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04/10 Thursday
7:00 PM Aryn Calhoun "So Clearly" Concert and CD Release Party
Aryn Calhoun, singer/songwriter and Berklee College of Music student, will be performing original tunes from her newly released, 6th full-length album, "So Clearly." Aryn will play solo selections as well as several of her tunes with a band of other Berklee students. Suggested concert donation $10. "So Clearly" cd will be on sale for special cd release party price of $5. Show begins at 8PM. Doors open at 7:30.
Preview Aryn's music at: www.myspace.com/arynmcampbell and www.purevolume.com/arynmichellecampbell
Aryn (Campbell) Calhoun is a Texas born and bred singer/songwriter whose musical style can be described as alternative rock with flavors of jazz. Aryn has been writing music since the age of 15 and has been performing in concerts, gigs, festivals and traveling ensembles since she began college at Southwestern University in 2002. After graduation from Southwestern, Aryn came to the Berklee College of Music to specialize in songwriting and music synthesis. Aryn plans to move back to Texas after her schooling is done to pursue a career in professional music as a songwriter/performer/teacher and recording studio engineer.
10:00 PM Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar
Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar
Art Bailey- accordion
Jim Guttmann- bass
Jake Shulman-Ment- violin
Jeremy Brown- violin
Brandon Seabrook- mandolin
About Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar
Orkestra Popilar is a Jewish music ensemble led by accordionist and pianist Art Bailey and featuring bassist Jim Guttmann, violinists Jeremy Brown and Jake Shulman-Ment, and mandolinist Brandon Seabrook. The repertoire includes 20th century Jewish fiddle pieces, improvisation, newly composed music, and pieces from the klezmer and Eastern European repertoire.
On their recently released debut cd, Branch from the Tree, the band explores early 20th century Jewish fiddle pieces, improvisation, newly composed music, and pieces from the klezmer and Eastern European repertoire.
The sound of the ensemble owes more to the urgent, fiery sound of Romanian string and cymbalom ensembles than to Jewish-American wedding bands of the 40s and 50s, and draws from the cross-pollinated Romanian/Jewish repertoire, as well as Bailey’s own original compositions. With the absence of the American dance band drum set and clarinet, the group takes klezmer music out of the realm of the archetypical 1950s klezmer sound most listeners are familiar with, and puts it in a setting that is reminiscent of an even earlier time in the recorded history of Jewish music. The result is fresh, unique, and thoroughly engaging. The idea to form the group initially was inspired by the recordings of Joseph Moskowitz.
About Art Bailey
Pianist and accordionist Art Bailey is active in the improvised and world music scenes. Art has been the pianist with the Klezmer Conservatory Band since 1998, contributing new arrangements to the band’s repertoire and making stage and television appearances worldwide. Since moving to New York in 2003, Art has performed with many of the major participants of the downtown klezmer scene including David Krakauer, Frank London, Alicia Svigals and Matt Darriau. He has performed on Broadway in the revival of “Fiddler on the Roof” with Harvey Fierstein and in “Most Happy Fella” at Lincoln Center with the New York City Opera. In addition to his activities as a pianist and arranger in jazz and latin music, his current project, Orkestra Popilar, is an exciting quintet that explores the Romanian side of Jewish music.
Review excerpts for “Branch from the Tree”
From Seth Rogovoy of the Berkshire Jewish Voice:
“…With his quintet, something of an all-star ensemble including fellow Klezmer Conservatory Band members Jim Guttman on bass and Brandon Seabrook on mandolin, as well as two young, up-and-coming violinists, Bailey revives the lively sound of Moskowitz’s suites in arrangements that should appeal to fans of Andy Statman’s early klezmer recordings. And with this CD, Bailey establishes a place for himself in the forefront of revival-style klezmer, alongside musicians with whom he’s performed, including violinist Alicia Svigals, clarinetist David Krakauer, and trumpeter Frank London."
From George Robinson of the Jewish Week:
"Excellent...the band cooks nicely." Four out of five stars.
From Ari Davidow of KlezmerShack.com:
"This week brought a long-sought CD from Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar…The goal is to recreate the ambience of the recordings by American tsimbalist Joseph Moscowitz—traditional klezmer and luscious, long sets…Seabrook's mandolin and Bailey's accordion capture the feeling of Moscowitz' music, plus other traditional tunes and originals, in our time. What I've heard so far succeeds gracefully and delightfully. From the delightful lettering and graphic on the cover, the the music inside, this one is likely to stay on the changer for some time to come. [GRADE: A]"
Description of “Branch from the Tree”
Branch from the Tree features fresh interpretations of rarely heard material originally recorded by Romanian-born cymbalom master and Lower East Side restaurateur, Joseph Moskowitz. On this debut cd, the band also explores early 20th century Jewish fiddle pieces, improvisation, newly composed music, and pieces from the klezmer and Eastern European repertoire.