Jazz/Blues
BRIEF: Andris Nelsons & Boston Symphony Record for Deutsche Grammophon, David Bowie's 'Man Who Fell to Earth' Off-Broadway, ASCAP & BMI Killing Philadelphia Jazz?, New York City Ballet Pointes
PREMIERE: Roomful of Teeth, Ohio's Constella Festival Team Up for William Brittelle's "High Done No Why To" Music Video
With Ward Swingle gone from the SATB earth and Tim Hauser transferring no more 'cross Manhattan, the timing couldn't be any more right for Roomful of Teeth to become our starriest vocal band. Fresh off one of the most exciting drones at the Met's Temple of Dendur since, well, Interpol's record release party, the GRAMMY Award-winning ensemble (Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance) with that youngest-ever Pulitzer recipient (Caroline Shaw) on one of the best labels in the new music biz (New Amsterdam) hasn't yet made a music vid proper. Until now, of course. EXCLUSIVE: Jake Schepps on New Quintet Album 'Entwined', Commissioning Gyan Riley and Marc Mellits, Béla Bartók vs. String Bands, Ship in the Clouds Tour, Brazilian Choro Music
Banjo player Jake Schepps sure is opening up the possibilities for his instrument: contemporary classical bluegrass? Yes, a thousand times so. In fact, his latest album, Entwined (Fine Mighty), is the perfect manifestation of a seemingly non-existent genre. Featuring new compositions from the likes of Marc Mellits, Gyan Riley, Matt McBane and Matt Flinner, Schepps' traditional, five-band string band sounds anything but trad here. Curious how Schepps & Co. got wise, Classicalite got on the horn with this Scruggs-slash-Stravinsky to talk process, commissioning and what's next for him, instrument and ensemble.