Jan

All events carry a $10 (very strongly) suggested donation, unless otherwise noted.

Every Friday, 5:00pm to 7:00pm, our special coctail hour set.
THE CROOKED TRIO
plays straight and skewed standards with Oscar Noriega - drums; Brian Drye - piano; Ari Folman-Cohen - bass and a rotating cast of special guests.

Thu 01/26

SMOKEY'S SECRET FAMILY - Every Thursday in January.
Smokey Hormel’s résumé reads like a history of American popular music over the decades. He has worked closely with Beck, Tom Waits, Johnny Cash, and Neil Diamond. His projects have included the Brazilian-influenced Smokey and Miho, as well as an ongoing tribute to Western swing. His latest endeavor is an idiosyncratic take on early Congolese rumba. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, African musicians looked to Cuba for inspiration. They recognized African roots in the music but were also captivated by its cosmopolitan aspect, which mirrored the evolution of their own culture. Using the electric guitar—fast becoming the symbol of urban culture—they forged a new hybrid that became an early soundtrack of decolonization. Hormel has hybridized the music further and taken it to the Americas for the second time. Keeping its pre-rock roots intact, he relies on a core sound of “wild guitars bursting through small amps afloat on a sea of hand drums and shakers."

Fri 01/27

LLAMA. Psychedelic Salsa! Steeped in the salsa dura of the 1970's, Llama goes the trippy way with heavy ambient and psychedelic touches without ever losing its clave. A mixture of Peruvian, Colombian and New York musicians, Llama is part of the new wave of tropical music. Erik Baumann-Bongos; Juan Calderon-Guitar; Joy Hanson-Lead vocals; Megan Moncrief-Piano; Michael Rafalowich-Bass; Efrain Rozas-Director, Timbales; Yvonne Ubillus-Synthesizer; Oscar Rebolledo -Conga.

Fri 01/27

CUMBIAGRA. Since their creation in the summer of 2008, Cumbiagra has been hosting legendary dance parties throughout New York’s Lower East Side, Brooklyn, Mexico and beyond. Though Cumbiagra is largely inspired by the Colombian dance style known as cumbia, their music has developed into a synthesis of styles, drawing on the diversity of its members and the rich musical environment of the New York Metro area. George Saenz - accordion, trombone and vocals; Rafael Gomez - bass and vocals; Brian Lazarus - guitar and vocals and Brian Glashow - percussion.

Sat 01/28

BOMBAY RICKEY. Bombay Rickey might be the soundtrack to a Bollywood noir film from the 1960s, or perhaps to a spaghetti western that never existed. Bombay Rickey counts Ennio Morricone and Yma Sumac as influences. Exotic dance rhythms, coloratura soprano, surf guitar.

Sat 01/28

BENYORO. Led by guitarist and ngoni fola Sam Dickey, and with members hailing from Mali, Senegal, Martinique, and Wisconsin, Benyoro (which means meeting place in the Bambara language) plays West African Maninka and Bambara music that comes out of centuries of tradition, but has been updated and transformed into a sound that is unstoppably danceable. This is the sound of modern West Africa, as meditative tradition meets raucous dance music and traditional instruments mingle with guitar, bass, and drums.

Sat 01/28

BROOKLYN QAWWALI PARTY. Inspired by recordings of the late great Sufi singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Brook Martinez founded Brook's Qawwali Party in 2004 as an experiment. What would happen if New York jazz musicians were to play and improvise around the melodies of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan? From this idea, Brook's Qawwali Party was born. BQP consists of fourteen musicians: five horns, three percussionists, guitar, acoustic bass, harmonium and three designated clappers. The exuberant sound of BQP has been enthusiastically welcomed in New York City and across the globe.

Sat 01/28

QUE VLO-VE. Songs of drugs, toughs and unrequited love, mostly in Greek. Q. V.-v. performs the Rebetika songbook according to the lights of the eponymous debauched Walloon. Wade Ripka & Nick DiFeo, guitars; Quince Marcum, vocals.

Sun 01/29

ANTHONY COLEMAN. Pianist, keyboardist and composer Anthony Coleman has been an integral part of the downtown music scene since the early 1980's. He has worked closely with John Zorn, Elliott Sharp, Glenn Branca, Marc Ribot, Dave Douglas and Guy Klucevsek. He is a voraciously curious musician and a superb pianist who can play Monk, Art Tatum or Sephardic music just as well as he can play post-modern mambo on a Casio. Some of his own projects include The Self Haters, Sephardidc Tinge and a tribute to Jelly Roll Morton.

BABY SODA. They play an eclectic mix influenced by New Orleans brass bands, jug music, southern gospel and hot jazz and feel at home at the Village Vanguard or playing on the street. The band features members New Orleans band the Loose Marbles and alumni of Stephane Wrembel's Hot Club of NY. With Ben Polcer, Trumpet; Patrick Harison, Accordion; Jared Engel, Banjo; David Langlois, Washboard and Peter Ford, Washtub bass.

9:00pm

Mon 01/30

BRAIN CLOUD. Every Monday. "My brain is cloudy, my soul is upside-down... When I get that low-down feeling, I know the blues must be someplace around." (Bob Wills)The Brain Cloud’s brand of western swing draws from the New Orleans-meets-Texas, strings-meet-horns, jazz-meets-country sound that Bob Wills perfected on his mid-1940’s Tiffany Transcriptions radio broadcasts. The Brain Cloud includes Dennis Lichtman (mandolin/fiddle/clarinet), Tamar Korn - of the Cangelosi Cards (vocals), Raphael McGregor (lap steel guitar), Skip Krevens (guitar), Andrew Hall (bass), and Kevin Dorn (drums), plus frequent guest appearances by Matt Munisteri (guitar) and Rob Hecht (fiddle).

