Cornelia Street Cafe Announces Lady Got Chops Festival And More

In May 1977 three artists--Robin Hirsch, a writer and director; Charles McKenna, an actor; and Raphaela Pivetta, a visual artist--stumbled across a tiny storefront on Cornelia Street in the heart of Greenwich Village and thought it the perfect place to open a café. For two months they scraped and sanded, plumbed and plastered, and did the intricate dance one does with the authorities who live beyond the Village, and on the weekend of July 4, 1977, mirabile dictu, they opened the Cornelia Street Café.

Mon Mar 29
8:30PM LADY GOT CHOPS WOMEN'S MONTH MUSIC AND ART FESTIVAL
The Lady Got Chops Women's Month Music and Art Festival
8:30 vocalist Keisha St. Joan with Bertha Hope, piano
10pm vocalist Candace Jones with Jessica Jones and friends

Performing since she was four, the now 27-year-old Candace Jones has an array of awards and accomplishments behind her in classical, jazz and R&B music. Candace counts among her influences John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and Stevie Wonder among others. Born in New York City and raised in the jazz-rich culture of California's Bay Area, she won local talent competitions and by the age of 11, secured a seat with the highly heralded Young Musicians program in the University of California where she trained as a classical vocalist. By the time she was 18, Candace had garnering a slew of accolades including full scholarships to Berklee and Stanford Jazz Camps, a first place award from the NAACP Act-So competition in classical voice, membership in the San Francisco Grammy® Choir, and a lead role in a 6-week professional musical in San Francisco (fulltime, while still attending high school).
Now, based out of Brooklyn, New York, Candace has been working in a variety of musical genres over the last 6 years, recording her own pop and R&B originals, starring in touring companies of Dream Girls, Ain't Misbehavin', Hair and Fame, and singing regularly with her parents band, The Jessica Jones Quartet, singing original music by Candace and other members of the family. The set at Cornelia Street will feature music of Jessica and Candace Jones as well as gems from the jazz canon.

"Her voice slinks around the words perfectly, her savvy recalling various significant jazz vocalists."
-Michael P. Gladstone, Allaboutjazz.com

"...will take your breath away..."- JazzReview.com

Keisha St. Joan
"When the great Lionel Hampton suggested that the unrivaled "Ella Fitzgerald move over", he meant just that! Because the charismatic Keisha St. Joan was gliding onto the jazz scene with her soothing, angelic, soul-captivating voice that conjures up the dreams pains and joy that only an angel can preside over.."
-Carole Leverett

Tue Mar 30
8:30PM PETE RENDE GROUP
(Pete Rende, piano; Mark Turner, tenor saxophone; Doug Weiss, bass; RJ MIller, drums)
inspired by Duke, Jobim, French film music of the late 50's, Ornette and Bley, this music tries to find the line that connects them all, in a unabashed embrace of a personal nostalgia for the undefinable, like a lost love. Like drawing a thick black line in the sand. The feeling of saturation, mood, edge and blur. Like a memory. You will hear no jazz school chords here. You will like it or hate it. You will feel this or that. You will hopefully not feel the modern dilemma of the weak knee. Like the beauty in Mingus. Wrong or right and all the gray. A line and the courage to try... These are all only aspirations.
Cover $10 http://www.myspace.com/peterrende

Wed Mar 31
8:30PM NIKOLAJ HESS TRIO WITH GUETSTS AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE & MARC MOMMAAS.
(Nikolaj Hess, piano; Francois Moutin, bass; Mikkel Hess, drums; Ambrose Akinmusire, trumpet; Marc Mommaas, tenor saxophone)
Nikolaj Hess Trio featuring Francois Moutin & Mikkel Hess with guests Ambrose Akinmusire and Marc Mommaas.
Danish pianist with a stellar band of New York's best jazz musicians. Here he plays with a new exiting lineup, his New York piano trio featuring French bass virtuoso Francois Moutin and Hess' brother Mikkel on drums, displaying their telepathic, precise, abstract, hard grooving and playful communication and interplay. Guest horns is long time collaborator from Global Motion Marc Mommaas on saxophone, and young star Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet.

The repertoire will be a mix of originals by Hess, and a couple of standards both from the danish folk tradition and the great American songbook.
The music of Hess is described as an original mix of the beautiful Scandinavian lyricism and simplicity with a strong influence from American jazz and the complex and spellbinding rhythms of African music.
Cover $10 http://www.nhess.dk

Thu Apr 01
8:30PM GNU VOX: OH LIZA JANE -- CD RELEASE W/ SPECIAL GUESTS: MIKE & RUTHY
(Liz McFadden, vocals & tambourine; Justin Keller, guitar; Peter Bitenc, bass; Carlo Costa, percussion; Aoife O'Donovan, vocals; Ruth Ungar Merenda, vocals & flddle; Mike Merenda, vocals & guitar)
Oh Liza Jane sparked together in living rooms and on porch swings when they started playing in a warm and welcoming collaboration inspired by old folk songs. Drawing from traditional bluegrass and country-rock roots, their repertoire shifts between traditional folk and lead singer Liz McFadden's acoustic originals that promise to get shoulders swaying and toes tapping. Filled with heart-tugging harmonies and the determination to have a nice time, Oh Liza Jane welcomes audiences to come out and sing along.
"Oh Liza Jane can play, with well-structured and heartfelt songs that resonate for fans of the Mammals, Greg Brown, PaulA Frazer, and Ida." -The Montague Reporter

