Elsa Nilsson at Rockwood Music Hall Jan. 6
http://www.artistswithoutwalls.com/event/elsa-nilsson-at-rockwood-music-hall-jan-6/
Mitch Traphagen’s Photos from Artists Without Walls’ October 27, 2016 Showcase at The Cell Theatre, New York City
Mitch Traphagen’s photos from Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre in New York City.
Artists Without Walls’ October Showcase at The Cell in NYC
Join Artists Without Walls and hosts Charles R. Hale and Niamh J. Hyland for its October Showcase at The Cell Theatre. We’ve got a great lineup:
Erin Layton is an award winning performer/playwright whose one woman play, “Magdalen” has received critical acclaim in venues off-broadway, in several play festivals and invited engagements across the New York tri-state and California, and recently in the UK at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Lyth Arts Centre in Caithness, Scotland where she was also an artist in residence last May. Erin received a commission from the Center for Faith and Work earlier this year to write “The Immigrants,” a two person play exploring her ancestors roots with slavery as poor Irish laborers to the English in the 17th century to slaveowners in Perryville, MO in the 19th century to modern day Ferguson, MO in the days following the shooting death of Michael Brown. She will present the first public excerpt/reading of “The Immigrants” to a NYC audience this evening.
Greg Harrington is one of Ireland’s most recognized violinists. He has performed all over the world as soloist in some of the worlds greatest concerts halls and has given numerous performances in Carnegie Hall. He has played with esteemed orchestras and conductors, for many Presidents and Vice Presidents (most recently numerous performances for the President & Secretary Clinton), celebrities, heads of state, on TV and radio across 4 continents. He has recorded numerous discs and had the honor of performing the US national anthem for the televised NBA playoffs for the Hawks, Lakers and Nets. Greg will be joined on cello my Jay Tilton. Jay has performed under some of the world’s leading conductors and has shared stages with many great musicians ranging from Brian McKnight and Quincy Jones to Josh Groban.
Tracy Island is an electric duo from Brooklyn that plays progressive retro-pop: songs with form and sophisticated lyrics that push boundaries, and music which draws inspiration from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.For over sixteen years Liza & Ian Roure’s musical collaborations mixingNew York City lo-fi new wave, West Coast jangle-psychedelia, and the “poppier” side of British folk rock have been heard worldwide, also under band names Liza & the WonderWheels, The Larch and Dada Paradox. The first Tracy Island album WAR NO MORE was released November 2015 and features nine songs written by Liza with Liza & Ian playing all the instruments, and was lauded as a Best 50 album of 2015 by New York Music Daily.
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Kate McLeod is a reporter covering the auto industry. She writes for The New York Daily News, a syndicate called MotorMatters and her blog GirlDriver, USA. She is also the author of Beetlemania: The Car That Captured the Hearts of Millions. Follow her on Twitter @girldriverusa. Kate earned an MFA in acting from Catholic University ages ago and has written 17 plays. She is currently working on a musical with composer Rob Hartmann. Renata Hinrichs, Jack O’Connell and David King will be performing Kate’s short play “Leaving Gowanus.”
Terry McCarthy’s latest album does indeed prove to be quite charming with its winning blend of delicately pretty folksy harmony and quietly moving introspection. McCarthy’s hoarsely affecting voice and thoughtful songwriting make for a strong and involving double whammy as he explores the ups and downs of human relationships with admirable tact, honesty, and intelligence. In addition, the arrangements keeps things tuneful and occasionally stirring throughout, with especially nice crystal clear guitar riffs and subdued, yet steady drums. Terry will be playing a few tunes off his new album.
Gary Ryan studied Civil War History and Philosophy in Oxford Mississippi and Philosophical Theology in Cambridge Massachusetts. He’s lived in a Vanderbilt mansion, a townhouse built by Charles Bulfinch, and a brownstone built by Clement Clarke Moore. He’s worked for the Associated Press, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and at the UN…oh, and The Strand Bookstore. He once had a 17 course meal in a driving rain in Tuscany, and the best Dead cover band he ever heard was in Dushanbe Tajikistan. The best interview he ever did was in the middle of a glacial lake in the Pamir Mountains with an international delegation focused on water security. Too bad he got zero audio because the mic was unplugged. Expect an interesting story from Gary.
