Drummer Cindy Blackman to perform at SUNY Orange

MIDDLETOWN — Cindy Blackman, touted as one of the top ten drummers in the world, will perform at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 24, in the Orange Hall Theater at SUNY Orange in Middletown. Blackman, a frequent performer with Lenny Kravitz, has appeared on Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, The David Letterman Show, and the MTV Video Awards. John Perez of the New York Times said, “Cindy Blackman can switch from the splashy, sludgy, style of the Jimmy Hendrix Experience’s Mitch Mitchell to the casual economy of Ringo Star to the crisp repetitions of James Brown’s funky drummer.” According to jazz studies professor Chris Parker, “this workshop is a great opportunity for all musicians, whether they are interested in jazz or rock, to learn about drumming and the music industry from one of the finest contemporary performers.” The performance is free and the theater is handicap accessible. The event is a Department of Arts and Communications’ “How To Improve Performance” workshop. For further information, call 341-4787.