Friday, May 16 2008

Reflecting his ability to play a wide variety of musical styles, Williamson has shared stages with many of the world's most popular and finest musicians, including Sleepy LaBeef, Alan Dawson and Joan Osborne. His jazz credits include gigs with Rich Greenblatt, Jack Pezanelli, Reggie Walley, Dick Odgren and Emil Haddad. Williamson’s blues connections are just as deep and varied. As a teenager he played a weekly jam session in the Great Brook Valley Housing Projects. Since then he has performed with such notable players as Kenny Pino, Ken Vangel, Joanna Connor and Troy Gonyea.

Williamson's chromatic harmonica styling can be heard on She's Busy's Strange Bedfellows, Valerie and Walter Crockett's Moonbone and Emily’s Angel, Mike Duffy's Destined to be a Rumor, and the Movie Channel's station ID, "Try a Little TMC."

with Emilio Teubal, Fernando Huergo, Franco Pinna and Yulia Musayelyan

Colombian singer/songwriter Gómez’s Chesky CD, Cantos de Agua Dulce, released in late 2004, was nominated as Best Latin Album (in the company of Paco de Lucia, Nestor Torres, Charlie Haden and Gonzalo Rubalcaba) in Billboard’s Latin Music Awards in 2005, and her previous CD, Solo es Vivir on Big Sur, was chosen by The Boston Globe as one of the ten Best CDs of 2003.

 

Her music traverses a whole range of rhythms from Latin America, mixed with jazz and pop. She also writes the kind of melodies that translate across whatever language she sings in, and she renders them in a unique and translucent style that mesmerizes listeners. Last spring she released her second Chesky CD, Entre Cata Palabra and was named Best National World Music Artist of 2006 by The Boston Phoenix.

She returns to the Real, where the crystal clear acoustics provide an ideal showcase for her performance, with pianist Teubal, bassist Huergo, percussionist Pinna and flutist/vocalist Musayelyan. Patrons can expect to hear previews of a new CD, which should be out later this year.

2nd Show 9:30 pm

“These contestants come from all different levels of experience and from a good variety of styles, from soul, pop, musical theater and folk,” said Kelly Grill, a co-founder of ESL and host of Hopkinton Idol. “I am certain this year’s contest will prove to be just as entertaining as last year with some added audience fun! For instance, each week we plan to run an "Idol trivia" contest.”

The shows will continue every Friday night hereafter (with the exception of May 2) with the final show on Thursday, May 29 and a final reveal with all the performers on May 30. The broadcasts will take place at HCAM studios in front of an audience, which is open to the public (there will be a $5 admission charge). Viewers in the studio audience or who watch the show on HCAM-TV 13 or on the HCAM website www.hcam.tv will then vote via email for their favorite performer. The performers with the lowest number of votes will not continue to the next round.

For more information call 508-435-2114 or visit www.enterstagelefttheater.com

Critic Stanley Crouch cites AHMAD JAMAL's impact on the fresh form in jazz as an outstanding conceptionalist. Crouch considers Mr. Jamal's distinctive style as having had an influence on the same level as "Jelly Roll Morton, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, Count Basie, Theolonius Monk, Horace Silver and John Lewis, all thinkers whose wrestling with form and content influenced the shape and texture of the music, and whose ensembles were models of their music visions."

Augmented by a selection of unusual standards and his own compositions, Mr. Jamal impressed and influenced, among others, trumpeter Miles Davis. Like Louis Armstrong, Mr. Jamal is an exemplary ensemble player -- listening while playing and responding, thus inspiring his musicians to surpass themselves. Audiences delight in Mr. Jamal's total command of the keyboard, his charismatic swing and daringly inventive solos that always tell a story.

2nd Show 10:00pm

Note: 1st Show on April 17 SOLD OUT

We're offering up a twist on our bi-monthly female songwriters series and giving the opposite sex the spotlight. Featuring the hilarious Mark Stepakoff, the reflective Rob Laurens, and the somewhere-in-between Dave Dersham, it's going to be a terrific show. We hope you can join us!

