All events carry a $10 (very strongly) suggested donation, unless otherwise noted
please, make sure to bring a valid ID.

CHICHA LIBRE releases new EP "Cuatro Tigres"

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

Mon 04/29

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 04/30

MARIKA HUGHES & FRIENDS. Cellist and singer Marika Hughes seamlessly straddles many musical worlds; from artsong to pop song, from contemporary classical to traditional jazz, from funky to country. She is at home wherever her inspiration takes her and her band, Bottom Heavy. During her monthly residency here at Barbes Marika will invite members of her band as well as some of her other favorite musicians around town to join her as they enjoy exploring covers from the Staple Singers to Fiona Apple, as well as her original material.

Tue 04/30

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 05/01

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
MATT HOLMAN'S DIVERSION ENSEMBLE.Celebrating the release of trumpeter Matt Holman's debut album "When Flooded" on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records. Featuring Holman's original compositions that both explore the melodic possibilities of a diverse chamber ensemble and utilize the improvisational skills of some of today's most interesting sound artists. Matt Holman: trumpet; Michael McGinnis: clarinet, bass clarinet; Nate Radley: guitar; Christopher Hoffman: cello; Ziv Ravitz: percussion/

Wed 05/01

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Thu 05/02

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 05/02

THE BLUE VIPERS. The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn are an early jazz, swing, and blues band, composed of acoustic guitar/vocals, upright bass, washboard percussion, trumpet and saxophone. Their repertoire of witty songs from the 1920's and 30's, New Orleans & Dixieland, classic Blues, R&B and Western Swing is augmented by original tunes with moving yet often bawdy lyrics and catchy 4 part vocal harmony. “I Love them. ” Bette Midler “fantastic entertainment.” Willie Nelson

GUY KLUCEVSEK. .Guy Klucevsek, accordion, Todd Reynolds, violin: Guy's homages to Erik Satie, Astor Piazzolla, Kepa Junkera, and The Swingle Singers, plus some "waltzing at the edge of dawn," "riding the wild tangaroo," while, all the while, "teetering on the verge of normalcy."

8:00pm

CHIA'S DANCE PARTY. Martin Vejarano, leader of La Cumbiamba EneYe, has concocted a new project based on the sounds of traditional Colombian marching bands, but with enough of urban bastardazition and personal idiosyncracies to please a squadron of ethnomusicologists. The music is fun, driven and adventurous. It's very deeply rooted in Colombian music but not quaint, folkloric or exotic in anyway. With Ben Stapp - tuba; Alex Terrier - soprano saxophone; Justin Wood - alto sax and flute; Rafi Malkiel - Bombardino and Martín Vejarano - drums & compositions.

10:00pm

ROBIN AIGNER & PARLOUR GAME. Brooklyn's Robin Aigner and Parlour Game plays engaging and emotive original history vignettes blending 30s novelty tunes, old-time folk, mid-century country-and-western, and Eastern European music. Aigner on tenor uke, guitar, and banjo; Julian Smith on upright bass; Ray Sapirstein on cornet; Brooke Watkins on accordion.
" Robin Aigner croons witty, vintage-sounding tunes with dashes of klezmer and swing." —Timeout New York.

6:00pm

ORAN ETKIN. Oran Ektin has performed around the world with musicians ranging from guitarist Mike Stern to rapper Wyclef Jean, as well as Brooklyn-based groups such as Mandingo Ambassadors and Baby Soda. Oran’s last album, Kelenia, featured his working group with Malian Griot musicians as well as Lionel Loueke and John Benitez.

8:00pm

BANDA SINALOENSE DE LOS MUERTOS - New York's best (and 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. $10

10:00pm

LITTLE KING. Little King is a vocal/chamber ensemble, featuring the music of Michael Sachs. Along with 4 other Boston-music-school grads, the group consists of Andrew Halchak-clarinet, Michael Sachs-bass clarinet, Tomas Cruz-voice, Richard Saunders-voice, and Tim Norton-bass.

7:00pm

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 05/06

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 05/06

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 05/07

Tue 05/07

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 05/08

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
MUSIC OF OUR PEERS. "Music of our Peers" is a project spearheaded by bassist Michael Bates and tenorist Ohad Talmor. The group's repertoire focuses solely on music written by fellow musicians part of the current generation involved in the creative New york Jazz scene. The members of the group are themselves established musicians in this scene and will lend their voices to bring to life music rarely heard beyond the confine of the composer's own projects.
with Jonathan Finlayson: trumpet; Roman Filiu: alto saxophone; Ohad Talmor: tenor saxophone; Matt Stevens: guitar; Michael Bates: bass
and TBA: drums

Wed 05/08

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Thu 05/09

Thu 05/09

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.

Fri 05/10

PERCY JONES AND MJ-12. An improvisational trio that takes various starting points of jazz/rock fusion, psychedelia and ambient noise and develop them in unpredictable directions. With Percy Jones (Brand X, Eno) fretless bass, Stephen Moses (Alice Donut) drums/trombone, Aubrey Smith (Helden) vocals/keyboards.

Fri 05/10

MAMIE MINCH AND HER BUSINESS. The former Roulette Sister new project is a power trio in which she provides guitar and vocals as well as compostions steeped in the music of Bessie Smith, Sarah Martin, Memphis Minnie and other greats - but with a definite gritty, contemporary edge.

Sat 05/11

ZEKE HEALY & KAREN WALTUCH. Zeke and Karen play resonator guitar and viola to support vocal duets. They create a refined exuberance reminiscent of tabletop fireworks, extracting from and recalibrating your new favorite songs.

