By: Ishrat Ansari
Every ten years or so,
it happens. Nobody knows how and when.
The only certainty is that it
will:
Some of the most
creative young people - light years ahead of their peers -
start
gathering
in New York’s
Greenwich Village. These people individually
or
in groups then go on to define that
decade.
In the 1960s it was Bob
Dylan, Coltrain and others. In the 1970’s it
was John Belushi, Dan
Akroyd,
Gilda Radner,
Bill Murray and
friends.
After their NBC
Saturday Night Live gig, John and his friends
would head downtown to West 4 Street for a
sunrise
breakfast at
the Bagel.
Those of us fortunate enough to be present there, knew
right away that they, by
the sheer
brilliance of their
talents as writers and comedians would
leaving a lasting imprint on our lives.
Now, in the 2000s it is happening again. This time at the Listening Room.
In the early 1980s three well known British music critics, Ivan March,
Edward Greenfield and Robert Layton, complied
an authoritative reference
guide to classical music. Among the various
performers, from the legendary
Italian pianist
Arturo
Bennedetti
Michaelangeli to the equally great Soprano from
Spain Montserrat Caballe,
there was a listing of
classical music of the 20th century.
And included
in it were … … guess who?… The Beatles! If
jazz and the Beatles represent
the "classical" music of the 20th Century
then clearly some of the original
songwriters/singers performing at
the
Listening Room are strong contenders
for the greats of the decades of
the 21st century. And right there among
the
best gathering at the
Listening Room are:
enlarge
photo
Aileen Morgan
Singer/Songwriter
Aileen is fast developing a cult following in the 2000s just
like Bob Dylan
did in the 1960s With a guitar in hand,
her mesmerizing voice and beautifully
crafted lyrics can
cast a spell on the audience.
Audio Tracks:
Gonna Make You Feel
There Goes My Soul
enlarge
photo
Brazz
Tree
Singer/Songwriter
Brazz Tree was created in the fall of 2003
when
guitarist Brad Hammonds answered an ad put out by
Violinist/Vocalist Mazz Swift. The two artists began
building compositions
using Hammonds' percussive
riff-based guitar lines and traditional folk
and fiddle
tunes from around the world. Adding Mazz's
conscious lyrics
to the mix, the duo has created
a
sound all
their own.
Audio Tracks:
Track 01
enlarge
photo
Cecilem
Singer/Songwriter
Cecilem is a
French singer/songwriter who also writes
songs in English. Even if she never wrote a song,
her incredible voice alone would classify her among
the super stars of the 21st centaury. It seems that the
grand piano at the Listening Room and her voice
were made for each other. For that reason alone
evenings with Cecile at the Listening Room are events
of great joy and celebrations.
Audio Tracks:
Letagere Des Sentiments
Sentiments Cryogeniques
enlarge photo
Cynthia Castro
Singer/Songwriter
Cynthia Castro is poised to be her generation's Latin
pop music sensation.
She is classically trained by renowned pianist and
producer Vera Tisheff.
Currently,
she is recording her debut CD of original Latin
pop
music for
release in September 2004. Her talent has
attracted
world-class performers
to her album including percussionist Cyro Baptista (Paul
Simon, Sting,
Caetano
Veloso) and trumpeter Hector Colon (Copacabana
NYC).
Audio Tracks:
Track 01
enlarge photo
Dana
Bach
Singer/Songwriter
Dana
Bach age eighteen, is a descendent of Johann
Sebastian Bach.
She is
a vocal protege of Vera Tisheff, classical pianist
and producer.
Dana Bach is setting the standard for the
sound of “new classical”
music by collaborating with
Vera in rewriting some rarely heard 18th
century Italian
art songs and bringing contemporary melodies,
harmonies
and English lyrics to the intangible qualities of
original..
The results
are stunning.
Ms. Bach made her professional
debut at Weill
Recital Hall
at Carnegie Hall
in New York City.
enlarge photo
Danielia
Singer/Songwriter
Daniela is one of the most talented and versatile
contemporary jazz
vocalist now performing in New York.