Mark Stepakoff is probably best known in the Boston area for his humorous material. He has received airplay on Dr. Demento's nationally syndicated radio program, and his CD "There Goes The Neighborhood" features Mark's wry takes on subjects as diverse as barbecue sauce, General Gao's chicken, and actress Amanda Peet.

Rob Laurens has won the New Folk Award for Songwriting at both the Kerrville Folk Festival and its sister festival, The Columbia River Folk Festival. He has returned to play the main stage at these and many other festivals.

Dave Dersham distinguished himself in the Boston folk scene with his understated compositions, bridging melancholy and mirth. Dersham released his album "The Burn of Summer" in 2003, mastered by Tom Eaton with musical contributions from Rob Laurens, Sean Staples, Amanda Lapham, Dylan Callahan, Clare Burson and Russ Robar. The reception has been positive and Dave has enjoyed steady circulation on WERS (Emerson College) and WUMB Folk Radio (UMass Boston).

To reserve seats (recommended) call 781-795-1041 or e-mail kimdavidson@gmail.com Doors open at 7:00 PM

B.B. King is the definitive blues musician. With over 50 albums, an astonishing 18 Grammy Awards and an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, B.B. King is clearly one of the greatest performers of our time. He is here in Worcester, in his premiere engagement, with special guest Ernie & The Automatics featuring James Montgomery, for what promises to be a memorable evening.

Listening to Do The Hate Laugh Shimmy, alto saxophonist/composer Pete Robbins latest CD transports you into his distinct musical universe. It is filled with soaring sonic sculptures; ten singular Robbins compositions (that seem to delight his band judging from the zeal and ownership with which they interpret his tunes), peppered with his sprightly and beautifully-toned flights of improvisation on alto sax.

Do The Hate Laugh Shimmy, which borrows its title from a poem by e.e. cummings, is a highly unique vision/musical statement that has come together with superlative contributions from some of Robbins' frequent collaborators and friends: Sam Sadigursky (tenor saxophone), Jesse Neuman (trumpet, pedals), Craig Taborn (Fender Rhodes, Nord Electro), Eliot Cardinaux (Fender Rhodes, Nord Electro, loops), Ben Monder, Ryan Blotnick (guitars), Mike Gamble (guitar, pedals, loops), Thomas Morgan (bass), Dan Weiss, Tyshawn Sorey (drums).

Pete Robbins not only borrowed a title from e.e. cummings, but also some of the spirit in which the celebrated author created his works. Robbins music, much like a bulk of cummings' work, is intelligent, refined and virtuosic, while simultaneously audacious, idiosyncratic, and most of all emotionally and intellectually stimulating.

"[Robbins leads an] ambitious ensemble that combines spacious avant-gardism with the melodic punch of rock....[he has] a cool tone and a thoughtfully off-kilter sensibility." (NATE CHINEN, The New York Times)

Call to verify performance time

Woodstock guitarist Jim Weider was The Band's first pick as the replacement for Robbie Robertson, when they reunited and starting touring again in 1983. Using his trademark Fender Telecaster guitar, Weider slices, shreds, pushes, pulls, extracts and extricates notes from his piece of wood wound with wire. He tugs and he tears. He skates and he sings. He does not disappoint. With his ProJECT PERCoLAToR - joined by drummer Rodney Holmes (Santana/Steve Kimock), guitarist Mitch Stein (Steve Kimock), and master bassist Steve Lucas (Bruce Cockburn) - Jim seems on a mission to breath new life into the “quality straight-ahead guitar rock” genre pioneered by Jeff Beck.

Remember the days of the Big Bands? Hal McIntyre's band still swings with that good old familiar flavor.

"...a voice like nobody else. When he sings you just have to listen. He has a way with a song that makes you wish it would never end." - Tom Rush

Geoff Muldaur is one of the great voices and musical forces to emerge from the folk, blues and folk-rock scenes centered in Cambridge, MA and Woodstock, NY.

