Welcome to ListenUpNYC!
Your way to know what's cool in music & art this week...
The Point of ListenUpNYC
Why do I go out to hear live music, to see art, to peruse the Internet for cool things to do all the time? In a word? Joy. I look for it all the time, wherever I can find it. And in this crazy cacophonous city full of brilliant artists, I always know I can find it. I post about my meanderings all the time on social media so people often ask me about what to do, and I love to promote the creative geniuses I’ve met along the road. SO, finally, here it is: ListenUpNYC, a newsletter to share with you my picks for a joyous inspired week!
Up til now…
I’ve been an avid follower of world music, from being a groupie of Moroccan gnawa band Innov Gnawa for years, to closely following Algerian singer Ourida, hosting both musical performers in my home to share their talents with friends. Jazz has become my religion of late, and I am enamored with the many geniuses I now consider dear friends. I started drumming along the way, and have used my enthusiasm for the power of collaborative percussion to bring drum circles to homeless shelters and senior living residences as well as schools around Brooklyn. Most recently, I have begun to offer my Sacred Bloom ‘sound bath’ meditations to various audiences.
My father is a painter and I grew up looking at the world as a canvas, understanding how to perceive beauty as a series of lines and contrasting shades. As a result I am a huge devotee of great artists—many of whom I call friends—and can be found at museums, galleries and art shows as much as possible. The bulk of the art in my home is by family and friends. Sharing this passion for art and artists is my great pleasure.
Books and film and theater cannot be diminished as my great loves…so I will surely talk about those too!!
Come Along!
I want ListenUpNYC to be a starting point for great communal gatherings, for a community of people to share the cool places to head to for creative expression. I want to hear from all you artists (nascent or award-winning) to find out what’s going on and let other people know as well!
When & How…
I plan to post weekly, ideally by the Thursday before to discuss events for the coming week so you can do a little planning! I tend not to focus on big sold-out shows, so a couple days advance notice is usually fine. I am often impromptu, looking for what to do in a few hours!! I’m starting out with 7 days of musical happenings plus a few art shows in town. I plan to add other features and welcome your thoughts on what you’d like to hear about!!
I hope you’ll listen up and attend some of the great events I plan to share with you, starting tonight!! See the weekly calendar below…There is reason to live in NYC, and the great culture it fosters is it…
EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK, STARTING TONIGHT!!!
monday nov 27
The Brooklyn Orchestra
Roulette Intermedium, Brooklyn
7:30 pm
https://www.brooklynorchestra.org/calendarmain.html
Behold the brilliant composer/conductor Olivier Glissant conducting this symphonic ensemble (since 2015) dedicated to new music from contemporary composers. Tonight features an all Philip Glass program with pianist Simone Dinnerstein. Catch it if you can!!
tuesday nov 28
Slavic Soul Party
Barbes, Brooklyn
9 pm-11:55 pm
https://www.viewcy.com/e/slavic_soul_party_121
If you’ve never been to this regular Tuesday happening at my fave local music venue, featuring the most horn players who could possibly squeeze onto a tiny stage, all playing their heart out, do it this week! A seriously cathartic joyous experience. Good for what ails you.
wednesday nov 29
Leo Genovese Trio
Dada, Ridgewood, NY
8 pm
https://www.dadabar.nyc/program
8 pm
This warm wonderful Argentinian pianist always offers a deeply engaging experience (plus he’s just a joy to watch and be around, hence why everyone from Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spaulding has wanted to work with him.)
thursday nov 30
Pianist Carmen Staaf with Allan Mednard, Adam Kolker, Jeremy Stratton
Bar Bayeaux, Brooklyn
Sets at 8 & 9:30
https://www.barbayeux.com/jazz-calendar
Have never heard Carmen, the lead pianist, but am excited for anyone drummer Allan Mednard plays with, cause it’s always fantastic. Also, Bar Bayeaux is one of the greatest jazz rooms in Brooklyn, mellow and cool and filled with jazz musicians most nights.
friday dec 1
Sacred Bloom Sound Bath
YogaSole
6 pm-7 pm
Brooklyn, NY
https://www.yogasole.com/community-events.html
Yours truly, offering my resonant, relaxing sometimes transcendent composition of bells, bowls, chimes and drums, pulling from native traditions of sound healing and communal harmony. Come!!
saturday dec 2
Dezron Douglas Quartet
Miller Theater at Columbia University
8 pm
https://www.millertheatre.com/events/dezron-douglas-quartet-in-a-holiday-mood
What can I say except that Dezron Douglas is a truly sentient being who pours every bit of that into his beautiful bass. Aside from his touring with Trey Anastasio, teaching young players at NYU, playing with a bunch of his genius besties, he manages to put together his own heartfelt compositions regularly. This particular event will feature holiday tunes. Great way to get in the spirit!
sunday dec 3
Didi Gutman
Bar LunAtico
Sets at 9 & 10:15
https://www.barlunatico.com/music
Argentine pianist, keyboardist, producer Didi Gutman (Brazilian Girls) for an evening of tango, dub, jazz, improvisation and electronics. Love this space, and these musicians…wow!! Perfect closer to another magical musical week!
Didi Gutman ~ Keys
Gabi Sarlo ~ Bass
Yuval Lion ~ Drums
ART HAPPENINGS, MUST SEE!!
For those of us art lovers stuck in NYC instead of at Art Basel in Miami where we should be (boohoo), you can make yourself feel better by hitting up these spots for outstanding visual inspiration:
Benedict Scheuer, Doubt and Love
Marlborough Gallery through Jan. 13
M-F 10 am-6 pm
Exquisite spiritually-divined drawings on silk. Met this young fabulous artist upstate at his show at Foreland in Catskill. Amazing work, true talent. One to watch!!
Henry Taylor, B Side
Whitney Museum through Jan. 28
https://whitney.org/exhibitions/henry-taylor
Heartaching paintings, installations offering a searing look into the African-American experience, per Taylor’s probing eye. Go!!