Mon 01/30

CHICHA LIBRE. Psychedelic Cumbia. Every Monday.
Chicha Libre plays a mixture of latin rhythms, surf music and psychedelic pop inspired by 1970's Peruvian music from the Amazon. The Brooklyn-based band mixes up covers of forgotten Chicha classics with French-tinged originals, re-interpretation of 70’s pop classics as well as cumbia versions of pieces by Satie and Ravel. With Karina Colis - percussion; Joshua Camp - keyboards; Olivier Conan - Cuatro & Vocals - Nicholas Cudahy - bass; Vincent Douglas - Guitar - Neil Ochoa - percussion.

Tue 01/31

SEMI-FREE. Opening up straight-ahead songwriting forms to make room for the emotional power of free jazz, SEMI-FREE is the loose-limbed trio of guitarist Brandon Ross (Har riet Tubman:the band, Cassandra Wilson, Henry Threadgill), violinist Charlie Burnham (Steven Bernstein's MTO, James Blood Ulmer, Medeski Martin & Wood) and singer/writer/rhythm guitarist Janine Nichols. Her “idiosyncratic sense of space and time elevates everything she sings” (David Greenberger, Metroland ). Doug Wieselman joins on bass clarinet.

Tue 01/31

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Gypsy brass, soulful Balkan anthems, and hip-grinding American funk: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City; their half-decade bacchanal is a destination for locals as well as brass and Balkan fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last four cds (Taketron, Teknochek Collision, Remixed, and Bigger) are all available from Barbès Records. John Carlson & Kenny Warren (trumpet), Peter Hess (sax/clarinet), Peter Stan (accordion), Tim Vaughn & Matt Musselman (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Matt Moran and Chris Stromquist (snare/bubanj/Darabouka). $10.

Wed 02/01

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
JASON STEIN
Jason Stein-bass clarinet; Darius Jones-alto saxophone; Ben Gerstein-trombone; ; Pascal Niggenkemper-bass and Gerald Clever-drums.

Wed 02/01

THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
In the 1960's and 1970's, the government of Guinea engaged in a campaign known as Authenticité. It was a drive to create a new musical movement that would be specifically Guinean, but would include the modern wonders that were the electric guitar, the electric bass and the drumset. Musicians were given instruments and orchestras were formed. Surprisingly, the results proved mesmerizing and a myriad new bands were born. Many of them would go on to have a profound and lasting impact on African music. Mamady Kouyate was one of those pioneers. He played in various bands - his own band, Les Ambassadeurs du Mandingue, being one of them - but is probably best known as the guitarist in the classic Bembeya Jazz National. Kouyate, who now lives in NY, has reformed the Mandingo Ambassadors, updating the sound of his youth, but keeping it very close to the standard of Authenticité. The new All-Star band includ es Ismael Kouyate - vocals; Mamady Kourouma - guitar; Oran Etkin - tenor sax & clarinets; Sylvain Leroux - flute, tambin and alto sax; Andy Algire - drums; Nick Cudahy - bass and Mamady Kouyate - guitar. “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Thu 02/02

RACHELLE GARNIEZ. Dubbed a"Master of Surprise" by Entertainment Weekly, Rachelle writes and performs darkly optimistic story-songs and accompanies herself on a variety of instruments including accordion, piano, claviola, guitar and plastic bells, "...leaving nothing behind but sweet wreckage." (The New Yorker).

Thu 02/02

THE WARSAW VILLAGE BAND. Based in Warsaw, WVB has been described as the Polish Pogues. Their understanding of Polish folk music runs deep, yet they have mangaed to re-invent a whole genre. Their village music is urban, modern and connected to history in a way that folk revivals almost never are. They don't rely on traditional purity or electronic mixes but on sheer musical energy combining lyricism and power in a totally idiosyncratic way. The group is in town from Poland working on an opera by Andy Teirstein, A Blessing on the Moon $10

Fri 02/03

PEDRO GIRAUDO SEXTET. The Argentinean bassist has received much praise for his Jazz Orchestra - his last album got numerous awards and downbeat magazine wrote about it that it was "An opulent listening experience of modern, orchestral jazz, brimming with passionate improvisions, deliberate contrapuntal melodies and plush harmonies.” His new project is pared down version of the orchestra.

Fri 02/03

BABY SODA. They play an eclectic mix influenced by New Orleans brass bands, jug music, southern gospel and hot jazz and feel at home at the Village Vanguard or playing on the street. The band features members New Orleans band the Loose banda Marbles and alumni of Stephane Wrembel's Hot Club of NY. With Ben Polcer, Trumpet; Patrick Harison, Accordion; Jared Engel, Banjo; David Langlois, Washboard and Peter Ford, Washtub bass.

Sat 02/04

A special screening of :
HIDE AND SEEK. Denmark. 20 minutes. directed by Jazbo Gross.
Seven adults play a game of hide-and-seek in a garden on a hot summer day. Supported by Zentropa and Filmworkshop. The director will be there for a Q & A.

Sat 02/04

VEVERITSE. Veveritse Brass Band finds its inspiration in the drama of the Romany(Gypsy) music of the Balkans. With an eye to the powerful exactitude of these melodies, Veveritse makes room for play. With two trumpets, a saxophone, four mid-horns, a tuba and two drummers, they are ten deep, creating not a wall of sound, but a loud tapestry. Members of the band also play in other great NYC bands like Romashka, Hungry March Band, Zlatne Uste, The Woes, Ansambl Mastika, and Stagger Back Brass Band....not to mention the infamous and nefarious "Top Secret Attack Band"! Veveritse, with its theatrical bent, has scored various nights of films, played benefits, parties and numerous clubs.

Sat 02/04

BANDA SINALOENSE DE LOS MUERTOS - New York's only Mexican Banda.
In the Mexican state of Sinaloa, brass bands (bandas) are part of every public celebration. In the 1940's, the pioneering Banda El Recodo started mixing up traditional brass band tunes with contemporary Mexican music - mostly ranchera - and soon transformed the idiom into a powerful new popular genre. In the 1990's, banda music experienced a renewal, especially among young Californian Mexicans, many of whom have family roots in Sinaloa. Banda music's popularity exploded in Mexico as well and has become the new urban music of choice.

