Some things around New York City this week

CORNELIA STREET CAFÉ
29 Cornelia Street, NYC, New York 212-989-9319
http://www.corneliastreetcafe.com
between West 4th and Bleecker Sts, Greenwich Village
1 Subway to Sheridan Square; A, C, E, B, D, V, F to West 4th St.
Contact: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services, 845-986-1677, jazzpromo@earthlink.net

This Week At Cornelia Street Cafe


Mon Aug 31
6:00PM THE LIAR SHOW
(Ophira Eisenberg, Comedy Central; Andy Christie, NY Times; WFUV; James Braly, NPR;; Taffy Jaffe, Monologist)
Four writers, actors & comics tell short personal stories. But one of them is making it all up. Interrogate the cast to expose the lie and win an unbelievable T-shirt.
"A Winner. 4 Stars." 2008 Edinburgh Festival

TimeOut NY Critics Pick


Andy Christie. Cover $10 http://www.TheLiarShow.com

8:30 PM SPOKE
(Andy Hunter, trombone; Danny Fischer, drums; Dan Loomis, bass; Justin Wood, saxophone)

With their debut release, Spoke has created a truly post-modern yet beautifully melodic album incorporating diverse influences from 1960s free-bop, contemporary classical, funk and Chinese pop music. Paul Blair from Hot House Magazine gives special praise to Spoke’s debut, calling it ‘one of the most inventive records I’ve heard all year’.
The members of Spoke came from across the globe and united in Brooklyn. Andy Hunter, originally from northern Michigan, has been awarded numerous prizes throughout the years including first prize in the 2002 International Jazz Trombone Association Jazz Competition, the 2005 Antti Rissanen International Jazz Competition in Helsinki Finland and was a popular finalist in the Thelonious Monk Jazz competition of 2003. He is a prolific composer and versatile soloist who performs regularly with the Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty, Mingus Orchestra and the Dave Binney Big Band; and has appeared on Saturday Night live. Danny Fischer, the Australian, left a huge gap in the music scene of his native Melbourne when he relocated to New York in 2004. ‘Danny is possibly the most in-demand jazz drummer in Melbourne, having worked with a long list of Australian and international musicians including Barney McAll, Gary Bartz, James Williams, Paul Bollenbeck.....’ said Irena Begelfor of Sorrelli Productions in 2002. Since arriving here, he has been hugely in demand as a sideman, having just recently returned from a tour of Australia with Kurt Rosenwinkel and Barney McAll and has performed at Radio City Music Hall alongside Patty LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and Diana Ross. Bassist, Dan Loomis moved to New York from St. Louis via Eastman School of Music. An exceptionally adaptable bass/cello player, Mr. Loomis, in his short time in New York, has already appeared on over 20 recordings ranging from indie-pop to instrumental to original jazz including two CDs under his own name and one from the highly acclaimed collaborative group, The Wee Trio – all featuring his own original compositions. Justin Wood, hailing from the frozen Northeast of Presque Isle, Maine, after graduating from Harvard University, quickly established a presence in New York as a highly versatile, creative instrumentalist working in styles as diverse as free-improvisation, folkloric Columbian, conduction and straight-ahead jazz . In addition to his performing, Justin works tirelessly to promote and encourage performance opportunities for numerous ensembles in vital, underground venues in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan.
http://www.thisisspoke.com

Wed Sep 02
8:30PM TOM CHANG GROUP
(Tom Chang, guitar & compositions; Jeff Davis, drums; Dan Loomis, bass; Michael Attias, alto saxophone)
NY Jazz Guitarist Tom Chang has performed and or recorded with Greg Osby, Joey Calderazzo, Rich Perry, Tom Rainey as well as pop icons the Supremes, Luther Vandross and Southern Indian Percussion Master Subash Chandra.His newly formed unit will perform original contemporary jazz compositions influenced by Southern Indian Karnatic concepts as well as Contemporary Classical music.
Cover $10 http://www.myspace.com/tomchangmusic

Thu Sep 03
8:30PM GNU VOX: RICHARD ROLAND SINGS MARTY PAICH AND MEL TORME
(Richard Roland, voice; Michael Cabe, piano; Mark Lau, bass; Ernesto Cervini, drums)
Richard Roland, actor, director, singer and vocal arranger, is a native New Yorker, having grown up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He a fourth-generation performer; the son of two Broadway veterans: Steve Roland and Liz Roland (nee Nelson).
Richard has made his own mark on the Broadway and National Tour Stages: he made his debut in the original Broadway production of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (version 1.0), then played Young Ben in the 2001 Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's FOLLIES. He most recently understudied (and performed many times) the role of Jimmy in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, subsequently taking over the role on the National Tour for the summer of 2004. He also toured the US from 1998 to 2000 as Jim Farrell, then as Barrett the Stoker in TITANIC.

