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.
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 May 17
8:30PM MORRISON MOTEL
(Hannibal Buress; Liam McEneaney; Livia Scott; Mike Drucker; Dan St. Germain; Mike Pomranz; Dan Mahoney)
John Morrison's monthly comedy quickie--some of the smartest, most politically savvy comedians in or passing through New York make and unmake their bed here before some soon to be deported illegal third world alien comes in to clean it all up . . .
"One of the city's best alt-comedy shows."
- The NY Post
John Morrison, host. Cover $10 http://www.myspace.com/morrisongod
Tue May 18
6:00PM THE DOUBLE SHARPS: ON THEIR OWN
(Dan Lipsitz, Sax; Pierre Piscitelli, Piano and Electric Organ; Nathaniel Schroeder, Bass; Bomi Choi, Drums)
The Double Sharps (who serve as the house band for Golda Solomon's "Po'Jazz" series at the Cornelia Street Cafe), play a set of their own. The group is a mix of students from the New York area who will deliver a creative night of swing, funk, and a touch of classic rock-influenced jazz. There will be a few surprise guests. Additionally, the group will be playing at the "Po'Jazz" event at the cafe on Thursday, May 20th featuring Ralph Lalama and Nicole Pasternak, with jazz beginning at 5:45.
Cover $7
8:30PM HIBAKUSHA STORIES
(Sam Sadigursky, reeds; Kris Davis, piano; Aidan O'Donell, bass; Damion Reed, drums; w/ special guest Becca Stevens, voice)
Saxophonist and composer Sam Sadigursky presents a collaboration with Hibakusha Stories, which passes the legacy of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to a new generation, and empowers them with tools to build a world free of nuclear weapons. Several of the survivors of the bombings will tell their stories as part of a month-long visit to NYC, followed by a set of music by Sadigursky, who has been called "a multi-reed player extraordinaire" by New York Magazine, and whose latest release on New Amsterdam Records was described by Ben Ratliff of the New York Times as "personal, not particularly restricted by ideas of musical genre, quite complex and resolutely unshowy" and "something of genius...an engaging, richly textured work to be reckoned with, a modern masterpiece of the profoundest authenticity." by All About Jazz.
http://www.hibakushastories.org
Wed May 19
8:30PM THE SONGWRITER'S BEAT
(Ronny Drayton; Steve Conte; Pantera Saint-Montaigne; Julie Kathryn)
Now in its 10th year, The Songwriter's Beat is New York's premiere performing songwriter series. Hosted and founded by singer-songwriter Valerie Ghent, four up-and-coming songwriters perform new material in a supportive and intimate atmosphere.
This month's Songwriter's Beat features Ronny Drayton, Steve Conte, Pantera Saint-Montaigne, Julie Kathryn.
Every third Wednesday of the month, four songwriters of varying musical styles perform original songs and are encouraged to try out their newest material and arrangements. The series culminates in a week-long festival each July, featuring performers from throughout the years.
Founded in 2000, The Songwriter's Beat has presented over 290 songwriters from the Tri-State area as well as visiting songwriters from other parts of the United States, Canada, France, the UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Cuba and Japan.
Join us!
The Songwriter's Beat is honored to receive support from The ASCAP Foundation.
Valerie Ghent. Cover $10 (plus $ 7 Drink Minimum) http://www.songwritersbeat.com
Thu May 20
8:30PM GNU VOX PRESENTS BULLETPROOF: AN EVENING WITH TRISH LAROSE
(Trish LaRose, voice; Brandon Sturiale, piano)
Trish LaRose ain't no tramp...but she ain't no lady. Having learned a thing or two about men while summering in the dunes of the Cape, Trish will let you in on her personal journey of redemption, salvation and bong inhalation. Based heavily in the Pop/R&B genre without entirely forgetting her musical theatre roots, Trish reminds us what it is to be on the cusp of thirty-hood in New York City; showing us all what it means to be - Bulletproof. Fave credits include: Urban Cowboy Nat'l Tour, Dirty Blonde, Urinetown, The Rose Tattoo.
David Devoe, host. Cover $10
Fri May 21
9:00PM & 10:30PM REZ ABBASI'S RAAQ
(Rez Abbasi, guitar; Bill Ware, vibraphone; Stephan Crump, bass; Eric McPherson, drums)
Guitarist Rez Abbasi presents his most recent group RAAQ. This unique quartet features Rez on acoustic guitar along with vibraphone giant, Bill Ware. The group is rounded off by the formidable bassist, Stephan Crump (Vijay Iyer Trio), and the esteemed drummer, Eric McPherson (Andrew Hill).
