NYS Music 20​13

Tag: Club D’elf

  • Hollerback Productions Celebrates Ten Years of Great Acts with Club D’Elf and Marco Benevento

    Hollerback Productions celebrated ten years of presenting great music, brought about by the vision and hard work of Dan Mastronardi, with a special anniversary show on Friday, May 31st at The Westcott Theater.  The show at Hollerback Productions featured one of the first big bands booked by Dan, the highly esteemed jazz/prog/dance/world music group Club D’Elf, with special guest, indie/jazz innovator Marco Benevento.  Following a genuinely heartwarming, albeit awkwardly delivered speech by Dan Mastronardi, Syracuse music fans whooped with supportive thankfulness for the people that have helped construct the Syracuse scene.

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    Club D’elf then took the stage and fell instantly into a deep, bass-driven, psychedelic groove, laying down a warm and cosmic blanket of ambient sound and tribal rhythm, while masterful solo work was interwoven by the ‘Club’s’ highly gifted musicians.  Each artist brought their own worldly and masterful sound to Club D’Elf’s droning yet complex jam-compositions.  Besides talent, the Club boasted a diverse arsenal of cool toys.  Bass player and Club D’Elf originator Mike Rivard switched between a low profile, futuristic-looking stand-up electric bass and a standard electric bass, while world music master Brahim Fribgane traded off between hand-drums and a stringed Lutar, that poured out exotic and timeless-sounding melodies that could have come straight out of a National Geographic documentary.

    Together with Marco’s soulful, and dare I say “pretty” melodies on keys and Hammond Organ, Club D’Elf entertained, intrigued, and mesmerized listeners.  Unlike many popular improvisational groups and jam bands, Club D’Elf focused on laying down well-crafted, often danceable bass-lines and rhythms, while placing the lead guitar in a chord-dominated supportive role.  This kept the crowd moving and allowed space for lead instruments to develop melodies and themes spontaneously and collaborate on composition in the moment.  Many times throughout the night, I watched as the members of the club traded knowing and joyful glances, as they felt the music come together organically.  This, my fellow fans, is always a beautiful thing.

  • Club D’Elf and Marco Benevento hit Syracuse and Albany this weekend!

    Syracuse’s Westcott Theater and Albany’s Red Square open their doors to a modern experimental supergroup Friday May 31st and Saturday June 1st as Club D’Elf is accompanied by organist and composer Marco Benevento, of the critically acclaimed Benevento/Russo Duo. Club D’Elf defies convention and classification, as they draw on influences from electronica, jazz, dub, progressive rock and traditional and world music.

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    Led by bassist/composer Mike Rivard, the Club D’Elf “club” is designed to be a constantly evolving and revolving musical brotherhood, regularly rotating members, hosting superb artists and incorporating new sounds.  Club guests have included legends John Medeski and Billy Martin of Medeski Martin and Wood, the hip hop/jazz crossover artist DJ Logic, Marc Ribot, Skerik and of course Marco Benevento.  These uniquely gifted talents keep Club D’Elf fresh with new ideas and spontaneity.  This isn’t Mike Rivard’s first rodeo either; Mike brings his experience laying down grooves for big names such as Morphine, Aimee Mann, G Love and Jonathan Brooke among others.  Club D’Elf’s sound grows out of this rhythmic root, past tradition and custom, into the cosmos.  Who knows where listeners may end up when Marco Benevento’s graceful piano melodies dance over Mike Rivard’s deep, thuddy Morroccan trance bass lines?  No matter where you end up, this show is sure to keep your mind fed and your body grooving.

    Tickets are $15.00 at the Westcott Theater and the show starts at 10pm.  At the Red Square the show is $12 and $15 at the door, show starts at 8pm.

  • Hearing Aide: Van Gordon Martin Band ‘Take The High Road’

    After releasing their first album, No Limit to Love in 2010 and touring with the Skatalites throughout the United States, making stops at major music festivals like South by Southwest and Austin City Limits, the Van Gordon Martin Band has returned with “Take the High Road”, 12 tracks of funk-infused R&B and dub reggae. This eclectic blend of genres is a result of Martin’s role as a guitarist for number of other groups, including The Dub Down Crew & Scotch Bonnet Band, Sparkplug Tribute to Melvin Sparks, and The Nephork! All-Starts.

    Van Martin, second from left in hat
    Van Martin, second from left in hat

    Martin’s experience playing with a wide range of musicians influenced the recording process of Take the High Road, as the album features appearances from members of John Brown’s Body, Club D’elf, The Slip, Dub Appocalype, Otis Grove, and former Spiritual Rez horn alumni. These musicians, who contribute funked-out bass riffs, heavy horn sections, and groovy drum beats are some of the best that the east coast has to offer.

    Together, they have created an album that explores an array of musical styles. Between the breezy “Another World,” featuring clean guitar riffs and a smooth saxophone solo, and the jazzy organ-filled “Hard Decision,” which transitions into a reggae a influenced chorus driven by off-beat guitar licks, Take the High Road provides 43 minutes of crafty musicianship and epic jams.

    Key Tracks: “Dreams,” “Another World,” “Hard Decision”

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