His off-Broadway credits began with FOREVER PLAID, then moved on to THE FANTASTICKS. He created the role of Jonny in the rock musical ZOMBIE PROM, which didn't run very long at the Variety Arts Theatre, but lives on through the recording. Immediately following that he originated the role of Bob in THE COCOANUTS at the American Jewish Theatre.

David Devoe, host. Cover $10 http://www.richardroland.com

Fri Sep 04
9:00PM & 10:30PM LUCIAN BAN'S DARK SKIES
(Lucian Ban, piano; Sam Newsome, soprano saxophone; Badal Roy, tabla; Greg August, bass)
“An exciting performance at Cornelia Street Café! with dark skies, a unique collaborative quartet featuring Romanian expat pianist LUCIAN BAN, master soprano sax player SAM NEWSOME, bassist GREGG AUGUST and the foremost exponent of tabla in jazz, Mr. BADAL ROY on tablas ! Combining microtonal folk music with contemporary jazz structures and rhythms, DARK SKIES ensemble pursues a cross-cultural exchange, terms of both its material and its personnel. From Eastern Europe to Africa and Far East India … an unknown musical journey that will unfold on the bandstand. No matter how complex the music or group whenever Badal Roy is present the music gets an undeniable funkiness to it “.
BADAL ROY on his real name Amerendra 'Badal' Roy Choudhury arrived in New York in 1968 with a pair of tablas and eight dollars in his pocket. Badal's passionate style of playing is free-flowing and always from the heart, and when Miles Davis heard him play, the superstar warmed to him and spread the word. Soon he received his big break: an invitation to record with John McLaughlin and Miles successively.Today Badal Roy is the foremost exponent of tabla in jazz music. He has played with not only Davis and McLaughlin, but also artists like Herbie Mann, Dave Liebman, Don Cherry, Pharaoh Sanders, Dizzy Gillespie, Lonnie Liston Smith, Yoko Ono and has been an integral part of Ornette Coleman's Prime Time since 1988.

An award winning soprano saxophonist SAM NEWSOME is considered one of the top 3 soprano sax players in the world today and was constantly voted in the Downbeat Magazine, Jazz Times and other major press. Author of 7 albums as a leader for labels like Sony/Columbia Records, Steeplechase, Palmetto, etc and has appeared on more than 40 albums as collaborator with such stars as Terence Blanchard, Leon Parker, Jean Michel Pilc, etc. He has toured with jazz legends Lionel Hampton, Donald Byrd and with his ensembles throughout the world. “More about emotional revelation …” - New York Times / “ …. Expanding the language of modern jazz … “ - Jazz Times

Originally from Romania pianist & composer LUCIAN BAN now lives in NYC where is considered to be “one of the most gifted and talented pianist to come to NY in the past decade”. The Hans Koller Foundation and the Austrian Culture nominated him twice in 2005 & 2006 for “Best European Jazz Musician”. He has recorded 6 albums as a leader for labels in US and Europe. He leads several of his own projects in NY and tours with them internationally. His group Lumination featuring drum legend Barry Altschul was voted “ One of 10 Best Shows of 2003 “ by All About Jazz NY. He also writes music for theatre, film and dance and his music for “Philosopher Fox” was nominated for the prestigious Innovative Theatre Award in NYC in 2004. "Ban plays with a fluency and sensibility that recalls Vladimir Horowitz as much as McCoy Tyner” Terrell Holmes AA Jazz NY