"Brooklyn's finest country folk band!" -The Valley Advocate
David Devoe, host. Cover $10 http://www.ohlizajane.com

Fri Apr 02
9:00PM & 10:30PM TONY MALABY QUARTET-MARK HELIAS'S OPEN LOOSE
(Tony Malaby, tenor saxophone; Kris Davis, piano; Eivind Opsvik, bass; Tom Rainey, drums; Mark Helias, bass; Tom Rainey, drums; Tony Malaby, saxophone)
Malaby/Davis/Opsvik/Rainey + Mark Helias' Open Loose
First Set:
Malaby/Davis/Opsvik/Rainey

Second Set:
Mark Helias' Open Loose

"Saxophonist Tony Malaby, is one of the most compelling Living Voices on his instrument who is able to musically expand in multiple musical directions. Whether it is in a modern harmonic linear approach or a sonic approach. His is not an eclectic style, but an authentic language in which he is able to create meaning and communicate feeling through the primal power of sound and rhythm."
- Mark Dresser (July 2008)

Malaby is joined by some of his favorite NY improvisers - Advanced Reservations recommended.
Cover $10 http://www.tonymalaby.com

Sat Apr 03
9:00PM & 10:30PM TONY MALABY QUARTET-MARK HELIAS
(Tony Malaby, tenor saxophone; Kris Davis, piano; Eivind Opsvik, bass; Tom Rainey, drums; Mark Helias, bass; Tom Rainey, drums; Tony Malaby, saxophone)
Malaby/Davis/Opsvik/Rainey + Mark Helias' Open Loose
First Set:
Malaby/Davis/Opsvik/Rainey

Second Set:
Mark Helias' Open Loose

"Saxophonist Tony Malaby, is one of the most compelling Living Voices on his instrument who is able to musically expand in multiple musical directions. Whether it is in a modern harmonic linear approach or a sonic approach. His is not an eclectic style, but an authentic language in which he is able to create meaning and communicate feeling through the primal power of sound and rhythm."
- Mark Dresser (July 2008)

Malaby is joined by some of his favorite NY improvisers - Advanced Reservations recommended.
Cover $10 http://www.tonymalaby.com

Sun Apr 04
8:30PM ROBIN VERHEYEN QUARTET
(Robin Verheyen, saxophones; Ralph Alessi, trumpet; Thomas Morgan, bass; Jeff Davis, drums)
Robin Verheyen Quartet is the newest project of Belgian saxophonist and winner of the 2008 Django D'Or Prize Robin Verheyen. His latest record 'Painting Space' with pianist Bill Carrothers got great reviews all around the world and now for this new quartet he will work together with acclaimed trumpeter Ralph Alessi, bassist Thomas Morgan and Dutch drummer Flin van Hemmen. They will perform new music by Robin Verheyen especially for this band. Collectively they have performed with Steve Coleman, Fred Hersch, Roy Hargrove, Michael Brecker, Ravi Coltrane, Uri Caine, Sam Rivers, Jason Moran, David Binney,...
'You didn't hear the name of Robin Verheyen yet? That will change... Since the maturity of his sound and the virtuosity of his phrasing on soprano as well as tenor, will be much talked about, as well as the daring architecture of his compositions.'
-Gwen Cathelin Jazzman France
Cover $10 http://www.robinverheyen.be

Mon Apr 05
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 Mar 30
6:00PM RED HEN PRESS READING
(Lisa Krueger; Adrianne Kalfopoulu; Jamey Hecht)
Lisa C. Krueger is the author of two books of poetry, Rebloom (Red Hen Press, 2005) and Animals the Size of Dreams (Red Hen Press, 2009). She also has written a series of interactive journals related to psychology and creativity. Her poetry has appeared in numerous publications. As a clinical psychologist she maintains a private therapy practice focused on women's issues, writing therapy, and the role of creativity in wellness. She lives in Pasadena with her husband and three children.
Adrianne Kalfopoulou is the author of Wild Greens, a poetry collection from Red Hen Press, and a prose memoir, Broken Greek. She has published two chapbooks, Fig and Cumulus and various articles and essays. Passion Maps is her second collection of poems. She taught at the University of Edinburgh's international summer school program for several years and in various writing workshops in Greece.

Jamey Hecht's work in poetry, fiction, criticism, politics, and the history of ideas has appeared in periodicals including The Black Warrior Review, River City, The Sycamore Review, The Massachusetts Review, The Cloverdale Review, Nerve, Block, Free Inquiry, English Literary History (ELH), The Sixteenth Century Journal, Poetry Calendar, Forschungen zur Frühen Neuzeit, The Progressive Populist, Counterpunch, Sundry, Berlinerkunst, Media Monitors Network, American Book Review, and The Kennedy Assassination Chronicles.

