The James Hunter Six

Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 7pm at Emelin Theater

One of the foremost soul singers performing today, James Hunter is a writer of compelling narratives sung with true grit. Accompanied by an ace band of New York City’s finest musicians, The James Hunter Six ensemble is known for electrifying soul music fans across the globe with its signature uptempo, swinging rhythm & blues.

It’s been 15 years since the Englishman James Hunter burst onto the scene with his U.S. debut People Gonna Talk (GO/Rounder 2006), topping the Billboard Blues chart, earning a GRAMMY nomination, and attracting universal acclaim from critics and his fans – including Van Morrison, Sharon Jones, and Allen Toussaint. The New Yorker describes Hunter’s “tight, taut compositions” as “rooted in American soul music without being bound to it.” Over the last decade, he’s toured extensively around the world on the club, theatre, and festival circuits, steadily growing a dedicated audience comprised of hardened gig-goers, old-school baby boomers, and young hipsters alike.

“James has a voice that stands out not only for its natural beauty and grit but for its honesty,” says famed producer Gabriel Roth aka Bosco Mann. “His songwriting shares the masterful architecture and the inspired creativity of Smokey Robinson, each rhyme and rhythm crafted meticulously, somehow twisting familiar themes into unfamiliar new shapes.” 

“The United Kingdom’s Greatest Soul Singer” – MOJO Magazine

Delfeayo Marsalis Quintet

Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 8:00pm at Landmark on Main Street

Delfeayo Marsalis is one of the top trombonists, composers and producers in jazz today. Known for his “technical excellence, inventive mind and frequent touches of humor” (Leonard Feather, Los Angeles Times), he is “one of the best, most imaginative and musical of the trombonists of his generation.” (Philip Elwood, San Francisco Examiner.) In January 2011, Delfeayo and the Marsalis family (father Ellis and brothers Branford, Wynton and Jason) earned the nation’s highest jazz honor – a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award.

Born in New Orleans on July 28, 1965, Marsalis was destined to a life in music. “I remember my dad (Ellis Marsalis) playing piano at the house, and me laying underneath the piano as a child, listening to him play. After briefly trying bass and drums, in sixth grade I gravitated towards the trombone, which was an extension of my personality. Early on my influences and inspirations included J.J. Johnson, Curtis Fuller, Al Grey, Tyree Glenn and Tommy Dorsey.” Marsalis attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts high school, was classically trained at the Eastern Music Festival and Tanglewood Institute, and majored in both performance and audio production at the Berklee College of Music.

Marsalis has also been long involved in work as an educator. In 2004, he earned an MA in jazz performance at the University of Louisville and was conferred a doctorate by New England College in 2009. He lectured in schools in 1995 on behalf of the Dallas Opera and the Bravo cable network. Marsalis served as director of the Foundation for Artistic and Musical Excellence summer program in Lawrenceville, New Jersey (1998-2002), founded the Uptown Music Theatre in 2000, and implemented its Kidstown After School in three New Orleans grammar schools in 2009. He has composed over 80 songs that help introduce kids to jazz.

Gangstagrass

Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 8:00pm at Emelin Theatre

Gangstagrass combines great American traditions of bluegrass, hip-hop and beyond, to create a whole new musical genre that is more than the sum of its parts.

Putting down roots and branching out across never-before-bridged genres, Gangstagrass has delighted crowds and has blown minds across the world, garnering a reputation among fans for dynamism and spontaneity. From SXSW to Grey Fox to the Americana Festival to music festivals abroad, these live performances explode the boundaries between genres generally thought to be incompatible. Howie Mandel described Gangstagrass as “the recipe that America has been looking for until now” and “what America needs right now!”

As latest album No Time For Enemies climbed to #1 on the Billboard bluegrass chart, Americana Highways magazine proclaimed Emmy-nominated Gangstagrass “America’s Band” because they take so much of what’s amazing about this country — ingenuity, creativity, freedom, unity across differences, people’s individual strength and struggles — and distill it into a message of common ground in the form of original songs that have everyone up & dancing! 

“Gangstagrass fuses string instruments with hip-hop artists, resulting in arguably the best argument yet for a rap and country music marriage.” – Rolling Stone Magazine, May 2017

Bria Skonberg

Friday, June 10, 2022 at 8:00pm at Emelin Theatre

To most of us, the adventures of trailblazing trumpeter, vocalist and songwriter Bria Skonberg are borderline unbelievable.

“I play jazz because it’s the closest I can get to flying.…spreading joy, relating the human experience, and putting good into the world to counteract the negative. I want to make music that makes people feel, and think.”

– Bria Skonberg

Described as “one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation” (Wall Street Journal) she recently sang the music of Aretha Franklin alongside Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, played with U2 at the Apollo, sat in with the Dave Matthews band, was a featured guest with Jon Batiste and performed the Star Spangled Banner at Madison Square Garden for a NY Rangers game. A bandleader since her teens, Bria has performed festivals and stages the world over, including New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and over a hundred more. In 2016 Bria released her debut LP on Sony Masterworks which won a Canadian JUNO award and made the Top 5 on Billboard jazz charts; her music has over 10 million streams on Spotify. A 6x Downbeat Rising Star, further accolades include the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing Award, Best Vocal and Best Trumpet from Hot House Jazz Magazine and Outstanding Jazz Artist at the Bistro Awards.

The “shining hope of hot jazz” (NY Times) has been at the forefront of a revival of classic American music as both a performer and educator, programming concerts and workshops for students of all ages. She has been on faculty at the Teagarden Jazz Camp (2008-present) and Centrum Jazz Camp, performs outreach on behalf of Jazz at Lincoln Center, is currently developing educational activities for the Louis Armstrong House Museum and co-directs the New York Hot Jazz Camp she co-founded in 2015. In 2018 Lincoln Center sought out her leadership for a tribute to the first integrated all female big band, the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, which launched her acclaimed group Sisterhood of Swing.