Sat 02/04

ECHIDNA. Famous across the galaxy for their soothing, intoxicating, and hypnotic sound, Emily Geller, Kristina Vaskys, and Heather Cole use Rembetika, Macedonian, and Serbian songs to lure listeners towards their spume-flecked and reef-surrounded searocks. According to the Ming of Smrbia, "Echidna kicks some serious ass." Heather Cole-violin; Emily Geller-dumbek; Kristina Vaskys-guitar, vocals.

ALON YAVNAI . The pianist and composer has toured with Yo-Yo Ma, Nancy Wilson and Freddie Hubbard and is a member of Paquito D''Rivera's quintet. He also leds his own big band as well as smaller bands such as this one. With Alon Yavnai - piano ; Haggai Cohen-Milo - bass and Satoshi Takeishi - drums. "Mr. Yavnai is a unique and brilliant artist." - Yo-Yo Ma.

7:00pm

STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephane Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards.

9:00pm

Mon 02/06

BRAIN CLOUD. Every Monday. "My brain is cloudy, my soul is upside-down... When I get that low-down feeling, I know the blues must be someplace around." (Bob Wills)The Brain Cloud’s brand of western swing draws from the New Orleans-meets-Texas, strings-meet-horns, jazz-meets-country sound that Bob Wills perfected on his mid-1940’s Tiffany Transcriptions radio broadcasts. The Brain Cloud includes Dennis Lichtman (mandolin/fiddle/clarinet), Tamar Korn - of the Cangelosi Cards (vocals), Raphael McGregor (lap steel guitar), Skip Krevens (guitar), Andrew Hall (bass), and Kevin Dorn (drums), plus frequent guest appearances by Matt Munisteri (guitar) and Rob Hecht (fiddle).

Mon 02/06

Mon 02/06

CHICHA LIBRE. Psychedelic Cumbia. Every Monday.
Chicha Libre plays a mixture of latin rhythms, surf music and psychedelic pop inspired by 1970's Peruvian music from the Amazon. The Brooklyn-based band mixes up covers of forgotten Chicha classics with French-tinged originals, re-interpretation of 70’s pop classics as well as cumbia versions of pieces by Satie and Ravel. With Karina Colis - percussion; Joshua Camp - keyboards; Olivier Conan - Cuatro & Vocals - Nicholas Cudahy - bass; Vincent Douglas - Guitar - Neil Ochoa - percussion.

Tue 02/07

Barbès and Concert Artist Guild present a series of solo classical Piano.
THE UPRIGHT PIANO BRIGADE.
SOEYON LEE & RAN DANK. First prize winner of the prestigious 2010 Naumburg International Piano Competition, Korean pianist Soyeon Lee has already been hailed by The New York Times as a pianist with "a huge, richly varied sound, a lively imagination and a firm sense of style," while The Washington Post has lauded her for her "stunning command of the keyboard.
She will be joined by Ran Dank of whome the NY Times wrote "Mr. Dank is a player with technique, imagination, and powerhouse pianist"

Tue 02/07

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Gypsy brass, soulful Balkan anthems, and hip-grinding American funk: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City; their half-decade bacchanal is a destination for locals as well as brass and Balkan fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last four cds (Taketron, Teknochek Collision, Remixed, and Bigger) are all available from Barbès Records. John Carlson & Kenny Warren (trumpet), Peter Hess (sax/clarinet), Peter Stan (accordion), Tim Vaughn & Matt Musselman (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Matt Moran and Chris Stromquist (snare/bubanj/Darabouka). $10.

Wed 02/08

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
Josh Sinton's PINE BARREN & TRIO CAVEAT. Celebrating the release of two short albums packaged on a single CD (done under the auspices of Engine Records), Josh Sinton will perform "Pine Barren" as a solo work for baritone saxophone and bass clarinet at 8. Trio Caveat (Jonathan Moritz, Chris Welcome and James Ilgenfritz) will perform freeform improvisations in honor of their half of the CD entitled "Introspective Athletics" starting at 8:45.

Wed 02/08

THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
In the 1960's and 1970's, the government of Guinea engaged in a campaign known as Authenticité. It was a drive to create a new musical movement that would be specifically Guinean, but would include the modern wonders that were the electric guitar, the electric bass and the drumset. Musicians were given instruments and orchestras were formed. Surprisingly, the results proved mesmerizing and a myriad new bands were born. Many of them would go on to have a profound and lasting impact on African music. Mamady Kouyate was one of those pioneers. He played in various bands - his own band, Les Ambassadeurs du Mandingue, being one of them - but is probably best known as the guitarist in the classic Bembeya Jazz National. Kouyate, who now lives in NY, has reformed the Mandingo Ambassadors, updating the sound of his youth, but keeping it very close to the standard of Authenticité. The new All-Star band includ es Ismael Kouyate - vocals; Mamady Kourouma - guitar; Oran Etkin - tenor sax & clarinets; Sylvain Leroux - flute, tambin and alto sax; Andy Algire - drums; Nick Cudahy - bass and Mamady Kouyate - guitar. “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Thu 02/09

ANNA GARANO & MARC RIBOT. Each guitarist will play a solo set followed by duets.
Italian guitarist, Anna Garano, has studied contemporary music at the University of Trieste, Indian and Arabic music at the International Institute of Comparate Music of Venezia, and composition at the Rotterdam Conservatorium. In 1992 she traveled for the first time to Andalusia, Spain to study flamenco guitar, and over the years continued her studies under the guide of flamenco masters including Paco Serrano, Manolo Franco and Manolo Sanlucar.
In 2007, Anna released the CD "Come il re di un paese piovoso", which includes her own compositions to the works of Baudelaire, Swiss poet Phillipe Jaccottet and Verlaine, arranged for her trio with singer Alessandra Chiurco and trumpet player Flavio Davanzo.
Enigmatic guitarist Marc Ribot has released 6 very diverse solo guitar albums and his latest release, Silent Movies (Pi Recording 2010) has been described as a "down-in-mouth-near master piece" by the Village Voice and has landed on several Best of 2010 lists including the LA Times and critical praise across the board. His live solo performances are unpredictable events which may draw on all of these or none, creating a sonic matrix of memory, free improvisation, zeitgeist, extra-terrestrial radio signals, and much more...always leaving the listener on the edge of their seats. ........................................................................................................................................................$10

