Drummer performs with Blue Man Group
Cyzon Griffi n, 23, from the
Bronx was crowned the winner
of the 6th annual Blue Man
Group Boston Drum-Off during
the Summer Block Party at
The Lawn on D. Cyzon rocked
the crowd during his 3-minute
solo and once he was named
the winner, performed ‘Drum
Finale Throwdown’ with Blue
Man Group.
Cyzon traveled from New
York for the semi-fi nals on
June 26 and returned for two
rehearsals to learn the Blue
Man Group music he eventually
performed. He makes his
living as a street performer
and found out about the event
through social media.
“Winning the Drum-Off is
so exhilarating. I can’t even explain
it. It’s insane,” said Griffi
n. “To be able to play with
Blue Man Group was an indescribable
feeling. I’ve been
watching them for a long time
so I never thought I’d have the
opportunity to perform with
them. It was such an amazing
experience.”
Drummers were assessed
on their musicality, creativity,
technical ability and personality
while performing. In
addition to the opportunity to
perform with the famed group,
Cyzon won $5,000 in prizes including
a new DW drum kit, Sabian
cymbals, Vic Firth sticks
and accessories, plus tickets
and prizes from Blue Man
Group.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 44 ULY 19-25, 2019 BTR
“Cyzon was phenomenal.
All the drummers were great
and it was an extremely hard
choice, but Cyzon had the technical
level that was just a little
bit above everyone else,”
said Steve Ballstadt, Blue Man
Group full-time drummer and
judge. “He presented a fantastic
solo routine that was the
complete package- great energy,
fantastic interaction with
the crowd along with amazing
drumming.”
The competitors were narrowed
down from 44 applicants
with Cyzon beating out
four other fi nalists including:
Alex Brander, 29, who lives in
Brighton, MA and originally
from South Yarmouth, MA,
Christina Edwards, 19, from
Dorchester, MA, Connor Kent,
27, who lives in Boston, MA and
originally from Fullerton, CA
and Donovan ‘DJ’ McLean, 24,
from Hyde Park, MA.
“Everyone did an incredible
job today. The fact that we had
to move this event from yesterday
because of the weather
made it even more special,”
said Scott Toomey, resident
music director and judge. “The
fi nalists all brought their A-
game plus the crowd was fantastic,
it just made it one of our
best Drum-Off events ever.”
This year’s competition
was hosted by Danny Balel of
ImprovBoston. ImprovBoston
has been New England’s leading
theater and school dedicated
to the art of comedy in all
forms.
Cyzon Griffi n (c) with the Blue Man Group. Photo by Brian Babineau
Benedetto sponsors
Driver Safety Program
As a service to his constituents,
Assemblyman
Michael Benedetto will be
sponsoring an New York
State Department of Motor
Vehicles Approved Insurance
Reduction Program
on Saturday, August 17,
from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The course is held at Fort
Schuyler House, 3077 Cross
Bronx Expressway.
Registration for this
class begins on Monday,
July 22. To reserve a seat,
call Assemblyman Benedetto’s
offi ce at (718) 892-
2235.
The cost is for this class
is $29.00.
Space is limited.
This 6-hour course
will refresh your driving
knowledge with a review
of time-tested safe driving
tips.
Those who complete
the course will receive
a reduction of approximately
10 percent from the
base rate of automobile
and motorcycle liability
premiums each year for
three years.
BY ARLENE GRAUER
Happy Summer one and
all.
Our June meeting was
very busy indeed, seeming
busier in the gym without
air-conditioning. Nanor
Pogosian, manager, from the
Pelham Bay Library spoke to
us about the wonderful programs
that the library has
to offer, especially during
the summer; stop in and cool
off. We also had a presentation
regarding the arrival of
Fordham University’s crew
and sailing teams, which
seems like a wonderful use
of our waterfront property
in Country Club. By the way,
pick up a copy of ‘The Boys
in the Boat’ from the library;
it’s a great story about college
crewing.
The hot topic of the night
was the impending bus route
changes. The current proposal
is to shorten the route
of the BX8 by making the last
stop on Layton near Dean.
The BX24, which currently
terminates in Country Club,
would pick-up the remainder
of that route to Locust Point.
The BX24 route would no longer
travel on Rawlings Avenue
and Country Club Road
but upon entering Country
Club, make a left turn on
Kennellworth, a right on Ampere,
and a right onto Stadium
Avenue. It would then
continue on Stadium and
Dean avenues eventually to
Locust Point. The same route
would be used for the return
trip, thus making it a twoway
route. If the new BX24
route has the same frequency
as the BX8, that would mean
that a bus could pass by as
frequently as every four minutes,
giving little time to
safely cross Stadium Avenue.
As many residents know,
Dean Avenue is very narrow
just north of Layton Avenue,
a bus would need the full 17
feet of roadway at that point
and would be precluded from
passing if anything other
than a passenger car was
parked on either side of the
street. The MTA tried this
route in 2010 and it failed!
Normal route service was restored.
The Country Club Civic
Association has formally
voted to call for an end to this
proposal due to its negative
impact on our residents. We
sincerely thank Councilmember
Mark Gjonaj for attending
the MTA open house
last month and for patiently
listening to the concerns of
so many individuals. In addition,
the Councilmember
was handed a petition signed
by nearly 200 concerned residents
of Country Club. Our
thanks also to Maryanne
Joyce of Senator Alessandra
Biaggi’s offi ce who recently
provided contact information
at the MTA, so that written
comments could be provided
regarding the proposal (previously,
only comments made
on-line would be accepted by
the MTA).
Per her message, written
comments must contain
your full name, address
and an email address, if you
have one. Your comments
should be mailed to: Jacqueline
Carter, Assistant Director,
Government and Community
Relations, MTA New
York City Transit, Broadway,
Room D17.111, New York, NY
10004
The deadline is July 31.
The association will not
meet in July and August.
Our fall meeting will be September
25, and we hope to
have our fall clean-up and
triangle planting the third
weekend in October.
The association can be
reached via mail at P.O. Box
211, Bronx, N.Y. 10465 or by
telephone at (718) 823-1814.
Follow and like us on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/
countryclubcivicassoc.
Please remember, ‘Take
pride in your community.
Your home extends beyond
your property line!’
Just in - the MTA will be
on the street at pelham bay
station on wednesday July
31 from 4 to 8 p.m. to continue
to collect comments
regarding bus service. if
you care, you’ll be there.
/
/