Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Cuban Flute God Maraca Valle in NYC Wed. Oct. 1st

The most amazing Cuban composer/musician of the 21st century, Maraca Valle, is playing a one-nighter at S.O.B.'s in Manhattan tomorrow night, Oct. 1st, and if you are not completely insane, you MUST be there.

I first heard Maraca in San Francisco back in '98 and was TRANSFIXED when I saw him live at Yoshi's. This GRAMMY-AWARD winning musician is unbelievable. If you have any even remote appreciation of a) jazz; b) latin jazz; c) flute playing or d) salsa/rhumba/tango/even reggaeton then you will be head over heels about Maraca. The West Coast has embraced him, but for some strange reason, the East Coast is in a fog about him. His band is super tight--he writes and arranges all the music. His flute playing surpasses the level of technique and emotion in Wynton Marsalis's trumpet playing--and yet he makes it look as easy as breathing.

Get thee to S.O.B.'s WEDNESDAY, October 1 (Houston and Varick). 9 pm show. Tickets $20-$25 at the door. Next time he's in town, he'll probably be at The Garden so see him at a small venue while you have the chance!

Monday, September 29, 2008

Lenny Bruce Dissects Elections & Economy at Cornelia St. Cafe Sept 30

Three Rooms Press 
presents
LENNY BRUCE: 
DEAD & WELL
by Peter Carlaftes

Tuesday, Septebmer 30, 6pm
Cornelia Street Cafe
29 Cornelia St. 
( btwn W. 4th & Bleecker)
212-989-9319 
$12 (includes free drink)

As the elections draw nearer, no voice is more desperately needed than that of social satirist Lenny Bruce. With LENNY BRUCE: DEAD & WELL, by Peter Carlaftes, Bruce's insightful, uproarious commentary goes front and center once more. Lenny/Carlaftes has plenty to talk about. His hilarious afterlife perspective gives him a knowledge of all that came before, as well as all that's destined to happen in the future.

For instance:
-- What does Sarah Palin REALLY know about foreign policy? . . . and WHY isn't she TELLING?
-- Who's REALLY going to pay for the economic bailout? . . . and WHY are they happy to HELP?
-- Who REALLY killed JFK? . . . and WHY is this so SHOCKING?
-- And what about the elections? WHO is destined to win? . . . and WHY will you be AMAZED?

Because no one can persecute him anymore, Lenny's got a tough new attitude and tons of new material that takes its cue from such Lenny Bruce classics as "Religions, Inc.," "How Hitler Got Started" and "To Is a Preposition, Come Is a Verb."

New York native writer, actor and director Peter Carlaftes fully embodies the essence of the comic genius. The SF Weekly says: "Carlaftes IS the reincarnation of Lenny Bruce." His comic timing is impeccable, and his material never fails to inspire. He recently opened for 94-year-old comic legend Professor Irwin Corey, and is just back from a European tour that garnered critical acclaim.


For reservations, please email threeroomspress@mac.com or call 212-989-9319.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

HOWL Festival offers Cool Book Fair!

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Poet Robert Gibbons at Cornelia St. This Friday

Celebrate the end of staycation time this weekend, starting Friday at 6 pm at Cornelia Street, where the Son of a Pony reading series kicks off the pre-fall with the jamming sounds of poet Robert Gibbons. You can get a taste of his work on youtube with his great work, "This Scroll is on a Roll" but live is where he really kicks into high gear, unleashing a fleshed-out torrent of imagery with a voice that's truly all his own. His poetry has appeared in Riverdale Press, Palm Beach Post, Nomad Choir, Side of Paradise and Rogue Scholar. and many, many on-line publications.

PLUS: Host Kat Georges warmly invites you to arrive early (say, 5:45-ish?) to be sure to sign up for New York's most VARIED open reading. YES! All this for only $7 admission AND it includes a free drink. PLUS you can order anything from Cornelia Street's incredible menu (risotto! Yum!).

Here's the easy to read details:

Son of a Pony Poetry Reading Series
Friday, September 5 at 6 p.m.
Host: Kat Georges
Featured Poet: Robert Gibbons
Cornelia St. Cafe (www.corneliastreetcafe.com)
29 Cornelia St. (between W. 4th and Bleecker)
Reservations: 212-989-9319