Red Hen Press was founded in 1994 by Mark E. Cull and Kate Gale. They are a nonprofit literary press which focuses on publishing poetry and literary fiction as well as memoirs. They are dedicated to advancing the arts by means of helping to support quality writing that is being ignored or overlooked by large or commercial publishers. They were established to help keep creative and stimulating literature alive. They help educate the community by donating books to schools and other institutions.
Kate Gale, publisher, host. Cover $7

Wed Mar 31
6:00PM THE GREATER NEW YORK INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION (GNYIPA)
A Preview of National Poetry Month with a benefit for GNYIPA
featuring incredible poetry by Perry Brass, Kat Georges, Walter Holland, Jee Leong Ko, Heidi Russel, Pamela Sneed, and more!

Hear great poetry and learn secrets from New York's finest independent publishers, while supporting the Greater New York Independent Publishers Association. Following the reading, we'll have a informal q&a session. Find out how to get your book in print, the secrets of on-demand printing, and the latest on e-books.

Your $12 admission will help to support GNYIPA
Kat Georges, host. Cover $12

Thu Apr 01
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, hosts.
Fri Apr 02
6:00PM SON OF PONY
(Ona Gritz & Dan Simpson)
The Friday night legendary open mic poetry series.
Arrive before 6 pm to sign up.

Ona Gritz & Dan Simpson are our featured poets tonight

Kat Georges, host. Cover $7

Sat Apr 03
6:00PM THE LIAR SHOW
(EMILY EPSTEIN, NY Underground Comedy Festival; Robert Hurst, The Moth Urban Storytelling; JOANNE SOLOMON, De La Guarda; LESLIE GOSHKO, Frigid NY Festival)
Seek Truth. Get a T-Shirt.
4 Storytellers, 3 True Stories, 1 Pack of Lies.

Uncover the liar and win a prize worth its weight in fool's gold.

$15 admission includes one drink.
Andy Christie. Cover $15

Sun Apr 04
6:00PM PROGNOSTICATING THE WORLD'S WHEAT AND BLUEGRASS
(Susie Dworkin; Frank Oteri; The String Messengers)
In 1999, a terrifying new form of wheat stem rust disease - spotted in Uganda and dubbed "UG99" - began to destroy the world's harvest of wheat, the staff of life, 22% of humanity's calories. It moved from Africa up the Arabian Peninsula; now it's threatening India and Pakistan. Next stop, China, Ukraine, France, Kansas. Breeders everywhere began searching wheat seed collections for sources of resistance. The largest collection was at the International Center for Improvement of Maize and Wheat in Mexico, developed by the brilliant Danish scientist Bent Skovmand. For three decades, Skovmand (1945-2007) collected, preserved and shared thousands of wheat varieties, becoming the central librarian for all the world's grain breeders. In an era when corporations and governments often jealously guarded breeding information, Skovmand fought to keep his seed bank a center for free, open scientific exchange. Can scientists like Bent Skovmand stop Ug99? Who's protecting the world's vital seed collections? What's being done to guarantee food security against new plagues and global warming?
Hear the answers when agricultural science visits Cornelia Street Cafe in the person of Susie Dworkin, author of the recent The Viking in the Wheat Field. Susie will discuss how a few scientists persist in trying to save the world despite mutating pathogens, terrifying new weather and the Byzantine politics of the battle for control of world agriculture.

For our arts section, what better than the future of bluegrass, a style originally devoted to Kentucky's grass and horses, as represented by long time friend of Cornelia Street, Frank Oteri, who in another life curates 21st Century Schizoid Music here on the 4th Monday of every month?

Frank's group The String Messengers features Frank York on fiddle and lead vocals; Mandola Joe York on bass vocals, mandolin, mandola; Jeff York on atomic guitar; Jon York on middle fiddle, that's a vie-oh-lah to the sophisticated folks of New York City; Uncle Murphy on additional vocals and rhythm guitar; Ratzo York (known to the outside world as Ratzo B. Harris) on the larger-than-life bass fiddle, with extra strings for good measure.

Frank and compadres will consider how Bill Monroe's and the Stanley Brother's legacies offer another world heritage that can be crossed to produce hybrids with the vigor to withstand the stressful artistic environments of the future.

A discussion between Susie and Frank will be mc'd by ex-blueberry breeder and current biologist / musician Dave Soldier.
Roald Hoffmann, David Soldier, hosts. Cover $10

Mon Apr 05
6:00PM MONOLOGUES & MADNESS
Actors, time limits, laughter, tears, our floorboards are used to perfection.
An Evening of Original Monologues. No slamming, no judges, just great material, excellent actors and YOU.

Come See These Amazing Daredevils Perform Without a Net!!!

Tulis McCall, host. Cover $10 http://www.monologuesandmadness.com

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