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JUNE
21
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ANIMUS Animus is an instrumental group of culturally diverse musical concepts and traditions from ancient to modern alike. Greek, Blues, Middle Eastern, Jazz, Spanish, Funk, Latin, Rock, Indian, Jewish Klezmer, African. The unorthodox instrumentation and unique original compositions excite the mind, body and soul with an endless variety of grooves and tribal rhythms, coupled with spontaneous, passionate improvisation knows no boundaries and awakens the spirit to get everyone moving to the music. Website: www.animusmusic.com |
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JUNE
28
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THE
BLAWENBURG BAND Founded in Blawenburg, New Jersey, in 1890, the Blawenburg Band is a community band-part of a great tradition that began when towns depended on their own people to provide live music. They are one of the oldest community bands in the state, and among the most active. They play about 30 concerts a year at holiday parades, community celebrations, church socials, and many of the nursing homes and retirement centers in the area. The 75 members of the Blawenburg Band range in age from their teens to their nineties, and include teachers and students, research scientists and computer specialists, homemakers and active retirees, a lawyer and a documentary film maker. Website: www.princetonol.com/groups/blawenburgband/ |
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JULY
5
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THE
RHYTHM KINGS Jerry Rife's Rhythm Kings Jazz Band was orgainzed by Jerry Rife in 1984 and was inspired by the legendary early bands of New Orleans, most notably the New Orleans Rhythm Kings and the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. From our first concerts together, we were committed to a hot-jazz style of performance prevalent in the post World War II Dixieland jazz bands that became known as "revival Dixieland." This style of jazz was a reaction to bebop jazz and a return in repertoire and concept to the roots of New Orleans jazz.One trait we share with the early traditional jazz bands is our commitment to ensemble jazz. Collective improvisation is the trademark of our music, especially in the heads and extended-out choruses. Each member of the band improvises solos, but under the solos you will hear background riffs that continue the ensemble sound of the heads and recall the integrated, dense style that characterizes much early jazz music. Our stylistic trademarks are fresh rhythmic vitality regardless of tempo, close melodic interaction in the front-line instruments, spontaneous or spur-of-the-moment arrangements, and a solid swing rhythm section with emphasis on beats two and four.The Rhythm Kings have played about 50 concerts per year for the last quarter century in the tri-state area. This concert will be our 18th performance at the Princeton Shopping Center." |
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JULY
12
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THE
KLEZ DISPENSERS A full force of creativity, The Klez Dispensers are juicy, fresh, and daring. They've been dishing up their signature state-of-the-art, swinging American-style Klezmer since their college days. Audiences can't get enough of their impeccable arrangements, inspiring improvisations, and engaging repertoire from the early years of Klezmer, as well as exciting original compositions. Individually, each Dispenser is an accomplished musician contributing skill, personality and artistry to the group. The Klez Dispensers, an eight-piece ensemble comprising clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, violin, piano, bass, drums and vocals, was formed in 1998 and performs throughout the year at festivals, concerts, and simchas. The band has played at Satalla, Makor, and CBGBs in New York, as well as more far-flung locales such as London. In 2000 the ensemble recorded its first CD, Indispensable, and in 2004 released its latest album, New Jersey Freylekhs.Website: www.klezdispensers.com |
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JULY
19
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THE
VOODUDES In the vast VooDUDES library of original songs, nothing is sacred. Whether it's imploding the hits of Hank Williams into the ultimate drivin' and cryin' song ("That Hank Williams Feeling"), or eulogizing the Southern jazz funeral ("Party When You're Gone"), The VooDUDES do it all--and with a beat that will make you move your feet. The VooDUDES have been featured on MTV's "Street Party," WPLJ's "Morning Show with Scott & Todd," and on the nationally syndicated "Dr. Demento Show." They've been seen in numerous festivals, including The Red Bank Jazz and Blues Festival, Philadelphia's "Jambalaya Jam", New York's "Benson & Hedges Blues Festival" and Ft. Lauderdale's "Crazy Crawfish Fest." They've shared the bill with a galaxy of stars--among them, Levon Helm, Branford Marsalis, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Buckwheat Zydeco, C.J. Chenier, Chubby Carrier, Mavis Staples, Terrance Simien, Cowboy Mouth, The Holmes Brothers, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. The band has performed everywhere from The Hard Rock Cafe, Tramps and Le Bar Bat in New York City to Jimmy's Muddy Waters and Cafe Brasil in New Orleans. The band has also toured in Europe and Canada. They've produced three CDs: Wake the Dead, Night of the Living 'DUDES and Block Party which are all currently for sale.Website: www.thevoodudes.net |
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JULY
26
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CELTIC