Sat 05/11

OPERA ON TAP. Opera is fun. Most people don't seem to realize how much fun it really is. In order to prove it, Opera on Tap has taken its act to barrooms where they found out that beer on tap enhances the operatic experience. The company is made up of young singers and instrumentalists who relish the direct contact with audiences not inhibited in their reactions by the looming menace of giant chandeliers.

Sat 05/11

BIG LAZY. Big Lazy is an instrumental trio from New York City. 'The Big Apple's Creme de la Creme' according to the Village Voice. "The elegantly gritty trio plays stunningly beautiful music that evokes everything from trucker's romps to the haunting film scores of Bernard Hermann", says the New Yorker. References have been made to noir, spaghetti western, Lynch and Tarentino soundtracks, crime jazz and burlesque but Big Lazy's organic and uncontrived music remains beyond category.

Sun 05/12

BARBES CLASSICAL
Barbès and the Concert Artist Guild present some of the best new talent in the classical music world. This month:
NAOMI O'CONNELL with Brent Funderburk. Hailed by The New York Times as “a radiant mezzo-soprano,” Irish singer Naomi O’Connell is the First Prize Winner of the 2011 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition and the Altamura/Caruso International Voice Competition. She began 2012 starring on London’s West End in Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning play “Master Class,” in the role of an aspiring young opera singer opposite Tyne Daly who portrays the legendary Maria Callas. The Times called her performance “…spectacular,” and The Independent lauded her “…thrilling rendering of an aria from Verdi’s Lady Macbeth.” Highlights of her 2012-13 operatic season include: Despina in the MET+Juilliard fall production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte.

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 05/13

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).

Mon 05/13

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 05/14

BEN HOLMES QUARTET. Trumpeter Ben Holmes brings his quartet back for his monthly residency at Barbès. Featuring Curtis Hasselbring (trombone), Vinnie Sperrazza (drums) and special guest Marcus Rojas (tuba), the group will perform music from Holmes' critically-acclaimed Skirl Records release 'Anvil of the Lord' as well as repertoire from the Trio Blastphemy songbook. "Holmes shows the deft imagination that's mandatory for today's top brass" (John Corbett, DownBeat Magazine).

Tue 05/14

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 05/15

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
PALOMA TRIO. The saxophonist has been a member of Charlie Haden’s Liberation Orchestra, Paul Motian's Electric Bebop Band and Fred Hersch's quintet. This Trio is an offshoot of his acclaimed group Paloma Recio - with Tony Malaby: tenor saxophone; Ben Monder: guitar and Nasheet Waits: drums.

Wed 05/15

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Thu 05/16

RAFAEL GOMEZ Y NUEVO CIRCO. Rafael Gomez is a Venezuelan guitarist, singer and songwriter with a fresh and unique style. His first solo album "El Norte", compiles Latin alternative beat, bossa nova, cumbia, funk and rock with a Caribbean flavor, tasteful arrangements and original lyrics. His band "Nuevo Circo" includes Pablo Bencid on drums, Neil Ochoa on percussion and Gustavo Amarante on bass.

Thu 05/16

JACK GRACE. The Martini Cowboy brings us his urban take on Country music. "One of the city's most personable and skilled country stars" Time Out NY
“He’s like that Cash kid, but good.” — Jerry Lee Lewis on hearing Jack live,

Fri 05/17

LUCIA PULIDO - CANCIONES DE DESPECHO. Lucia is a Colombian singer with one of the richest voices on the international scene today. She has mined the musical traditions of her native Colombia and other Latin American countries in an ongoing search for a distinct, style. The New York Times says that, "Ms.Pulido holds on to the rawness of the original melodies while giving them a sophisticated new context." Tonight, she sings her repertoire of "broken love songs" - classic boleros, waltzes and ballads meant to make you cry.

Fri 05/17

HOWARD FISHMAN. Howard Fishman, composer, guitarist and bandleader is equally adept at performing his own compositions or drawing on a seemingly endless repertoire of American popular music - all filtered through a sensibility and aesthetic entirely his own. Fishman's performances combine the exuberance and spontaneity of jazz with a storyteller's sense of drama, emotional depth and play. The New York Times has written that his work "transcends time and idiom"

Sat 05/18

SONGS FOR UNUSUAL CREATURES. Quirky author and composer Michael Hearst, along with his five-piece band, presents Songs For Unusual Creatures: a highly-geeky A/V presentation of some of the most bizarre animals that roam the planet. From the Australian bilby to the deep-sea magnapinna squid, to the microscopic tarde, the creatures are brought to life with such odd-ball instruments as theremin, claviola, daxophone, and stylophone. Fun for the whole family! Featuring: Michael Hearst, Ben Holmes, Allyssa Lamb, Kristin Mueller, and Jonti Siman.

Sat 05/18

LES CHAUDS LAPINS. Kurt Hoffman and Meg Reichardt cover Charles Trenet songs and other jewels from the French 30's and 40's musical traditions accompanying themselves on banjo-ukes. Prior to their re-incarnation as French entertainers, Meg was better known as one third of the Roulette sisters and Kurt as a reed player and composer who co-led cult instrumental band the Ordinaires and recorded with such luminaries as They Might be Giants, Frank Black, Firewater, and Drink Me. They are backed by a string section composed of Karen Waltuch - violin; Ian Riggs- bass and Garo Yellin.

Sat 05/18

SMOKEY'S SECRET FAMILY. 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.

