Jewish Music Web Center Announcements

“Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar”

“Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar” to perform as part of the New York Jewish Music & Heritage Festival on Thursday, September 9th in historic Astoria synagogue Astoria (Queens), NY, August 16, 2004

The New York Jewish Music & Heritage Festival, which runs from September 7-14, is launching as part of the nationwide celebration of 350 years of Jewish life in America and commemorates the anniversary of the first Jewish settlers who landed in Lower Manhattan on September 12, 1654 after being expelled from Brazil. The festival includes over 50 groups in 15 venues. “Art Bailey’s Orkestra Popilar” will be performing in the historic Astoria Center of Israel synagogue, amid the magnificent murals created in 1928 by world-renowned artist Louis Pierre Rigal. The repertoire is a mix of early 20th century Jewish fiddle pieces, original compositions, improvisation, and features material originally recorded by Romanian-born cymbalom master and Lower East Side restauranteur, Joseph Moskowitz. Bailey says, "Our instrumentation creates an intimate sonic space that draws in the listener. We also include improvised sections in our music, mostly absent in the American Klezmer tradition, and tell stories by creating suites of tunes, breaking free of the single tune concept imposed by the three-minute recording." The synagogue’s foyer is transformed into a “café-style” setting, complete with intimate tables and delicious desserts. Bailey, a seasoned Klezmer performer who has toured nationally and internationally with the Klezmer Conservatory Band since 1997, leads the concerts and is excited about the opportunity to connect with listeners in a small, casual setting. The concert features accordion, violin, mandolin, and bass, and highlights both well-known and more obscure Klezmer tunes—as well as some of Bailey’s own original compositions. Bailey's concept of Jewish music owes more to Romanian and Hungarian Gypsy string ensembles than to the more familiar clarinet and drums based klezmer bands. Reminiscent of an even earlier time in the history of recorded Jewish music, the result is fresh, unique, and thoroughly engaging. Pianist and accordionist Art Bailey is active in the improvised and world music scenes, and has appeared or recorded with such diverse musical performers as jazz soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy, classical violinist Itzhak Perlman, and the Del McCoury Band. Jewish music has long been a focus of his, and for many years has been a member of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, in addition to working with many of the major participants in the klezmer world. Art Bailey’s Orkestra Popilar will be performing on Thursday, September 9th, from 7:30-9:30pm at the Astoria Center of Israel. The admission fee is $10; $5 for ACI members. Delicious desserts and coffee will also be available. In addition to the September 9th festival date, Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar appears bi-monthly at Café ACI, the Astoria Center of Israel synagogue's new cultural events space. ACI is less than 20 minutes from 59th and Lex in Manhattan! Take the N or W subway towards Queens to the 30th Avenue stop. Walk west on 30th Avenue (towards Athens Square Park) for about 4 blocks; turn right on Crescent Street and walk a half block down on the right. ACI is an egalitarian synagogue built around a warm, wonderful group of people that embraces a wide variety of perspectives on Judaism in a joyful and inclusive community. Astoria Center of Israel Synagogue is located at 27-35 Crescent Street, Astoria, Queens. For more information about the concert series or other events, contact the synagogue at: 718-278-2680 or visit our website at: www.astoriacenter.org. Musicians: Art Bailey (accordion); Yaeko Miranda (violin); Brandon Seabrook (mandolin); Nick Cudahy (bass)