Thu 02/09

LES CHAUDS LAPINS. Les Chauds Lapins (The Hot Rabbits..) are lead by New York's Kurt Hoffman and Meg Reichardt and specialize in a repertoire of French swing from the 1930's and 40's. The group has re-arranged long-forgotten French classics for two banjo ukes and a string trio mixing the rootsiness of early American jazz with lushness of a Bernard Hermann film soundtrack. Prior to their re-incarnation as French entertainers, Meg Riechardt was better known as one fourth of Americana group The Roulette sisters and Kurt as a reed player and composer who co-led cult instru mental band the Ordinaires and recorded with such luminaries as They Might be Giants, Frank Black and Firewater. The music oscillates between romantic and quirky, French and American, retro and modern. They are backed by a string section composed of Karen Waltuch - violin; Andy Cotton - bass and Garo Yellin - cello.

Fri 02/10

JEN CHAPIN. Jen Chapin’s music plays urban folk — story songs that search for community and shared meaning, powered by the funk, soul and improvisation of the city. Critics have hailed her work as “brilliant.. soulfully poetic” (NPR), “thoughtful.. worth-savoring” (People), “addictive” (Boston Globe), “smart, observant, lyrically deft, politically aware and emotionally intuitive” (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel). JazzTimes has called her “a first-rate storyteller” while Relix regards her as “one of the freshest voices singing today." She has been featured on “Late Nite with Conan O’Brien,” honored by the USA Songwriting Competition, appeared on stage with Bruce Springsteen, and opened up for Bruce Hornsby and the Neville Brothers. Her performances are powerful, spotlighting the world-class musicianship and rare chemistry of Grammy-nominated acoustic bassist/husband Stephan Crump and “unflappable melodist” (New York Times) guitarist Jamie Fox.

Fri 02/10

LAS RUBIAS DEL NORTE. Their sound is a re-invention, a nostalgic throwback to a time and place mostly imagined where Peruvian waltzes, Andean huaynos and Cuban Guajiras mix with French opera, Cowboy tunes and Bollywood classics. The result plays like a dreamy soundtrack with classical harmonies set to a Latin beat. Their new album, Ziguala is an attempt to imagine what a pop record would sound like had the global Latin influence which was so prevalent until the early 60's had continued its course without interruption. The tracks on the album are re-interpretations of songs from Spain, France, Peru, India, Mexico, Greece, Venezuela, Colombia and Naples. Ziguala is not so much a latin record as it is a pop record that uses a latin vocabulary. Think of it as the opposite of Rock en Español, itself a Latin genre which uses a rock vocabulary.

Sat 02/11

KOTORINO. European waltzes, Latin Tango and rural Americana played on guitar, violin, tuba, bass clarinet, tenor sax, trumpet, pump-organ, voice, banjo, drums, accordion, bass and musical saw .

Sat 02/11

CHICHA LIBRE. Psychedelic Cumbia. A rare weekend appearance by Monday regulars as they get ready for the release of their new album, Canibalismo, due out May 8th. Chicha Libre plays a mixture of latin rhythms, surf music and psychedelic pop inspired by 1970's Peruvian music from the Amazon. The Brooklyn-based band mixes up covers of forgotten Chicha classics with French-tinged originals, re-interpretation of 70’s pop classics as well as cumbia versions of pieces by Satie and Ravel. With Karina Colis - percussion; Joshua Camp - keyboards; Olivier Conan - Cuatro & Vocals - Nicholas Cudahy - bass; Vincent Douglas - Guitar - Neil Ochoa - percussion.

BARBES CLASSICAL. Barbès and the Concert Artist Guild present some of the best new talent in the classical music world. This month:
THE LINDEN STRING QUARTET. Described as “…truly riveting…” by MusicWeb International, the Linden String Quartet is a winner of the 2010 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition. The performance will include Ravel’s String Quartet in F, Schubert’s Quartettsatz, Beethoven’s Op. 18, No. 4 and Dark Energy (2007) by Canadian composer Kelly Marie Murphy.

7:00pm

STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephane Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards.

9:00pm

Mon 02/13

BRAIN CLOUD. Every Monday. "My brain is cloudy, my soul is upside-down... When I get that low-down feeling, I know the blues must be someplace around." (Bob Wills)The Brain Cloud’s brand of western swing draws from the New Orleans-meets-Texas, strings-meet-horns, jazz-meets-country sound that Bob Wills perfected on his mid-1940’s Tiffany Transcriptions radio broadcasts. The Brain Cloud includes Dennis Lichtman (mandolin/fiddle/clarinet), Tamar Korn - of the Cangelosi Cards (vocals), Raphael McGregor (lap steel guitar), Skip Krevens (guitar), Andrew Hall (bass), and Kevin Dorn (drums), plus frequent guest appearances by Matt Munisteri (guitar) and Rob Hecht (fiddle).

Fri 02/13

LLAMA. Psychedelic Salsa! Steeped in the salsa dura of the 1970's, Llama goes the trippy way with heavy ambient and psychedelic touches without ever losing its clave. A mixture of Peruvian, Colombian and New York musicians, Llama is part of the new wave of tropical music. Erik Baumann-Bongos; Juan Calderon-Guitar; Joy Hanson-Lead vocals; Megan Moncrief-Piano; Michael Rafalowich-Bass; Efrain Rozas-Director, Timbales; Yvonne Ubillus-Synthesizer; Oscar Rebolledo -Conga.

