Guitar Department faculty member Don Lappin presents a clinic as part of the Five-Week Summer Performance Program.
A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Alicia Lemke is a young singer/songwriter currently attending Berklee on scholarship. Both an accomplished jazz singer and self-taught guitarist, Lemke began writing her own brand of folk music a little over a year ago, and has just released her first original EP titled Shades of Motion. Musically speaking, Lemke is an amalgam of poetic and whimsical lyrics, lilting melody, and fingerstyle guitar, with a clear, graceful, and strong voice. Her songs speak of her own self-awareness, honesty, and personal experience.
Though her first forays into music were in community musical theater as early as middle school, Lemke’s real passion came from 10 years of classical alto saxophone and jazz baritone saxophone. Her leadership in high school propelled her into college jazz ensemble, where she doubled on baritone sax and vocals. Her discovery of vocal jazz inspired her to take a semester off from school to work under the tutelage of jazz piano legend Garry Dial (Manhattan School of Music) in Manhattan. It was during that spring that she picked up acoustic guitar, and upon encouragement from her mentor Mr. Dial, auditioned for Berklee College of Music.
Russell Lacy is a native Virginia fingerpicker who meshes old-time and bluegrass music with his own interpretations of Delta blues and songster traditions. His songwriting drifts easily from ballads to blues numbers, and by playing the chords, melody, and bass simultaneously, Lacy creates a full sound that is reminiscent of John Hurt, Doc Watson, Robert Johnson, and countless others in American roots music.
The Groove praised Nathan Reich's album Arms Around a Ghost as featuring "serious songwriting. . . literary but straightforward, playful but honest."
In every generation there is an artist who pushes industry standards and musical tastes to the limits, and Joy Daniels is such an artist. With an unusual and eclectic mix of soul, hip hop and rock, this amazing singer/songwriter offers listeners a musicality far beyond her 24 years. Her music is beautifully constructed lyrically and musically to explore the complexities of the human spirit.
Released in May 2010, Daniels's second independent solo album, ESM, is both soulful and deeply amazing. In an attempt to create a work that had musical integrity as well as a commercial sound, Daniels entered a world of truth and discovery as the album developed. ESM is both an artistic and contemporary achievement: musicians can appreciate the layering of genres, from reggae to hip-hop to soul and rock, to create a fresh sound. Music-lovers can expect ESM to stand the test of time.
Also appearing: Jordan Brown.
A clinic featuring Christiane Karam and friends as part of the Five-Week Summer Performance Program.
This open mic at the Red Room is part of the Five-Week Summer Performance Program.
Tony Brown is a singer/songwriter of a different ilk. With influences ranging from classic soul to the Pixies, Brown references all those disparate styles and moods at one time or another to create something completely original. The Black Art is the second independent release from Brown, who enlisted the help of Grammy winner Malcolm Burn as the record’s producer.
Also performing is Swati, a singer/songwriter with Indian roots from New York City who plays a guitar configured with 8 strings. She was part of the last year of Lilith Fair and has worked with the likes of Steve Lillywhite (producer for U2, Dave Mathews, Rolling Stones, etc.) and outstanding musicians such as Matt Chamberlain and Tony Levin, to name just a few. She has been featured in Guitar Magazine twice as well as many other publications as her guitar playing is very unique. She mixes an acoustic sound with electric effects, with lyrics that are nothing short of direct, vulnerable, and sincere.
In the little more than three years since she grabbed her acoustic guitar and took the stage for the first time, Chicago-based Daphne Willis has grown from a feisty neophyte into a self-assured, marvelously expressive artist with a bracingly seductive sound. The 22-year-old's Vanguard Records debut, What to Say, documents her voyage of self-discovery and is a captivating introduction to a fresh voice that both reflects and scrutinizes the social patterns of her generation. Also appearing: Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion.
The Red Room at Cafe 939 presents Fresh Prospects, a showcase of the best up-and-coming Berklee artists reworking their favorite songs into intimate acoustic performances. This month's artists are David Wyatt and Katrina Bello.
The Boston music community is shared by a number of characters, genres, and tastemakers. The goal of Red Eye at the Red Room is to gather and strengthen that community by bringing some of Boston's top acts and photographers into one of Boston's most celebrated venues—the Red Room at Cafe 939. The series starts in September with 5342 Studios, a band that's been featured in the local music blog Ryan's Smashing Life. Local music photographers will be showing their work throughout the fall.
Neutral Uke Hotel's mission statement is simple: to unite obsessed fans of Neutral Milk Hotel for a live performance of the band's critically acclaimed album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, played in its entirety on ukulele by Shawn Fogel with accompaniment from members of Golden Bloom and the Motion Sick.
The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library is the new project fronted by Michael Epstein of the Motion Sick and Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling. The band features Michael and nine women with a lot of group singing and a focus on clever, quirky indie songs performed on acoustic instruments to create a campfire singalong feel. This show is the band's much-anticipated debut.
Sharp enough to make you nervous but infectious enough to keep you singing along—Keep Me Conscious has been played regularly on a variety of college and internet radio in Boston, including WAAF’s Bay State Rock and WZLX’s Boston Emissions. Check them out with Halfway to Avalon opening.