The Cell is located at 338 W23rd St, NY. The bar and doors open at 6:45 and the performances begin at 7:30.
Join Artists Without Walls at its August Showcase at The Cell Theatre in NYC
Join Artists Without Walls’ for its August Showcase at The Cell Theatre, Tuesday, Aug 23rd. We’ve got an outstanding lineup planned for the event:
Argentine-born friends and collaborators, Eliana González and Martin Fuks will be joining musical forces on the evening of Artists Without Walls’ August Showcase at the Cell Theatre. Eliana is an internationally-acclaimed singer and actress and Martin is a multi-awarded producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist, both based in New York City.
Sedly Bloomfield and Zhana Roiya will be performing a dramatic excerpt from “Fences” by August Wilson.A veteran stage and screen actor Sedly will soon be seen on Netflicks new episodic “Luke Cage” and “The Get Down,” directed by Baz Luhrmann. Zhana is currently transitioning from music to acting. She has recently worked with legendary vocalist Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes and currently she is auditioning and working in Independent film projects, one of which, “Girl on a Ledge” will be released later this year.
Anana Kaye, a native of the Republic of Georgia, started performing in the US in the spring of 2014 and quickly earned accolades from listeners and fellow musicians for her soulful, husky voice and heartfelt delivery of songs. Irakli Gabriel, sometimes also referred to as “Dr. Duende”, has been a presence on NYC music scene for the last decade. He has played and recorded in several bands, most recently as a member of acclaimed singer-songwriter Freddie Stevenson’s project “Midnight Crisis”, with whom he has also co-written over a dozen songs. Anana and Irakli will be performing a few tunes along with AWoW fav, fiddler Deni Bonet.
Janet Burgan, an Americana singer/songwriter based in NYC, recently released “Nothing But Love Songs” on Fierce & Willful Records on July 5th, songs that were all written this past winter. She’ll be singing songs from this release and then showing the music video for the first single from the CD, “Seize The Day.”
Once again Mary Tierney and Larry Fleischman come to AWoW to display their “mercurial charm and acting skills.” Join us and watch Mary and Larry preview a scene from “Autumn Stage” by Peter Welch.
David Loughlin, a playwright, a screenwriter, an actor and a story-teller, whose short plays have been produced from New York to California, will present a scene from his play “Millennial Discoure,” a comedy about communication, lack of communication, commitment-phobes, billionaires, Siberian tigers, the conflicts between generations and more.
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The Cell is located at 338 W23rd Street, NYC. The doors and the bar open at 6:45 and the performances begin at 7:30. Charles R. Hale will emcee the event.
"THE LEVEL of PROFESSIONALISM was CAPTIVATING and INSPIRATIONAL" at AWoW'S SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE
“I totally enjoyed the Showcase. The level of professionalism was captivating, and inspirational…the The Cell is an exceptional venue. Thank you for an enjoyable evening….I plan to be there again soon.” Maia Nero
Sam Adelman opened the evening, reading a humorous piece from his upcoming book “Getting Out of Show Business,” offering an anecdotal account of getting stiffed for cash on an editing job, only to receive a world-famous photograph and a hand shake from Muhammed Ali. This picture was certainly worth a thousand words. A perfect opening to what became a grand evening.
Charles R. Hale, one of Artists Without Walls’ cofounders and a Resident Artist at The Cell Theatre, premiered his short film “Jazz and the City: The New York Connection.” The film is a companion piece to his show of the same name, which debuted at The Cell in April. From the best of times to the worst of times, songwriters have captured every corner of New York City through music. Weaving story, sidebars, images and the music of the Gershwins, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, Billy Strayhorn and others, Charles’s film connects New York City through the songs of the composers and performers who lived in the city, through the venues in which the songs were popularized and through his own recollection of New York and song. “Sharp film…and that voice…as usual, great tone and presence.” David Goldman
Actor/singer Almeria Campbell followed with a stirring performance combining her acting and singing skills. “Performing at AWoW was my first time singing (outside of voice lessons ) for an audience in quite some time. It was amazing. The audience, or I should say community, is so supportive.” Despite her concerns, Almeria’s voice was in very fine form, seamlessly incorporating two songs, “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and “Maybe This Time” into her presentation.
