on this illustrious list include the likes of Pete Seeger and Pat Metheney.
The Crier’s tradition of providing such entertainment to Hudson Valley residents goes all the way back to 1972, when Phil Ciganer came across the building in Beekman that had once been a stagecoach shop and decided to decorate the place.
Ciganer had been inspired to make the Towne Crier into the appealing venue it’s known as today after spending ample time immersed in the music scene of Greenwich Village. It was in Beekman that Ciganer’s vision for creating his own music venue began to come to fruition.
After remaining in Beekman for about 15 years and developing its reputation, the Crier moved to Pawling. Here, the fare had been revised to include full dining options so that customers could now enjoy food with their live music entertainment. Many more artists played on the Crier’s stage before it moved one last time to Beacon.
Recent honors awarded to the Crier include Hudson Valley Magazine’s “Open Mic Night Editor’s Pick 2016” and “Best Thing to Happen to the Local Music Scene 2014” awards, as well as the 2018 Dutchess County Executive Award for Art Business.
The Crier lives up to its awards and reputation. When a customer enters the cafe, they are immediately enveloped in the vibe that it is famous for. The front of the cafe holds performances from local acts on a stage near the entrance, with ample comfortable seating and booths for customers to have an enjoyable view of the show.
When you walk further back into the cafe and make a few turns through the rear hallways, you get to see the walls that are lined with photos of accomplished musicians who have graced the Crier’s stage. Finally, you get to the back room; a pleasant and colorfully lit area where performances such as Stanley Jordan’s are held. An intimate setting is cultivated as the tables are right near the stage for patrons to be as close to the entertainment as possible.
The Crier’s quality as a venue was also made evident by Jordan’s appreciation to be playing there. After playing an assortment of scorching Hendrix songs for a lively and receptive audience, Jordan thanked them: “I absolutely loved doing this show, and I hope that you enjoyed.”
