Cat Dwyer’s photos of the Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre, June 25, 2013. The names of the artists appear above the pictures.
Navid Kandelousi and Mehdi Darvishi
Carl Capotorto
Mamadou Ba, Alioune Faye and Leni Stern
Koro Koroye
Michele Cetera and Jack O’Connell
Catahoula Cajun Band
Connie Roberts
Ciara Thompson
Matt Keating
Come on out to the “AWoW Showcase at The Cell” for a taste of “Northern Fried” Cajun music of Southwest Louisiana: Upbeat, danceable roots music, spirited two-steps and beautifully heartwarming, bittersweet waltzes. The Catahoula Cajun Band is a New York based group and while all the band members hail from north of the Mason-Dixon line, their love of toe-tappin’ dance and traditional music inspired them to tackle the two-steps, waltzes, and Cajun-French lyrics of Acadiana.
Here’s the rest of the evening’s line-up:
Timeout London said of singer/songwriter Matt Keating “Beautiful and honest songs of substance and melancholy.” Matt’s newest album, Wrong Way Home, a 16 song emotional piece, is his tenth release. Matt’s music is tinged by nostalgia while being entirely modern. It is contemplation on life’s narrative, offering moments of joy and melancholy, epiphany and regret.
Leni Stern, who was born in Munich, Germany, and educated at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, is a New York based guitarist whose recent recordings are lush, deeply felt explorations of the sound of Africa colored by Stern’s soulful lyrics, lightly sanded voice and dazzling instrumental prowess. Leni will be joined by one of her fine musicians, bassist Mamadou Ba.
Carl Capotorto, born and raised in the Bronx, is a playwright, screenwriter and actor, well known for his six seasons in the role of “Little Paulie” Germani in the Sopranos. Carl will be performing a work from his book, Twisted Head, a darkly comic memoir of growing up in the Bronx in the 60s and 70s.
Jack O’Connell, Michele Cetera and Ray Lindie, Showcases regulars, will be performing a scene from Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune by Terrence McNally. This two character play focuses on two lonely middle aged people who work in a Diner, he as a cook, she as a waitress. Johnny is certain that he’s found his soulmate in Frankie. She, on the other hand is far more cautious and disinclined to jump to conclusions.
Classical musicians Navid Kandelousi and Ava Nazar not only perform classical music but Persian traditional music as well. Navid, a violinist will be playing the Kamancheh, a traditional Persian instrument, and Ava will be playing the piano during their performance of Persian music.
Artists Without Walls was created to provide artists of all disciplines an opportunity to experiment with new ideas in front of a live audience; create an environment that fosters collaborative and creative effort and promote members’ careers in the arts, whether they have already established themselves or are at the beginning of their artistic career. We’re looking forward to a great night. Hope you can join us.