Joel Cruz, the story teller, will make you cry…and then smile. He’s not just toying with emotions; His songs are borne from his personal story. They pull your heart in all directions the way life does. He takes his time, as if he really wants you to listen and hear. Joel demonstrated his vulnerable side, sharing his most inner thoughts, but the audience loved and appreciated his work. Additionally, it was a joy to see singer/songwriter Martina Fiserova and Joel perform together. They were clearly having a good time! The music was complex– lots of lyrics, yet catchy enough for listeners to sing along. We look forward to more unexpected surprises from Joel Cruz.
Mark Donnelly channeled his inner child with a funny monologue based on his boyhood desire to be a cowboy and ride the range with Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. But it seems the audience was most impressed with Mark’s father, who stepped up, defended his son, and won the day…and the audience.
David Raleigh was joined by Annette Homann for a moving and evocative “Stormy Weather,” a pop standard built around a classic weather metaphor. From the moment Annette’s bow struck her instrument, through the moment David sang, “Don’t know why, there’s no sun up in the sky…stormy weather…” through their last playful notes, the audience was held rapt. A beautiful duet. David closed out the show with a brilliant medley, incorporating tunes by Al Green, Stevie Wonder, George Gershwin and one of David’s tunes, “One Together.” The perfect finishing touch to another sensational evening of diverse talents.
The next Artists Without Walls’s Showcase at The Cell, 338 West 23rd St, NY, is scheduled for Tuesday, July 26. The doors and the bar open at 6:45. The performances begin at 7:30. For more information: info@artistswithoutwalls.com
ALLISON SYLIVA, JOHN MORAN, REBECCA LOWRY and COURTNEY TORRES at ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' SHOWCASE at THE CELL THEATRE
You can watch the artists perform, and meet them as well, at Artists Without Walls’ May Showcase at The Cell Theatre, this Tuesday, 5/24. The doors and bar open at 6:45. Presentations begin at 7:30.
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Here are a few of the artists who will be performing:
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Allison Sylvia is a poet/artist/dancer who has performed at a number of Artists Without Walls’ Showcases. Here’s what was said about Allison after her performance at “Permutations,” an AWoW/ Kathleen Bennett Bastis collaboration at Chelsea’s First Street Gallery last Spring: “Attention grabbing, fast paced, stay focused so you don’t miss a thought….Allison is not a rapper, but if Socrates were a rap artist you might think of Allison. Brilliant.”
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AWoW charter member Brendan Connellan, who has written and produced a number of shows that were premiered on 42nd Street, NYC in the past few years, will be presenting a scene from his play, “Savage.” Appearing in the scene will be:
Courtney Torres, who frequently works with independent theater companies such as Locked in the Attic Productions and Fengari Ensemble. She has participated in various showcases and festivals in the New York City and currently trains at Playhouse West Brooklyn Lab.
Rebecca Lowry, who last appeared on the New York stage in the mid-1990s, when she spent a decade traveling the country as a professional actress performing in everything from Shakespeare to Burlesque. She is currently an attorney and legal writing Professor at Saint John’s University as well as an economic analyst.
And..John Moran, long time fan and charter member of Artists Without Walls, fresh from filming Danni for “Take it to the Stage Productions” and “Age of Consent” in association with Rusty Ferris Wheel Productions and Artists Without Walls.
MUSICAL ARTISTS SHINE AT LEHMAN COLLEGE: CHARLES R. HALE’S "MUSICAL HISTORY of the LOWER EAST SIDE
This past Thursday, Lehman College: The City and Humanities Program and the CUNY Institute for Irish-American Studies sponsored a performance of Charles R. Hale’s “Musical History of the Lower East Side,” celebrating the music of a neighborhood from which many of our nation’s ethnic groups can trace their origins.
In the 1840s, almost half of America’s immigrants were from Ireland. Often leaving behind famine and poverty, the Irish would often sing ballads steeped in nostalgia and self-pity, and despite the troubles they’d left, singing the praises of their native soil. The Irish also brought Celtic music. Melodies common to fiddlers throughout Scotland and Ireland were transferred nearly intact to the American fiddle tradition. Deni Bonet performed one such tune that has remained a bluegrass fiddler favorite, “Red Haired Boy.”
