Composer Waddy Thompson‘s song cycle, Monongahela Rising, will be performed twice a mere thirteen blocks apart and within 10 days:

Monday, Feb. 22, at the Composers Now mini-marathon, Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway @ 95th Street, approximate time is 3:15 p.m. Diana Solomon-Glover, mezzo, and Christopher Johnson, piano. (The marathon goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), $15

Thursday, March 4, “What a Neighborhood,” Ascension Church, 107th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, 8:00 p.m. Cathy Venable, mezzo, and Ishmael Wallace, piano. $10

Waddy Thompson’s compositions are grounded in lyrical lines. In part this comes from his great fondness for vocal music and the sound of the human voice. Over the years he has increasingly incorporated more and more aspects of traditional tonality, without being tied to the restrictions of 19th century tonality.

A jazz quartet blending lyrical melodies, catchy grooves and band interplay, Rob Mosher’s Supervillains delivers a satisfying sonic experience. Featuring the compositions and soprano sax of its leader Rob Mosher, this group focuses more on improvisation than the chamber-style of his 10-piece Jazz/Classical “Storytime.”

Mon Feb 15 9:30p @ Spike Hill, Brooklyn NY. Spike Hill is located in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn at 184 & 186 Bedford Avenue – a few steps away from the Bedford Avenue stop on the L train.

PERSONNEL
Rob Mosher, soprano sax
Nir Felder, guitar
Dan Loomis, acoustic bass
Jared Schonig, drums

Supervillains will be recording and releasing their debut album in 2010.

Vocalist Sabrina Lastman can be heard this month at the Flea Theater on February 7th, at the Tutuma Social Club on February 17th, and at the Teatro Heckscher of El Museo del Barrio on February 20th.

On Sunday, Feb. 7 at 3pm Sabrina will appear at “Music with a View”, a free composer series at the Flea Theater entitled “Singer/Songwriters?” curated by Kathleen Supové. She’ll be singing ‘Green Man’, a composition by Sasha Bogdanowitschwith with The M6: Emily Eagen & Sasha Bogdanowitschwith, with invited singers Daisy Press, Jeremy Lydic and Raphael Sacks. This is a showcase for composers working in the medium of song, but doing it in quirky, unusual, and innovative ways. These artists straddle the boundary between classical and alt pop.

Sunday, February 7 | 3pm
Music with a View – “Singer/songwriters?”
Guest Moderator: Kitty Brazelton
The Flea Theater
41 White Street (bet. Broadway & Church Streets)
Free admission
Transportation: A, C, E, N, R, Q, W, 6, J, M, Z to Canal St. or 1 to Franklin St.

On Wednesday, Feb. 17, Lastman will be performing with residents musicians at Tutuma Social Club, experimenting Peruvian rhythms with other Latin American music, originals as well as music by great Latin American songwriters. The concert is free and they have delicious Peruvian food & drinks.

Wednesday, Feb. 17 | 8 & 10:30 pm
Sabrina Lastman – voice/songs
Yuri Juárez – guitar
Freddy “Huevito” Lobatón – cajon
Shirazette Tinnin – drums
Tutuma Social Club
164 E 56th St. (at 3rd Ave)
Free admission

On Saturday, Feb. 20 Sabrina will be playing with the Candombe Jazz Project at the beautiful Teatro Heckscher of the El Museo del Barrio, in a day celebrating and exploring Carnival’s African influence.

Saturday, February 20 | 4 pm
Candombe Jazz Project
Sabrina Lastman – voice/songs
Beledo – guitar
David Silliman – drums/percussion
Arturo Prendez – candombe drums
Special guests: Agrupación Lubola Macú
Teatro Heckscher – Museo del Barrio
1230 5th. Ave (at 104 St.)
Free admission
Transportation: 6 to 103rd St., 2 or 3 to 110th St.

Cultivating Your Authentic Artistic Voice: A Piano Master Class with Madeline Bruser, featuring young artists Nathaniel LaNasa and Anna Shelest will take place on Thursday, February 4th at 7:00pm at the Bechstein Piano Center, 207 West 58th Street, New York.

The Golden Key Salon Series at Bechstein features new and distinguished performers,wine receptions and premiere performances. Concerts are on the first Thursday of the month, October through May.

All performances begin at 7:00pm

Suggested donation: $20 general admission; $10 for students with ID

Seating is limited, reservations are required.

For more information, or for reservations, call 212-581-5550

A performance by New York City-based Threefifty Duo (Brett Parnell, guitar and Geremy Schulick, guitar) will kick off the inaugural season of Music at First on February 19th, 2010 at 7:30pm. Music at First is a new music series to be held at First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn from February through May of 2010. First Presbyterian Church is located in Brooklyn Heights at 124 Henry St. There is a $10 suggested donation which will be collected at the door. There will be no advance reservations or ticket sales. For more information, please contact [email protected].

This series, curated by Wil Smith (New York composer who also serves as organist at First Presbyterian), occurs monthly, featuring one performer or ensemble per evening. Each concert will last about an hour and half each. Smith describes the new series, Music at First, as “a diverse mix of New York City’s best new music ensembles and performers, accessible to a wide audience of both community members and seasoned new music listeners.” Future performances include pianist Kathleen Supové on March 26, cellist/vocalist Jody Redhage and Fire in July on April 16 and flute/percussionist duo Conor Nelson and Ayano Kataoka on May 28 (CD release). Continue reading “Threefifty Duo headlines new Brooklyn Music Series”