LENI STERN. Acclaimed guitarist and vocalist Leni Stern brings her African music ensemble to Barbés. The music juxtaposes Stern's trademark inventive guitar and vocal explorations with the indigenous sounds of accomplished African instrumentalists. The result is at once haunting, exuberant, cinematic, personal and resoundingly assured. Featuring Leni Stern (guitar & vocals), Mamadou Ba (bass), Yacouba Sissoko (cora), and Makan Kouyate (percussion

7:30pm

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 05/20

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 05/20

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 05/21

ALEX MEIXNER. Alex is a Grammy nominated accordionist who started playing the Polka circuit with his dad at the age of 6. He still tours the Polka circuit and also collaborates with the likes of Guy Kllucevsek and Brave Combo's Bubba Hernandez. His repertoire tonight will includes Gypsy folk music, jazz, polkas, hoedowns and more.

Tue 05/21

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 05/22

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
WILL MCEVOY'S MUTASM. A raucously chaotic, loud, boil over sextet that has no trouble being startlingly quiet, introspective, and small. listeners strain to discern beer in the fridge, lull you to sleep, then sneak out the back with the car keys. Continuing to celebrate their first release Labor of Labor. With Will McEvoy- double bass; Brad Henkel: trumpet; Nathaniel Morgan: alto saxophone; Patrick Breiner: tenor; Dustin Carlson: guitarand Cody Brown: percussion.

Wed 05/22

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

PHIL SHOENFELT/PAVEL CINGL. Phil Schoenfelt (UK) and Pavel Cingl (CZ) have been at the forefront of the Prague alternative music scene since the late 1990's. Schoenfelt is a muscular rhythm guitarist whose songwriting style evokes comparisons to Cave, Strummer and Dylan, among others. Multi-instrumentalist Cingl is a veteran of the Czech Republic music scene, having recorded and performed with some of the very best acts coming out of Prague over the past 20 years. Together, they are members of the band Southern Cross. Their duo set casts their repertoire in a minimalist setting, and features Schoenfelt on acoustic guitar and vocals, and Cingl on violin and mandolin. Together, they have performed throughout all of continental Europe and the UK.

7:00pm

ANDY STATMAN. A truly extraordinary artist, Andy Statman began his career in the 70’s as a virtuoso Mandolinist who studied and performed David Grisman, went on to study clarinet the legendary Dave Tarras and became one of the main architect of a Klezmer revival which started out 30 years ago and has since informed and influenced folk, Jazz and improvised music forms. Andy draws equally from hassidic melodies, folk tunes from new and old worlds alike and Albert Ayler-influenced free-improv. The result reads like a very personal search for the sacred based both on traditions and introspection. $10

8:00pm

SONGS OF ZEBULON. The Klezmatics' Frank London and Sway Machinery's Jeremiah Lockwood resurrect the sounds and spirit of the golden age of khazones - Ashkenazic religious singing - and explore the music of Zebulon Kwartin.
During the early twentieth century, as many of the greatest cantors fled Europe, New York City become their home and the center of cantorial music. One of these masters was the legendary Zebulon (Zawel) Kwartin (1874-1953). he served in St. Petersburg and Budapest before emigrating to the United States, settling in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Most of his commercial recordings were made in New York City. In 1926, Kwartin moved to Palestine, settled in the mystical Jewish city of Tzfat, and began touring extensively throughout eretz Yisruel.
Kwartin returned to the United States in 1927 to accept a position in Newark, New Jersey, remaining there until his death in 1953.
Featuring Frank London - trumpet; Jeremiah Lockwood - guitar and vocals; Shoko Nagai - organ and accordion; Ron Caswell - tuba, and Brian Drye - trombone and keyboard.

10:00pm

Barbès and the Concert Artist Guild present:
CANELLAKIS-BROWN DUO. Nicholas Canellakis - cello & Michael Brown - piano.
Third installment of the duo's residency. Hailed as “a pair of adventurous young talents” (Time Out New York), the dynamic Canellakis-Brown Duo presents innovative programs that combine original compositions and arrangements with modern masterpieces and classics from the standard repertory. Comprised of cellist Nicholas Canellakis and pianist/composer Michael Brown, the duo captivates audiences and presenters alike through its superb musicianship and engaging presentations.
Upcoming projects include a new work for cello/piano and film depicting New York City. The piece is being created entirely by the ensemble, with Mr. Brown as composer and Mr. Canellakis as filmmaker, and is set to premiere in Spring 2013.
In addition to performing as a recital duo, Mr. Canellakis and Mr. Brown produce and star in an original YouTube comedy series called “Conversations with Nick Canellakis” in which they conduct satirical interviews with stars of the classical music world.
Works by Shostakovich, Barber, Beethoven, Brown and bulgarian Folk Tunes.

8:00pm

ROB CURTO'S FORRO ALL STAR. Forró, from northeastern Brazil, seems to have surpassed even samba as the country’s most popular dance genre. The accordionist Rob Curto, its foremost ambassador in the United States, studied and performed with forró’s greatest names—Dominguinhos, Arlindo dos Oito Baixos, and Camarão. “Rob Curto is a musician playing in our time the voices of time past—of smiling faces, of moving bodies, of shoes stirring the dust beneath them to celebrate this gentle existence.” Lila Downs.

10:00pm

Scott Kettner's ORGY IN RHYTHM. The latest creative output of Nation Beat and Maracatu New York ringleader Scott Kettner is a funk infused brass band that performs infectiously live dance music from northeastern Brazil. This group travels between North and South America as if there were no borders or passports needed. Ranging from fresh originals to forró classics, this Brooklyn-based group throws a global dance party you wont forget. Scott Kettner: drums; Brian Drye: trombone; Rodrigo Ursaia: flute; Petr Cancura: saxophone and John Altieri: tuba

8:00pm

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.

10:00pm

THE QUAVERS. Brooklyn duo The Quavers are T. Griffin and Catherine McRae with frequent collaborators Dennis Cronin and Bruce Cawdron. They coax a luminous sound out of decayed samplers, walkmans, vibraphonette, footpedal loopers, tape echo violin and homespun harmonies. Like a space-age Carter Family, they weave low-tech electronics around songs sturdy enough to stand up even if the power goes out. They call it “porch techno”.

