Traffic Jam
Funky Street Band 2008
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This summer I helped organize a new afrobeat/funk/world band for a series of outdoor performances out on the street in a busy intersection in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston. It’s been great fun seeing the diverse audience that shows up or discovers us playing – from little kids who dance around wildly, to teenagers who start out skeptical but end up getting into us, to the Nigerian guy who got unbelievably excited to hear us play a Fela tune, to the drunken Caribbean guy who shouted along happily when we struck up a reggae tune but loudly showed his disapproval whenever we played something in any other style!
It’s been wonderful to be in a funky band again and get the people up and dancing. Everyone in the group is having lots of fun so we’ll be continuing with the project in the fall.
32 Miniature Themes
Solo Musical Compositions 2008
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A collection of musical compositions created over the last year or so under my solo moniker Avocado Kid.
Each song can be thought of as a soundtrack to a distinct imaginary world. As most of them are quite brief, I conceive of them as miniature themes, conjuring the essential impression of a scene and story.
The instruments I play on these tracks include electric and upright bass, drum kit, guitars, electric piano and organ, violin, bamboo saxophone, trombone, synthesizers, drum machines, african and latin percussion, melodica, voice.
D’Orqestra
Polymorphous World Music Ensemble 2002
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Jenn Guitart – accordion, vocals
Ben Harvey – guitar, cello, mandolin, vocals
Josh Rosenstock – violin, vocals
Ben Samuels – mandolin, vocals
Ben Harvey – guitar, cello, mandolin, vocals
Josh Rosenstock – violin, vocals
Ben Samuels – mandolin, vocals
Listen to the D’Orqestra album, recorded in Josh’s room in 2002:
1. The Breakfast Song
2. Ça Gaz
3. Ederlezi
4. The Medley
5. Satta Massagana
6. Odessa Bulgar
7. No Soy De Aqui
8. Lilliana
9. Chanson Faux
10. Black Cat, White Cat
11. The Hora
12. By the Rivers of Babylon
