CROSSROADS MUSIC NEWSLETTER – March 22, 2004
CONTENTS
1. This Friday -- ANDY IRVINE AND MOZAIK
2. Calvary Cafe Menu for this week's concert
3. Upcoming events: DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS and SHARON KATZ & THE PEACE TRAIN
4. About Crossroads
5. New -- Donate online!
--
1. THIS FRIDAY: ANDY IRVINE AND MOZAIK
Mozaik is Irish music legend Andy Irvine’s newest project. Following a
wildly successful Australian tour last year, the crossover supergroup
makes its US debut this March and April. The Melbourne Age said of
their first public concert: "There was a palpable sense of warmth and
camaraderie that, within minutes of the musicians arriving on stage,
dissolved the audience’s awe and turned it into sheer participatory
pleasure. The irresistible force of the music transformed a series of
personal musical statements into a universal expression of vitality and
life." Mozaic is destined for greatness: this may be your last chance
to see them in such an intimate space!
Andy Irvine has been hailed as a tradition in himself. A multi-talented
musician, singer, and songwriter, Andy has maintained his personal
integrity and highly individual performing skills from the days of
Sweeney’s Men in the mind-sixties, through the massive popular success
of Planxty and his subsequent duo with Paul Brady in the seventies, and
thence onto pioneering "world music" projects like the hugely
influential East Wind album with Davy Spillane and Bill Whelan. Mozaic
arose from his dream of assembling a truly international acoustic
supergroup of virtuosos capable of playing the full variety of
traditional styles for which he is known.
With Tony McManus (Scotland), Bruce Molsky (US), Rens Van Der Zalm
(Netherlands), and Nicola Parov (Hungary) Mozaik moves effortlessly
from Celtic to Old Timey to Eastern European music, with lavish
instrumental arrangements complementing Andy and Bruce’s plaintive
vocals. Melodies set to odd-metered East European rhythms are buoyed by
the irrepressible lift of the best Irish music. American field hollers
sit alongside protest songs and slow airs. The heartfelt sentiment of
"My Heart’s Tonight in Ireland" rubs shoulders with the foot-tapping
cheer of "Shove the Pig’s Foot a Little Further into the Fire."
Tony McManus has been described as "one of the most accomplished
guitarists in Europe." (The Scotsman). Conjuring a unique but universal
language from the most ubiquitous of instruments, he has both extended
and transcended the parameters of contemporary Celtic music. His
fiendishly dexterous, dazzlingly original playing draws on traditions
from the entire Celtic diaspora – Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, Galicia,
Asturias, Cape Breton, Quebec -- along with jazz and East European
music. Long acknowledged for his uncanny ability to transpose the
delicate, complex ornamentation characteristic of traditional bagpipe
or fiddle tunes and Gaelic songs onto his own six strings, McManus is
increasingly being acknowledged as a pioneer figure in bridging the
realms of Celtic music and other guitar genres.
One of the most influential fiddlers of his generation, Bruce Molsky is
also a remarkable guitarist, banjoist, and singer. His high-spirited
music melds the archaic mountain sounds of Appalachia, the power of
blues, and the rhythmic intricacies of traditional African music. The
Minneapolis Star-Tribune calls him "old-time music’s answer to Ry
Cooder – a commanding musician with a voracious appetite for
traditional music styles." Darol Anger has dubbed him "The Rembrandt of
Appalachian fiddling." Bruce’s musical message is powerful, fun, and
highly engaging.
Born in Sofia, Bulgaria and now based in Budapest, Nikola Parov is a
first-rate, innovative musician whose latest album, Kilim, placed sixth
on the European world music charts. His grandfather, a professional
musician, immersed Nikola in the musical traditions of the Balkans at a
very early age -- he began playing mandolin at six -- and he began
formal instruction in piano and cello after moving to Budapest at the
age of ten. After studying regional folklore at university, he became a
full-time musician, forming the group Zsaratnok. His virtuoso
performances on a staggering array of traditional instruments
(including kaval, gadulka, bouzuki, duduk, Bulgarian bagpipes, and
gaida) eventually led to fellowships by the Soros Foundation and
Budapest Academy of Science to record and document the history,
culture, and instruments of Balkan music.
Rens Van Der Zalm, a graduate of the Rotterdam Conservatory, plays
piano, mandolin, fiddle, and guitar. In addition to being a member of
well-known traditional Dutch bands Fungus and Wolverlei, Rens has
become one of the most sought-after session and theater musicians due
to his musical versatility and empathy with other musicians.
For more information:
http://www.andyirvine.com/mozaik/mozaik.html
For tickets:
http://www.crossroads.calvary-center.org/tickets.htm
--
2. CALVARY CAFE MENU for March 26
Combination Platter-- $5.00
(includes entree and two sides (vegetarian, three sides), beverage and
dessert)
A la carte:
Entrée -- $3.50
Sides -- $1.00 each
Desserts -- $1.00 each
Beverages -- $1.00 each
Snacks -- $ .50 each
Entrees:
Turkey Burger, Veggie Burger,Fish , Grilled Chicken (all served as a
sandwich or alone and with or without cheese and onions), Grilled
Cheese Sandwiches on Rye Bread, Macaroni and Cheese, , Cabbage Soup and
Rye Toast, Bagels with Cream Cheese.
Sides:
Macaroni and Cheese ,Cabbage, Salad.
Desserts:
A variety of Cakes, Pies, and Cookies.
