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“Yiddish Meets Argentina” at Flushing Town Hall’s Next Mini-Global Mashups Concert on November 21
Sofia Rei is “a Latin folklore encyclopedia”- VICE Magazine
Lorin Sklamberg is “transcendent, ethereal” - music critic Robert Christgau
Lorin Sklamberg to collaborate with Sofia Rei and accompanist JC Maillard on November 21
(Flushing, N.Y.)—Flushing Town Hall’s new concert series, Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups, will present “Yiddish Meets Argentina” on Sunday, November 21, featuring Lorin Sklamberg, lead singer of the Grammy Award-winning, Jewish American roots band The Klezmatics, and Argentinian vocalist and songwriter Sofia Rei with accompanist JC Maillard.
This will be the third concert in Flushing Town Hall’s monthly series, which “mashes up” unique pairings of musicians from different practices and cultural identities. The small, intimate configurations pair distinct solo or duo artists in collaboration to create entirely new sounds rooted in old traditions.
The series has been curated by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Frank London, who has himself performed in Flushing Town Hall’s original, large-scale Global Mashups series that is such a hit among Flushing Town Hall’s devoted global music fans.
“Lorin and Sofia are the only two artists in our series who have actually performed together before,” says London. “Although their musics are essentially unrelated, their personal relationship and beautiful voices make a harmonious blend. This will be a really special performance.”
Lorin Sklamberg is best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of The Klezmatics, his Grammy Award-winning band with Frank London. Sklamberg, who says he “sang before he spoke,” is a self-taught guitarist, pianist, and autoharp player. His longtime involvement in the world of Jewish music began at age 15 when he co-founded a band, Rimonim, with three Hebrew school classmates in Alhambra, California. At university he went on to study Early Music, opera, American folk and pop, and Balkan and Eastern European music, and he performed with four semi-professional ethnic song and dance ensembles. Sklamberg studied voice, guitar, accordion, and oud (a lute-like instrument) and served as the cantor at USC’s Hillel House and Los Angeles’ gay and lesbian synagogue, Beth Chayim Chadashim. He performed throughout the country one summer as part of a “gay-Jewish-radical faerie folk duo” called Philshaw and Sklamberg, before moving to New York and co-founding The Klezmatics.
Through the decades, The Klezmatics have been recognized with numerous awards, including a GRAMMY for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2006, and have been hailed by critics in publications like Time Out New York, which ranked the group “among the greatest bands on the planet.”
Separately, Sklamberg can be heard on some 50 recordings, both solo and alongside Itzhak Perlman, Don Byron, Uri Caine, Matt Darriau, Rob Schwimmer, Jane Siberry, Mac Cohn, Tony Kushner, Moxy Früvous, the Western Windo, and Constantinople.
Sofia Rei is an award-winning vocalist, songwriter, and producer, who has carried diverse Latin American musical traditions from her native Buenos Aires to the multicultural mecca of New York City, where she now lives.
Rei’s career began at age nine in the Colon Theater Children’s Choir. She went on to train at Buenos Aires’ National Conservatory of Music, where she divided her time between early Renaissance music ensembles and premiering new works by contemporary composers. She went on to pursue jazz and improvisatory music at Boston’s New England Conservatory. Today, she describes her sound as “tradition-spanning.” She continues to delve deeply into the folk musics of a number of South American countries, including Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and her native Argentina, and she has increasingly incorporated looping and electronics in recent years. As an educator, she is passionate about guiding other musicians to carve their own paths. She is currently a Professor at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and a co-founder and producer of Berklee’s Latin America Vive Music Festival and the NYC South American Music Festival.
Rei’s music has been hailed by New York Times critic Jon Pareles as “wildly eclectic” and “near hallucinatory” and by NPR’s Felix Contreras as exhibiting “stellar musicianship.” Her newest album, the critically acclaimed “Umbral,” was released earlier this year.