7:00pm

9:00pm

Mon 05/27

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 s wing 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 05/27

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 05/28

CAROL LIPNIK and SPOOKORAMA. Avant-Chanteuse Carol Lipnik and her wildly eclectic accompanist, the maniacal keyboardist Dred Scott, conjure an authentic Coney Island Parlor Punk that is by turns, phantasmagorical, carnivalesque, gleefully macabre, and irresistibly compelling. Lipnik’s dramatic 4-octave voice coupled with her poetic genre-defying songs (many from the point of view of lovelorn beasts and freaks) are thrilling, chilling and heartbreaking.

Tue 05/28

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 05/29

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
GARABEDIAN/SACKS/SPERRAZZA PLUS ONE. Featuring compositions by all the musicians, this group will explore both the unknown, as well as the familiar. With Noah Garabedian: bass, Jacob Sacks - piano; Vinnie Sperrazza: drums and TBA: horn.

Wed 05/29

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Thu 05/30

DOLUNAY. Dolunay (“Full moon”) plays Rumeli urban folk music of the Turkish people across the Balkans.
Jenny Luna - voice, percussion; Eylem Basaldi - violin; Adam Good - ud

Thu 05/30

GRUPO CHONTA. Diego Obregón, from Guapi, Colombia, leads grupo Chonta, a group dedicated to the Afro-Colombian marimba music of the pacific coast. Diego started playing drums and cununo with Silvino Mina, one of the best known marimba player in Colombia. He later joined the traditional group Guapi. At age 24 he traveled to La Tola, Nariño where he learned to build and play marimbas and then went on to manage his own Marimba workshop in Cali. Diego currently resides in New York where Grupo Chonta is based. With Franco Pinna - Drums; Alejandro Florez - Guitar; Edgar Gomez - Bass; Justin Wood - Sax; Nestor Gomez - Cununo and Diego Obregon - Marimba/Vocals.

Fri 05/31

HEARTS & BONES. Their debut album, "Don't Lose Sight of Your Song," features five innovative Hertzberg compositions, two Paul Simon classics reimagined as modern bluegrass instrumentals, and a harmonically sophisticated interpretation of the traditional American folk song "Wildwood Flower." Hailed by WNYC’s David Garland as “fiery music that will get your pulse moving,” Hearts & Bones is a band that defies category while staying true to its myriad musical roots.

Fri 05/31

BILL CARNEY'S JUG ADDICTS. Sans-Culottes founder and frontman Bill Carney has been leading various jug bands for over 25 years. His latest incarnation, the Brooklyn-based Jug Addicts, has earned a reputation for exciting live shows. Often a large formation, the Jug Addicts are characterized by their powerful, raucous approach to its jug band, old time, tin pan alley, early jazz and blues repertoire.

BEN SIDRAN. The Chicago Daily News once called Sidran “a Renaissance man cast adrift in modern times.” In his forty year professional career (his first recording session was with the Steve Miller Band in 1967) he has recorded over thirty solo albums; produced dozens more for artists such as Diana Ross, Jon Hendricks, Van Morrison, Tony Williams and Rickie Lee Jones; authored four books, including the text Black Talk (Da Capo) and most recently Jews, Music and the American Dream (Nardis Books); produced and hosted award-winning radio and television programs for VH1 (his “New Visions” series won the Ace award) and National Public Radio (“Jazz Alive” won the prestigious Peabody award). His Talking Jazz radio series – many hours of interviews with jazz greats, including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakey – remains a staple on satellite radio in the United States and in a 24 CD box set. Yet despite this success in various media, Sidran, whose dry vocal delivery and sly raps prompted
the London Times to brand him “the first existential jazz rapper,” continues to enjoy performing live, in clubs and concerts across the world, with his usual band of suspects. Here we find him trying out material from his latest project "Don't Cry For No Hipster".
With Ben Sidran (piano, vocals), Leo Sidran (drums), Tim Luntzel (bass) and Will Bernard (guitar)

8:00pm

MARIACHI FLOR DE TOLOACHE. Mariachi Flor de Toloache is the first and only established all female mariachi band. The seven members play all the essential and traditional instruments, violin, trumpet, guitarron, vihuela (5 string guitar) and guitar. Although as individuals their talent has allowed them to grace stages world wide from stadiums to acclaimed theater venues, they perform together like a band of sisters, casting a spell over their audiences like the legendary and magical Toloache flower that is still being used in Mexico as a love potion. Watch them sing Malagueña.

10:00pm

BOB JONES/JON SHOLLE DUO. Bob Jones started his career as singer in his father's church choir. He was Andy Statman's guitarist in his legendary klezmer quartet and currently plays with Boo Reiners in the Plunk Brothers, with the Danny Kalb Trio and with many Old Timey and Bluegrass musicians in the city.
Jon Sholle is a guitarist who has worked with such musicians as Vassar Clements, Larry Campbell, Keith Carradine, Allen Ginsberg, and Bela Fleck. He was a member of the David Grisman Quintet and has also released two solo albums on Rounder Records.

7:00pm

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitaist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and her has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 06/03

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 06/03

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 06/04

Olivier Manchon’s ORCHESTRE DE CHAMBRE MINIATURE. Composer and violinist Olivier Manchon’ writes music that is at once lush, precise and lyrical. It seems inspired as much by French composers from “le groupe des six” as it is by Gil Evans or Van Dyke Parks. The addition of a saxophone and occasional clarinet to the string ensemble gives the compositions a dimension both quirky and orchestral - the result is music with depth which never takes itself too seriously.