Christoph Huber was born 1988 in Aarau, Switzerland. With his father being a professional pianist, composer, and arranger, he grew up in a very musical environment. After starting out with a recorder and Swiss melodeon, he began taking lessons on drums at 8 and tenor saxophone at 9 years of age. His first saxophone teacher was the Polish saxophonist and clarinetist Witek Kornacki. Huber had his first public appearances as an improviser at the age of 11. From 2004 to 2009 he studied with former Berklee faculty member Fritz Renold. During this period he started to focus on tenor saxophone as his principle instrument and the intention to pursue a career as a professional musician became clear. From 2005 to 2009 he regularly participated in the annual festival Jazzaar Concerts in Aarau, where he had the opportunity to perform with and learn from artists such as Christian Jacob, Buster Williams, Victor Lewis, Adam Nussbaum, Barry Lee Hall Jr., Tommy Smith, Donny McCaslin, Tierney Sutton, Mark Gross, Tia Fuller, the Whitney Houston Rhythm Section, Steve Reid, Tom Garling, Gildas Boclé, and many more. In addition to his practice as a performer, Huber is also developing his skills as a composer and arranger for different musical formations and instrumentations. He's currently attending Berklee College of Music in Boston on a scholarship. His saxophone teacher is Ed Tomassi.
Italo Cunha—a 17-year-old jazz guitarist, composer, arranger, student, and teacher from Brasilia, Brazil—attends Berklee on a scholarship. He started playing piano at age 4, guitar at 9, and was performing professionally by 12. Cunha was chosen by the Escola de Musica de Brasilia to play for Brazil's Minister of Education as part of Young Artist Revelation. He received a contemporary musical education degree from the Toque de Classe Institute in 2007—becoming the youngest recipient ever. Relating his song to the album title, Cunha says, "I think Birds of a Feather means friendship. My song reflects that. 'Stories' is about good times and memories with my friends, that's how I got the inspiration. Friendship is one of the most valuable things we have in life."
Jazz Revelation Records is a student-run, artist-driven record label created to present the top jazz composers and performers from the Berklee College of Music. Gathered from all over the globe, JRR artists speak the traditional language of jazz in a new way. Their youth, their passion, and their commitment are the launching pad for a sound that gets inside your head, your heart, and yes, you'll tap your feet and maybe hum along after a while.
Join us for night one of this mini-residency with Brian Wright. "When people ask what I sound like I usually say I’m somewhere between Woody Guthrie and the Velvet Underground," says Wright. It’s true—along with hints of Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark fused with a bluesy slide guitar and simple but enchanting Paul McCartney–like bass. Also appearing: local artist Coyote Kolb.
Every so often, a band comes along that blurs the lines of musical genres. With hints of pop, soul, and rock 'n' roll, Dear Havanah is that band. The Boston-based group is celebrating the release of their second album, The Whole Way Home, produced by Alan Evans of Soulive. The new record also features very special guest Nigel Hall and the Shady Horns.
Join us for night two of this mini-residency with Brian Wright. "When people ask what I sound like I usually say I’m somewhere between Woody Guthrie and the Velvet Underground," says Wright. It’s true—along with hints of Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark fused with a bluesy slide guitar and a simple but enchanting Paul McCartney–like bass line. Also appearing: local artist Drew O'Doherty.
The Red Room at Cafe 939 presents Fresh Prospects, a showcase of the best up-and-coming Berklee artists reworking their favorite songs into intimate acoustic performances. This month's artists are Sam Schultz and Jen Hoyt.
Native New Yorker, London resident, former kindergarten gym teacher, and one-time Parisian street sweeper, Julian Velard is a true original—the kind of character in a Wes Anderson or Quentin Tarantino film you’d like to grab a drink with. He fuses effortless cool with self-deprecating humor, serving up old-school pop perfection with a raised eyebrow.
After releasing three records independently, in 2007 Velard garnered UK major label attention and was plucked from relative obscurity off Myspace. He signed a deal and promptly moved to England. Since then, he has straddled the Atlantic, writing songs for himself and others, and playing shows alongside Jamie Cullum, Kate Nash, Ben Kweller, Shelby Lynne, and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, among others. He is currently working towards the release of his label debut.
The Chapin Sisters have been busy touring as part of She & Him's band and opening many of their shows. They have also begun headlining their own club shows. Their forthcoming album Two will be released this fall on their own label, Lake Bottom Records (Thirty Tigers/RED).
Liz Longley has received the kinds of accolades and awards that recognize her as one of the finest new talents writing songs today. In 2010, Longley took the Overall Grand Prize in the International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA) amongst 9,000 entries. Last summer she garnered three of the top honors on the acoustic music scene: 2009 cowinner of the Mountain Stage New Song Contest, finalist in the 2009 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition, and Grand Prize Winner of the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival's Songwriter Showcase.
Nobody bridges the gap between generations or musical genres like Sweet Plantain, a refreshingly new string quartet. Artfully fusing the Western classical traditions in which they were trained with the hip-hop, jazz improv, and Latin rhythms on which they were raised, their original writing and live shows educate and entertain. Separately hailing from the South Bronx, New Jersey, and Venezuela, together these musicians give voice to a sound that is contemporary, multicultural, and very New York.
Curtis Peoples is a songwriter who knows how to create dynamic pop songs that fans of rock, acoustic folk, and pop can enjoy equally. With a mix of free-spirited choruses and addictive rhythms, Peoples's style of "coffeeshop arena rock" is genuinely his own unique musical fingerprint.
23 years old, fresh off tours of Europe and the United States, and with a EP fresh under his belt, Zach Comtois is ready to take on the world. His blend of clever lyrics, contagious hooks, and six-string prowess will hypnotize audiences into buying millions of records. Seriously, it's going to happen.
The Red Room at Cafe 939 presents Fresh Prospects, a showcase of the best up-and-coming Berklee artists reworking their favorite songs into intimate acoustic performances. This month's artists are Naomi Gillies and Erika Cole.
For additional details on Cafe 939 shows, visit the Berklee.edu events calendar.
Cafe 939 | 939 Boylston Street | Boston MA 02215 | © 2010 berklee college of music
