The ensemble:
Leyna Marika Papach - violin
Elena Moon Park - violin
Olivia Deprato - violin
Karen Waltuch - viola
Isabel Castelvi - cello
Steven Bernstein - trumpet
Ravi Best - trumpet
John Chudoba - trumpet
Darryl Shaw - trumpet
Art Baron - trombone
Curtis Hasselbring - trombone
Marcus Rojas - bass trombone / tuba
Marty Ehrlich - woodwinds
Bill Ruyle - concert percussion
Renaldo de Jesus - latin percussion
Fima Ephron - bass
Ben Perowsky - drums
Knox Chandler - guitar
Christian Gibbs - keys
Ted Reichman - keys

Steroid Maximus will be performing the Ectopia album and selections from the score of The Venture Bros. JG will be joined by long-time colleague Steven Bernstein as musical director and on trumpet. Dr Lonnie Smith Trio will support. More info below...

Continue reading "JG Thirlwell leads a 20 piece orchestra in Prospect Park (TONIGHT)"

Celebrate Brooklyn '09 (more by Chris La Putt)

The Celebrate Brooklyn series' 2010 schedule is out. Check out the free (or $3 suggested donation) shows that will be happening at Prospect Park this summer below.

There's the previously mentioned shows with Norah Jones, Konono No. 1, Sonic Youth (who have Talk Normal and Grass Widow opening for them), Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings with Budos Band, Swell Season and the Low Anthem, Metric, The Roots and Allen Toussaint, all for free. The ticketed benefit shows are Rufus Wainwright on July 20th, Dead Weather on August 3rd, and already-sold-out shows with Passion Pit and The National.

The full schedule is below...

Continue reading "Celebrate Brooklyn's 2010 Prospect Park concert lineup"

By Andrew Frisicano

Jenny Scheinman & Jason Moran @ Winter Jazz Fest @ LPR

Winter Jazz Fest 2010 brought a diverse lineup of contemporary jazz to six Greenwich Village venues on Friday, January 8th and Saturday, Jan. 9th. The sheer number of compelling acts in one place made the fest a great primer for anyone interested the current state of the scene (a topic many of the reviews have addressed). By all accounts it was a big success, with an engaged and diverse crowd turning out. The gigs I went to were all well-attended, mostly-standing affairs (NY Times reports 2,500 attendees at the fest's sold-out Saturday night). The tight schedule (short 40-minute sets) and the closeness of the venues gave a definite festival atmosphere to the shows (like the LES during CMJ). Though some venues had lines waiting to get in (like the cozy Zinc Bar), it was still totally possible to see who you wanted to with a little planning. At each show I managed to find spots close to the stage as the previous crowd shuffled to their next destination.

On Saturday I got a late start and still caught six sets: Jenny Scheinman & Jason Moran at LPR, Claudia Quintet with Gary Versace at the Bitter End, Vijay Iyer Trio at LPR, and Mary Halvorson, Rudresh Mahanthappa and Tyshawn Sorey's bands, all trios, at Kenny's Castaways.

Tonight (1/19) you can catch Vijay Iyer and some of the other Winter Jazz Fest names (Lionel Loueke, Dr. Lonnie Smith) at (Le) Poisson Rouge's jazz-based Haiti benefit concert. The lineup (with special guests TBA) includes organizers Groove Collective, DJ Logic, Bernie Worrell, Roy Hargrove, Yatande Bwakaiman Vodou Drums and Swiss Chris, plus Loueke with Richard Bona, Smith and Iyer. Tickets are on sale. Proceeds go to Haiti Action, Hands Together, The Lambi Fund of Haiti and Grassroots International.

Benefits are also happening this month at City Winery and The Bell House.

Pictures of the above-mentioned WJF acts, videos and more words about the music are below...

