Breaking: The Klezmatics on Conan O’Brien TONIGHT!

Want to catch Frank London on the teevee?  Tune in to the Conan O’Brien show tonight (11pm EST on TBS) when the Klezmatics show house band The Basic Cable Band how it’s done.

Conan O’Brien show site

The Klezmatics web site

Like the Klezmatics on Facebook

Like Lincoln Center Institute on Facebook, for that matter

(For more Peg’s List posts related to Frank London, follow this link.)

 

Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival 2011

Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival is a two-day music and environmental festival that takes place on the shores of the Hudson River at Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson, NY. Produced by the nonprofit, member-supported, environmental organization Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., all proceeds go directly to support Clearwater’s environmental research, education and advocacy efforts to help preserve and protect the Hudson River and its tributaries, as well as communities in the river valley. This year’s festival runs from June 18 – 19, 2011.

The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Photo by Thom Wolke.

Appearing this year from the Lincoln Center Institute repertory fold are Guy Davis and Frank London (the latter as part of his side gig, otherwise known as the world-famous Klezmatics). It’s also worth mentioning that 2010 LCI Gala headliner Arlo Guthrie will be performing as well. Click here for the full two-day lineup. Purchase tickets by this Sunday, April 17 for the early bird discount and greatest savings. Tickets are VERY reasonably priced, given the bounty of talent appearing over the two days, and you can buy single-day tickets if you’d rather. But since Guy is playing on Saturday, and the Klezmatics are playing on Sunday, the smart thing to do is purchase the two-day pass and see both of them (and so many, many more great artists — Josh Ritter; Indigo Girls; Martin Sexton; Peter Yarrow; Drive By Truckers; Bernice Johnson Reagon; Sara Hickman — that’s just to name a few!)

Pete Seeger and Guy Davis close the festival on the banks of the Hudson River at sunset in 2006. Photo by Thom Wolke.

Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival web site
Guy Davis web site
The Klezmatics web site
Arlo Guthrie web site
Pete Seeger (founder of Clearwater and the festival) Wikipedia entry

Two New York appearances by the Klezmatics featuring Frank London

The new year brings with it not one but two (technically, three!) chances to see The Klezmatics perform right here in New York City. One is live, the other two are onscreen. Curious? Here’s the scoop. The klezmer group (one of whose members, trumpeter Frank London, is a Lincoln Center Institute music repertory alum — but you knew that) will be promoting their new film, “The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground.”

Chance #1:
Thursday, January 11th: this the live performance one. The lineup also features the amazing ‘kosher gospel’ singer Joshua Nelson, and the band Good For the Jews (Rob Tannenbaum & David Fagin). Playing the City Winery as part of the Oy!hoo Festival. Click here for more information.

Chance #2 (and 3): January 13th & 17th: If you’re paying attention, you’ll have realized that this is the onscreen one. “The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground” makes its New York debut at the New York Jewish Film Festival, screening at the Walter Reade Theater here on the Lincoln Center campus. Click here for more information.

A random note I feel compelled to add here: when I was in high school, my concert choir performed a watery and shallow “Elijah Rock,” but not knowing any better — or perhaps in testament to how strong the song is no matter who butchers it — we loved it. We’d sing it whenever we could. Fast forward oh, 20-something years, and while listening to the Klezmatics’ first live album (Brother Moses Smote the Water), what do I hear? Joshua Nelson singing “Elijah Rock.” And it blows me away. To the point I’m embarrassed to even be telling you this story. Never mind. A bunch of high schoolers, myself included, never attempted to sing this song. I don’t know what you’re talking about. (Seriously great stuff from both the band and their guest vocalist, and a fabulous clarinet solo from Matt Darriau that will make you weep… here’s a link to the album.)

The Klezmatics web site
The Klezmatics: On Holy Ground film web site

Get ready for Carnaval Nordestino!

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m cold. I’m cold outdoors and I’m cold indoors. This morning, fingers freezing, I could barely click my mouse to read my email. And then? Such warmth! Our own Frank London sends word that we’re all invited to “New York’s only Northeastern Brazilian Carnival Party!” It warms you just to look at the invite, doesn’t it?

So here’s all you need to know. Frank will be blowing the roof off the joint as part of Frank London’s Frevo Bambastico. (They’re not the only act on the bill — but they’re admittedly the house favorite.) Thursday, February 11th. We may be in the grips of winter, but it’s going to be hot at M1-5 in Tribeca. The party starts at 8:30pm.

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Are you a current or former LCI repertory artist? What are you up to? We’d love to know. Email me at pschuler at lincolncenter dot org!

How The Klezmatics Rocked Lake Wobegon

Did you hear Frank London and his bandmates, the Klezmatics, tear it up for Hanukkah on Garrison Keillor’s radio show A Prairie Home Companion back on December 5 & 6? Folks are still raving about it at the Chatterbox Cafe and in Ralph’s Pretty Good Grocery. We’ve said farewell to the Festival of Lights for another year, but you can keep the spirit a little longer. How, Peg, you ask? Just go here to listen to all or a portion of the broadcast. But first make sure you push all the furniture to the outsides of the room, cause you’re gonna dance. (No, really, you are.) Enjoy!

The Klezmatics web site
A Prairie Home Companion web site

The Klezmatics are coming to NYC!

When was the last time The Klezmatics played New York City? This blogger isn’t sure, but she sure is excited to know they’ll be doing an actual club gig in our neck of the woods very soon!

My sources tell me that the Grammy-winning group will be performing at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, at 7:00pm on Wednesday, June 10. General admission tickets are on sale ($20 / $25 at the door, day of) and there’s a two item minimum.

To whet your musical appetite, feast your eyes and ears on this gem, “Shnirele, Perele,” circa 2004 and featuring Joshua Nelson:

What do the Klezmatics have in common with Lincoln Center Institute? You know the answer to this, don’t you? Frank London, trumpet player and creator of the LCI Music Rep program Evolving Traditions, of course. (He played with them first, I’ll admit it…)

If you still need further encouragement, or you need to be convinced to purchase Wonder Wheel if you haven’t already, or you just need a pick-me-up, the Klezmatics web site features a great little 4-song sampler.

For more information on the June 10 gig, call 212-505-FISH (I love that) or visit Le Poisson Rouge on the internets:

Le Poisson Rouge web site
Really, check out the Klezmatics web site