Mon 02/13

DJ SULTÁN (Mexico City) is one of the founding members of the Mexican electro-balkan combo La Internacional Sonora Balkanera; he has been spinning music since the late 90s, shaking audiences from Montreal to London and Mexico to Oaxaca with his peculiar blend of Balkan beat, funky groove, nortec vibes and Latin rock. Currently living in New York, DJ Sultán has performed at Obra Negra, the basement bar of the Mexican restaurant Casa Mezcal in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Tue 02/14

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Gypsy brass, soulful Balkan anthems, and hip-grinding American funk: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City; their half-decade bacchanal is a destination for locals as well as brass and Balkan fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last four cds (Taketron, Teknochek Collision, Remixed, and Bigger) are all available from Barbès Records. John Carlson & Kenny Warren (trumpet), Peter Hess (sax/clarinet), Peter Stan (accordion), Tim Vaughn & Matt Musselman (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Matt Moran and Chris Stromquist (snare/bubanj/Darabouka). $10.

Wed 02/15

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
JIM BLACK MYSTERY. With Jim Black - drums; Chris Speed reeds & Ben Street - bass.
Jim Black is at the forefront of a new generation of musicians bringing jazz into the 21st century. In addition to being one of the most influential drummers of our time, he is also the leader of one of the world's most forward-thinking bands, AlasNoAxis.

Wed 02/15

THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
In the 1960's and 1970's, the government of Guinea engaged in a campaign known as Authenticité. It was a drive to create a new musical movement that would be specifically Guinean, but would include the modern wonders that were the electric guitar, the electric bass and the drumset. Musicians were given instruments and orchestras were formed. Surprisingly, the results proved mesmerizing and a myriad new bands were born. Many of them would go on to have a profound and lasting impact on African music. Mamady Kouyate was one of those pioneers. He played in various bands - his own band, Les Ambassadeurs du Mandingue, being one of them - but is probably best known as the guitarist in the classic Bembeya Jazz National. Kouyate, who now lives in NY, has reformed the Mandingo Ambassadors, updating the sound of his youth, but keeping it very close to the standard of Authenticité. The new All-Star band includ es Ismael Kouyate - vocals; Mamady Kourouma - guitar; Oran Etkin - tenor sax & clarinets; Sylvain Leroux - flute, tambin and alto sax; Andy Algire - drums; Nick Cudahy - bass and Mamady Kouyate - guitar. “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Thu 02/16

MATT MUNISTERI. A phenomenal guitarist and songwriter whose ongoing monthly Barbès residency is now close to ten years old.

Thu 02/16

MARTA TOPFEROVA. "The Other Shore" CD release.
Marta Topferova's musical journey is closely linked to her unique, cross-cultural roots. Growing up on both sides of the Atlantic, Topferova often traveled back and forth between her native Czech Republic and the Americas. Highly acclaimed for her previous albums of Latin-flavored music in Spanish, "The Other Shore" is Topferova's first collection of original songs in English. As always, her writing is both lyrical and uplifting, and these songs bring a new dimension to her artistry. The album features Ben Monder on electric guitar, Ugonna Okegwo on bass and Adam Cruz on drums. "Topferova sings with an elegant longing in her voice" - New York Times

Fri 02/17

A Screening of Cory McAbee's "STINGRAY SAM". In this surreal sci-fi musical western serial, a dangerous mission reunites Stingray Sam with his long lost accomplice, The Quasar Kid. Follow these two space-convicts as they earn their freedom in exchange for the rescue of a young girl who is being held captive by the genetically designed figurehead of a very wealthy planet. McAbee is the same mad genius who masterminded the cult classic "The American Astronaut". Written and Directed by Cory McAbee; Music by The Billy Nayer Show; Narrated by David Hyde Pierce.
"STINGRAY SAM leaves one begging for more..."- Dennis Harvey, Variety

Fri 02/17

SERENA JOST. Serena Jost is a Swiss-American singer-songwriter and cellist. She recently finished recording her new album, A Bird Will Sing, with Producer Anton Fier (Golden Palominos). The album features Serena's extraordinary band and some very special guests including Thomas Bartlett (Doveman) and will be released this Spring. TimeOut said of her music: "The term art song—normally tied to 19th-century concert music—usefully characterizes Jost’s carefully arranged pieces and succinct lyrics, neither quite rock nor folk." Serena is an original member of Rasputina, the well-corseted cello group, and appears tonight with Julian Maile on guitar plus some surprise guests.

Fri 02/17

PINATALAND. Pinataland's theatrical, darkly romantic music conjures lovelorn astronauts, murderous Mormons, and the atom bomb. Tonight they're bringing back their energetic stage show of historical mysteries, performing songs from their acclaimed fifth CD "Hymns for the Dreadful Night" with Robin Aigner and Doug Stone singing, Bill Gerstel on drums, Ross Bonadonna on bass, and Deni Bonet on violin and Josh Camp on piano. "America's best bet for singalong historical fiction." - The New Jersey Star Ledger.

Sat 02/18

GHOST TRAIN ORCHESTRA. Trumpeter/composer Brian Carpenter leads the Ghost Train Orchestra through radical new arrangements of strange and beautiful early American chamber jazz from bandleaders Alec Wilder, John Kirby, Raymond Scott, and Reginald Foresythe. Brian Carpenter (trumpet, harmonica), Mazz Swift (violin), Andy Laster (alto saxophone), Petr Cancura (tenor saxophone, clarinet), Dennis Lichtman (clarinet), Curtis Hasselbring (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Avi Bortnick (guitar), Michael Bates (bass), Rob Garcia (drums).

Sat 02/18

SMOKEY's ROUNDUP. Smokey Hormel is probably best known for his works with Beck, Tom Waits and his Brazilian project with Miho Hatori. He's also been playing western swing for timequite some and his new project is inspired by the sounds of Milton Brown and his musical brownies and other Western Swing classics. With Smokey Hormel vocals and guitar; Charley Burnham - fiddle; Tim Luntzel - string bass; Andrew Borger - DrumS.