In 2019 she was a featured member of Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour for 26 dates alongside Cecile McLorin Salvant, Christian Sands, Melissa Aldana and Jamison Ross. Bria is a member of the Town Hall Ensemble, an all star cast directed by Steven Bernstein that celebrates the cultural and musical history of New York city. She tours constantly bringing her own signature sound of fiery trumpet playing and smoky vocals together with storytelling and adventurous concoctions of classic and new.

“Ms. Skonberg has become the shining hope of hot jazz, on the strength of a clarion trumpet style indebted to Louis Armstrong, a smooth purr of a singing voice inspired by Anita O’Day and the wholesome glow of youth” – Nate Chinen, NY Times

“A millennial shaking up the jazz world” – Vanity Fair

Leo Kottke

Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 8:00pm at Emelin Theatre

Leo Kottke is arguably one of the most important and influential acoustic steel-string fingerstyle guitarists of the 20th century. Highly innovative, Kottke is known for his compelling original compositions as well as his arrangements of cover songs, like the captivating medley of “Mockingbird Hill” — a hit for both Patti Page and Les Paul & Mary Ford — and Duane Allman’s “Little Martha,” which he performed on NPR.

During his career, Kottke has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, from Chet Atkins to Procul Harum to the Violent Femmes, and most notably Phish bassist Mike Gordon. Kottke has recorded an extensive catalog that has inspired countless guitarists including such fingerstyle innovators as the late, great Michael Hedges, Preston Reed, Peppino D’Agostino and Don Ross. His debut LP, 6 & 12 String Guitar, has been reissued on CD three times since its 1969 release.

Kottke has been awarded two GRAMMY award nominations; a Doctorate in Music Performance by the Peck School of Music at the U of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; and a Certificate of Significant Achievement in Not Playing the Trombone from the U of Texas at Brownsville with Texas Southmost College.

The Great Guitars

Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 8:00pm at Emelin Theatre

Guitar virtuosos Martin Taylor, Frank Vignola, and John Jorgenson create musical magic with “one night, three award-winning guitarists, eighteen strings”.

The Great Guitars™ traces its colorful heritage back to the 1970s when the legendary jazz guitarists of that era toured the world and recorded together. Award-winning guitarist Martin Taylor, who replaced Herb Ellis to become part of the original group in the 1980s with the legendary Barney Kessel and Charlie Byrd, has revised the format for the 21st century-enlisting two of today’s top jazz guitars players to co-create a brilliant program displaying guitar mastery, emotion, humor and musical fireworks.

Combining Taylor’s award-winning virtuosic fingerstyle with Vignola’s jaw-dropping technique, and Jorgenson’s incredible musical versatility, the concert features solo, duet, and trio performances by these three acknowledged masters of fingerstyle, jazz and gypsy guitar. Between them, these three guitar greats have worked with artists ranging from Tommy Emmanuel to David Grisman, Donald Fagen to Wynton Marsalis, and Bonnie Raitt to Bob Dylan.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Pat Metheny calls Martin Taylor “one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument”, while Jeff Beck says, “he out-shreds all of us – I’ve never seen anything like it”. Taylor is widely recognized as the world’s foremost exponent of solo fingerstyle jazz guitar playing, with a record 15 British Jazz Awards, Top 10 albums in the USA and Europe and an MBE from the Queen of Great Britain. His innovative online guitar school now teaches guitarists in over 60 countries.

Frank Vignola is highly regarded as one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional players in the world today. Les Paul added him to his “Five Most Admired Guitar List” for the Wall Street Journal while The New York Times deemed Vignola as “one the brightest guitar stars.”

John Jorgenson, known for his blistering guitar licks and mastery of a broad musical palette, has earned a reputation as a world-class musician, as evidenced by his collaborations with Earl Scruggs, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, Luciano Pavarotti, Bob Dylan and many others.

Stanley Jordan Plays Jimi

Friday, April 29, 2022 at 8:00pm at Emelin Theatre

World-renowned guitarist and four-time GRAMMY nominee Stanley Jordan returns to the Emelin to channel the late, great Jimi Hendrix in his show called “Stanley Jordan Plays Jimi.” This is a tribute show, but it’s not pure imitation. Instead Stanley builds on Jimi’s legacy in a myriad of creative way. As Stanley explains it, “This is my fantasy Jimi Hendrix concert if Jimi were still alive and playing today. By re-imagining his music and channeling his persona I try to bring that fantasy to life.”

It may be surprising that a rock legend like Hendrix would get so much love from a jazz legend like Jordan. Stanley’s 1985 album Magic Touch was #1 on Billboard’s jazz chart for 51 weeks, and Stanley has shared the stage or recorded with jazz artists such as Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Billy Cobham. But again, hearing it from Stanley, “I actually played rock and blues before I played jazz. In fact, Jimi’s constant searching for new sounds inspired me to move toward jazz in the first place.”

It may also be surprising that Stanley Jordan would take on a project like this. After all, Stanley is a well-known guitarist with a signature style, has four GRAMMY nominations, a cameo in a Blake Edwards film Blind Date), and a host of TV appearances over a long career including “Jimmy Fallon,” “David Letterman,” “Jay Leno” and “Johnny Carson” to name a few. Stanley explains he took on a project like this because, “I feel a strong connection to Jimi Hendrix because he was the first guitarist I emulated as a child. Out of love for Jimi and his music I feel a strong desire to try to keep his legacy alive.”

In recent years, Stanley has performed with many artists in the rock and jam-band worlds, including the Dave Matthews Band, Umphrey’s McGee, Moe. and more. Stanley says, “Returning to my rock roots has been an absolute joy artistically, and with this project, I’m taking that to a new level.”

