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Archive for the “cello” Category

Songstresses From the Edge


Jody Redhage, voice & cello

Molly Thompson, voice, piano, & accordion


Last month, Songstresses from the Edge gave their debut concert at First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn. The program featured a number of guest artists and composers (including yours truly). The evening’s through-line was “indie art song:” vocal concert music that combines modern classical reference points and instrumentation with contemporary indie pop signatures and energy. Think Wordless Music meets a hipper, up-to-date version of Lilith Fair.


Jody and Molly will be taking the Songstresses from the Edge project to California next week, presenting two programs of original compositions.


Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 4:00 pm


Old First Concerts at Old First Church,

1751 Sacramento St. (at Van Ness),

San Francisco, CA.

$15 general admission/$12 for seniors & students.


Thursday, October 29, 8-10 PM


A’Roma Roasters

95 5th Street

Santa Rosa, CA 95401

free/donations accepted

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Amy X Neuburg’s latest: Singer + Three Cellists

Amy X Neuburgs new CD with the Cello Chixtet

Amy X Neuburg's new CD with the Cello Chixtet

Amy X Neuburg & the Cello Chixtet

The Secret Language of Subways

MinMax Music

As I mentioned last week in File Under?, WNYC’s Spinning on Air recently devoted an episode to singers accompanied by cello. In addition to  a set by Jody Redhage’s new group Fire in July, the episode also devoted coverage to Amy X. Neuburg, a composer/singer/percussionist who’s partnered with three cellists on her latest recording The Secret Language of Subways.

Neuburg and the Cello Chixtet are a compelling ensemble. The arrangements make use of the full range of the cello, never feeling bottom heavy. Neuburg’s voice is a true crossover instrument, encompassing musical theater belting and soaring operatic high notes. The material is correspondingly diverse. “Closing Doors” recalls Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, with a layered vocal coda that recalls Freddie Mercury! “Someone Else’s Sleep” is a lovely alt-pop number, with dovetailing cellos and sumptuous support vocals. “Difficult” brings things closer to experimental terrain, mixing slashing cellos with patter song and drumstick percussion.

YouTube: “Difficult”

More “legit” sounding is “This Loud,” which makes use of both cello and vocal layering, set over jittery, propulsive rhythms. Primarily originals, the CD includes one memorable cover, “Back in NYC” from Genesis’ The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Here, both the Neuburg and the Chixtet are in fine fettle, mixing neoprog and classical signatures to create an effective and thematically unifying closer.

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