Sun 02/19

Sun 02/19

CINE BARBES - OUR NEW FILM SERIES. Curated by Blandine Mercier-McGovern.
Every third Sunday of the month. This week:
BEAUTIFUL DARLING. The Life and Time of Candy Darling, Andy Warhol's Superstar. Written and directed by James Rasin and featuring Cholé Sevigny and Patton Oswalt's voices.

Sun 02/19

MAX JOHNSON TRIO. The trio will be performing the content of their upcoming album in its entirety. With Kirk Knuffke - Cornet; Max Johnson - Bass and Ziv Ravitz - Drums.

STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephane Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards.

9:00pm

Mon 02/20

BRAIN CLOUD. Every Monday. "My brain is cloudy, my soul is upside-down... When I get that low-down feeling, I know the blues must be someplace around." (Bob Wills)The Brain Cloud’s brand of western swing draws from the New Orleans-meets-Texas, strings-meet-horns, jazz-meets-country sound that Bob Wills perfected on his mid-1940’s Tiffany Transcriptions radio broadcasts. The Brain Cloud includes Dennis Lichtman (mandolin/fiddle/clarinet), Tamar Korn - of the Cangelosi Cards (vocals), Raphael McGregor (lap steel guitar), Skip Krevens (guitar), Andrew Hall (bass), and Kevin Dorn (drums), plus frequent guest appearances by Matt Munisteri (guitar) and Rob Hecht (fiddle).

Mon 02/20

CHICHA LIBRE. Psychedelic Cumbia. Every Monday.
Chicha Libre plays a mixture of latin rhythms, surf music and psychedelic pop inspired by 1970's Peruvian music from the Amazon. The Brooklyn-based band mixes up covers of forgotten Chicha classics with French-tinged originals, re-interpretation of 70’s pop classics as well as cumbia versions of pieces by Satie and Ravel. With Karina Colis - percussion; Joshua Camp - keyboards; Olivier Conan - Cuatro & Vocals - Nicholas Cudahy - bass; Vincent Douglas - Guitar - Neil Ochoa - percussion.

Tue 02/21

Ryan Keberle and CATHARSIS.Ryan Keberle's newest project brings together his love for the Blues, Latin Jazz, songwriting ala Duke Ellington, and group interaction inspired by Ornette Coleman's early piano-less quartets played by some of the most in-demand musicians of the 21st century. Ryan Keberle - Trombone, Compositions; Mike Rodriguez - Trumpet; Jorge Roeder - Bass; Eric Doob - Drums.

Tue 02/21

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Gypsy brass, soulful Balkan anthems, and hip-grinding American funk: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City; their half-decade bacchanal is a destination for locals as well as brass and Balkan fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last four cds (Taketron, Teknochek Collision, Remixed, and Bigger) are all available from Barbès Records. John Carlson & Kenny Warren (trumpet), Peter Hess (sax/clarinet), Peter Stan (accordion), Tim Vaughn & Matt Musselman (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Matt Moran and Chris Stromquist (snare/bubanj/Darabouka). $10.

Wed 02/22

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
KIRK KNUFFKE. With Brian Drye; Jeff Davis and Mark Helias

Wed 02/22

THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
In the 1960's and 1970's, the government of Guinea engaged in a campaign known as Authenticité. It was a drive to create a new musical movement that would be specifically Guinean, but would include the modern wonders that were the electric guitar, the electric bass and the drumset. Musicians were given instruments and orchestras were formed. Surprisingly, the results proved mesmerizing and a myriad new bands were born. Many of them would go on to have a profound and lasting impact on African music. Mamady Kouyate was one of those pioneers. He played in various bands - his own band, Les Ambassadeurs du Mandingue, being one of them - but is probably best known as the guitarist in the classic Bembeya Jazz National. Kouyate, who now lives in NY, has reformed the Mandingo Ambassadors, updating the sound of his youth, but keeping it very close to the standard of Authenticité. The new All-Star band includ es Ismael Kouyate - vocals; Mamady Kourouma - guitar; Oran Etkin - tenor sax & clarinets; Sylvain Leroux - flute, tambin and alto sax; Andy Algire - drums; Nick Cudahy - bass and Mamady Kouyate - guitar. “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Thu 02/23

SHANE ENDSLEY AND THE MUSIC BAND. Trumpeter Shane Endsley can most often be found playing with the Grammy nominated Quintet Kneebody in addition to sideman work with luminaries like Chris Speed, Ben Allison, and Charlie Hunter. His Music Band's release "Then the Other" was named as one of the year's ten best by the LA Times.

Thu 02/23

CHORO TRIO. Sao Paulo-based guitarist and composer Douglas Lora is one-half of the Brasil Guitar Duo, and a member of Caraivana. He is equally at ease playing Classical music as he is playing samba and choros. He will be joined by his brother Alexandre Lora on pandeiro, and virtuoso mandolin player Dudu Maia. A very rare NY appearance.Douglas Lora, Dudu Maia and Alexandre Lora

Fri 02/24

CARIOCA. Percussionist Zé Mauricio's choro project.

Fri 02/24

THE ROULETTE SISTERS. The Roulette Sisters have been turning heads and stopping traffic since forming in the cold winter of 2003. Noticing that their warm velvet harmonies and spicy hot licks were melting the snow outside, the sisters realized that they had started something not only weather-altering but soul-stirring as well. The sexy sisters play a hip-shaking blend of American country blues, traditional songs, popular tunes and old timey music from the first half of the 20th century. With Mamie Minch: resonator guitar, Meg Reichardt: electric guitar, Megan Burleyson: washboard, Karen Waltuch: Viola.

Sat 02/25

LES TROIS COUPS. From Lille, France, Les Trois Coups mix street theatre and musette-inspired traditional chanson.