Bill Frisell Trio

Friday, April 1, 2022 at 8:00pm at Emelin Theatre

The Bill  Frisell  Trio with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Rudy Royston joins a  rich legacy of three-member groups: the trios of Nat  Cole, Hank Jones, Erroll Garner, Bill Evans and many others.  It’s a heritage all but defined by the tensions between tradition and individuality, continuity and change, that have always informed jazz and spark every performance by the Frisell Trio.

“All three of these musicians have a deep sense of structure along with their exploratory approach to making music, so they can elaborate but never move too far away from what they need to do to serve the song. This trio is a  sterling example of balancing that architectural sensibility with the spirit of spontaneity at the same time,”  says Lee Townsend, producer of the Trio’s new recording Valentine.

Frisell, whose eternally boyish appearance and folksy way of talking belie a probing intellect, is attuned to the mysterious but scientifically grounded strength of the combination of three improvising musicians.  The trio configuration is, after all, a musical permutation of the “power of three” central to every field from mythology and religion to mathematics and physics since Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades made up the triumvirate of Greek Gods.

As with every triangle, the Bill Frisell Trio draws its strength from having three separate sides (the musicians, each with his own sensibility) connected by three vertices (the harmony, melodies, and tempi of the material).  Frisell, as the leader and chief composer, established the framework of meticulous untidiness and open-eared generosity,  playing with economical wisdom and unforced daring.  Thomas Morgan plays in and around Frisell’s guitar lines, supporting them and building from them in counterpoint that sounds both wholly organic and full of surprise.  And Rudy Royston brings a third layer of feeling to the group while holding everything together.  

“The music is about everyone trusting each other to the point where everybody’s in the state of mind where you don’t know what’s going to happen next, and you feel safe enough to try anything.  It’s … the trust that makes risks possible,” says Frisell. 

The result is a vivid demonstration of the capacity of masters like Frisell, in the manner of Ellington, to push themselves, their collaborators, and their audiences to unexpected heights through the ever-restless force of their creativity. After more than two years playing jazz clubs and concert halls across the United States and throughout Europe performing a repertoire they varied every night, the Bill Frisell Trio has gelled as a group dedicated to fluidity and spontaneity.

David Broza & Trio Havana

Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 8:00pm at Emelin Theatre

Israeli superstar David Broza is considered one of the world's most dynamic and vibrant performers. From his whirlwind finger picking to Flamenco percussion and rhythms, to a signature rock and roll sound, David Broza's charismatic and energetic performances have delighted audiences throughout the world.

In his new show, From Haifa to Havana, Broza brings a unique Cuban twist to his hit songs through a collaboration with Trio Havana.

Band members include: MANUEL ALEJANDRO CARRO aka MANNYA - Cuban-born singer-songwriter and master percussionist with a style firmly rooted in Latin Pop; YUNIEL JIMINEZ "EL GUAJIRO" - master tres guitar player from Santa Clara, Cuba; JORGE BRINGAS - renowned bassist from Havana, Cuba, who played previously with Albita Rodriguez and the late Celia Cruz.

Joining Trio Havana is Israeli flutist ITAI KRISS - dubbed one of the most exciting new flutist-composers on the Cuban music scene, with an eclectic style infused with Jazz, Latin and Middle Eastern sounds.

From his whirlwind fingerpicking to Flamenco percussion and rhythms to a signature rock and roll sound, David Broza's charismatic and energetic performances have delighted audiences throughout the world. Raised in Israel, Spain and England, Broza has performed worldwide since 1977, when his song "Yihye Tov" first hit the airwaves, promoting a message of peace.

Broza has been fascinated with Cuban music since he was a teenager listening to Celia Cruz. Further explorations led him to become absolutely hooked on the Afro-Cuban sound. Introduced by flutist Itai Kriss, Broza first met Trio Havana at a private event in New York and was stunned by their versatility. By the end of the evening they were jamming together and found a special magnetism in the sweeping rhythms. Combining the Cuban sound with Broza's Spanish guitar and songs sung in Spanish, Hebrew and English proved a rich common ground that connected naturally. Six months after meeting, Broza and Trio Havana began touring the US. The result has been pure magic: every show is a mystery, a dance and romance expressed through pulsing rhythms and sweet melodies, resulting in uplifting, energetic performances that leave audiences delighted and exhilarated. davidbroza.net

Edwin McCain

Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 7:00pm at Emelin Theatre

Called the “great American romantic” by the NY Times, Edwin McCain has built an enviable career over the past 20 years by balancing his massive pop success with the year-round touring schedule of a tireless troubadour.  His hit songs, authentic spirit and surprisingly affable sense of humor keep fans coming back time and time again for nights that feel more like parties with old friends than rock concerts.

After recording two of the biggest love songs in the history of pop music and experiencing the success that comes with a television show on Animal Planet (Flipping Ships), McCain now performs upwards of 100 shows annually throughout the US as a solo artist, with his full band or his acoustic trio. Recently, he’s added orchestras to his repertoire, performing with symphonies in select markets where he brings his powerful songs to majestic new heights. 

Those enduring love songs (and wedding must-haves) “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask For More” aren’t just for the romantic at heart; “American Idol” and “The Voice” contestants turn to Edwin’s ballads every single year to help them win over judges and fans alike (just ask last season’s AI winner, Nick Fradiani).  Even Justin Bieber has been known to belt out “I’ll Be” during his own concerts. 

John Pizzarelli Trio

Saturday, March 19. 2022 at 7:00pm at Emelin Theatre

John Pizzarelli, the world-renowned guitarist and singer, has established himself as a prime contemporary interpreter of the Great American Songbook and beyond, with a repertoire that includes Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Antônio Carlos Jobim, and The Beatles. He has been hailed by The Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” The Toronto Star pegged him as “the genial genius of the guitar.” And The Seattle Times saluted him as “a rare entertainer of the old school.”