Beverages:
Coffee, (regular and decaf), various Teas (regular and herbal), Hot
Chocolate (several kinds), Fruit Punch, Sodas (regular or diet, bottled
Spring Water
--
3. UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, April 3, 2004 -- THE DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS
A pioneering force behind the evolution of the modern gospel quartet
sound, THE DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS are among the longest-lived and most
successful groups of their era; renowned for their imaginative
arrangements, progressive harmonies and all-around versatility, they
earned almost universal recognition as the greatest Southern quartet of
their generation.
While they have always remained deeply rooted in the gospel tradition,
their influence has made itself known far and wide in American popular
music. Perhaps Isaac Hayes has put it most eloquently: "In the
beginning, after the word, and before there was rap, hip-hop, disco,
punk, funk, metal, soul, Motown, rock-a-billy, before bebop, doo-wop,
and the big band swing there was the Dixie Hummingbirds." In the 1940s,
for example, they were singing the kind of a cappella harmonies that
caught on as doo-wop in the 1950s, and in the 1950s, they added
electric guitar to their sound, prefiguring the soul music of the
1960s.
Lead singer Ira Tucker, Sr., who has been with the group since 1938,
when he was 13, was especially inspired and inspiring. Musicologist
Horace Boyer writes that "not only did he put his voice and vocal
technique to use, he also became the model for the 'activity' singer.
He ran up and down aisles, jumped from the stage, and spun around
without sacrificing one iota of the pure musical sound that he first
brought to the quartet. Indeed, he served as the model for many of the
rhythm and blues and soul singers from Jackie Wilson and Clyde
McPhatter to Bobby Blue Bland and the Temptations."
Advance tickets encouraged. More information (and online sales) at:
http://www.crossroads.calvary-center.org/tickets.htm
Friday, April 30, 2004 -- SHARON KATZ AND THE PEACE TRAIN
SHARON KATZ made history in South Africa in 1993 when she formed the
country’s first-ever multi-cultural, multi-racial, and multi-lingual
performing group. 150 musicians toured the country by train, giving
concerts at every stop along their route. As the performers played,
sang and danced to promote a peaceful transition to democracy in South
Africa, TV and radio crews broadcast all the events to the nation. The
first time worldwide audiences saw Katz perform was on CNN in April
1994. By then, a date had been set for South Africa’s first democratic
election and she had been commissioned by the Independent Electoral
Commission to write songs in many of South Africa’s languages to teach
people how to vote for the first time in their lives. In1995, they
began to spread their message of peace and reconcilliation around the
world as South Africa’s “Cultural Ambassadors.”
Between tours, Katz, a trained music therapist, works to help heal the
nation from the wounds of apartheid. She also works in other trouble
spots around the world, earning her a reputation for converting “gang
members in to band members.” With violence, intolerance and problems in
schools becoming a daily concern in America too, Katz has established a
second base in Philadelphia, from which she runs workshops and concerts
in schools, universities and community centers across the country.
More events to be announced. For updates, see
www.crossroads.calvary-center.org
--
4. ABOUT CROSSROADS MUSIC
Crossroads events fall into three main groups. Philadelphia Crossroads
continues the original Crossroads Music Series, which presented
contrasting but related music from two different Philadelphia
communities on the second Saturday of each month. Beginning in October,
Root and Branch concerts continue the former Cherry Tree Music Co-op's
series of concerts by nationally-known touring artists. Finally, the
Folklife Center's Nada Brahma (Sanskrit for "The World is Sound")
events will present locally-based and national and international
touring artists from culturally-specific traditions around the world.
In addition, we collaborate with other organizations in producing
several free community events at other West Philadelphia locations each
year.
All concerts take place at 7:30 pm in the historic Calvary United
Methodist Church. Oak paneling, red carpets, and a horseshoe balcony
make the room feel more like an intimate theater than a church. Calvary
Center is located at 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue. The 34
subway-surface trolley stops at the door, and a free, well-lit, and
city-maintained parking lot is located on the block. Dinner and
refreshments are available at the concerts and at excellent restaurants
nearby.
For advance tickets, directions, or other information:
http://www.crossroads.calvary-center.org
215-729-1028
(We have limited office hours but check voicemail several times a day
-- if there is no answer, please leave a message and we’ll call you
back).
--
5. HOW DO WE PAY FOR THESE EVENTS?
Occasionally, we get asked how we pay for Crossroads concerts. Our
largest source of income is ticket sales, but we also receive some
funds from program book advertisers, Calvary Center, and individual
donations. We inherited what funds the Cherry Tree Music Co-op had left
when it closed, and we are actively pursuing grant funding to keep
things going once this runs out.
We also gratefully accept individual donations, and even a small amount
of money can make a big difference. If each subscriber to our email
list contributed only $10 a year, for example, we’d be able to book the
entire season in advance, to expand the number of events presented, and
to substantially expand our publicity. You can donate online at:
http://www.justgive.org/giving/donate.jsp?charityId=12011&;
Please remember to indicate that your donation is for Crossroads.
Crossroads Music is a program of the Calvary Center for Culture and
Community, a non-sectarian nonprofit organization that seeks to restore
and increase community use of the historic Calvary Church building. All
donations are fully tax-deductible, and 100% of contributions
designated for Crossroads Music go directly to that program. Checks
should be made payable to Calvary Center and mailed to Crossroads
Music, c/o Calvary United Methodist Church, 801 South 48th Street,
Philadelphia PA 19143.
We thank you for your support.
----
You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the
list named "Culture." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see
<http://www.purple.com/list.html>.