Last night I had the good fortune to be in attendance at the U.S. premiere of the dramatic performance “Chopin Without Piano” in Swarthmore, PA. A Polish Romantic composer who lived a tragically short life at the beginning of the nineteenth century, Chopin is best known for his piano works; “Chopin Without Piano” is a performance of Chopin’s two piano concertos – pieces for solo piano accompanied by chamber orchestra – without the piano. The performance was a completely new way of experiencing music and gave me greater insight into the mind of someone who made music for a living.
What does this have to do with the Boston music scene? “Chopin Without Piano” will be performed in Boston at Emerson from November 11th-14th. For anyone looking for a new way to take in music, I highly recommend checking out these performances. Tickets are particularly cheap for college students!
Now, for the wrap-up of last week’s music in Boston:
Boston Music Awards Nominees Announced
The BMA’s, which have been recognizing local music since 1987, have released their list of nominees for this year’s awards. The list is peppered with names that we’ve featured in the past: The Ballroom Thieves have been nominated for a quartet of awards, including Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Archers,” Oh Malô and Vundabar have been nominated for New Artist of the Year, and Grey Season and Honeysuckle have been nominated for two awards, including Americana Artist of the Year. You can vote for whomever you believe to be the most deserving candidates here.
Ruby Rose Fox Releases Music Video For New Song
Just in time for Halloween, local singer Ruby Rose Fox has released a new song and music video titled “Dance of Frankenstein.” You’re immediately struck by the power of Ruby Rose Fox’s lower register, a rounded, oaky sound that can vibrate floorboards. Her vocal prowess and edgy rock songs are reminiscent of Annie Lennox. She appears in her music video at a pool donning an American flag swimsuit along with a bleach-blonde hair and black, spindly fake fingernails: a ghoulish Marilyn Monroe. Fox was nominated for multiple awards by the BMA’s, and you can see her at The Middle East November 12th.
Señor Slice and Anjimile Collaborate on New Release
I love bananas. I love peanut butter. But you know what I love even more? Bananas dipped in peanut butter. It’s wonderful when two great things combine to make a new thing. Locals Anjimile and Señor Slice, are strange bedfellows: Señor Slice is Jim Russell, an arts chameleon of sorts- he’s a music producer, filmmaker, public speaker, and DJ, while Anjimile’s band plays indie rock.
“Work It Out” takes Señor Slice’s tight hip-hop beats and multiple tracks of Anjimile’s soft, silky vocals, and makes a groovy, confident pop song. The track features Anjimile’s sweet harmonies and perfectly delivered rhythms backed by a restrained but colorful percussiveness that contains a mixture of hand claps, deep bongos. Rhythmic horn fills and twangy guitar licks are sprinkled delicately on top. “Work It Out” is well worth the listen, so listen:
The Ballroom Thieves To Play at SXSW Music Festival
Spring 2016 is nothing more than a pipe-dream at this point in time, but Austin’s SXSW Music Festival has just announced it’s lineup for next summer’s festival, and Cambridge’s own The Ballroom Thieves, who we interviewed earlier this month, are penciled in. The folk/rock trio has been gaining momentum after releasing their first LP, A Wolf In the Doorway, six months ago. The Game Of Thrones superfans are currently on a national tour.
Local Music Workshops
Music teachers and music makers– there are two fantastic workshops coming to Massachusetts in the next few months. First for you classical folk: the Dare To Aspire: String Teacher Workshop is taking place at District Hall down on the waterfront on Sunday, November 15th. The workshop, directed at music teachers who serve under-privileged youth, aims to build teaching skills and inspire them to work in the community. The workshop will be led by four accomplished musicians and teachers. And the workshop is free! Free knowledge and inspiration!
Also, Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive will be out in Goshen, MA in early January for a vocal and performance clinic. Price has got some of the best- maybe the best- pipes in the business, and studied voice at New England Conservatory. Two of three the classes are already full, but there are still spots in remaining for a class on ensemble singing, with a focus on harmony, rhythm and intonation. Highly recommended for anybody who wants to sound like this.
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