In addition to the music of Nat King Cole, he has celebrated the work of composer Richard Rodgers with his GRAMMY Award-nominated With a Song in My Heart, toured the globe performing shows centered on Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mercer and John McCartney, bringing his unique style to a broad range of music and styles. His recordings range from torch ballads to classic swing, from bold originals to holiday fare, and the Fab Four.  His two-disc set, Live at Birdland, seamlessly blends James Taylor folk with Gershwin and Van Heusen standards, in addition to his own original compositions. 

John has been a special guest on recordings for major pop names such as James Taylor, Natalie Cole, Kristin Chenoweth, Tom Wopat, Rickie Lee Jones and Dave Van Ronk, as well as leading jazz artists such as Rosemary Clooney, Ruby Braff, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, Harry Allen and, of course, Bucky Pizzarelli.  In 1997, Pizzarelli made his Broadway debut in the musical Dream, a revue of Johnny Mercer songs. He led a 40-member live orchestra at Radio City Music Hall in Sinatra: His Voice, His World, His Way in 2003. Pizzarelli received the 2009 Ella Fitzgerald Award from the Montreal International Jazz Festival, joining a select group of past winners including Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett and Harry Connick Jr.

John has performed on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Conan,” and “Great Performances” as well as “Leno” and “Letterman.” His themed shows, often performed with his wife Jessica Molaskey, suggest there is no limit to Pizzarelli’s imagination or talent. The New York Times called their recent “My Generation” show “brilliant.”

Marc Cohn

Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 7:00p at Emelin Theatre

After winning a Grammy for his soulful ballad “Walking in Memphis,” Marc Cohn solidified his place as one of this generation’s most compelling singer-songwriters, combining the precision of a brilliant tunesmith with the passion of a great soul man. Rooted in the rich ground of American rhythm and blues, soul and gospel and possessed of a deft storyteller’s pen, he weaves vivid, detailed, often drawn-from-life tales that evoke some of our most universal human feelings: love, hope, faith, joy, heartbreak.

2019 was a busy year for Marc, performing 75 shows in about 65 cities, and collaborating on a record with gospel legends Blind Boys of Alabama titled ‘Work To Do’ which was released on BMG. Moving forward, Marc continues to do what he does best: infuse American music with both a fresh perspective and a reverence for its deep roots.

Opener: Randall Bramblett

Flor De Toloache

Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 8:00pm at Emelin Theatre

The Emelin is thrilled to welcome back the incredible Flor de Toloache! Having performed at Coachella and in an NPR “Tiny Desk” Concert, this  Latin GRAMMY-winning, New  York-based ensemble is one of the finest all-female mariachi groups on the planet. 

The group began as a trio named for the delirium-inducing Mexican flower used as a love potion for generations. As it has grown in notoriety, the band has expanded to as many as ten members depending on the setting, forming a truly global ensemble with musicians hailing from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Australia, Colombia,  Germany,  Italy,  and the  UnitedStates.  Their highly anticipated new album  Indestructible, produced by  11-time  Grammy-winner  Rafa  Sardina  (Stevie  Wonder,  Lady  Gaga,  Rodrigo y  Gabriela, among others), premiered via NPR’s “First Listen,” where NPR’s Marisa Arbona-Ruiz said, “Flor de Toloache’s new bilingual album Indestructible pushes the boundaries of mariachi music and its instruments through reimagined pop covers, originals and original collaborations. Indestructible follows  Flor de  Toloache’s critically-acclaimed and  Latin  GRAMMY Award-winning sophomore release, 2017’s Las Caras Lindas. 

Announced as one of the official selection of WOMEX 2019, the world’s biggest showcase for world music, Flor de Toloache performed over 100 shows in 2019, touring Japan for the first time! The New York ensemble and beloved press darlings were also invited in 2019 to perform as special guests for the GRAMMY Museum’s inaugural Latin Music Gallery Exhibition ribbon-cutting ceremony also paying a special homage to  Linda  Ronstadt with a  magical mariachi presentation at the  42nd  Annual  KENNEDY CENTER HONORS.

Lisa Fischer

Be My Valentine

Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 8:00pm at Emelin Theatre

Badass & Beautiful

After four decades of featured background singing with icons like Luther Vandross, The Rolling Stones, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, and Nine Inch Nails, MS. LISA FISCHER set out to take center stage with her own humble, heartfelt song. The 2013 Best Documentary Oscar winning film "Twenty Feet from Stardom" altered the course of Lisa's musical journey, telling her story, with clips of her legendary duets with Sting or with Mick Jagger on "Gimme Shelter", left audiences eager to see and hear more, so Lisa took the chance to set out on her own reinventing classic songs with her co-conspirators JC Maillard and Grand Baton. Their organic fusion of Caribbean psychedelic soul and jazzy progressive rock ignited Lisa's flexibility and freedom of expression, awakening her lifelong desire to make music that heals but still rocks the house.

While Lisa's range is legendary, her greatest gift is the ability to connect, to reach the hearts of her listeners. Raised in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, she emerged from New York's fervent studio scene in the early 1980s, sang for two decades with legendary vocalist Luther Vandross, and released "So Intense", earning her first Best R&B Performance Grammy with "How Can I Ease The Pain". She joined the Rolling Stones for their 1989 Steel Wheels tour, and continued to grace their stage for the next 26 years. Lisa's passion for constant growth and experimentation with different styles invited recent collaborations with jazz pianist Taylor Eigsti, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Michael McDonald, Eric Krasno, Talib Kweli, Billy Childs and YoYo Ma, the BBC Proms / Jules Buckley and the Metropole Orkest, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Anna Deavere Smith's "Notes from the Field" for HBO, and especially her full evening program The Classic Lisa Fischer with Grand Baton and Seattle Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony and the National Philharmonic. With spiritual truth-telling as her compass and loving kindness as her guide, MS. LISA FISCHER continues her creative journey; destination unknown.

