On March 2, Pace University’s inaugural Pace Presents season at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts in Lower Manhattan continues with a performance by Grammy Award-winning ensemble Carolina Chocolate Drops, whose live shows have been described by the New York Times as “end-to-end display[s] of excellence.” The North Carolina trio play traditional African American string band music with a contemporary twist, of which Spin magazine declares, “This striking North Carolina trio brings a modern sizzle to the legacy of classic African American string band.” The Pace Presents show serves as the official release celebration for their upcoming album Leaving Eden, out February 28 on Nonesuch Records.
Carolina Chocolate Drops formed after founding members Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens, and Justin Robinson met at a roots festival in 2005 and discovered a shared interest in traditional African-American string band music of the Piedmont region. In 2011 multi-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins joined Flemons and Giddens in the group upon Robinson’s departure. The members share singing duties and swap instruments throughout their sets. (Cellist Leyla McCalla also joins the band on the record and on the current tour.)
The Drops have toured year-round since the band’s inception, playing festivals such as Bonnaroo, SXSW, and Telluride and selling out concert halls and clubs. Their shows have been met with critical accolades from publications such as the Seattle Times, which said “What a treat to bask in this Grammy-winning group’s top-notch musicality, easy good humor and understated but sparkling showmanship with just the right dollop of historical background.” And the Capital Times (Madison, WI) said, “The string band performed a joyful, high-energy show that had the packed, sweaty theater moving and cheering for the entire time. The band’s sound is rooted in, and very reverent to, the traditional African-American string band sound of generations ago. But the attitude is anything but old-timey, as the band brought in hip-hop and soul elements, a no-holds-barred energy, and just a sense of playfulness to the songs.”
EVENT DETAILS
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Friday, March 2, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Orchestra Pit & Center Orchestra $50
Orchestra & Balcony Center $35
Balcony $25
Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts
3 Spruce Street
New York, New York 10038
TICKETS & VENUE INFORMATION
All tickets are available to purchase online at schimmel.pace.edu or over the phone by calling the Ovationtix Call Center at (866) 811-4111. Patrons may also stop by the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts Box Office, which is open Monday–Friday from 1:00–6:00 p.m.
(212-346-1715) or two hours before curtain on show days.
By Subway
2/3 TO PARK PLACE/BROADWAY or R/W TO CITY HALL—Exit subway and walk south on Park Place, turn left onto Park Row, follow Park Row north up the side of City Hall Park to Spruce Street, turn right on Spruce. Walk east on Spruce, past Nassau. Theater entrance is approx. 1/3 of the way down the block on the left.
J/M/Z TO FULTON STREET—Exit subway and walk north on Nassau Street, past Ann St and Beekman St, turn right on Spruce. Walk east on Spruce, past Nassau. Theater entrance is approx. 1/3 of the way down the block on the left.
4/5/6 TO BROOKLYN BRIDGE/CITY HALL—Exit subway and walk south on Park Row, along the side of City Hall Park, turn left onto Spruce Street. Walk east on Spruce, past Nassau. Theater entrance is approx. 1/3 of the way down the block on the left.
By Bus
For up-to-date scheduling and maps, please contact the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
M1—Take the M1 Bus to the City Hall/Broadway stop (walk east across City Hall Park to campus), the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop (walk south down Park Row to campus), or the Broadway-Nassau St./Fulton St. stop (walk two blocks north on Nassau St. to campus).
M6—Take the M6 Bus to the City Hall/Broadway stop or the Broadway-Nassau/Fulton St. stop (walk as directed above).
M9—Take the M9 Bus to the City Hall/Broadway stop or the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop (walk as directed above).
M15—Take the M15 Bus to Pearl and Frankfort St. (at campus), to the City Hall/Broadway stop, the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop, the Broadway-Nassau/Fulton St. stop or the Fulton/William St. stop (walk as directed above).
M22—Take the M22 Bus to the City Hall/Broadway stop, the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop or the Broadway-Nassau/Fulton St. stop (walk as directed above).
M103—Take the M103 Bus to the City Hall/Broadway stop, the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop or the Broadway-Nassau/Fulton St. stop (walk as directed above).
B51—Take the B51 Bus to the City Hall/Broadway stop (walk as directed above).