Sat 02/25

HEARTS & BONES. A strange yet oddly compelling fusion of jazz, bluegrass, klezmer and rock, Hearts & Bones is bassist Dave Hertzberg’s first project as a leader. The band combines his original compositions with Paul Simon covers and arrangements of traditional folk songs, and features Itai Kriss (flute), Alan Grubner (violin), Rick Snell (acoustic guitar), Dave Hertzberg (bass) and Joel Arnow (drums)

Sat 02/25

PEOPLE'S CHAMP. People’s Champs play music for the mind, body and soul. Enamored with roots dance music from all over the world, they mix jazz, hip-hop, rock and soul from the USA, Latin America and Africa to create new hybrids. The result is a passionate sound that will move you. Literally. Led by trombonist/vocalist Alex Asher, People’s Champs feature some of New York’s top musicians, who also perform regularly with Slavic Soul Party!, Meta and the Cornerstones, Baye Kouyate, Jo Jo Kuo and his Afrobeat Collective, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, Afrodesia, Nation Beat and many others.

Sun 02/26

TRIO BLASTEPHEMY. CD release! A brass band in miniature, Trio Blastphemy explores the edges of what you might expect from a brass ensemble. Repertoire includes pop songs, folk music, arrangements of works for guitar, and improvisation-driven originals. Featuring Curtis Hasselbring (trombone), Ben Holmes (trumpet) and Marcus Rojas (tuba). This show celebrates the release of their debut recording.

STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephane Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards.

9:00pm

Mon 02/27

BRAIN CLOUD. Every Monday. "My brain is cloudy, my soul is upside-down... When I get that low-down feeling, I know the blues must be someplace around." (Bob Wills)The Brain Cloud’s brand of western swing draws from the New Orleans-meets-Texas, strings-meet-horns, jazz-meets-country sound that Bob Wills perfected on his mid-1940’s Tiffany Transcriptions radio broadcasts. The Brain Cloud includes Dennis Lichtman (mandolin/fiddle/clarinet), Tamar Korn - of the Cangelosi Cards (vocals), Raphael McGregor (lap steel guitar), Skip Krevens (guitar), Andrew Hall (bass), and Kevin Dorn (drums), plus frequent guest appearances by Matt Munisteri (guitar) and Rob Hecht (fiddle).

Mon 02/27

CHICHA LIBRE. Psychedelic Cumbia. Every Monday.
Chicha Libre plays a mixture of latin rhythms, surf music and psychedelic pop inspired by 1970's Peruvian music from the Amazon. The Brooklyn-based band mixes up covers of forgotten Chicha classics with French-tinged originals, re-interpretation of 70’s pop classics as well as cumbia versions of pieces by Satie and Ravel. With Karina Colis - percussion; Joshua Camp - keyboards; Olivier Conan - Cuatro & Vocals - Nicholas Cudahy - bass; Vincent Douglas - Guitar - Neil Ochoa - percussion.

Tue 02/28

Tue 02/28

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Gypsy brass, soulful Balkan anthems, and hip-grinding American funk: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City; their half-decade bacchanal is a destination for locals as well as brass and Balkan fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last four cds (Taketron, Teknochek Collision, Remixed, and Bigger) are all available from Barbès Records. John Carlson & Kenny Warren (trumpet), Peter Hess (sax/clarinet), Peter Stan (accordion), Tim Vaughn & Matt Musselman (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Matt Moran and Chris Stromquist (snare/bubanj/Darabouka). $10.

Wed 02/29

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
Shoko Nagai & Satoshi Takeishi's ABYSM. 2010 NYFA winner experimental Piano/Percs duo has been incorporating, composition,
electronics, free improvisation, found objects and visual elements into performances to create a unique path into the world of contemporary music. Their performances are based on stories and they create sound textures almost visible to the listener. In this performance, they will perform new compositions where illusion is sustained by multiple shifting elements. Satoshi Takeishi (percussion, electronics)
Shoko Nagai (piano, effect, accordion, auto harp).

Wed 02/29

THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
In the 1960's and 1970's, the government of Guinea engaged in a campaign known as Authenticité. It was a drive to create a new musical movement that would be specifically Guinean, but would include the modern wonders that were the electric guitar, the electric bass and the drumset. Musicians were given instruments and orchestras were formed. Surprisingly, the results proved mesmerizing and a myriad new bands were born. Many of them would go on to have a profound and lasting impact on African music. Mamady Kouyate was one of those pioneers. He played in various bands - his own band, Les Ambassadeurs du Mandingue, being one of them - but is probably best known as the guitarist in the classic Bembeya Jazz National. Kouyate, who now lives in NY, has reformed the Mandingo Ambassadors, updating the sound of his youth, but keeping it very close to the standard of Authenticité. The new All-Star band includ es Ismael Kouyate - vocals; Mamady Kourouma - guitar; Oran Etkin - tenor sax & clarinets; Sylvain Leroux - flute, tambin and alto sax; Andy Algire - drums; Nick Cudahy - bass and Mamady Kouyate - guitar. “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Thu 03/01

RACHELLE GARNIEZ. Dubbed a"Master of Surprise" by Entertainment Weekly, Rachelle writes and performs darkly optimistic story-songs and accompanies herself on a variety of instruments including accordion, piano, claviola, guitar and plastic bells, "...leaving nothing behind but sweet wreckage." (The New Yorker).

Thu 03/01

Fri 03/02

CLARE AND THE REASONS. After what seems like a couple of years of roaming the earth, the Reasons are bringing their delicate chamber pop back to Brooklyn. Their list of collaborators indluce Shara Worden, Van Dyke Parks and Sufjan Stevens - none of which will be present.“Clare and the Reasons played sweetly intricate chamber-pop that somehow mingled folk-pop, Philip Glass, cabaret oompah and the Beach Boys — for starters — behind the songwriter Clare Muldaur Manchon’s poised high voice, with an endearing quaver ” – The New York Times.

Fri 03/02

Wed 02/29

Wed 02/29

STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephane Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards.