Bassist GREGG AUGUST spans the jazz, Latin jazz, classical and avant-garde scenes. A sought-after composer and arranger, celebrated for his versatility, breadth and intelligence, Gregg has been an active member of the New York music scene for over ten years. Originally a drummer, while spending two years at SUNY Albany, studying percussion with Richard Albagli, Gregg learned the bass. After transferring to The Eastman School of Music, August began studying jazz composition with renowned arranger Ray Wright and performance with pianist Bill Dobbins. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he promptly made the move to New York City, receiving his Master’s from The Juilliard School, where he studied with legendary bass teacher, Homer Mensch. August has played with Ray Barretto, Ornette Coleman, Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo O’Farrill, James Moody, The Chico O’Farrill Big Band, The Lincoln Center's Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, and Ochun among others. As a classical bassist he frequently performs with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, The Mark Morris Dance Group, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and the American Composer’s Orchestra. The Boston Globe review admires that the piece “deftly contrasts languorous atmospheric writing with the kind of hard-driving and rhythmically charged music that the All-stars eat for breakfast. “

For more info please visit: www.lucianban.com , www.samnewsome.com , www.myspace.com/badalroy , www.greggaugust.com
Cover $12

Sat Sep 05
9:00PM & 10:30PM SWALLOW - TALMOR - NUSSBAUM TRIO
(Steve Swallow, electric bass; Ohad Talmor, saxophones; Adam Nussbaum, drums)
Swallow - Talmor - Nussbaum Trio Following their successful 6tet project “L’Histoire du Clochard”, Steve Swallow and Ohad Talmor team up again with in demand drummer Adam Nussbaum for this new Trio created in 2008. Presenting original compositions written by all three musicians, this group playfully explores their music beyond stylistic genres or boundaries. Following a first European tour in the Fall of 2008 which yielded praises such as winning the “Jazz Performance of the Year” award from the Portugal Journalists Poll for their concert in Lisbon at the Jazz.PT Festival, the Trio recorded their first CD, a mix of live tracks recorded in the Madeira Jazz Festival and studio tracks done in New York a few months later. The CD, “Playing in Traffic”, released by AUAND Records (AU9019) in August 2009 will be followed by a European Fall tour.
http://www.ohadtalmor.com

Sun Sep 06
8:30PM MICHAËL ATTIAS' SPUN TREE QUARTET
(Michaël Attias, alto saxophone; Ralph Alessi, trumpet; John Hébert, bass; Tom Rainey, drums)
MICHAEL ATTIAS' SPUN TREE QUARTET
New music, new band.... Weaving sun light and green cells to make a tree rise and dance in the ear! Molecular maze, dance of the atoms, reed brass wood metal...

Critics have called Attias “a significant new voice on the alto saxophone” (Michael McCaw, AllAboutJazz.com) and “an emphatically cosmopolitan saxophonist and composer” (Nate Chinen, New York Times). The All Music Guide’s Scott Yanow adds, “His playing is both lyrical and explorative. While technically avant-garde, Attias does not neglect melodic development, close interplay with his sidemen, and swinging in his own fashion. ”

An Israeli-born son of Moroccan parents who was raised in Paris and the American Midwest, Attias has built a career as diverse as his background. Based in New York since 1994, he has led a variety of his own groups, worked as a sideman in many others and composed scores for theater and dance. He's performed and recorded with wide span of bandleaders such as Paul Motian, Anthony Braxton, Anthony Coleman, Butch Morris, Oliver Lake and many others. Upcoming releases include the second album of his trio Renku with John Hébert and Satoshi Takeishi as well as the debut of his quintet, Twines of Colesion, which builds on his trio with the addition of Tony Malaby and Russ Lossing. Both will be released in 2009 on the Clean Feed label.
Cover $10 http://www.myspace.com/michaelattias

Mon Sep 07
8:30PM AMRAM & CO
(David Amram, piano, french horn, flutes, composition & surprises; Kevin Twigg, drums, glockenspiel; John de Witt, bass; Adam Amram, percussion; John Ventimiglia, actor)
This series explores in his highly personable, generous and informal style the astonishing variety of David Amram's interests and accomplishments--renowned composer of symphonic classical music, jazz compositions, improvisation, spoken word, scat, he sits at the piano, schmoozes about music, about the greats, the beats, the obscure, the legendary; plays the French horn, pulls out all kinds of instruments (flutes, drums, horns) gathered from his many circumnavigations of the globe, pulls in guests drawn from just about every artistic walk of life.
Cover $10 http://www.davidamram.com


Spoken Word




Tue Sep 01
6:00PM LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD (NOW THEY TELL ME)
(Emily Flake; Michelle Green; Maud Newton; D. E. Rasso)
LOVE IS A FOUR-LETTER WORD: TRUE STORIES OF BREAKUPS, BAD RELATIONSHIPS, AND BROKEN HEARTS
with essays by Junot Diaz, Kate Christensen, Gary Shteyngart, Lynda Barry, Dan Kennedy, and 18 more,

with an Intro. by Neal Pollack.