Stephen Foster, who’s often referred to as “the father of American music,” moved to the Bowery in 1860. Foster was primarily known for his parlor music and minstrel music. Niamh Hyland, with accompaniment from Deni and Noah Hoffeld, sang two popular Foster tunes, “Hard Times Come Again No More,” 1854, and “Slumber My Darling,” 1862.
A steady stream of Italian immigrants began arriving in America in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Italians from Naples and Southern Italy brought with them a traditional form of singing called Neapolitan music. In New York City, Italian tenors Enrico Caruso and Beniamino Gigli popularized such songs as “O Sole Mio,” “Funiculi Funicular” and “Non ti Scordar di me,” which was performed by soprano Ashley Bell. Italian immigrants also helped popularize the Metropolitan Opera, which debuted a number of Italian operas, including Giacomo Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi in 1918. Ashley performed the opera’s most popular aria “O Mio Bambino Caro.”
The Lower East Side is especially remembered as a place of Jewish beginnings in America. Between 1880 and the start of World War I in 1914, about 2 million Yiddish speaking Jews left Eastern Europe and Russia where pogroms and persecution made life unbearable. While Jewish composers, many of whom lived on the Lower East Side, were influential in creating the American Songbook, they also brought a great deal of European music with them as well. Basya Schechter and Noah Hoffeld captured the spirit of the past with two Yiddish songs, “Oyfn Pripetchik” and “Shnirele Perele”
George and Ira Gershwin were composers who were raised on the Lower East Side. George’s classical music such as Rhapsody in Blue, his opera Porgy and Bess and his many show tunes remain popular today, but he also teamed up with brother Ira to write “I Got Rhythm,” “The Man I Love” and “Someone to Watch Over Me,” which was performed by jazz pianist and vocalist Mala Waldron with accompaniment from fiddler Deni.
In the mid 1950s many artists and musicians were drawn to the neighborhood around the Bowery by cheaper rents. The Five Spot Café, a jazz club located between 4th and 5th Streets, staged jam sessions with some of the giants of jazz: Thelonius Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, and Lower East Side resident, Charlie Parker. Waldron, accompanied once again by Deni, performed a Parker favorite “Embraceable You.”
In the 1940s and 50s Latin Jazz began to take hold in New York City. At the same time, there was the first great migration of Puerto Ricans entering the country. Shortly, Dominicans and other Spanish groups followed. Latin jazz musicians, guitarist Yuri Juarez and percussionist Jhair Sala, performed a tune that was popular in the Latin community, now known by its Spanglish name, Loisaida, in the 1940s and 50s, “Night in Tunisia,” written by jazz great Dizzie Gillespie.
The music of the Lower East Side has continued to evolve from garage band to punk to alternative rock and yet, each year, the Loisaida Festival continues to evoke the spirit of its immigrant past, as did Yuri and Jhair with the last song on the program, “La Bikina.”
A big thank you to all the artists who participated in the “Musical History of the Lower East” and to Lehman College: The City and Humanities Program and the CUNY Institute for Irish-American Studies for sponsoring the event.
Photos by Mitch Traphagen.
MITCH TRAPHAGEN'S PHOTOS from AWoW's SHOWCASE AT SID GOLD'S
Mitch Traphagen’s photos from AWoW’s Showcase at Sid Gold’s, March 29, 2016.
JOIN NIAMH HYLAND and CHARLES R. HALE at ARTISTS WITHOUT WALLS' ANNIVERSARY SHOWCASE
Join Artists Without Walls on Tuesday, February 23rd, at The Cell Theatre for an evening of great entertainment as it begins its fourth year.
“We’ve always been inspired by the flowering of artistic achievement, which often arises when cultures come together. Jazz is one of the great examples. As a result, we were inspired to create a dynamic environment that allows for and promotes cultural collaboration and artistic achievement. We are excited that we have created a laboratory where people can experiment with their ideas in a safe space and collaborate with their peers in new untapped ways.” Charles R. Hale and Niamh J. Hyland, Artists Without Walls cofounders and artistic directors.
The Cell Theatre is located at 338 W23rd St, NYC. The Cell’s doors and bar open at 6:45.