9:00pm

Mon 03/05

BRAIN CLOUD. Every Monday. "My brain is cloudy, my soul is upside-down... When I get that low-down feeling, I know the blues must be someplace around." (Bob Wills)The Brain Cloud’s brand of western swing draws from the New Orleans-meets-Texas, strings-meet-horns, jazz-meets-country sound that Bob Wills perfected on his mid-1940’s Tiffany Transcriptions radio broadcasts. The Brain Cloud includes Dennis Lichtman (mandolin/fiddle/clarinet), Tamar Korn - of the Cangelosi Cards (vocals), Raphael McGregor (lap steel guitar), Skip Krevens (guitar), Andrew Hall (bass), and Kevin Dorn (drums), plus frequent guest appearances by Matt Munisteri (guitar) and Rob Hecht (fiddle).

Mon 03/05

CHICHA LIBRE. Psychedelic Cumbia. Every Monday.
Chicha Libre plays a mixture of latin rhythms, surf music and psychedelic pop inspired by 1970's Peruvian music from the Amazon. The Brooklyn-based band mixes up covers of forgotten Chicha classics with French-tinged originals, re-interpretation of 70’s pop classics as well as cumbia versions of pieces by Satie and Ravel. With Karina Colis - percussion; Joshua Camp - keyboards; Olivier Conan - Cuatro & Vocals - Nicholas Cudahy - bass; Vincent Douglas - Guitar - Neil Ochoa - percussion.

Tue 03/06

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Gypsy brass, soulful Balkan anthems, and hip-grinding American funk: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City; their half-decade bacchanal is a destination for locals as well as brass and Balkan fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last four cds (Taketron, Teknochek Collision, Remixed, and Bigger) are all available from Barbès Records. John Carlson & Kenny Warren (trumpet), Peter Hess (sax/clarinet), Peter Stan (accordion), Tim Vaughn & Matt Musselman (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Matt Moran and Chris Stromquist (snare/bubanj/Darabouka). $10.

Wed 03/07

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.

Wed 03/07

THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
In the 1960's and 1970's, the government of Guinea engaged in a campaign known as Authenticité. It was a drive to create a new musical movement that would be specifically Guinean, but would include the modern wonders that were the electric guitar, the electric bass and the drumset. Musicians were given instruments and orchestras were formed. Surprisingly, the results proved mesmerizing and a myriad new bands were born. Many of them would go on to have a profound and lasting impact on African music. Mamady Kouyate was one of those pioneers. He played in various bands - his own band, Les Ambassadeurs du Mandingue, being one of them - but is probably best known as the guitarist in the classic Bembeya Jazz National. Kouyate, who now lives in NY, has reformed the Mandingo Ambassadors, updating the sound of his youth, but keeping it very close to the standard of Authenticité. The new All-Star band includ es Ismael Kouyate - vocals; Mamady Kourouma - guitar; Oran Etkin - tenor sax & clarinets; Sylvain Leroux - flute, tambin and alto sax; Andy Algire - drums; Nick Cudahy - bass and Mamady Kouyate - guitar. “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephane Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards.

9:00pm

Mon

BRAIN CLOUD. Every Monday. "My brain is cloudy, my soul is upside-down... When I get that low-down feeling, I know the blues must be someplace around." (Bob Wills)The Brain Cloud’s brand of western swing draws from the New Orleans-meets-Texas, strings-meet-horns, jazz-meets-country sound that Bob Wills perfected on his mid-1940’s Tiffany Transcriptions radio broadcasts. The Brain Cloud includes Dennis Lichtman (mandolin/fiddle/clarinet), Tamar Korn - of the Cangelosi Cards (vocals), Raphael McGregor (lap steel guitar), Skip Krevens (guitar), Andrew Hall (bass), and Kevin Dorn (drums), plus frequent guest appearances by Matt Munisteri (guitar) and Rob Hecht (fiddle).

Mon

CHICHA LIBRE. Psychedelic Cumbia. Every Monday.
Chicha Libre plays a mixture of latin rhythms, surf music and psychedelic pop inspired by 1970's Peruvian music from the Amazon. The Brooklyn-based band mixes up covers of forgotten Chicha classics with French-tinged originals, re-interpretation of 70’s pop classics as well as cumbia versions of pieces by Satie and Ravel. With Karina Colis - percussion; Joshua Camp - keyboards; Olivier Conan - Cuatro & Vocals - Nicholas Cudahy - bass; Vincent Douglas - Guitar - Neil Ochoa - percussion.

Tue

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Gypsy brass, soulful Balkan anthems, and hip-grinding American funk: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City; their half-decade bacchanal is a destination for locals as well as brass and Balkan fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last four cds (Taketron, Teknochek Collision, Remixed, and Bigger) are all available from Barbès Records. John Carlson & Kenny Warren (trumpet), Peter Hess (sax/clarinet), Peter Stan (accordion), Tim Vaughn & Matt Musselman (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Matt Moran and Chris Stromquist (snare/bubanj/Darabouka). $10.

Wed

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.

Wed

THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
In the 1960's and 1970's, the government of Guinea engaged in a campaign known as Authenticité. It was a drive to create a new musical movement that would be specifically Guinean, but would include the modern wonders that were the electric guitar, the electric bass and the drumset. Musicians were given instruments and orchestras were formed. Surprisingly, the results proved mesmerizing and a myriad new bands were born. Many of them would go on to have a profound and lasting impact on African music. Mamady Kouyate was one of those pioneers. He played in various bands - his own band, Les Ambassadeurs du Mandingue, being one of them - but is probably best known as the guitarist in the classic Bembeya Jazz National. Kouyate, who now lives in NY, has reformed the Mandingo Ambassadors, updating the sound of his youth, but keeping it very close to the standard of Authenticité. The new All-Star band includ es Ismael Kouyate - vocals; Mamady Kourouma - guitar; Oran Etkin - tenor sax & clarinets; Sylvain Leroux - flute, tambin and alto sax; Andy Algire - drums; Nick Cudahy - bass and Mamady Kouyate - guitar. “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.