SOUL OF THE BLUES, NYC's premiere *inexpensive* live blues and soul music series, happens the fourth Wednesday of every month at Cornelia Street Cafe.

 Cover $5   littletobywalker.com ,  jonsobel.com

"A Gil Evans lushness asserts itself on the new "No Saints No Sinners",making elliptical themes like "Elis"seem that much more genteel.The solos,especially Brainin’s romps,realize the difference between harshness and emotional candor,unquestionably a sign of maturity."
- Jim Macnie, Village Voice

Peter Brainin
Born in the Bronx,tenor and soprano saxophonist Peter Brainin has distinguished himself over the past 15 years as a member of many important bands,and also as a composer and leader of his own
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"Tenor saxophonist Marc Mommaas's Sunnyside debut, Global Motion, marks the extension of the Jazz saxophone into the 21st century"...Eugene Holley

"..the music has its own nearly classical beauty"...-Chris Kelsey -Jazztimes
 Cover $8   www.mommaas.com

Katheleen Tagg is a South African pianist with a wide range of interests and influences. Primarily a classical pianist, she has since moving to New York in 2001 performed in venues such as Merkin Concert Hall, Steinway Hall and the Goethe Institute. She made her New York Carnegie Hall solo debut in November 2004, and performed again in recital in the same venue in December. The upcoming season also includes a recital in Carnegie Hall in March 2005. Her New York solo recital debut in Carnegie Hall’s recital venue was hailed by New York critics: “This is a superbly turned-out artist, a performer broaching scant detour between conception and delivery, and a musician of such grand endowment, that I can only add a complimentary hey-ho…” (New York Concert Review) Apart from classical work, she also recently turned to the field of electronics to enhance her live improvisations. She also collaborates with a wide range of artists in fields ranging from musical theatre to electronic music to performers of musical instruments that are found only in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mikanic

"As a two piece they are the African Simon & Garfunkel" - Cape Times 04/10/03

"...a soulful simplicity that is addictive" - Mail & Guardian 02/28/03

"Africa with a new dress" - One World online CD store

Two South Africans - Michael Rennie (violin&vocals) and Nick Turner (ac.guitar&vocals) - form the core of this band. Both musicians have risen to the top of the South African scene playing for a variety of different bands and artists over the last seven years. Forming part of Sons of Trout, one of the country's best live acts to rock the late nineties till now, they have headlined every major music festival South Africa has to offer and toured extensively releasing four albums. In 2003 the two formed Mikanic and in 2004 released "Swimming with the Women" to great critical acclaim and popular success.

Based now in New York City, Mike and Nick have found a new voice and completely original sound with Mikanic. About to release their second album and going into studio at "Sunset" Studio in Cape Town to track their third record, "mikanic" are eager to permanently preserve the energy that surrounds the music. They are on their way to tour London, South Africa, Toronto and then Japan in the first half of 2005 with a vision to share their blend of Africa-groove and "urbana-mikanic" sound. They have been joined at their Madiba Cafe residency by Tony Cedras, Vusi Mahlasela and have played many of the great NYC venues. Traditional African sounds and melodies blended with groove, jazz and R&B. Lyrically powerful, relevant and humorous, this is hip world music at its best.

  www.mikanic.com

On March 2, Kalmanovitch will be showcasing her range in two separate projects. At 8:30 PM she will be performing with Major Over Minor, a collaborative acoustic string trio with violinist Rob Thomas and bassist Lindsey Horner. In this performance, the trio will be improvising over Bela Bartok’s 44 Duos for Violin, exploring the unique harmonic and melodic soundscapes in the composer’s miniatures.

For the second set at 10:00 PM, Kalmanovitch will feature her electric quartet Hut Five. Joined by guitarist Pete McCann, bassist John Hebert, and drummer Owen Howard, she will perform original compositions blending her primary musical influences: contemporary jazz, 20th Century classical music, rock and free improvisation. Central to the group’s aesthetic is the idea of expressive contrasts. The original compositions span the poles of extended composition and free improvisation, and Kalmanovitch’s rich viola and sweet violin float over the astringent chromaticism and rhythmic complexity of her compositions. The group has released two records on Perspicacity.
 Cover $10   www.tanyakalmanovitch.com