Tue 06/04

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 06/05

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
LOTTE ANKER. The Danish saxophonist and composer has played in a multitude of ensembles as well as dance and theater projects in Scandinavia and throughout Europe.

Wed 06/05

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

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).

8:00pm

CHRIS SPEED's DREAM OF A SONG. The clarinetist, saxophonist and composer transforms barbès into a1920's ballroom, playing Duke Ellington and other early jazz gems with Chris Speed - reeds; Ben Perowsky - drums and Brad Shepik - guitar.

10:00pm

OPERA ON TAP. Opera is fun. Most people don't seem to realize how much fun it really is. In order to prove it, Opera on Tap has taken its act to barrooms where they found out that beer on tap enhances the operatic experience. The company is made up of young singers and instrumentalists who relish the direct contact with audiences not inhibited in their reactions by the looming menace of giant chandeliers.

8:00pm

SPANGLISH FLY. Dedicated to reviving and renewing boogaloo, the sound that sprang from the street of 1960s Spanish Harlem. Featuring 11 members with origins in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, the UK., Canada, “Loisaida” and Upper Manhattan, Spanglish Fly comes together to play the mixture of soul, r & b, and Latin rhythms that was born in El Barrio. With Charly Rodriguez, timbales/ David Frankel, perc/ Erica Ramos, lead vocals/ Jonathan Flothow, bari sax/ Jonathan Goldman a/k/a Jonny Semi-Colón, trumpet/ Gabo Tomasini, perc/ Mick Santurio, congas/ Matt Thomas, tenor sax/ Sebastian Isler, trombone/Rafael Gomez, bass/Zach Seman, piano
"What Sharon Jones did for oldschool soul, what Antibalas did for Afrobeat and what Chicha Libre is doing for chicha, Spanglish Fly is doing for bugalu. As dance music, it’s irresistible." -- Lucid Culture

10:00pm

BAD REPUTATION. Pierre de Gaillande sings George Brassens.. From the 50’s through the late 70’s, George Brassens redefined French Chanson. He was an anarchist bard whose songs were sometimes raunchy, sometimes polemic, often poignant, and always steeped in classic French poetry. He went on to become one the most emblematic French singer of the 20th century. His songs, unlike those of his friend Jacque Brel, never became known outside of France, mostly because of the literary aspect of his lyrics.
Franco-American singer and composer Pierre de Gaillande has translated a number of Brassens songs. He has stuck to the rhyming scheme and verse length of the original songs, thus matching the melodies perfectly. He has re-arranged the music with a cinematic sensibility, using a combination of guitars, clarinets, lapsteel and Charango. Best way to describe the record would be to compare it to a perfect movie adaptation of a book classic. Think Stanley Kubrick or Raoul Ruiz. Barbès Records released a CD of his songs.

8:00pm

CHIA'S DANCE PARTY. Martin Vejarano, leader of La Cumbiamba EneYe, has concocted a new project based on the sounds of traditional Colombian marching bands, but with enough of urban bastardazition and personal idiosyncracies to please a squadron of ethnomusicologists. The music is fun, driven and adventurous. It's very deeply rooted in Colombian music but not quaint, folkloric or exotic in anyway. With Ben Stapp - tuba; Alex Terrier - soprano saxophone; Justin Wood - alto sax and flute; Rafi Malkiel - Bombardino and Martín Vejarano - drums & compositions.

10:00pm

BARBES CLASSICAL
Barbès and the Concert Artist Guild present some of the best new talent in the classical music world. This month:
WINDSYNC. Hailed by the Houston Chronicle as “revolutionary chamber musicians,” Wind ensemble WindSync's repertoire includes newly commissioned works written for the group and a wide array of original arrangements of classical masterworks. Having appeared on Houston Public Radio’s “The Front Row” numerous times, KUHA-FM called WindSync, “innovative…unconventional and exciting

7:00pm

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 06/10

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 06/10

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.

RAPHAEL MCGREGOR QUARTET. The lap steel player for Brain Cloud has also performed with Willie Nelson, Darol Anger, Adam Levy and Cyro Baptista. Fretless, his first CD as a band leader came out earlier this year. Raphael McGregor - Lap Steel; Oran Etkin - clarinet; Vinnie Sperrazza - drums, and Jason Sypher - bass.

7:00pm

Tue 06/11

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 06/12

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
SWEET TALK. In September 2011 trumpeter Jake Henry, guitarist Dustin Carlson, and drummer Devin Drobka came together to form Sweet Talk. Sweet Talk has toured around the country and performs regularly in New York City. Their debut album "Glitterbomb" was released on Prom Night Records in April 2013.

Wed 06/12

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

MICHAEL SHERIDAN. Release party for Prelude. Michael Sheridan's debut album "Prélude" showcases this young virtuoso's uniquely mannered approach to a wide range of musical tastes and influences, ranging from rhythmic and passionate South American tangos, bossa and choros to the harmonic richness of French gypsy jazz, with just a touch of Bach for flavor. Sheridan coaxes these songs to vibrant life from his beautiful Brazilian rosewood guitar.

7:00pm

TIM VAUGHN TRIO. The trombone player for Slavic Soul Party has a new project with Brandon Seeabrook on guitar and fellow SSP member Chris Stromquist on drums.

8:00pm

FLYING HOME. Drummer John Mettam¹s new sextet, covers classic repertoire from the Benny Goodman small ensembles from the Sextet, Quintet, Quartet, and Trio PLUS big band hits of the 30s and 40s! With John Mettam (drums, bandleader), Mike McGinnis (clarinet), Bryan Drye (trombone), Sean Moran(guitar), Tom Beckham (vibraphone), and Jim Whitney (bass).

