Joes Pub Presents Olatuja Project 8/12

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater debuted in October 1998 and has quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance. With its genre-blind booking and vast diversity of interests, the stage at Joe's Pub gives voice to a world of varied and stellar artists.

With impeccable sound and lights, the warm and intimate candlelit atmosphere of Joe's Pub is filled with plush velvet couches, softly glowing lucite tables and gorgeously understated architecture. Joe's Pub is open seven days a week, regularly hosting as many as three shows a day. Dinner and drink service is available during every performance; the venue offers a classic Italian dinner menu and a fully stocked bar.

JUST ADDED
BAD REPUTATION: PIERRE DE GAILLANDE SINGS GEORGE BRASSENS

Sunday, August 8 at 9:30 PM; $15

From the 1950's through the late 70's, George Brassens redefined French Chanson. He was an anarchist bard whose songs were sometimes raunchy, sometimes polemic, often poignant, and always steeped in classic French poetry. His songs, unlike those of his friend Jacque Brel, never became known outside of France, mostly because of the language barrier.

Franco-American singer and composer Pierre de Gaillande has taken on the impossible task of translating Brassens' songbook, to astonishing results. He has stuck to the rhyming scheme and verse length of the original songs, thus matching the melodies perfectly. He has re-arranged the music with a cinematic sensibility, using a combination of guitars, clarinets, lapsteel and Charango. The best way to describe the record would be to compare it to the perfect movie adaptation of a book classic. Think Stanley Kubrick or Raoul Ruiz.

AUG 12-15

OLATUJA PROJECT / MAX WILD OBLIQSOUND ALBUM RELEASE

Thursday, August 12 at 7:00 PM; $15

British/Nigerian bassist Michael Olatuja debuts his vision as producer, composer, arranger and performer on Speak. The album features musical influences and guests from each spot Olatuja has hit around the globe, including his childhood in London and Lagos, Nigeria, and professional years in London and New York.

The "Olatuja Project" merges the musical visions of Michael Olatuja and wife Alicia Olatuja incorporating such hallmarks of traditional African music as the talking drum and hand drums (conga and djembe), call-and-response vocals and the Yoruba language, while working comfortably with musical vocabularies more familiar to Western ears: neo-soul balladry, modern jazz, deep groove, R&B, and gospel.

The performance roster of Michael and Alicia Olatuja include Lisa Stansfield, Terence Blanchard, Chaka Khan, Patti Austin, Stevie Wonder, Kurt Elling, Christian McBride, Amel Lerrieux, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and many others.

Zimbabwean saxophonist Max Wild has just released Tamba, his riveting full-length debut on ObliqSound that blurs the lines between jazz, funk and Afropop. In Shona -- the predominant language spoken in Zimbabwe -- Tamba means "dance," and it's virtually impossible to be within listening distance of this music and not comply. Wild's music fuses the rhythmic and melodic traditions of southern Africa with the sophisticated harmonies and inspired improvisation at the core of contemporary jazz. At this NYC record release party to showcase material from Tamba, Wild and his band are guaranteed to deliver an ecstatic, intensely kinetic celebration that bridges cultural and stylistic divides while keeping feet on the move.

STEVE FORBERT

Friday, August 13 at 7:00 PM; $25

Alt-country pioneer Steve Forbert's blend of folk, rock and country has paved the way for younger artists. It has been 23 years since folk rocker Steve Forbert enjoyed an all-too-fleeting moment of fame with his top 20 hit Romeo's Tune. While he hasn't cracked the pop charts again, time has done nothing to dim this Mississippi native's creative fires. An enthralling live performer, Forbert usually hits the stage solo, armed with just an acoustic guitar, a few harmonicas and his boyish charm. This stripped-down approach suits his expressively wispy rasp of a voice and his affecting tales about life and love. When Forbert tears into his songs with his eyes shut tight and his foot keeping time, you get the feeling he's out there doing this as much for himself as he is for his audience.

ILSE

Friday, August 13 at 9:30 PM; $14

Belgian Singer/Songwriter, Ilse, makes her Joe's Pub debut this summer. Originating her career in Brussels, Ilse found it time to make her way to New York where her music can take off and be heard by millions. She made her way into the studio recording with renowned producer, Chiba Antoine. Together they created a beautiful, compelling pop/rock album, "Life is a Puzzle (the pieces fit)," as an ode to music, life and love. Ilse says, "The ultimate feeling of freedom is to listen to music loud in your car and just drive... Or put on headphones, close your eyes and let the music bring you to another place..."

IRKA MATTEO BAND

Saturday, August 14 at 7:00 PM; $12

Irka Mateo: Voice, Percussion
Monvelyno Alexis: Guitar
Fidel Cuellar: Keyboards
Jacinto Perez: Bass
Luis Ruiz: Drums
Ze Mauricio: Percussion

Irka Mateo's artistic career has been one of breaking boundaries to embrace people's deepest humanity. Her art has incubated in Spain, France, Brazil, Canada, the United States and her native Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic Irka - a Taina - is an important cultural figure - of some controversy. In 1992 her performance in Santo Domingo - where generals of the former Balaguer regime were in the audience, ended with her leaving the country to Canada. The occasion was Columbus' 500th anniversary landing and Irka's performance of 1992 rankled the sensibilities of the military elite. In Canada Irka surrounded herself with the best artists in that country, performing to enthusiastic audiences regularly at the Montreal Jazz Festival (she performed three times) and numerous other events and venues.

AYLER YOUNG / HEY BATTLEFIELD

Saturday, August 14 at 9:00; $12

Native New Yorkers, Hey Battlefield, emerge on the scene with a stripped down sound, combining blues rock with a jazz foundation. Jason Rossi (Vocals/Guitar), Michael Scheideler (Drums), and Tyler Krupsky (Bass) came together in 2009 to form the band, and despite only a short time together, have created a distinctive sound. Hey Battlefield uses a less is more approach, relying on the people, rather than leaning heavy on the equipment. The raw pared down style evokes heavy emotions, which are accessible, and unadulterated.