“A book full of hits . . . Breakups are hard to forget, and this collection—surprisingly restrained yet full of emotion—is equally memorable.”—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“Honest, sad, witty, and fierce, here is a breakup anthology that will break your heart.” —ZZ PACKER, author of Drinking Coffee Elsewhere


Russ Marshalek, host. Cover $7

SPEAKEASY: STORIES FROM THE BACKROOM
(Andy Christie; Dave Dickerson; Eileen Kelly; John Flynn; Tracy Rowland; Ryan Paulson)
SpeakEasy is . . .
A new twist on the ancient tradition of oral history.

SpeakEasy is people telling stories-- true stories. Period. No scripts. No crib notes. No rehearsals. SpeakEasy has a dynamic and constantly changing cast of storytellers that include such greats as Mike Daisey, Jonathan Ames, and Reno, along with homemakers, lawyers, dog walkers, street magicians and writers

You never know what you'll hear. So join us for what could be a life changing experience!


Sherry Weaver, host. Cover $10 http://www.speakeasystories.com

Wed Sep 02
6:00PM POETRY
(Sanford Fraser; Dorothea Scher; Christian Garaud)
Three brilliant practitioners of the short poem display their craft.
Fraser's new collection "Tourist" featured.
Angelo Verga, host. Cover $7

Thu Sep 03
6:00PM ARTISTS’ SALON
This is a monthly opportunity for artists associated with the cafe--from every genre and every generation, past, present, and future--to gather informally, schmooze, re-invent the world, and hoist a glass of quelque chose (the only kind of chose to hoist). Our glorious curators are present, you can buttonhole them to find out what's cooking, you can introduce yourself to other toilers in the vineyard, invent projects and discover collaborators. All are welcome.
Robin, Angelo, Poul, and David.

Fri Sep 04

6:00PM SON OF PONY
(Jee Leong Koh; Valery Oisteanu, w/Australian guitarist Ross Fotheringham)
The Friday night legendary open mic poetry series.
Arrive before 6 pm to sign up.

Lovely Kat's lovely feature is Jee Leong Koh.

Jee Leong Koh is the author of Payday Loans and Equal to the Earth (both from Poets Wear Prada Press). His poetry has appeared in Best New Poets 2007 (University of Virginia Press) and Best Gay Poetry 2008 (A Midsummer's Night Press), and has also been nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2008. Born in Singapore, he lives in New York City, and blogs at Song of a Reformed Headhunter.

Special Mini Feature: Jazzoetry, featuring Valery Oisteanu w/Australian guitarist Ross Fotheringham
Kathi Georges, host. Cover $7 http://www.jeeleong.blogspot.com

Sun Sep 06
6:00PM ENTERTAINING SCIENCE
THE WORLDS WE MAKE UP
People make up worlds out of bricks, molecules, words, thoughts. There's probably no better example than Entertaining Science itself--created 7 years ago when K.C. and Roald and Oliver and the Minister of Culture of this temple, Robin, concocted a program on the art and science of nothingness. (That in turn inspired the creation of yet another made-up world--KC's Categorically Not! series in Santa Monica--another story.) This is our reunion!

The constraints of the so-called “real world” seem limiting to people. But as the late physicist Frank Oppenheimer pointed out: There is no “real world” except as we make it up. Largely in response to his horror at the bombing of civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Frank created a “museum of human awareness” – the Exploratorium in San Francisco —a place where art and science allow people to discover that they can understand the complex world around them. Author and USC professor K.C. Cole will tell the story of the “other Oppenheimer” and the world he created, drawing on her new book: Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens: Frank Oppenheimer and the World He Made Up.

Neurologist and author Oliver Sacks will speak about how the brain, like nature, abhors a vacuum--and how, for instance, if there is no visual perception, as in the blind spot which all of us have, or in those who have lost their sight, the brain will create its own virtual reality by images or hallucinations. And Roald will ponder why we think up new molecules.
Roald Hoffmann, host, with K.C.Cole and Oliver Sacks. Cover $10