Cynthia Sayer to Premiere THE BANJO SHOW at Joe's Pub, 3/7

CYNTHIA SAYER, the internationally celebrated jazz banjoist, will lead her all-star quartet in "The Banjo Show" at Joe's Pub at the Public in a rare New York City concert appearance on Friday, March 7 at 7:00 PM. The founding member of Woody Allen's jazz band, who honed her virtuoso chops playing with many legendary artists, is on a mission to popularize the 4-string banjo, the cultured cousin of the familiar 5-string bluegrass banjo. Sayer's vocals are divine and her banjo a driving force of nature - think Django Reinhardt meets Bela Fleck - as she swings her audience through the colorful story and surprising range of what the 4-string can do, including hot jazz, tango, Great American Songbook, vaudeville, classical, roots music and more. Joe's Pub at the Public located at 425 Lafayette Street in Manhattan. Tickets: $20. For more information: T: (212) 967-7555 or www.joespub.com or www.cynthiasayer.com.

Accompanying Sayer for "The Banjo Show" will be Dennis Litchtman on clarinet and fiddle (Vince Giordano, Noam Pikelny), Jared Engel on string bass (Tony Trischka, Abigail Washburn), Larry Eagle on drums (Springsteen's Seeger Sessions Band), and some surprises...

7 THINGS YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BANJO:

· The banjo evolved from gourd instruments brought over by Africans who were captured for slavery.

· There are huge bass banjos, standing as tall as a string bass, overgrown-looking cello banjos, and even tiny piccolo banjos.

· The banjo was wildly popular in jazz until about 1934, when the guitar came into fashion.

· It was once commonplace for white women to play banjo as parlor entertainment for their guests.

· In the late 1800s, there was an effort to "elevate" the lowly image of the banjo by playing classical music on it.

· Early banjo strings were often made from catgut - i.e. sheep or goat intestines, not kitties.

· If you played in a banjo orchestra or banjo club in 1890, then you were extremely cool.

Contemporary, edgy, and soulful, Cynthia Sayer breaks all the banjo player stereotypes as she single-handedly brings the 4-string banjo to the forefront of jazz. Celebrated as the top 4-string jazz banjoist in the world today and praised for her "drive and virtuosity" by The New York Times, Cynthia is a founding member of Woody Allen's New Orleans Jazz Band with whom she played and toured for over 10 years. Her solo career has taken her well beyond these New Orleans roots as a dynamic performer, instrumentalist and vocalist, and whose eclectic, swing-based shows embody the rarely heard range and versatility of the 4-string banjo. Sayer has played with many leading jazz, popular & roots artists, including Bucky Pizzarelli, Dick Hyman, Les Paul, Marian McPartland, Wynton Marsalis, Marvin Hamlisch, John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Charlie Giordano (Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band), Tony Trischka, Andy Statman, and many others. Recent press includes being featured in Downbeat Magazine, and being the guest on the popular NPR show, "Piano Jazz" and the national TV & radio show, "Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour."

Cynthia has accumulated numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including induction into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame. She has performed at the White House, was the Official Banjoist for the New York Yankees, and is the topic of a Trivial Pursuit question! Cynthia was also a subject of the recent PBS TV documentary, "Give Me The Banjo." Her soundtrack credits include several Woody Allen Films on banjo, ukulele and piano. Her piano playing with Woody Allen's jazz band is highlighted in the award-winning documentary film "Wild Man Blues." Her new CD release, "JOYRIDE" is receiving rave reviews.

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