Opener: Terry Kitchen - Award-winning contemporary folk singer/songwriter TK is as much storyteller as musician. His keen eye for detail, fearless emotional honesty, and knowledge of and empathy for his subjects combine with his skills as a composer, singer and guitarist to take the listener on a journey to the heart of each song.

"Always a treasure chest of American roots music, Bartley has become a savvy, funny, well-rounded entertainer, one of those rare local acts who knows about both showmanship and soul searching. In recent years his voice is more tuneful, his writing more grounded. And his song bag is as wide as ever: a Blind Lemon Jefferson blues about death will gracefully nudge up to a Ray Charles soul number and one of his own cosmic ruminations on the natural world." - Daniel Gewertz, The Boston Herald

2nd Show 10:00pm

Contemporary Jazz Icon Keiko Matsui's latest project "MOYO" (Heart & Soul in Swahili), was recorded on location with musicians in South Africa, Japan and the U.S. The resulting Cd is one of her boldest endeavors to date and includes international artists; legendary trumpeter Hugh Masakela, tenor sax player Gerald Albright, soprano sax player Paul Taylor, Richard Bona on bass and vocals, Akira Jimbo on Drums and Waldemar Bastos on Vocals.

2nd Show 10:00pm

Harmony 421 is contemporary and classic pop, rock and soul with three-part harmony. Formerly known as the Milner Sisters, they share their three part harmonies with audiences of all ages and interests, performing a wide variety genres dating from the 1920s to today!

Harmony 421 features Sarah, Gereen and Grace singing from high to low harmonies respectively. They are joined by Rob Hamilton on guitar and Jamie Peghiny on bass playing folk, rock, blues, jazz, and anything that the group throws at them.

with special guest Catherine MacLellan

“The whole point of writing songs is to share experiences with people,” says Bruce Cockburn, looking back on a career that includes 26 albums, numerous international awards, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Tenco Award for Lifetime Achievement in Italy, 20 gold and platinum records in Canada, and countless concert performances since he released his first solo work in 1970.

Cockburn's collected work is a journey-both moody and revelatory-into the dark night and the sweet laughter of the soul, around the world with vivid imagery and unflinching observations of human cruelty, greed, courage, and survival through faith, and back home to the peaceful forests and vibrant cities of his native Canada.

True North recording artist and Prince Edward Island, Canada, native Catherine MacLellan’s striking voice is pure and haunting, while, the subtle strengths of her deeply confessional, powerfully poetic songs emerge. Her critically acclaimed, acoustic, folk music has been embraced by the Atlantic Canadian audience since 2005.

The Mike Tucker Quartet is emerging as one of the most dynamic and exciting groups in the Northeast. A forward-thinking group that draws its inspiration not only from past jazz masters, but also from current forms of popular and world music. The MTQ captivates its audiences with energetic, inspired performances.

Donelian's piano playing reveals a masterful command rooted in classical and jazz studies, clean articulation, a deft, swinging touch, access to a broad dynamic spectrum, a virtuosic harmonic vocabulary and a boundless source of creative ideas. Without force or persuasion, he invites the listeners to join the trio in very personal and reflective explorations.

The Trio's new CD Oasis is his 11th as a leader, featuring him in a set of six originals and two standards accompanied by David Clark on bass and George Schuller on drums, his band-mates for the past four years.

Inspired by the genius of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, by the hundreds of artists who’ve helped create their legacy, and by the giants on whose shoulders they stand, No Static delivers impeccable live performances of the best music there is. They will be performing the Aja, Royal Scam, and Gaucho albums.

Bobby Keyes is one of our favorite players. He plays a blues guitar in such an elegant way that one can feel that he has been living it for his whole life...OH yeah..he gets the best guitar tone on the east coast...Listen!

Here are a few words from Melissa about the shows! "i was thinking.. since i've been home working on my new record, i thought i would split the show into 2 parts: half of the show i will play you guys all my new material (for me) and then the other half i will play what you wanna hear (for you). the shows are going to be late (11PM both nights) but they have awesome dessert there so we can hang out and play songs over brownies. we'll have a bucket with pens and paper for you to put your song requests in.. until then, i'll be home writing.. and freshening up on old material!"