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Here's
a Provisional Line-up for the Evening of
Saturday, 28 June2008
WE'RE BACK HOME,
FINALLY. Construction is complete and we're resuming our
broadcasts from the spanking new facility at 102 Witherspoon
Street. Here's how to get there.
Nassau
Street separates the town from the university in downtown
Princeton. Nassau Hall is set back from the iron gate that
demarcates the campus, and Witherspoon Street T-intersects
with Nassau Street at the traffic light in front of that
gate. Take Witherspoon Street down from Nassau, past Hulfish
Street on the left. The next left is Paul Robeson Place.
The Princeton Arts Council is on the northwest corner of
the intersection of Witherspoon and Paul Robeson Place.
There is often on-street parking and there are many reasonable
parking garages nearby. If you've got lots of equipment,
see us in the rotunda lobby of the Arts Council building,
and we'll give you the best access an elevator up to Cafe
Improv in the Solley Theater.
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Booking:
John Irving
(609) 921-3857 - home
(609) 497-2480 - office
Online Form
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8:50
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9:00 pm |
Warm-Ups:
Thomas P and Some Irving Kids
Insinuating
the Audience into the Evening's Show |
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As the
crew of Cafe Improv acclimates to the newly refurbished
Arts Council building at 102 Witherspoon Street, we start
the proceedings with Emcee Tom Florek at the stand-up piano.
Two Irving children and their father follow Tom onto this
strange new stage.
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9:00
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9:25 pm |
After
Effect - New Jersey's Top Youth Band
An Assemblage of Extraordinary Young Talent
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The
After Effect Jazz Band is based in Millstone Township, NJ,
and consists of about fourteen musicians ranging in age
from 13 to 19 years old. They rehearse twice a week throughout
the year, under the direction of Michael Morreale, a Staten
Island native and resident, and an active recording and
performing artist. In the two years that After Effect has
been together, the group has performed in New York City,
Washington DC, throughout New Jersey at community events,
and as far away as Boston at the Berklee College of Music.
These talented teenagers embody the best in talent and commitment
to putting on the best performance possible. Learn more
about them at www.aftereffectjazzband.com.
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9:25
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9:45 pm |
Blue Jersey -- Gypsy Jazz Trio
Djazz
& Django |
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Frank
and Ellen Ruck have developed a love for swing songs over
the years. They'll be mostly instrumental this Saturday,
with one vocal piece -- "Dream a Little Dream of Me."
It's Frank on guitar and mandolin, Ellen on rhythm guitar,
and Mike Sutton on bass. The entire genre is the handiwork
of Django Reinhardt who came up with this unique sound to
compensate for the loss of fingers on his fretting hand.
The music was christened "Gypsy Jazz" in 1953
after Reinhardt's death.
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9:45
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10:05
pm |
Preston Harrison
-- Raggedy Band Veteran
Brown Goo in the Fields of Windsor.
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It's
been a while, but Preston Harrison comes back with old songs
his "Brown Goo" has long been a favorite
of this Harrison fan and new ones. He's performing
these days with the Fabulous River Rats at New Hope's John
& Peter's and elsewhere on the local scene. Since age
eleven, this self-taught singer-songwriter has captured
the comings and goings of local fauna in descriptive lyrics
set to strumming of his signature nine-string acoustic.
His achievements include three CDs, and he informs us that
there's been an uptick in interest for his music in Europe.
Click HERE
for an indicative shot of Preston as he was when the Beatles
invaded.
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10:05
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10:25
pm |
Roia
Rafieyan - Singer Songwriter
Poignant
Vocals, Precise Guitar, Polished Delivery |
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Roia
is a regular performer at the Improv, and her act seems
to grow stronger and tighter every time she drops in to
play and sing her original works. By day, Roia is a music
therapist, but under cover of darkness, she assumes a secret
identity to wow audiences with a unique blend of pop and
folk. She is the brains and muscle behind the Common Grounds
Coffeehouse at the Hunterdon Developmental Center in Clinton,
NJ. Read more about this charming young lady at http://www.roiamusic.com
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10:25
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10:45
pm |
Jonathan
Eckstein & Carlos Oliviera - Sax & Guitar
A
Princeton-Brazil Musical Bond |
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Jonathan
Eckstein grew up in Princeton and Carlos Oliviera is from
Fortaleza, northeastern Brazil, but they have a lot in common.
Both have doctorates in Operations Research (a branch of
applied mathematics dealing with decision making and planning),
both had Greek dissertation advisors, and both love the
classic Bossa Nova style of Brazilian popular music. With
Jonathan playing tenor saxophone and Carlos playing guitar,
they will perform four songs by the Brazilian composer Antonio
Carlos Jobim.
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10:45
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11:05
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Jodi
Shaw - Singer-Songwriter
Poetry
in a Musical Setting |
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We're
glad that the New York artist's original songs are available
to her neighbors in New Jersey. Jodi was an adult when she
picked up the guitar, but as she takes her turn in front
of audiences, it exquisitely complements the characteristic
"delicate toughness" of her subtle voice. When
she entertains patrons of the Artland Bar or when spare
change rains down from L-Train passengers into her open
guitar case, this city-girl doesn't fully appreciate how
her somewhat diffident approach to the audience can entice
her listeners -- trapping them in the warmth and richness
of her poetry and music. Learn more about this charming
singer at www.jodishaw.com.
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11:05
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11:25pm |
Circle Round the
Sun - Exquisite Harmonizingr
"Folk
Project" Performers Venture to Princeton
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Circle
Round the Sun is the folk/acoustic duo of Marie Trontell
and Jay Wilensky (sometimes joined by bassist Paul Adams).
Jay's warm baritone and Marie's rich alto blend seamlessly
into sensuous duets and harmonies. Their influences include
renowned singer-songwriters like Dave Carter, Michael Smith,
Cheryl Wheeler, and Tom Rush. Over the last several years,
Circle Round the Sun has performed on the radio; at concerts,
festivals, and benefits; and in coffee houses. They will
bring their tight and polished performance anywhere you'd
like them to, throughout New Jersey and nearby areas of
New York and Pennsylvania. Ms. Trontell and Mr. Wilensky
refer to "First Orbit," their CD, at www.sonicbids.com/CircleRoundTheSun.
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11:25
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11:35
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Emefa
Agawu, Vocalist, with John Sturm on Piano
Young
Local Talent
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The
range and versatility of Miss Agawu have made her a hit
at concerts and dances at the local high school. Cafe Improv
booking agents have been scouting her and young John Sturm
over the years. John developed under the tutelage of Professor
Laurie Altman -- one of Princeton's premier jazz instructors.
Emefa Agawu is amazing. This will be their first performance
on our stage.
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11:30 to Midnight
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Café
Improv Surprise
We
anticipate a Coterie of Revelry |
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At
the tail end of the evening, strange occurrences can be
expected as the crew and the performers together feel strangely
moved to let out all the stops.
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Disclaimer |
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This list
is subject to change so visit the Café Improv web site
regularly. |
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