Each member has had music in their lives from their respective beginnings. Rossi is a self-taught guitarist and pianist from Queens, and has been writing uncontrived songs since his childhood. Prior to Hey Battlefield, he played as a solo artist working with various hired hands. Krupsky is a multi-instrumentalist from Albany, trained primarily in bass guitar. Managing a Bass shop in the East Village and working in production by trade, he was formerly a member of the New York State Jazz Band, and has shared the stage with many well known bands Glassjaw, and Filter, to name a few). Scheideler began his musical career as a trumpeter at the age of 7 in Queens, and moved over to jazz drums since. He trained at the City Music School of New York for 5 years, and has played drums all over the city since his teens.

With such varied backgrounds of Jazz, Blues, Folk and Rock, it's no surprise that the band has a unique sound. Like all musicians, the trios main influences often seep into their music, creating songs for amalgamated genres. Emulating from Tom Waits to Jaco Pastorius, to the early Rolling Stones, the band plays what they want to hear, playing what they feel.
In avoiding a cluttered stage, the band evinces a dedication to the music. A purity of sound, unfettered by effects pedals and electronics; simply the artists and a blank canvas. Though Rossi writes the lyrics, each member contributes equally to the final product of each song. The trio is diligent, and professional on and off the stage. As true musicians, they play out of necessity; music isn't a profession, it's their way of life. Hey Battlefield is a band in love with its craft, and it shows.

It is easy to be smitten with the brawny warmth of vocals and fertile rock sound of Ayler Young. An elegant, mid-range delivery smokes over mainstream tunes that at times flirt with multiple genres and rhythms, uplifting visually alluring and emotive thoughtful lyrics. The lush sounds exude from a group of renowned players, like Darryl Jones whose musical history consists of bass play with the Rolling Stones, Sting and MiLes Davis, Ethan Eubanks, the drummer for Crash Test Dummies, and DJ Logic, on turntables, who has collaborated with Medeski Martin and Wood, Ben Harper and the Roots, along with an impressive list of others blessing his debut album Back in the City. The richness in crisp instrumentation largely makes the album shine on its own. Young was born in Berkeley California but is obviously in tune with New York City, where he currently lives. From the rock and rhythm and blues jamming in "Dream Girl," to the smooth afterburn of jazz and soft rock in "One Man Show," this album is all kinds of radio friendly. The smoldering vocals, amazing musicianship and sensitive notebook lyrics of love, loss and New York are more than enough to believe in the resurgence of a remarkable mainstream rock sound and a vibrant male bravado.

UNIFICATION 2010 feat DJ Rekha, THE KOMINAS, HARI KONDABOLU & FAIR AND KIND

Saturday, August 14 at 11:30 PM; $20 in advance / $25 at the door

Commencing at 11 pm on Saturday, August 14 (Pakistan's Independence Day) and continuing into the early morning hours of August 15 (India's Independence Day), UNIFICATION 2010 celebrates 63 years of independence and the voices of talented, socially conscious South Asian/American artists. With performances by DJ Rekha, The Kominas, Hari Kondabolu, Fair and Kind, and curated by spoken-word duo Brownstar, UNIFICATION 2010 will explore the politics of our motherlands, reveal the experiences of being brown outside of it, and question the tensions between us, while fostering a movement towards a more peaceful, unified South Asia. Proceeds from UNIFICATION 2010 will support South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT).

Allan Harris

Sunday, August 15 at 7:30 PM; $15

Allan Harris brings his unique blend of soulful jazz and riveting rock guitar to Joe's Pub, as he performs his highly original "Just Me" show...highlighted by his latest single "I Do Believe", which the NY Times (Stephen Holden) called "an original anthem and hymn to American unity". Allan Harris is a Three-time NY Nightlife Award-Winner for Outstanding Male Vocalist-come experience why Harris is also a favorite at music festivals all over the world.

Maddy Wyatt

Sunday, August 15 at 9:30 PM; $12

Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Maddy Wyatt will never have wisdom teeth. Her dentist told her it's because she's so highly evolved, which he probably says to all the girls, but her lush folk-pop songs certainly suggest an artist to whom progression is a must.

With roots in the American west, Wyatt has found an intimate voice in the New York anti-folk scene, but she's not just another girl with a guitar (or ukulele, or glockenspiel, or flute for that matter). Backed by brothers Paul and Alex Wyatt on guitar and drums respectively, along with Zach Lane on upright bass and Dana Haynes on various keyed instruments, she's become a constant at venues like The Living Room, Pianos, Pete's Candy Store, and Le Poisson Rouge.

She gained national notoriety on the strength of her 2008 ode to Barack Obama, "Man for Me", and since then she has been seen on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice, in which she crooned a jingle about tuna fish and beat the pants off Clint Black, as well as a Top Ten finalist for the NYC Lilith Fair Talent Search this year.

With a forthcoming EP and tour in the works, Maddy plans to head west in a pioneering fashion, armed with a catalog of brand new songs and the sense of adventure that brought her to New York in the first place.

TICKETS

Online at joespub.com

Phone 212-967-7555,

In Person At The Public Theater Box Office (1 PM to 6 PM), or at the Joe's Pub Box Office from (6 PM to 10 PM) both located at 425 Lafayette Street, NYC

For table reservations please call 212-539-8778. Purchase of tickets does NOT guarantee a table reservation; you must call to reserve seats. Seating, as well as standing-room, is available only on a first-come, first-served basis for all shows without a dinner reservation. Two drink or $12 food minimum per person is standard.