Category Archives: Listings

Music Listings – 8/26 through 9/1/2013

1. Lakecia Benjamin and Soulsquad

Date: Monday,  August 26, 2013
Times: 10:30 pm
Venue: Blue Note (131 West 3rd St., New York, NY 10012, 212-475-8592)
Tickets:  $10/$15
Genre: jazz/funk

A streetwise New York City native born and raised in Washington Heights, Lakecia Benjamin has become one of the most highly sought-after players in soul and funk music. Charismatic and dynamic as both a saxophonist and bandleader, she has worked with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, The Roots, Macy Gray, and more. She has performed on four continents, and her extensive recording credits include saxophone and arrangements for Santigold, Maurice Brown, the Clark Terry Big Band, Krystle Warren, and Talib Kweli, among others.

Lakecia Benjamin – alto sax, Jesse fisher – keys, Chris Rob – keys, Jameison – guitar, Solomon Dorsey – bass, Joe Blaxx – drums and Jonathon Powell – trumpet. Nicole Phiefer – vocals, Akie Bermiss – vocals and Collette – vocals. Continue reading →

Music Listings – 8/19 through 8/25/2013

1. “Diablo Love” w.  Tomás Doncker Band

Date: Monday, August 19, 2013
Time: 8pm
Venue: Central Park/Mainstage (69th St. & 5th Ave, map)
Ticket: free, but $3 donation
Genre: musical

Diablo Love is a fantastical love story featuring live music that re-imagines songs made famous by American Blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, Howlin’ Wolf along with original compositions by Tomás Doncker. This production provides audiences with a masterful live soundtrack of Blues/Soul music and sets the stage for a dynamic performance.

What would you do for love? In the pits of Hell, Baliel, a lost soul, must prove his worth or else spend the rest of eternity in the lake of fire. In order to spare his own horrific demise, Baliel goes out in search of a willing person to swap spots with him, and as a result comes upon Emma, a fledgling Harlem Gospel singer from a troubled background with big dreams of fame. As Emma works through the trials and tribulations of erecting a career with her group, Baliel appears with big promises and a plan for fame and fortune. The two embark on a joint quest to achieve both of their missions, and what once began as a task for Baliel to find his replacement quickly takes a complicated turn as he must decide between unconditional love and Diablo Love. Continue reading →

Music Listings: 8/5 through 8/11/13

1. (3 Nights of) Father Figures

Date: Monday, August 5 through Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Time: 9pm
Venue: Muchmore’s (2 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY, Phone: 917-515-5444)
Ticket: donation  sliding scale of $5-15
Genre: nu jazz

Zombie Jazz outfit Father Figures began as a Brooklyn basement band like any other — or maybe unlike any other. Instrumental jams with wild horns and trance-inducing keys, not to mention a whole host of otherworldly sounds coming from make this combo totally captivating.

A special guest will join them every night! Continue reading →

MusicListings – 7/29 through 8/4/2013

1. Split Red with The Tanks & Dylan Ryan Sand

Date: Monday,  July 29, 2013
Time: 8pm to 11pm
Venue: ShapeShifter Lab (18 Whitwell Pl, between Carroll St & 1st St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, 646-820-9452)
Ticket: $10
Genre: jazz/free style/free rock/noise

SPLIT RED, ft. Stephen Buono, Travis Woodson, Nebadon Adams, Matt Engle, Ricardo Lagomasino, is a five-piece band from Philadelphia that combines the attitude of the Jesus Lizard with Minutemen-style hooks that get stuck in your head. The band equally embraces heavy riffs, up-beat grooves and twin guitar skronk that goes off the rails into a shred maelstrom. Split Red is a collective of members from Philly’s experimental and rock scenes, featuring members of Many Arms, Shot x Shot, and Make A Rising.

The Tanks features Brandon Seabrook, Ches Smith, and Toby Driver, who are all notable bandleaders and composers. They will all contribute pieces for this debut gig at Shapeshifter Labs. Members of this ensemble play with Secret Chiefs, Tim Berne, Marc Ribot, amongst others, as well as leading Seabrook Powerplant, These Arches and Kayo Dot.

Continue reading →

Music Listings – 7/22 through 7/28

1. Winnie Dahlgren Project

Date: Thursday,  July 25, 2013
Time: 8:15pm
Venue: ShapeShifter Lab (18 Whitwell Pl, between Carroll St & 1st St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, 646-820-9452)
Ticket: $10
Genre: jazz

A native of Denmark Winnie Dahlgren started playing percussion at age fifteen, and received both her B.M. in music education and her M.M. in Performance from the Vestjysk Academy of Music in Esbjerg, Denmark. In the middle of her classical studies at the conservatory she took two years off to study jazz at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 1996 she returned to Berklee College of Music from which she received a bachelor’s degree in jazz composition and performance in 1997. She has since performed in both jazz and classical settings, with concerts in Europe, the United States, and Southern Africa. Dahlgren has surrounded herself with musicians from all over the world which allows her to swiftly move between the different styles, with styles ranging from classical to jazz, Latin and world music, and still retain their authenticity.

Winnie Dahlgren – vibes, Daniel Ian Smith – saxophones, Steve Kirby – guitar, Daniel Day – bass, Steve Langone – drums and Eguie Castrillo – percussion. Special guest: Jeff Galindo – trombone
Continue reading →