10:00pm

ESZTER BALINT w/ Chris Cochrane. The composer and violinist will be accompanied by one of New York's most inventive and fiercely passionate players, guitarist/composer/songwriter Chris "Miss Balint has her own film noir sensibility as a songwriter. She puts arty twists into back-alley Americana... but the cleverness is not the point. She slips inside her characters to project their restlessness and longing." Jon Pareles, The New York Times.

8:00pm

THE BLUE VIPERS. The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn are an early jazz, swing, and blues band, composed of acoustic guitar/vocals, upright bass, washboard percussion, trumpet and saxophone. Their repertoire of witty songs from the 1920's and 30's, New Orleans & Dixieland, classic Blues, R&B and Western Swing is augmented by original tunes with moving yet often bawdy lyrics and catchy 4 part vocal harmony. “I Love them. ” Bette Midler “fantastic entertainment.” Willie Nelson

10:00pm

FESTA JUNINA with
GiLMAR GOMES & FRIENDS. Bahia native and percussionist superhero Gilmar Gomes is best known for working with the likes of Shakira, Gilberto Gil and Angelique Kidjo - as well as local favoites Forro In The Dark. He has also been stepping up as a band leader both here and in Bahia, singing his own reperetoire, accompanying himself on a variety of instruments and surrounding himself with fantastic musicians.

8:00pm

FESTA JUNINA FORRO PARY! with Scott Kettner, Rob Curto, Liliana Araujo and special guests. All around the world, the arrival of summer is associated with St John the Baptist, whose day is celebrated in mid June. In Northeastern Brazil, Festa Junina rival carnival celebrations with live music and street dancing. Members of Nation Beat, Forro de Madame and Forro for All have put together an All Star band to bring the tradition to Barbès with an all Forro party...

10:00pm

BEN MONDER. The guitarist has performed with a variety of artists, including Jack McDuff, Marc Johnson, Lee Konitz and Tim Berne. He is a regular member of the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra and the Paul Motian Octet, as well as many other projects. Ben continues to perform original music internationally with his own quartet, trio, and in a duo project with vocalist Theo Bleckmann. He will be performing a solo set.

5:00pm

RAYA BRASS BAND. Exuberant Balkan Music from the Village of Brooklyn.
Raya Brass Band does it on the dance floor, mashing up the music of Eastern Europe with American dance grooves. Featuring odd meters, unusual scales and a fine helping of gorgeous Balkan and Romany (Gypsy) melodies played on reeds, trumpet, accordion, tuba and drums: the best in Eastern European wedding music.

9:00pm

Mon 06/17

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 06/17

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 06/18

SURFACE TO AIR TRIO. "A quiet intensity pervades a fine new album of originals tinged by too many worldly sounds to
mention” - Richard Gehr, The Village Voice. With jonti siman - upright bass ; rohin khemani - tabla + percussion; jonathan goldberger - acoustic guitar

Tue 06/18

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 06/19

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
DECOUPAGE. Decoupage is an improvising chamber ensemble focused on creating maximum color and texture with minimal musical content. Curtis Hasselbring composes the group’s repertoire and writes pieces that are (mostly) quiet by nature but maintain a high level of inner turmoil and a keen sense of propulsion. With Curtis Hasselbring: trombone; Mary Halvorson: guitar; Matt Moran: vibraphone and Satoshi Takeishi: percussion. "a study in artful layers" NY Times.

Wed 06/19

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Thu 06/20

ANDY STATMAN. A truly extraordinary artist, Andy Statman began his career in the 70’s as a virtuoso Mandolinist who studied and performed David Grisman, went on to study clarinet the legendary Dave Tarras and became one of the main architect of a Klezmer revival which started out 30 years ago and has since informed and influenced folk, Jazz and improvised music forms. Andy draws equally from hassidic melodies, folk tunes from new and old worlds alike and Albert Ayler-influenced free-improv. The result reads like a very personal search for the sacred based both on traditions and introspection. $10

Thu 06/20

UNION STREET PRESERVATION SOCIETY. Hailed by Glide Magazine as “tasty and alive” with “brisk, flavorful improvisation,” USPS is influenced by folk revivalists, bluegrass pickers, country swingers, blues crooners and pre-war jazz, USPS gives you a taste of early phonographs served in tight arrangements of contemporary songs.

Fri 06/21

JACK GRACE. The Martini Cowboy brings us his urban take on Country music. "One of the city's most personable and skilled country stars" Time Out NY
“He’s like that Cash kid, but good.” — Jerry Lee Lewis on hearing Jack live,

Fri 06/21

GHOST TRAIN ORCHESTRA.Brian Carpenter's Ghost Train Orchestra returns to Barbes with exciting new arrangements of music from late 1920s Chicago and Harlem bandleaders Charlie Johnson, Tiny Parham, Fess Williams, and Lloyd Scott. Brian Carpenter (trumpet, harmonica), Mazz Swift (violin, voice), Andy Laster (alto saxophone), Dennis Lichtman (clarinet), Matt Bauder (clarinet,
tenor saxophone), Curtis Hasselbring (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Cynthia Sayer (banjo), Rob Garcia (drums)

Sat 06/22

MARK HUMBLE & FRIENDS. Humble and his friends will take the stage with musical skills, thrills, passion and abandon. Mistakes will be made on a grand scale. A handsaw will be used. Three part harmony will be sung. A double bass will vie for attention with a screaming electric guitar. A Perry Humble reunion will take place! All ages, 16 and under need to be accompanied.