RAAQ will perform new compositions and hit the studio the following week. The album is due out on Sunnyside Records in September, just after they perform at the Newport Jazz Festival.
http://www.rezabbasi.com
Sat May 22
9:00PM & 10:30PM REZ ABBASI
(Rez Abbasi, guitar; Bill Ware, vibraphone; Stephan Crump, bass; Eric McPherson, drums)
Guitarist Rez Abbasi presents his most recent group RAAQ. This unique quartet features Rez on acoustic guitar along with vibraphone giant, Bill Ware. The group is rounded off by the formidable bassist, Stephan Crump (Vijay Iyer Trio), and the esteemed drummer, Eric McPherson (Andrew Hill).
RAAQ will perform new compositions and hit the studio the following week. The album is due out on Sunnyside Records in September, just after they perform at the Newport Jazz Festival.
http://www.rezabbasi.com
Sun May 23
8:30PM TOM BECKHAM GROUP
(Tom Beckham, vibraphone; Chris Cheek, saxophones; Henry Hey, piano; Matt Clohesey, bass; Ferenc Nemeth, drums)
NYC vibraphonist Tom Beckham returns to the Cornelia Street Cafe with longtime collaborators Chris Cheek (saxes), Henry Hey (piano), Matt Clohesy (bass), and Ferenc Nemeth (drums) - the same ensemble featured on his recent CD */Rebound. /*Tonight the band will play new compositions written for the ensemble, plus material from 2 previous CD's /*Center Songs*/ (Sunnyside) and /*Suspicions*/ (Fresh Sound New Talent).
- "...here's someone who makes the vibraphone sound like the most grand of jazz instruments." - John Book, thisisbooksmusic.com
- "The leadoff track, 'Tethered,' [from /Rebound/]... invites repeated listens, so compelling are the tune, the series of solos, and group interplay."- Scott Albin, Jazz.com
- "Beckham's work has a sound all its own - which is what jazz is really about." Rhapsody.com
Cover $10 http://www.tombeckham.net
Mon May 24
6:00PM PIANO & ARIAS
(Eugene Sirotkine, piano; Victor Antipenko, tenor)
Conductor and pianist Eugene Sirotkine will present young Russian tenor Victor Antipenko in a program of piano works, lieder and arias from composers Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Bizet, Bartok, and Rachmaninov.
Born in Soviet Russia, Eugene Sirotkine started studying piano privately at six and within a year, gained acceptance into the Glinka Choir College, a boy's music school with a very unique status in Russia. Upon graduation, he enrolled into the distinguished St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he advanced his choral and orchestral conducting studies. His debut as a conductor came in 1989 with the Latvian Philharmonic in St.Petersburg soon after which he immigrated to the United States in 1991. Since 1998 Sirotkine is the conductor and music director of the Hudson Valley Singers, an 65-member choral group that was founded in 1951. In 1999 he was engaged as an assistant conductor at the New York Metropolitan Opera, where he worked until 2008. Sirotkine reveals that he takes his inspiration from two great composers, Berlioz and Bartok.
Victor Antipenko has recently moved to New York City from St. Petersburg, Russia, where, since 2003 he was a member of the Mariinsky Opera Chorus. While at Mariinsky and also on tour with that company he sung solo roles from Eugene Onegin, The Queen of Spades, Boris Godunov, Khovantchina, The Gambler, Lady Macbeth of Mtzensk, The Nose, La Forza del Destino, Fidelio, Idomeneo, King Roger and most recently Benvenuto Cellini. While still at the Glinka Choir School in St. Petersburg Mr. Antipenko has recorded Prokofiev's On Guard for Peace with Yuri Temirkanov and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. He later studied choral conducting at St Petersburg Conservatory, graduating with honors in 2007. Currently Mr. Antipenko lives in Philadelphia, where he studies with William Schumann at the Academy of Vocal Arts, and actively pursuing his solo career.
DVD's available for $10.
Larry Kraman, host. Cover $10
21ST CENTURY SCHIZOID MUSIC PRESENTS: GENE PRITSKER'S SOUND LIBERATION
(Gene Pritsker, Composer/guitarist/rapper)
Gene Pritsker's Sound Liberation
performing excerpts form their new album VRE Suite to be release on Innova Records on July 27th as well as various chamber music of Gene Pritsker
Composer/guitarist/rapper Gene Pritsker has written over three hundred seventy compositions, including chamber operas, orchestral and chamber works, electro-acoustic music, songs for hip-hop and rock ensembles, etc. All his compositions employ an eclectic spectrum of styles and are influenced by his studies of various musical cultures. ,p> He is also the founder and leader of Sound Liberation; an eclectic hiphop-chamber-jazz-rock-etc. ensemble which has released CDs on Col-legno and innova. Gene's music has been performed all over the world at various festivals and by many ensembles and performers, including the Adelaide Symphony, The Athens Camarata, Brooklyn and Berlin Philharmonic. He has worked closely with Joe Zawinul and has orchestrated major Hollywood movies.