When Sklamberg and Rei “mashup” on November 21, they will be joined by Rei’s accompanist, the Caribbean born, multi-instrumentalist JC Maillard.
The concert is a hybrid event, playing to in-person audiences while also livestreaming for viewers at home. This fall, Flushing Town Hall has increased its in-person audience capacity to 50% and is adhering to the city’s vaccine mandate for performance venues.
The Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups series first kicked off in September with Haiti Meets Middle East, featuring Haitian singer Emeline Michel, Israeli guitarist Dan Nadel, and their piano accompanist Yayoi Ikaw. It then continued with Balkan Romani Meets Ukraine, featuring Eva Salina, Peter Stan, and Zhenya Lopatnik. Following this November mashup with Sklamberg and Rei, the series will continue this fall on December 12 with US-Africa Meets China, featuring Newman Taylor Baker/WashboardXT and Fei Fei Yang with accompanist Zhihua Hu.
Each month’s Mini-Global Mashup performance is followed by a Q+A conversation between the artists and audience hosted by Frank London or other special guests. For the fall series’ full schedule and to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/mini-global-mashups
In the new year, audiences can look forward to “Southern Italy Meets Senegal” (January 9, 2022), “Korea Meets Armenia” (February 13, 2022), and “India Meets Egypt” (March 13, 2022).
COVID Policy:
In adherence with Mayor De Blasio’s Covid policy for performance venues, Flushing Town Hall will require all visitors, performers, and staff to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 with matching identification. Additionally, masks will be required at all times. For more details on Flushing Town Hall’s Covid-safety measures and vaccine requirements, please visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/covid-safety.
FOR CALENDAR LISTINGS:
SUN, SEPT 12, 1 PM ET
Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashup #1 - Haiti Meets Middle East
GLOBAL MUSIC | IN-PERSON | VIRTUAL
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/common-ground-mini-global-mashup-1
Common Ground features artists seemingly different in discipline, practice, or cultural identity who explore global connections, celebrating distinctions that make cultures unique. Our NEW series Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups are curated by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Frank London (The Klezmatics) bringing together two amazing global music artists along with accompanists for an afternoon of music, conversation and exploration. Post-show Q&A. Called “The Joni Mitchell of Haiti,” songstress Emeline Michel is internationally acclaimed for merging native Haitian compas and rara music with jazz, pop, bossa nova, and samba into deeply moving, joyful music. Bandleader and solo artist Dan Nadel's style combines flamenco, jazz, and Middle Eastern influences. He also collaborates with Gypsy/Neo-Balkan, Macedonian band Tavche Gravche. This concert is accompanied by jazz pianist and composer, Yayoi Ikawa.
$15/$12 Members; Virtual: $7/$5 Members
This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
SUN, OCT 10, 1 PM ET
Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashup #2 - Balkan Romani Meets Ukraine
GLOBAL MUSIC | IN-PERSON | VIRTUAL
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/common-ground-mini-global-mashup-2
Common Ground features artists seemingly different in discipline, practices, or cultural identity who explore global connections, celebrating distinctions that make cultures unique. Our NEW series Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups are curated by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Frank London (The Klezmatics) bringing together two amazing global music artists along with accompanists for an afternoon of music, conversation and exploration. Post-show Q&A. California-grown, Brooklyn-based Eva Salina is a groundbreaking interpreter of Balkan Romani (gypsy) songs joined by her duo partner, accordionist Peter Stan. In their collaboration, Eva & Peter pick up the threads of an interrupted legacy of empowered female voices in Balkan Romani music. Seeking to amplify and celebrate voices of past generations of Romani women musicians, they employ tenderness, grace, and friendship in keeping these songs alive and evolving, while tending to living traditions and sharing with new generations. Zhenya Lopatnik speaks five languages, and uses this vast cultural knowledge to perform bold, meaningful music that combines American, Russian, Hebrew, and Ukrainian culture.