"Lisa Fischer in concert is addictive. Every performance is so enriching, so exciting, so transcendent that you want more. With remarkable vocal range and vocabulary, Fischer can sing soul, jazz, rock, gospel, pop, folk and classical with equal facility and authority. She often mixes styles in the same song, sometimes in the same vocal line. Her approach tends to be intimate, artful and almost meditative, accompanied by her interpretive dancing, but she also can cut loose and funk with fierceness and rock with abandon." - Minneapolis Star Tribune

On A Winter’s Night

feat. Cliff Eberhardt, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, and Patty Larkin

Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 8:00pm at Emelin Theatre

Presenting the 25th Anniversary concert of “On A Winter’s Night” featuring veteran singer-songwriters that remain among the brightest stars of the past thirty-year singer-songwriter movement; Cliff Eberhardt, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, and Patty Larkin.

It was Christine Lavin who first gathered artists together to showcase music of the Winter Season on the now-classic On A Winter’s Night CD. Since that time, the folk supergroup has released dozens of recordings and toured steadily through the decades. Come celebrate the winter season at the Emelin with these unique and talented performers.

About The Artists:

CLIFF EBERHARDT

One of the most original songsmiths currently on tour, Eberhardt is a highly intelligent, articulate artist whose penetrating and profound lyrics are sometimes overshadowed by his extraordinary guitar playing. Upon close listening, the Philadelphia-born singer’s gift for the English language is abundantly clear. The words that tumble from his mouth are framed by a raspy yet deeply elegant voice. Like John Hammond and Richie Havens, Eberhardt continues to carry the torch for traditional and contemporary folk music through his strong live shows. Whether he’s out on tour solo or with a small band, Eberhardt’s guitar playing, singing, and original folk songs and blues make for a compelling, thought-filled, emotional roller coaster of a concert.

JOHN GORKA

Hailed by Rolling Stone as “the leading singer-songwriter of the New Folk movement,” John Gorka is perhaps the quintessential singer-songwriter of the 90’s folk scene. Originally from New Jersey, John served an apprenticeship at Godfrey Daniels coffeehouse in Bethlehem, PA, then the Greenwich Village Fast Folk scene. Winning the prestigious New Folk award at the Kerrville Folk Festival, in 1984, he was then signed to Red House Records on which he released his landmark first of 17 recordings, I Know. The Boston Globe penned Gorka “for the sophisticated intelligence and the provocative originality of his songs.” Recent accolades include 2016’s Indie Acoustic Project’s Best Singer-Songwriter CD of the Year for Before Beginning (Red House Records). 2018 brought his latest release, and 14th of his career, True In Time (Compass Records).

LUCY KAPLANSKY

“A truly gifted performer…full of enchanting songs” (The New York Times). Blending country, folk and pop styles, Kaplansky has the unique ability to make every song sound fresh, whether singing her own sweet originals, covering country classics by June Carter Cash and Gram Parsons, or singing pop favorites by Lennon/McCartney and Nick Lowe. Kaplansky’s iconic voice has been featured in film and on television, including commercials like Chevrolet’s iconic “Heartbeat of America” jingle. A Billboard-charting singer and one of the top-selling artists on Red House Records, she has topped the folk and Americana radio charts and has been featured on shows throughout the world from NPR’s Weekend and Morning Editions to BBC Radio to CBS Sunday Morning. One of the most in-demand harmony singers, Kaplansky has sung on countless records, performing with Suzanne Vega, Bryan Ferry, Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin.

PATTY LARKIN

Patty Larkin redefines the boundaries of folk-urban pop music with her inventive guitar wizardry and uncompromising lyrics and vocals. Acoustic Guitar Magazine hails her “soundscape experiments” while Rolling Stone praises her “evocative and sonic shading.” She has been described as “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly), and a “drop-dead brilliant” performer (Performing Songwriter). Recently an Artist-in-Residence at Berklee College of Music – and now on the faculty at Fine Arts Work Center – Larkin reflects, “I have been energized by the poets, writers and artists I have met while teaching, and find myself on a journey to break down some of the predictable pathways that songs can travel.” Her 14th CD, Bird In A Cage, was released in 2020.

We Banjo 3

Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 8:00pm at Emelin Theatre

A Rockapella Holiday

Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre

“A Rockapella Holiday” is a “must-see” event! With their completely original interpretations on the holidays, Rockapella creates a light-hearted and unforgettable holiday experience filled with musical holiday cheer. From unique takes on classic favorites, to brand new originals destined to become classics, audiences of all ages can expect to be charmed by a holiday performance like no other.

This awe-inspiring, five-man powerhouse of vocal talent will delight audiences with songs including “Little Drummer Boy”, “O Little Town Of Bethlehem”, and a Scott Leonard/Masahiro Ikumi original, “Christmas Altogether”. Audiences can expect the classic, Rockapella-fied versions of favorites like “Silver Bells,” “Winter Wonderland,” “The Chipmunk Song,” “Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer,” “Glowworm,” “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” as well as newer Rockapella holiday hits like “Wonderful Christmastime,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Matunda Ya Kwanzaa,” and “Angels We Have Heard On High.”

One of the progenitors of the astonishing full-band sound of “contemporary” a cappella, Rockapella has become one of the world’s most sophisticated, lasting, and imitated vocal groups around today. 

Jim Messina

Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre

Few musical artists résumés list membership in a band inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; fewer still can lay claim to being a founding member of the seminal band credited with creating Country Rock; and only one artist can include all the above in addition to being one half of the most successful duos of the 1970s.

A supremely talented guitarist, Jim Messina began working with the legendary band Buffalo Springfield in 1966 as a recording engineer on their second album Buffalo Springfield Again. In 1967, at the request of the group and Atlantic Records founder and president Ahmet Ertegun, Messina was asked to produce the band's third and final album. Shortly thereafter, he replaced Bruce Palmer, the bass player, touring and recording with the band up until completion and release of their album Last Time Around.