She blends the
“old” and the “new” jazz sound so
effortlessly in such
an engaging style that it keeps her
audience wanting
more.
Audio Tracks:
All of Me
enlarge photo
Frank
Annunziata
Singer/Songwriter
“ANNUNZIATA'S
sound and vocal are as unique as his name
and so
distinctive it
stands up to any pop icon past or present…
A truly uplifting
musical experience that should bring this artist international
recognition
and overwhelming acclaim."
-Felix Marco
THE RECORD
Audio Tracks:
Have You Ever
End of the Day
enlarge photo
Jason
Darling
Singer/Songwriter
"His singing
voice has a pleasing, gentle quality, his
melodies are lilting,
and his beats
bounce along through
his frugal musical compositions."
Rolling Stone
Audio Tracks:
Ways in Which We Burn
Night Like My Head
Wasting Time
Living Hell
Johnny Rodgers
Singer/Songwriter
On listening to Johnny Rogers for the
first
time:"
I
dare say without
hyperbole that I was in the presence
of brilliance"
– (BACKSTAGE Review by John Hoglund)
“ Sweet
Georgia Smile” by Johnny Rodgers is without a
doubt
the best
ballad we have heard so far in the 21st century.
Whether he is singing a
ballad alone with his piano or
one of his original Rock “N” Roll numbers
(“ Mary
Jane”)
with other members of Johnny Rodgers
Band, Johnny
brings a very alluring freshness and style to his
performance.
enlarge photo
Kristin Hoffmann
Singer/Songwriter
Kristin uses her classically trained voice and piano playing to
express
her lyrics through the rock genre so effectively that
you
as a listener
became a part of her performance. The
joys, laments and longings
in her songs become your own as
she takes you to an
incredible
music journey.
Audio Tracks:
Mary
It's A Game
Lay Down Your Light
enlarge photo
Natasha Alexandra
Singer/Songwriter
A
powerful live performance with a lethal combination
of honest, dark, heart-wrenching lyrics cut with hypnotizing
keystrokes. After her very well received residency at
Vivaldi, Natasha is now a regular on our roster of artists.
Audio Tracks:
Not Available
enlarge photo
Premik Russell Tubbs
Singer/Songwriter
Premik is a
master flutist-saxophonist-composer-arranger and producer.
He has
worked with Carlos Santana, Whitney Houston, Herbie Hancock, John
McLaughlin, among others.
You can
hear him play with Carlos Santana (Album Title: The Swing
of Delight);
And Whitney Houston ( Album: Whitney Houston,
Track How will I
know) or you hear him live at “Vivaldi Live”
Audio Tracks:
Track 01
enlarge photo
Tanja Simic
Singer/Songwriter
She Came, She Sang, She
Conquered!
Winner of the Artist's International Competition
and a debut in Carnegie Hall
next
season,
Mezzo Soprano
Tanja
Simic is one of the favorites at The
Listening Room.
Tanja
can mesmerizes
her
audience whether
she is singing Rossinis
arias or Cole Porters songs
with
equal ease. Her performances at the
Listening Room are an eagerly awaited
events.
enlarge photo
The Animators
Singer/Songwriter
Singer/Songwriters Devon Copley, the winner of Grand Prize of
2001
Great
American Song contest, teams up with
an equally talented musician Singer/Songwriter Alex Wong. Both weave a
stunning music pattern with
their superbly crafted lyrics and
intensely engaging
songs.
Audio Tracks:
Rearrange
Better Not Say
A Girl Like You
The StemCells
Free-form Jazz/Rock
Electonica
Live at The Listening Room @ Caffevivaldi.
Frank
Vocal & Strings, Bruce Keyboard,
Marcus Drums
Audio Tracks:
Track 01
enlarge photo
Yael
Composer, Pianist, Singer and Songwriter
Singer/Songwriters Devon Copley, the winner of Grand Prize of
2001
Great
American Song contest, teams up with
an equally talented musician Singer/Songwriter Alex Wong. Both weave a
stunning music pattern with
their superbly crafted lyrics and
intensely engaging
songs.
Audio Tracks:
In a
Man's Womb
Books