$15/$12 Members; Virtual: $7/$5 Members
This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
SUN, NOV 21, 1 PM ET
Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashup #3 - Yiddish Meets Argentina
GLOBAL MUSIC | IN-PERSON | VIRTUAL
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/common-ground-mini-global-mashup-3
Common Ground features artists seemingly different in discipline, practices, or cultural identity who explore global connections, celebrating distinctions that make cultures unique. Our NEW series Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups are curated by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Frank London (The Klezmatics) bringing together two amazing global music artists along with accompanists for an afternoon of music, conversation and exploration. Post-show Q&A. Lead Singer of the Grammy Award winning Klezmatics, Lorin Sklamberg’s Jewish and Yiddish roots influence his "transcendent" voice and musicality. Sofia Rei is an Argentinian vocalist and songwriter influenced by South American folk styles, jazz, pop, new classical and electronic music. This concert is accompanied by Caribbean born multi-instrumentalist JC Maillard.
$15/$12 Members; Virtual: $7/$5 Members
This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
SUN, DEC 12, 1 PM ET
Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashup #4 – US-Africa Meets China
GLOBAL MUSIC | IN-PERSON | VIRTUAL
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/common-ground-mini-global-mashup-4
Common Ground features artists seemingly different in discipline, practices, or cultural identity who explore global connections, celebrating distinctions that make cultures unique. Our NEW series Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups are curated by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Frank London (The Klezmatics) bringing together two amazing global music artists along with accompanists for an afternoon of music, conversation and exploration. Post-show Q&A. Newman Taylor Baker/WashboardXT is a jazz drummer and washboard player whose music has brought him to over 45 countries, and who proudly researches and celebrates his African-American Heritage. Feifei Yang is a Chinese musician and singer specializing in Erhu and Banhu performance, who has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and more! This concert is accompanied by NYC-based pianist and composer, Zhihua Hu.
$15/$12 Members; Virtual: $7/$5 Members
This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Support Global Arts With A Gift Today!
All gifts of $50 or more give you exclusive Flushing Town Hall Circle of Friends membership benefits including a Smithsonian membership, ticket discounts, and more! Donations in any amount are appreciated to support the artists and the nonprofit cultural organization as they continue to provide programming and entertainment across New York and the world.
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/circle-of-friends
Flushing Town Hall is a not for profit organization that receives major support from the National Endowment for the Arts; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; New York State Assembly Member Ron Kim; The City of New York, Major Bill de Blasio; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Commissioner Gonzalo Casals; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; The New York City Council, Speaker Corey Johnson; Council Members Costa Constantanides, Daniel Dromm, Barry Grodenchik, Peter Koo, Karen Koslowitz, Paul A. Vallone, Jimmy Van Bramer; Howard Gilman Foundation, Booth Ferris Foundation, Guru Krupa Foundation, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.
To view our current donor lists, please visit www.flushingtownhall.org/donor-listings
About Flushing Town Hall
Flushing Town Hall (FTH), a Smithsonian affiliate, presents multi-disciplinary global arts that engage and educate the global communities of Queens and New York City, in order to foster mutual appreciation. As advocates of arts equity since 1979, we support local, immigrant, national, and international artists, developing partnerships and collaborations that enhance our efforts. As a member of New York City’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), we serve to restore, manage and program the historic 1862 landmark on behalf of the City of New York. FTH celebrates the history of Queens as the home of Jazz, by presenting the finest in Jazz performance. We are committed to arts education and hands-on learning, for the arts-curious, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists. We serve one of the most diverse communities in the world and strive to uphold the legacy of inclusiveness that has defined our community since the Flushing Remonstrance of 1657.
Land Acknowledgement:
Flushing Town Hall acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Matinecock People, one of the original tribes of New York, and the first people of Flushing, Queens. The Matinecock continue to live and work on this land to this day. Flushing Town Hall honors their elders who have stewarded this land throughout generations.
For more information:
www.flushingtownhall.org
(718) 463-7700 x222
137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing, NY 11354