In 1968, when Buffalo Springfield disbanded, Messina signed a contract with Epic Records as a producer and a recording artist. Along with fellow Buffalo Springfield member Richie Furay, he formed Poco (originally named "Pogo" after the famous comic strip character). The band's aptly titled 1969 debut Pickin' Up The Pieces is the only debut album ever to receive a perfect rating from Rolling Stone magazine; the landmark album laid the blueprint for the then new musical genre uniting country with rock music and it blazed the pathway for future multi-million selling artists like the Eagles.

Joan Osborne

Thursday, November 11, 2021 at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre

“Like Bonnie Raitt, a musician to whom she has often been compared, Ms. Osborne is a fiercely intelligent, no-nonsense singer-songwriter who is allergic to traditional pop sentimentality, though hardly devoid of feeling.” – The New York Times

Since she broke through 25 years ago with the multi-platinum Relish and its touchstone mega-smash “One of Us,” the seven-time Grammy nominee has never played it safe. Osborne has followed her restless musical heart, exploring a diverse range of genres: pop, rock, soul, R&B, blues, roots rock, gospel, funk, and country – all of which can be heard on her tenth studio album, the masterful Trouble and Strife, along with the Western side of C&W and a touch of glam and disco. 

With Trouble and Strife, Joan Osborne has issued a clarion call. With stunning vocals, a diverse range of sonics, and incisive lyrics, this deeply engaging collection of new original songs is her response to “the crazy, chaotic times we’re living in,” she says, and “a recognition of the important role music has to play in this moment. Music has a unique ability to re-energize people and allow us to continue to hang on to that sense of joy of being alive.”

It’s been quite the journey since the woman AllMusic.com declared “the most gifted vocalist of her generation” moved from small-town Kentucky to attend NYU film school in the 1980s. Osborne’s astounding voice drew attention when she joined the fun at open mic nights in downtown clubs, which eventually led to 1995’s Relish, “that rare breed of album where critical consensus, popular approval and enduring appeal unite,” according to American Songwriter. Since then, she’s performed with Motown’s revered rhythm section the Funk Brothers and toured with the Dead (where she first met and sang with Dylan). She’s harmonized with Stevie Wonder at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, duetted with Luciano Pavarotti, and co-headlined a tour with the legendary Mavis Staples. She has amassed a loyal fan base as she’s continuously traveled the country. Through it all, she sees more clearly now than ever the essential role our troubadours play.

“I feel like music has this important job to do right now,” Osborne says. “Part of that job is to help imagine a better future – and to hang on to hope. I want to play for people and get them up on their feet and dancing. To let music do that thing it does – bring joy and energy because we really need that right now.” With Trouble and Strife, she intends to do just that.

Amy Helm

Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre

“Rocking, infectious live shows.” Glide Magazine

The Emelin is thrilled to welcome back the abundantly talented Amy Helm, for a live show. A profound singer-songwriter and skilled multi-instrumentalist, Helm brings a brilliant mix of Americana, country, blues, and gospel music. Anyone who’s seen her perform knows she “pours full-throated feeling into every note she sings, moving on stage with the spirit of every beat.” Buffalo News. A founding member of the alt-country collective Ollabelle, and a backup musician in the Midnight Ramble Band, Helm has recorded multiple albums and toured extensively throughout the country. 

Returning home to Woodstock’s Levon Helm Studios just before the pandemic, Helm recorded her latest album, What the Flood Leaves Behind. Helm considers Levon Helm Studios itself to be “the tuning fork” for the record — an ethereal, elemental component that helped her and musicians Phil Cook (keys, harmonica), Michael Libramento (bass, organ, percussion), Tony Mason (drums), Daniel Littleton (guitar), Stuart Bogie (saxophone), Jordan McLean (trumpet), and her son Lee Collins (congas) summon courage and comfort. Throughout the record, Helm sings stories of life’s relentlessness, for which the most productive, and often the most healing response, is to create. As a result, What the Flood Leaves Behind serves as a defiant form of self-expression, as Helm steps fully into her own light.

David Broza & Trio Havana

Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre

From Haifa to Havana

DAVID BROZA, one of Israel’s most important recording artists,

brings the full spectrum of his music in collaboration

 with the Cuban band, TRIO HAVANA.

Israel’s legendary singer-songwriter David Broza brings a unique Cuban twist to his hit songs through a collaboration with Trio Havana. Band members include: MANUEL ALEJANDRO CARRO– Cuban-born singer-songwriter and master percussionist with a style firmly rooted in Latin Pop; YUNIEL JIMINEZ “EL GUAJIRO” –  master tres guitar player from Santa Clara, Cuba; JORGE BRINGAS – renowned bassist from Havana, Cuba, who played previously with Albita Rodriguez and the late Celia Cruz.

From his whirlwind fingerpicking to Flamenco percussion and rhythms to a signature rock and roll sound, David Broza’s charismatic and energetic performances have delighted audiences throughout the world.  Raised in Israel, Spain and England, Broza has performed worldwide since 1977, when his song “Yihye Tov” first hit the airwaves, promoting a message of peace.

Broza has been fascinated with Cuban music since he was a teenager listening to Celia Cruz.  Further explorations led him to become absolutely hooked on the Afro-Cuban sound. Broza first met Trio Havana at a private event in New York and was stunned by their versatility.  By the end of the evening they were jamming together and found a special magnetism in the sweeping rhythms.  Combining the Cuban sound with Broza’s Spanish guitar and songs sung in Spanish, Hebrew and English proved a rich common ground that connected naturally.  Now touring the USA, the result has been pure magic – every show is a mystery, a dance and romance expressed through pulsing rhythms and sweet melodies, resulting in uplifting, energetic performances that leave audiences delighted and exhilarated.

davidbroza.net

Jake Shimabukuro

Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre

Every major artist has that one defining album or performance, but for ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro, his entire career has been filled with such magical achievements.