Sat 06/22

LES CHAUDS LAPINS. Kurt Hoffman and Meg Reichardt cover Charles Trenet songs and other jewels from the French 30's and 40's musical traditions accompanying themselves on banjo-ukes. Prior to their re-incarnation as French entertainers, Meg was better known as one third of the Roulette sisters and Kurt as a reed player and composer who co-led cult instrumental band the Ordinaires and recorded with such luminaries as They Might be Giants, Frank Black, Firewater, and Drink Me. They are backed by a string section composed of Karen Waltuch - violin; Ian Riggs- bass and Garo Yellin.

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.

10:00pm

BOB JONES/JON SHOLLE DUO. Bob Jones started his career as singer in his father's church choir. He was Andy Statman's guitarist in his legendary klezmer quartet and currently plays with Boo Reiners in the Plunk Brothers, with the Danny Kalb Trio and with many Old Timey and Bluegrass musicians in the city.
Jon Sholle is a guitarist who has worked with such musicians as Vassar Clements, Larry Campbell, Keith Carradine, Allen Ginsberg, and Bela Fleck. He was a member of the David Grisman Quintet and has also released two solo albums on Rounder Records.

7:00pm

9:00pm

Mon 06/24

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 06/24

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 06/25

MARIKA HUGHES & FRIENDS. Cellist and singer Marika Hughes seamlessly straddles many musical worlds; from artsong to pop song, from contemporary classical to traditional jazz, from funky to country. She is at home wherever her inspiration takes her and her band, Bottom Heavy. During her monthly residency here at Barbes Marika will invite members of her band as well as some of her other favorite musicians around town to join her as they enjoy exploring covers from the Staple Singers to Fiona Apple, as well as her original material.

Tue 06/25

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 06/26

THE PALIMPSESTIC SERIES, CURATED BY OSCAR NORIEGA. Every Wednesday. $10.
BIZINGAS. With an eye towards rock and the heart of free jazz and twelve tone composition, Bizingas travels from odd meter thrashers to pensive minimalist vamps, stopping at a ballad (a la Duke Ellington) along the way. Bizingas strikes equanimity between the simple and complex, the energetic and reserved. With Brian Drye: trombone; Ches Smith: drums; Jonathan Goldberger: guitar and Kirk Knuffke: cornet. "An excellent new band." Ben Ratliff. NY Times.

Wed 06/26

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Thu 06/27

SEBASTIAN CRUZ AND THE CHEAP LANDSCAPE. The Cheap landscape is the newest project by guitarist, composer Sebastián Cruz. Like his other projects, it takes from traditional Colombian elements, but presents them in irreverent and surprising musical 'landscapes.' They play distorted cumbias, punk fandangos, dizzy bullerengues and more cultural incongruencies of that sor “Everything sounds spontaneous for Sebastian Cruz and the Cheap Landscape. From an overwhelming calmness to an uncontrollable “descarga.” Cruz has decided to put his calm aside to assert his fury.” Luis Daniel Vega, Rolling Stone – Latin America

Thu 06/27

GATO LOCO DE BAJO They play arrangements of early Cuban son dance hits from the 1920s-1940s. The quartet plays the great compositions of Ignacio Pinero, Arsenio Rodriguez, Chano Pozo, Quarteto Habanero, Casino De La Playa, Maria Teresa Vera, as well as traditional folk songs, all filtered through subsonic instruments played as delicately as possible. tuba, bari sax, baritone acoustic guitar, and acoustic bass guarantees that you feel the music, rather than hear it.

Fri 06/28

BEN HOLMES QUINTET. Trumpeter Ben Holmes brings his quartet back for his monthly residency at Barbès, expanded this month to a quintet by the addition of Chris Speed (reeds). Featuring quartet regulars Curtis Hasselbring (trombone), Matt Pavolka (bass) and Vinnie Sperrazza (drums), the group will perform new arrangements of music from Holmes' critically-acclaimed Skirl Records release 'Anvil of the Lord' as well as premiering new material. "Holmes shows the deft imagination that's mandatory for today's top brass" (John Corbett, DownBeat Magazine).

Fri 06/28

ETHAN LIPTON & HIS ORCHESTRA. A soulful singer of wry, original songs, Ethan Lipton delivers tales of misfortunate everymen in deft, lyrical packages. His songs are steeped in American traditions of yore (jazz, blues, country), but his subjects are thoroughly modern (thrift stores, office crushes, renaissance faires). It all adds up to a hilariously cockeyed view of an odd, disjointed age

Sat 06/29

SONGS FOR UNUSUAL CREATURES. Quirky author and composer Michael Hearst, along with his five-piece band, presents Songs For Unusual Creatures: a highly-geeky A/V presentation of some of the most bizarre animals that roam the planet. From the Australian bilby to the deep-sea magnapinna squid, to the microscopic tarde, the creatures are brought to life with such odd-ball instruments as theremin, claviola, daxophone, and stylophone. Fun for the whole family! Featuring: Michael Hearst, Ben Holmes, Allyssa Lamb, Kristin Mueller, and Jonti Siman.

Sat 06/29

TIMBILA. Timbila interprets trad melodies and grooves from Zimbabwe and Mozambique with a New York edge. Guitarist Eyre and core members of Timbila have deep background in Shona mbira (thumb piano) and Chopi timbila (xylophone) folklore, but they adapt these styles with the freedom of American rockers. For this special show, the band will showcase new material, stretch pop forms into trance jams and invite special guests. A night of Afrodelic bliss!

Sat 06/29

BROOKLYN QAWWALI PARTY. Inspired by recordings of the late great Sufi singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Brook Martinez founded Brooklyn 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.

URI SHARLIN

7:00pm

THE PRE-WAR PONIES. 20's and 30's forgotten gems such as 'Pettin' In The Park', '(Give Me The) Moon Over Brooklyn', 'Pardon My Southern Accent', and 'The Gentleman Just Wouldn't Say Goodnight.'- with Daria Grace - vocals & baritone uke; J.Walter Hawkes - trombone, ukulele; Mike Neer - guitar; Russ Meissner - drums and Jim Whitney - bass.