CROSSROADS Celtic Crossroad brings the music of Ireland, Scotland, and England to life through tight harmonies and powerful, intricate instrumentation on guitar, fiddle, banjo, whistle, mandolin, and bodhran. The band performs a variety of songs, from early 20th century Irish classics to seldom heard gems that quickly become new audience favorites. Lots of great choruses, a capella numbers, sea songs, instrumentals, and occasional off-the-wall stories create a show that appeals to a wide variety of audiences. From the sea to the inland country, and to the pub when the rovin' is over, this band captures the Celtic drive and spirit! |
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AUGUST
2
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RIVERSIDE
BLUEGRASS Jerry Steele, Bill Flemer, David Olsen, and Steve Hendershott are longtime Princeton-area musicians, whose collective experience in rock, country, and folk idioms informs their approach to traditional bluegrass music. They also bring a bluegrass flavor to songs by The Beatles, The Byrds, and to country standards and western swing music by such artists as Hank Williams and Bob Wills. Website: http://home.comcast.net/~shendershott/ |
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AUGUST
9
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ECO
DEL SUR Eco Del Sur consists of Latin American artists from various musical backgrounds who have united to explore and perform ancient Andean music as well as contemporary music from different Latin American regions. Eco Del Sur was founded in Spring 2000 and the first album was produced in Fall 2001. The members of the band are from countries such as Chile, Colombia and Ecuador, making Eco Del Sur the result of a very diverse mixture of backgrounds and musical experiences. Each of the members has mastered several indigenous and contemporary instruments. Some of the instruments used by Eco Del Sur include: zamponas, quenas, quenachos, antaras, rondador, ocarinas, moxenos, flute, alto sax, soprano sax, charango, guitar, Venezuelan cuatro, bass, bombo, tambora, bongos, congas, wankara, maracas, guacharaca, claves, and chakchas.Website: www.ecodelsur.com |
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AUGUST
16
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ALBORADA
SPANISH DANCE The Company, featuring Arts Council of Princeton flamenco instructor Lisa Botalico, was originally founded in 1965 by María Alba, known to many aficionados as the greatest exponent of the seguiriya and many other dramatic Spanish dance pieces in the U.S. It was an integral part of the summer concert series at Jacobs Pillow in the 60's and 70's under the name of The María Alba Spanish Dance Company. In 1980, the Company was revitalized under the direction of María and its current Director, Eva Lucena, who brought to the company a group of extraordinary new dancers and choreographers. Eva and María, before her passing in 1992, believed strongly in bringing a broad perspective of Spanish culture and traditions to the community. To this end, they have worked to set the Company apart from other Spanish dance companies by bringing to the stage dance dramas such as El Amor Brujo, and dramatizations of the poetry of Federico García Lorca, as well as regional and traditional dances from all parts of Spain, such as jotas from Valencia and dances from Asturias and Galicia. Granada - the End, Eva's original choreography dramatizing the death of García Lorca, was nominated for a National Endowment for the Arts Dance Award. Alborada's embrace of all Spanish dance art forms enables its audience to experience the breathtaking richness and beauty of the culture in full context. Website:www.alboradadance.org |
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AUGUST
23
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THE
BILLY HILL BAND For the last 22 years, Princeton native Billy Hill and the Billy Hill band have been favorites of the local club and restaurant circuit, and have performed for corporate and private events in the tri-state area. Billy, a member of the singing group The Essex, who had the number one hit in 1963 entitled "Easier Said Than Done," leads the group with his smooth, soulful voice covering just about every musical genre. Always hailed for their Motown/R&B songs, the band is equally adept at performing memorable standards as well as covering Top 40 material. |
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AUGUST
30
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BILL
KIRCHEN AND THE HAMMER OF THE HONKY-TONK GODS Bill Kirchen plays American roots music. He received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance, 2001. A Titan of the Telecaster guitar (Guitar Player magazine May, 1998 & June, 2002), he celebrates an American musical tradition where country music draws upon its origins in blues and bluegrass, and in the Western swing of Texas and California honkytonks. Kirchen has played guitar on recordings and performanced with Gene Vincent, Link Wray, Danny Gatton, Emmylou Harris, Hoyt Axton, Nick Lowe, and Elvis Costello. In 2002, Bill Kirchen was inducted into the Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame along with Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) and John Phillip Sousa. In addition to winning 10 additional Wammies (including Artist of the Year and Musician of the Year), Kirchen won 2000 Rock/ Roots Rock Instrumentalist of the Year, Roots Rock Album (Raise A Ruckus) and 1999 Instrumentalist of the Year at the WAMA Awards, as well as being a multiple winner in 1997 and 1998, receiving ten awards, including Songwriter of the Year. Seamlessly integrating the band's sound is Kirchen's incredible fluency in the tradition of American electric guitar, roots division. He performed at the 25th year reunion radio show of Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen on Garrison Keillor's widely syndicated Prairie Home Companion in January, 2001. Also on the air was the band's Fourth of July 1999 Celebration show at the Washington Monument with Tito Puente, and Shirley Caesar. Website: www.billkirchen.com |
© 2007, Arts Council of Princeton. All rights reserved.