Since he first came to the world's attention with his deeply beautiful and original take on George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" in a viral video that dominated YouTube in 2005, the Hawaiian-born Shimabukuro has virtually reinvented the four-string instrument, causing many to call him "the Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele."

"I just wanted to play the ukulele my way, which turns out to be very different from what everybody else has done," says Shimabukuro, who started playing the instrument at the age of four and learned the basics from his mother, Carol. "Most people just strummed the ukulele, but I started playing melodies, and a new world opened up - I was singing through the ukulele."

As soon as music fans got a listen to Shimabukuro's virtuosic approach to the ukulele, they were hooked. Albums such as Gently Weeps, Peace Love Ukulele and Grand Ukulele topped the Billboard World Music Charts, and as a live performer he became one of the hottest tickets around, headlining the Hollywood Bowl, Lincoln Center and the Sydney Opera House (he even performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II) while making frequent appearances on media outlets like The Today Show, Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

Lisa Loeb

Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre

Lisa Loeb is a singer-songwriter, producer, touring artist, author and philanthropist who started her career with the platinum-selling Number 1 hit song “Stay (I Missed You)” from the film Reality Bites. A trailblazing independent artist, Lisa was the first pop musician to have a Number 1 single while not signed to a recording contract. She followed that remarkable feat with the hit singles “Do You Sleep,” “I Do,” and “Let’s Forget about It” and the albums Cake and Pie and No Fairy Tale, among others.

Lisa continues to craft irresistible pop songs for the 21st century, while designing Lisa Loeb Eyewear, writing children’s books, and supporting non-profit causes. The Los Angeles based mother of two is well-known to parents and kids for her albums, winning the 2018 GRAMMY for Best Children’s Album, for the Amazon exclusive, Feel What U Feel (featuring Craig Robinson and Ed Helms).

Lisa’s recent film and television appearances include Netflix’s “Sandy Wexler,” TV Land’s “Teachers,” Amazon’s “Creative Galaxy,” “@Midnight with Chris Hardwick,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” About a Boy, and Hot Tub Time Machine 2. Other recent highlights include contributing a cover version of “All the Young Dudes” for Howard Stern’s “David Bowie Special” on Sirius XM, a two-week residency at the legendary Carlyle Hotel in NYC, being honored at the 2019 SHE ROCKS AWARDS at NAMM and a performance at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Reality Bites, along with Ben Stiller, Ethan Hawke, Winona Ryder and Jeanine Garafolo.

Flor de Toloache

Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 7:00 PM at Emelin Theatre’s Concerts in the Park, Lanza Field at Harbor Island Park, Mamaroneck, NY

The Latin GRAMMY Winning Flor de Toloache is led by singers Mireya I. Ramos (founder) and Shae Fiol (founding member). Reminiscent of the early days of mariachi the group started as a trio, Harp, Violin and Vihuela. Today, Flor De Toloache’s members hail from diverse cultural backgrounds such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Australia, Colombia, Germany, Italy and the United States. This defines their unique flavor and sound. The result of this cultural bouquet is an edgy, versatile and fresh take on traditional Mexican music. They coalesce as would a band of sisters, with a grace and vibrant beauty that casts a spell over their audiences, not unlike the legendary Toloache flower still being used in Mexico as a love potion.

While working to preserve centuries-old traditions of Mariachi, the gro up’s melange of the traditional and the modern pushes the boundaries of the genre and brings Mariachi music to new audiences. The band’s live performances have been praised by Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine, The New Yorker, GQ Magazine, The New York Times.

Hey 19

Steely Dan Tribute

Friday, April 23, 2021 at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre

“The music is performed with intensity and so much passion that it rings authentic, close your eyes and you’ll be there…” -Ridgefield’s Hamlet Hub

Considered one of the top ten tribute bands in the country, the eleven piece band packs venues throughout the east coast with their high energy shows and “spot on” Steely Dan sound. Boasting three horns, two guitars, keyboards, bass, and drums, the band features a total of seven vocalists. These professional musicians, many of whom have performed with GRAMMY winning international artists, possess both the theoretical knowledge and musicality required to master the complexity and sophistication of of Steely Dan’s music. Hey Nineteen will amaze you with their exacting solos, vocals, harmonies, and musicianship as they reproduce the sound as originally recorded of big hits and deep cuts like “Do It Again: to “Your Gold Teeth II”, from “Reelin’ in the Years” to “Doctor Wu,” “Peg” and many more. 

Band Members: Dale DeJoy, Rick Steinau, Ajay Coletta, Jon Audette, Doug Sequeira, Joanna Casinno, Kim St. Onge, Becky Arsenault, Greg Cambio, and Joe LiVolsi.

Red Molly

TBA at 8:00 PM at The Emelin Theatre

Red Molly combines the forces of three songwriters with unique character and style, creating a show that is larger than the sum of its parts. Known for their 3-part harmony, their songs and arrangements lay bare a love of vocal blend. The band weaves together threads of American music—from country & blues to folk & bluegrass. Their innovative instrumentation is suited for roots-rock and heartful ballads alike, and the alchemy of their personalities onstage draws even back row listeners into a sense of intimacy. Red Molly is simply a joy to experience.

Colin Quinn: The Wrong Side of History

TBA at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre

Colin Quinn is a stand-up comedian from Brooklyn (okay, Park Slope). From MTV’s “Remote Control” to “SNL” to Comedy Central’s “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn,” Mr. Quinn is not one to take a hint and bow out gracefully. He’s been on Broadway with “Colin Quinn: An Irish Wake” and “Colin Quinn: Long Story Short” (also an HBO special) and off-Broadway with his show “Colin Quinn: Unconstitutional” (available on Netflix) and “Colin Quinn: The New York Story,” directed by Jerry Seinfeld (also available on Netflix). Recent credits include “Trainwreck,” “Girls,” and his web series “Cop Show.”  His first book, “The Coloring Book,” is now out from Grand Central Publishing.