9:00pm

Mon 07/01

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 07/01

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 07/02

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

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

Tue 07/02

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Thu 07/03

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 07/03

ALEJANDRO ZULETA VALLENATO COLLECTIVE. For the past few years, the colombian pianist hasexplored ways of translating the Vallenato accordion repertoire to the piano. The result is an exciting journey into Colombian folklore, in the spirit of a true Parranda. Alejandro was born in Bogotá, heir to a long line of celebrated Colombian Vallenato musicians and son of Emiro Zuleta one of the most prolific vallenato songwriters of his generation.

8:00pm

VERY BE CAREFUL. Don’t call Los Angeles’s seminal vallenato a World Music band. Their sound may be rootsy Colombian vallenato with accordion, bass and percussion, but the music is raw and groove-oriented. The material is mostly their own, and their attitude owes more to punk than anything else. The result is trance-like, hypnotic cumbias, Puyas and Paseos from a place no one seems to have ever gone to.The group was started in 1998 in LA by by accordionist Ricardo and his bass playing brother Arturo Guzman. They were soon joined by Richard Panta on caja vallenata, Craig Martín on guacharaca, and Dante Ruiz on bell and instantly became a party favorite among Cumbia aficionados and revelers in both in their hometown of LA and in New York. $10

10:00pm

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 07/08

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 07/08

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 07/09

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 07/10

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

Wed 07/10

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

MARTA TOPFEROVA & PARIAS RURAL. Marta Topferova is a multi-lingual singer/songwriter that has been heavily influenced by Latin American folk music, as well as music of her native Czech Republic. Renowned for her deep, resonant voice and soulful songwriting, Marta has released seven albums of mostly original material in Czech, Spanish and English, has toured the US, Europe, Thailand and Argentina, and periodically loves to bring her various projects to Barbés.
Parias Ensemble has been an ongoing project led by Daniel Reyes Llinas & Luis Ianes since 2007 as an instrumental chamber group. The original idea was to create a medium to write and perform new music without boundaries between written and improvised ideas, nurturing from the classical european & Latinamerican music, jazz and contemporary sources. With Marta Topferova - Voice & Cuatro; Vasko Dukovski - Reeds; Alexi David - Upright Bass; Luis Ianes & Daniel Reyes Llinas - Guitars and Percussion TBD.

7:00pm

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 07/15

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 07/15

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 07/16

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 07/17

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

Wed 07/17

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Sat 07/19

SMOKEY'S SECRET FAMILY. 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.

ROBIN AIGNER & PARLOUR GAME
Brooklyn's Robin Aigner and Parlour Game plays engaging and emotive original history vignettes blending 30s novelty tunes, old-time folk, mid-century country-and-western, and Eastern European music. Aigner on tenor uke, guitar, and banjo; Julian Smith on upright bass; Ray Sapirstein on cornet; Rima Fand on violin and vocals.
" Robin Aigner croons witty, vintage-sounding tunes with dashes of klezmer and swing." —Timeout New York.

6:00pm

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 07/22

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 07/22

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 07/23

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 07/24

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

Wed 07/24

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

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.

10:00pm

ESZTER BALINT w/ Chris Cochrane. The composer and violinist will be accompanied by one of New York's most inventive and fiercely passionate players, guitarist/composer/songwriter Chris "Miss Balint has her own film noir sensibility as a songwriter. She puts arty twists into back-alley Americana... but the cleverness is not the point. She slips inside her characters to project their restlessness and longing." Jon Pareles, The New York Times.

9:00pm

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 07/29

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 07/29

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 07/30

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 07/31

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

Wed 07/31

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 08/05

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 08/05

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 08/06

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 08/07

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

Wed 08/07

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 08/12

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 08/12

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 08/13

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 08/14

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

Wed 08/14

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Sat 08/17

SMOKEY'S SECRET FAMILY. 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.

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 08/19

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 08/19

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 08/20

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 08/21

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

Wed 08/21

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

ESZTER BALINT w/ Chris Cochrane. The composer and violinist will be accompanied by one of New York's most inventive and fiercely passionate players, guitarist/composer/songwriter Chris "Miss Balint has her own film noir sensibility as a songwriter. She puts arty twists into back-alley Americana... but the cleverness is not the point. She slips inside her characters to project their restlessness and longing." Jon Pareles, The New York Times.

7:00pm

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 08/26

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 08/26

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 08/27

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Fiery Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

Wed 08/28

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

Wed 08/28

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

Fri 08/30

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.
Chicha Libre will be back on 04/14

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm

Mon 07/29

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 Balkan brass, throbbing funk grooves, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops: 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 Tuesday bacchanal is a destination for locals and brass band fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last five albums (NY Underground Tapes, 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 (tapan/snare/darabouka).

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 includes Mamady "Djelike" Kouyate, guitar, leader; Bebe Camara, vocal; Eudy Fernandez, trumpet; Oran Etkin, tenor sax, clarinet; Sylvain Leroux, flute, Fula flute, alto sax; Sam Dickey, guitar; Nick Cudahy, bass; Andnaomiy Algire, drums; Foluso Mimy, percussion.  “dazzling vocal and guitar patterns over a rhythm section that is like a perfect system” Ben Ratliff, NY Times.

STEPHANE WREMBEL. The French virtuoso guitarist first learned his craft with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but he has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. He scored the theme song to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" which he also performed live during the 2012 Academy Awards and he has been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. While his playing falls into the general umbrella of Gypsy Swing his weekly sets showcase his own compositions which owe as much to Django Reinhardt as they do Pink Floyd or middle eastern modes.

9:00pm