Continue reading "Winter Jazz Fest 2010 in pics & words ++ LPR jazz Haiti Benefit (with some of the same people) tonight"

by Andrew Frisicano

two of these three guys will be there (one w/ Jenny Scheinman, also on the cover)

NYC's Winter Jazz Fest will be happening Friday, January 8th and Saturday, January 9th at a handful of Village venues. Both nights include more than a few worth-while acts (Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Jamie Saft's Whoopie Pie, Vijay Iyer Trio, Jenny Scheinman & Jason Moran, the late-night triple-play of Mary Halvorson, Rudresh Mahanthappa's Indo-Pak Coalition and Tyshawn Sorrey Guitar Trio). Tickets for Friday-only and Saturday-only are on sale, and two-day passes are available too. The full schedule is below...

Continue reading "NYC Winter Jazz Festival - January 2010 @ various venues "

Warm Up @ PS1 on July 4th - the last one is today (more by Zach Dilgard)

tonight in NYC
* Warp20 Films @ New Museum
* Rockabilly Fest @ Coney Island
* Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio @ Jazz Standard
* Warm Up w/ Rong Music & Glenn Branca @ PS1
* Benjy Ferree, The Black Hollies @ Mercury Lounge
* Talib Kweli & DJ Premier, Jimi James, more @ Sputnik
* Pit Er Pat, Javelins, Crazy Dreams Band @ The Bell House
* Chairlift, Here We Go Magic, John Maus @ Bowery Ballroom
* Wild Yaks, The Fakers, Justice of the Unicorn @ Bruar Falls
* Phosphorescent, Tune Yards, Mike Bones @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Tribute to Rashied Ali w/ Collective Language, more @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Warp20 w/ Jimmy Edgar, Hudson Mohawke, Clark, more DJs @ WFC Winter Garden
* Cinema Red & Blue, Ladybug Transistor, German Measles @ Cake Shop
* A Tribute to Connie Converse w/ Gina Leishman, Marissa Nadler, Scott Matthew, more @ Joe's Pub
* These Are Powers, Grooms, Ecstatic Sunshine, Smith Westerns @ Under the Tracks
* Kevin Seconds, Jack Terricloth & Sandra Malak Bridge & Tunnel, Gimme Drugs, Calderon @ Maxwell's
* Electric Zoo w/ Armin van Buuren, deadmau5, Tiga, Busy P, Steve Aoki, The Whip, and many, many more @ Randall's Island
* Warp20 closing party w/ Jamie Lidell, Born Ruffians, Hundred In The Hands, more @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Dances With White Girls, Team Facelift, Them Jeans, Lauren Flax, Phenomenal Handclap Band (DJ) @ Santos Party House
* Block Party w/ Golden Triangle, K-Holes, Knyfe Hyts 81, Cult of Youth, Georgiana Starlington, more @ Monster Island

Today is the final PS1 Warm Up of the summer. Music comes from Rong Music, Glenn Branca and more.

If you're looking for something less upbeat, the tribute to Connie Converse looks like it may be an amazing show at Joe's Pub tonight. David Garland of WNYC is involved, and Marrisa Nadler & Scott Matthew both have amazing voices.

Warp20 brings Jimmy Edgar, Hudson Mohawke, Clark and special guest DJs to WFC Winter Garden for a free show. Then later there's the Warp20 closing party at (Le) Poisson Rouge with Jamie Lidell, Born Ruffians, Hundred in the Hands and more. Jamie Lidell's video for "Multiply" below...

Electric Zoo is happening on Randall's Island today (with Armin van Buuren, deadmau5, Tiga, Busy P, Steve Aoki, The Whip, others) and tomorrow (Special Disco Version, Andy Butler, more).

The Benjy Ferree/Black Hollies tour comes to Mercury Lounge.

Phosphorescent, Tune Yards and Mike Bones play Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tune Yards is back in October for a show at Union Hall.

Monster Island hosts a free block party/show with a massive lineup that includes Golden Triangle, K-Holes, Knyfe Hyts 81, Cult of Youth, Georgiana Starlington, and Le Rug with Fiasco.

Jelly NYC is throwing a party Under The Tracks with music from These Are Powers, Grooms, Ecstatic Sunshine, The Smith Westerns and Knight School.

Kevin Seconds (of 7 Seconds) wraps up his tour with a show at Maxwell's. Jack Terricloth and Sandra Malak from World Inferno Friendship Society, Bridge & Tunnel, Gimme Drugs and Calderon are also on the bill. A video of Kevin performing "Boy Leader", below...