In January 2019, Colin Quinn’s newest one-man show, “Red State Blue State,” premiered to rave reviews at The Minetta Lane Theatre in New York.  The special was adapted into CNN’s first comedy special in May 2019 and started streaming on Netflix in August 2019.

Molly Tuttle

TBA at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre

'…a sort of high-wattage Alison Krauss-Taylor Swift hybrid — Tuttle effortlessly delivers a mélange of styles to accompany her powerful guitar licks throughout.' – Rolling Stone

A virtuosic, award-winning guitarist with a gift for insightful songwriting, Molly Tuttle evolves her signature sound with boundary-breaking songs on her compelling debut album, When You’re Ready. Already crowned 'Instrumentalist of the Year' at the 2018 Americana Music Awards on the strength of her EP, Tuttle has broken boundaries and garnered the respect of her peers, winning fans for her incredible flatpicking guitar technique and confessional songwriting. Graced with a clear, true voice and a keen melodic sense, the 26-year-old seems poised for a long and exciting career. When You’re Ready, produced by Ryan Hewitt (The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers) showcases her astonishing range and versatility and shows that she is more than simply an Americana artist.

Since moving to Nashville in 2015, the native Californian has been welcomed into folk music, bluegrass, Americana, and traditional country communities – even as When You’re Ready stretches the boundaries of those genres. Over the past year, Molly has continued to accumulate accolades, winning Folk Alliance International’s honor for Song of the Year for “You Didn’t Call My Name” and taking home her second trophy for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Guitar Player of the Year (the first woman in the history of the IBMA to win that honor).

'I love so many types of music,' she says 'and it’s exciting to be a part of and embraced by different musical worlds, but when I’m creating I don’t think about genres or how it will fit into any particular format – it’s just music.'

Dana Fuchs

Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre

Hailed as the new Janis Joplin even before she played the legendary rock icon in the off-Broadway musical Love, Janis, Dana Fuchs is a raspy-voiced, blues-rock-soul singer-songwriter whose versatile career has embraced music, theater and film. She starred on the big screen as ‘Sadie’ in Julie Taymor’s Beatles-based musical, Across the Universe, putting her undeniable lead vocal stamp on 'Helter Skelter,' 'Don’t Let Me Down' and 'Why Don’t We Do It in the Road.' Dana made a brief cameo in the ensemble piece New York, I Love You, had a starring role opposite Method Man in The Mortician and wrote and performed on the soundtrack to the Maggie Gyllenhaal movie, Sherrybaby. Dana has ignited performance stages all over the world with her burnt-honey vocals and bruisingly honest songwriting.

Her eponymous band’s studio catalog continues to grow steadily in acclaim, with 2011’s Love To Beg toasted as Classic Rock’s 'Blues Album of the Month,' 2013’s Bliss Avenue dubbed, 'blisteringly good' by the UK’s Bluesdoodles, and 2015’s acoustic album Broken Down of which AXS says, 'Her spectacular voice holds up through all the intimate spaces of a bloodshot moon and the roadside exits of lost loves.' Of her most recent release, Love Lives On, Blues Matters declares, 'Out of darkness comes light and a reborn Dana Fuchs, armed with the album of her life.'

Experience what No Depression hails as 'one of the most exciting acts on today’s blues scene.'

Jake Shimabukuro

Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 8:00 PM at Emelin Theatre

“Mr. Shimabukuro, who hails from Hawaii — where his chosen instrument is neither a conversation piece nor a punch line — comes by his fame with buoyant musicianship and brisk proficiency.” The New York Times

If you think you’ve heard what a ukulele can do, think again. Over the past 15 years, Jake Shimabukuro has challenged and changed all notions of what was possible with a ukulele. Often referred to as the Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Lee and Michael Jordan of his craft, Jake takes the ukulele where no one has taken it before creating awe inspiring music that ranges from jazz, blues and rock to bluegrass, classical and folk. Performing around the world with an out-of-the-box blend of stunning virtuosity and deep musicality, Jake is an adventurer on a mission to connect and inspire. Whether one-on-one or in front of thousands, Jake shares a deep emotional connection with the listener that is open, magical and transcendent.

The innovation in his style is a combination of rhythmic strumming, classical-style finger-picking and fretboard tapping,” notes The New York Times. “Most people just strum the ukulele, but I started playing melodies, and a new world opened up,” says Shimabukuro, “I got it to sing.” Shimabukuro first came to the world’s attention with his deeply beautiful and original take on George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” in a viral video that dominated YouTube in 2005.” As soon as music fans got a listen to Shimabukuro’s virtuosic approach to the ukulele, they were hooked. Shimabukuro albums Gently Weeps, Peace Love Ukulele and Grand Ukulele topped the Billboard World Music Charts, and he soon became one of the hottest tickets around, headlining the Hollywood Bowl, Lincoln Center and the Sydney Opera House (he even performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II), while making frequent appearances on media outlets like “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”

  On his latest album, Trio, the acclaimed musician begins a bold and exciting new chapter in his already remarkable career.Guiding the process was producer R.S. Field (Steve Earle, Webb Wilder), whose relationship with Shimabukuro began with 2016’s Nashville Sessions and continued with 2018’s The Greatest Day. Recorded with bassist Nolan Verner and guitarist Dave Preston, with many of the songs composed spontaneously in the studio, Trio achieves the sonic alchemy the three musicians achieve on stage. “This record really captures our collective spirit, and I can’t wait to get out there and play these songs live.”