On May 24th, Pritsker will attempt to distill his multiple musical personalities down to a perceptible schizoid dimension!
http://www.genepritsker.com/
http://www.soundliberation.net
https://www.youtube.com/user/noizepunk
Frank J. Oteri, host. Cover $10
Spoken Word
Mon May 17
6:00PM NEW YORK QUARTERLY
(George Held; Jim Reese; Jackie Sheeler)
Ted presents three recent NYQ poets. We are looking forward to this one.
Ted Jonathan, host. Cover $7
Wed May 19
6:00PM George Wallace POETRY EXPLOSION
(David Lawton; Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan; Amy Ouzoonian; Samuel Claiborne)
Four fabulous featured poets. Open mic, co-hosted by Russ Green
George Wallace, host. Cover $7
Thu May 20
6:00PM PO'JAZZ
May is Bloomin' with: The Double Sharps and special guests, Ralph Lalama, sax and Nicole Pasternak, vocals and poetry.
Other poets to grace our stage under Golda's baton include Kyla Marshell, Ekere Tallie, and Deborah Maier.
Golda Solomon, host. Cover $15
Fri May 21
6:00PM UKRAINIAN LITERARY EVENING
Pink Pony is taking a well deserved week off but will be back next Friday night.
Ukrainian Literary Evening with prose and poetry by Vasyl Makhno, Askold Melnyczuk, and Alexander Motyl.
Cover: $10.
Alexander Motyl, host. Cover $10
Sat May 22
6:00PM THE LIAR SHOW
(GABRIELLE SELTZ, N.Y. Times; Newsday; BRAD LAWRENCE, "Monsters In The Wood"; SHARON SPELL, "Shrink"; JOANNA CLEARFIELD, The Moth)
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.
Our host ANDY CHRISTIE is an accomplished word-weaver himself. He's featured in The New York Times and on National Public Radio.
Andy Christie. Cover $15
Sun May 23
6:00PM MUSIC/WORDS
(Inna Faliks, piano; Deborah Landau, poet; Mark Levine, poet)
Deborah Landau is the author of Orchidelirium, which won the Anhinga Prize for Poetry, and Blue Dark (forthcoming from Copper Canyon Press). Her poems appear in The Paris Review, Tin House, The Antioch Review, The Kenyon Review, TriQuarterly, The Best American Erotic Poems, Grand Street, Poetry Daily, and elsewhere. She co-hosts the video interview program Open Book on Slate.com and is the Director of the NYU Creative Writing Program.
Mark Levine have written three books of poems, "Debt" (1993), "Enola Gay" (2000), and "The Wilds" (2006), as well as a book of nonfiction, "F5" (2007). His poems have been in many magazines and anthologies, and he has written nonfiction prose for The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, New York, and other places. He is on the faculty of poetry at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and lives in Brooklyn.
Young Ukrainian-born pianist Inna Faliks has established herself as one of the most passionately committed, exciting and poetic artists of her generation. After her acclaimed debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age 15, she has performed on many of the world's great stages, with numerous orchestras, in solo appearances, and with conductors such as Leonard Slatkin and Keith Lockhart. Critics praise her "courage to take risks, expressive intensity and technical perfection" (General Anzeiger, Bonn), "Infusing every note with brilliance and personality," (Hilton Head Competition Review), "poetry and panoramic vision" (Washington Post) , "riveting passion, playfulness" (Baltimore Sun) and her "virtuosity, humor, lyricism and a way to make every note an important part of the texture of the music."(Free Times, South Carolina)
"In a programme-note introducing her new solo disc, "Sound of Verse" pianist Inna Faliks states that she was inspired by literature and poetry in choosing the repertoire. What's also intriguing about the recording is Faliks' prowess in rendering each piece with a keen combination of expressive acuity and textural clarity. Faliks plays these obscure pieces (of Pasternak) with the same concentration and attention to detail that she applies to the Ravel-beautifully limned and paced - and to Rachmaninov's Piano Sonata # 2 in the original 1913 version. Intensely felt, her Rachmaninoff abounds in poetic phrasing and finely gauged drama." - Donald Rosenberg, Gramophone, March 2010
Angelo Verga, host. Cover $20 http://www.innaonline.com
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