The Coney Island Rockabilly Fest runs through Monday.

Cinema Red and Blue (a Comet Gain side project), Ladybug Transistor and German Measles (who all share a member) are playing Cake Shop with opener Jacques Detergent.

Can The Beatles: Rock Band Save the Music Business?

Blues Control's video for "Rest on Water" is posted below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday? (Labor Day Weekend)"

(King Khan and) BBQ @ MHOW, CMJ (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Fastball @ Maxwell's
* Jim Gaffigan @ Town Hall
* Arlo Guthrie @ Carnegie Hall
* Harry Connick Jr @ City Center
* Fishbone @ Knitting Factory
* Real Estate @ Cake Shop (free, late)
* Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio @ Iridium Jazz Club
* They Might Be Giants @ (le) poisson rouge
* Devon Williams & The Feverfew @ Cake Shop
* Ewan Pearson & 2020 Soundsystem @ Studio B
* The So So Glos, Lidia Stone, Radiates & Banzai @ Silent Barn
* El Guincho & Prefuse 73 (both DJ sets) @ (le) poisson rouge
* Gang Gang Dance, Marnie Stern & 18th Dye @ Santos Party House
* Amazing Baby, MBAR, The Muggabears & My Best Fiend @ Mercury Lounge
* King Khan & BBQ Show, Golden Triangle & The Jacuzzi Boys @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

What do you think of Fishbone in 2008? They play Knitting Factory tonight.

King Khan is also at Bowery Ballroom on Sunday. That show is with Vivian Girls.

Dr. Lonnie Smith (master of the Hammond B3 organ) and Jim Gaffigan (comedian) also continue their multiple night NYC runs on Sunday.

The Game was born today in 1979.

Tina Turner hits MSG on Monday - the same night Snow Patrol play their small venue show at Bowery Ballroom.

"I feel like I invite music into my life rather than solicit it. I like peppering my career with very successful music as opposed to going out in a very highly competitive field and missing a lot to get the occasional hit. I have the luxury of doing that because film is my primary career." - says John Travolta on singing in Bolt.

They Might Be Giants play Apollo 18 in its entirety at Le Poisson Rouge tonight (early). El Guincho and Prefuse 73 DJ Le Poisson Rouge tonight (late). They Might Be Giants play Le Poisson Rouge again on January 31st. El Guincho plays Le Poisson Rouge on December 2nd.

The Real Estate show tonight at Cake Shop is a free late show after the 4-band bill Devon Williams is playing.

Todd P isn't currently listing any shows, but says, "...a bit of a quiet spell for me. Don't worry though, there are a whole lot of secret(ish) shows in the works, plus some much much bigger plans still in the early but very time consuming stages..."

The Christmas tree lighting @ South Street Seaport is today. The Big Apple Chorus will be there today and every weekend until Christmas. Ice skating and other (more fun) live music is coming to the Seaport soon too. Rockefeller Center's tree gets lit on December 3rd.

Jdimytai Damour, RIP

Video of Reverend Billy preaching in Union Square on Buy Nothing Day (Black Friday) (yesterday) below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

Castanets

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Jim Gaffigan @ Town Hall
* Nicole Atkins @ the Wonderbar
* Tina Turner @ the Prudential Center
* The Parlor Mob & The Gay Blades @ Mercury Lounge
* Pitchfork 500 release party @ Gutter Bar
* Youssou N'dour's Great African Ball @ Nokia Theatre
* Steel Train, Dear and the Headlights & Forgive Durden @ Bowery Ballroom
* El Ten Eleven, Castanets, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson & Happy Anarchy @ The Bell House

John McVie of Fleetwood Mac was born today in 1945.

The Pitchfork 500, "Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present" is out now. They're celebrating tonight at Gutter Bar.

Youssou N'dour also plays at Nokia Theatre on Thanksgiving.

There isn't much going on, on Thanksgiving, but Dr. Lonnie Smith also plays two shows at Iridium Jazz Club - it's the beginning of a four day residency.

The NY Times says, "Radio's Revenue Falls Even as Audience Grows".

Beck's "Youthless" video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday (Thanksgiving-Eve)"