"Blanton's music is sophisticated, swinging, and modern in the right ways, yet gutsy"
-Josef Woodard
 Cover $10   www.myspace.com/tylersvibes ,  www.seamusblake.com

When Mike met Ruthy he'd already written a hundred songs - some of which he no longer remembers. When Ruthy met Mike she'd already decided against being a musician like her parents - a rebellious stance that quickly faded in the musical excitement.

A mutual friend had the bright idea that they should sing together, and one very late evening, down in the tiniest factory/apartment building in New York City's looming financial district, they first combined their talents over cheap beer and not much else. The results were magic.

Since that first night in 1998, their writing, singing, and musicianship have grown to match their enthusiasm. And some of Mike's very old songs are working their way back into the setlist - along side Ruth's sparkling versions of soul and folk classics, and their new and original creations that hint at love, pain, and beauty.

 Cover $10   www.mikeandruthy.com

Hébert’s original compositions for the group take their inspiration from a variety of sources, including his interest in Cajun music, his travels to different parts of the world and his gratitude and respect

New Orleans native John Hébert is one of the busiest bassists in New York and a regular in the Rising Star Acoustic Bass category of DownBeat’s annual Critics Poll for the past three years. His discography features more than 45 recordings since 2000, including titles by Dave Ballou, Uri Caine, Steve Lehman, Andrew Rathbun, Dave Scott and Gebhard Ullmann. He’s also the bassist on Andrew Hill’s final recording for Blue Note, 2006’s Time Lines.

Learn more at www.johnhebert.com for his mentor, legendary pianist/composer Andrew Hill, with whom Hébert worked from 2001 until his death in 2007. The musicians bringing that music to life in Byzantine Monkey have all worked extensively with Hébert in other ensembles, including Attias, Kolker and Malaby’s own groups and Hill’s trio and quintet. “Byzantine Monkey is me, and Byzantine Monkey is the band,” writes Hébert in the liner notes. “All of our voices together, telling one story.” Firehouse 12 Records FH12-04-01-010
 Cover $10   www.johnhebert.com

THE LIAR SHOW : Seek Truth. Get A T-Shirt.

Four writers and comics tell extremely personal stories, but one is a complete fabrication. Interrogate the cast. Expose the fraud. Win a T-Shirt. Hosted by Andy Christie (NY Times, Thomas Beller's "Lost And Found: Stories From New York")

 Cover $12 (includes one house drink)

Hébert’s original compositions for the group take their inspiration from a variety of sources, including his interest in Cajun music, his travels to different parts of the world and his gratitude and respect

New Orleans native John Hébert is one of the busiest bassists in New York and a regular in the Rising Star Acoustic Bass category of DownBeat’s annual Critics Poll for the past three years. His discography features more than 45 recordings since 2000, including titles by Dave Ballou, Uri Caine, Steve Lehman, Andrew Rathbun, Dave Scott and Gebhard Ullmann. He’s also the bassist on Andrew Hill’s final recording for Blue Note, 2006’s Time Lines.

Learn more at www.johnhebert.com for his mentor, legendary pianist/composer Andrew Hill, with whom Hébert worked from 2001 until his death in 2007. The musicians bringing that music to life in Byzantine Monkey have all worked extensively with Hébert in other ensembles, including Attias, Kolker and Malaby’s own groups and Hill’s trio and quintet. “Byzantine Monkey is me, and Byzantine Monkey is the band,” writes Hébert in the liner notes. “All of our voices together, telling one story.” Firehouse 12 Records FH12-04-01-010
 Cover $10   www.johnhebert.com

Since 2001, pianist Karen Bach has visited the US several times each year to play and develop her music with one of New York’s busiest drummers, Ian Froman. Bach is known as one of the new promising pianists in Danish Jazz. She has played the scenes and festivals of Scandinavia and Germany with her Danish Karen Bach Trio, and received grants and prices from various Jazz and Composer’s Unions. Since the beginning, Swedish bassplayer Olevik has been her musical companion. Karen Bach met Froman in 2001, where she was the first piano student to attend classes at The Collective School of Music in New York. Over the years they went from teacher-student to equal professional companions, as they continued to play and develop new music together.

Finally in 2008, the three met on the Scandinavian summer stages to play a tour of concerts, based on the musical conversation between three nationalities, and with the purpose of opening the traditional jazz format, and make it more attractive to a wider audience, no matter age or cultural background. And so, the trio is now moving on to the rest of the world.

All music is based on compositions by Karen Bach. Inspired by her annual trips to New York as well as a natural relation to the Scandinavia where she grew up, she has developed a music that combines elements from: the traditional European classical music, the energetic and freely improvised modern jazz, the melodic and singable pop, and the steady beats and forms of rock. This is a colourful extension and a bold interpretation of the European jazz tradition, combined with Fromans well-known New York intensity, and with roots burried deep in the Nordic ground.   www.myspace.com/karenbachtrio ,  www.karenbachtrio.dk

Two veterans of the downtown comedy scene bring their new acts to the place where it all started. Eras ago, Stan and Stan met as street performers in Washington Square Park and quickly moved indoors to the Cornelia Street Café. They return tonight, older, wiser, and yet sillier.

Stan Baker watched street comics Charlie Barnett, Rick Aviles, and Stan Rifken do comedy in Washington Square one summer and joined them that fall, when the weather was nicer. Since then he has performed his act The Human TV at numerous clubs, theatres, colleges and even on real TV. The Village Voice called him, “Clever, subversive, and gut-bucket funny.”

Stan Rifken has been sharing his hysterical observations of life in New York, and the cosmos in general, on stages – and websites – for what seems like decades. Okay, it has been decades, but he’s still a hunk. Catch his recent spot on The Colbert Report as “Karl Marx Santa” where he takes gifts from Stephen to give to lazy people who don't deserve nice things.

 Cover $7 (includes one house drink)   www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/240727/august-04-2009/merry-barackmas

"Music which is above genre, pluralistic and minimalist ... A delightfully surprising acquaintance" -Ole Nimand, JazzSpecial

"An excellent live album which really brings new things to a Scandinavian jazz"
-Frithjof Strauss, Jazz Podium German, on 'Slowmotion Jogging

In 2001, four young musicians from Sweden, Denmark and England/France formed Attaboy to explore the sounds of chordless music. Today, their style has evolved into lyrical jazz that dares to include a punk attitude, simple melodies and a chaotic pop sensibility. Improvisation is an important part of the music, while poetry that speaks to the trials of everyday life, sung both in Swedish and English, is a central element of Attaboy's style and sound. The group is a strong part of the Danish jazz scene and has performed jazz festivals in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin, New York City and Paris, as well as on Swedish and Danish national radio programs. Their debut album, Overkliga Saker, was released to critical acclaim on Chairless Records in 2004.

In 2005, Attaboy met three American/Canadian string players whose sound and energy inspired the music into new colours and textures. This collaboration led to the relese of their newest album 'Slowmotion Jogging' in 2007, which features live performances with strings. Since then, Attaboy has initiated a number of projects featuring guests musicians on laptop, reeds, and larger ensembles. Their return to New York City will highlight these ongoing projects and also introduce new collaborations with some very special New York City-based guests.

A Mown Lawn

  www.myspace.com/musicbyattaboy