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November | December | January |

All events carry a $10 (very strongly) suggested donation, unless otherwise noted.

THE QUAVERS coax a luminous sound out of decayed samplers, walkmans, vibraphone, low-tech loopers, tape-echo violin and homespun harmonies. Like a space-age Carter Family, they weave grainy electronics around songs sturdy enough to stand up even if the power goes out. They call it "porch techno".

Thu 01/01

RACHELLE GARNIEZ. Rachelle Garniez is a native New Yorker who has earned the titles "Diva with a Difference" (Billboard Magazine) and "Master of Surprise" (Entertainment Weekly) by writing, performing and recording inimitable genre-bending tragi-comic story-songs and by playing a variety of instruments including accordion, piano, claviola, guitar and plastic bells.

TODD SICKAFOOSE'S TINY RESISTORS Bay-area native Sickafoose has performed and recorded with an impressive roster of musicians including Ani DiFranco, the Tin Hat Trio, Adam Levy and Barbès resident Jenny Scheinman. His work as a bandleader has earned him recognition as "a captivating improviser, imaginative composer, and master of collaboration." with Steve Cardenas (guitar), John Ellis (tenor sax, bass clarinet), and Alan Ferber (trombone), Rudy Royston (drums & percussion).

PINATALAND. A startling alchemy of strange-but-true history, haunting instrumentation, and sterling songwriting, Piñataland have become experts at conjuring the sad strangeness of history to life. The band's music, lurching from the epic and grandiose to the aching and elegiac, evokes some never-existing strain of pre-WWII chamber-rock. Tonight's performance features luminaries Ron Caswell (Slavic Soul Party) on tuba and Deni Bonet (Robyn Hitchcock) on violin.

LES CHAUDS LAPINS. Kurt Hoffman and Meg Reichardt cover Charles Trenet songs and other jewels from the French 30's and 40's musical traditions accompanying themselves on banjo-ukes. Prior to their re-incarnation as French entertainers, Meg was better known as one third of the Roulette sisters and Kurt as a reed player and composer who co-led cult instrumental band the Ordinaires and recorded with such luminaries as They Might bit Giants, Frank Black, Firewater, and Drink Me. They are backed by a string section composed of Karen waltuch -Viola; Andy Cotton -bass and Garo Yellin - Cello.

THE JACK GRACE BAND. The Martini Cowboy brings us his urban take on Country music. "One of the city's most personable and skilled country stars" Time Out NY

33 1/3 Multimedia Reading Series. every first Sunday of the month.
MICHAEL FOURNIER on the MINUTEMEN's Double Nickels on the Dime
The story of the Minutemen has been told before (Our Band Could Be Your Life, We Jam Econo), but this book focuses purely on their music – the punk ethic and the remarkable, enduring songs that comprise this, their greatest achievement. Including extensive interviews with Mike Watt and many others close to and inspired by the band, this is a great tribute to a classic piece of American underground music.
Michael T. Fournier teaches the history of punk rock at Tufts University. He also writes about music for Perfect Sound Forever and Trouser Press. He lives in Massachusetts.

STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephane Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards

CHICHA LIBRE. Every Monday! Chicha Libre plays a mixture of latin rhythms, surf music and psychedelic pop inspired by Peruvian music from the Amazon. The Brooklyn-based band mixes up covers of forgotten Chicha classics with French-tinged originals, re-interpretation of 70’s pop classics as well as cumbia versions of pieces by Satie and Ravel. Chicha Libre debut cd will be in stores March 25. With Greg Burrows - percussion; Joshua Camp - Hohner Electravox; Olivier Conan - Cuatro & Vocals - Nicholas Cudahy - bass; Vincent Douglas - Guitar - Timothy Quigley - percussion.

STEVE CARDENAS TRIO. A mainstay of such groups as the Paul Motian Octet & Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra to name but a few, guitarist Steve Cardenas brings in a newly formed trio covering a wide range of music with Ben Allison on bass & Rudy Royston on drums.

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Best Reason Tuesdays are the New Friday. Best of The Village Voice 2007. Balkan Party. Every Tuesday. For ever! Fiery Gypsy brass, soulful Balkan anthems, and hip-grinding American funk: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City; their half-decade bacchanal is a destination for locals as well as brass and Balkan fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last three cds (Teknochek Collision, Remixed, and Bigger) are all available from Barbès Records. John Carlson & Ben Holmes (trumpet), Peter Hess (sax/clarinet), Roland Barber and Tim Vaughn (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Peter Stan (accordion), Matt Moran and Chris Stromquist (snare/bubanj/darabouka), Eva Salina Primack (voice). $10. 9:00pm

STOCHASTIC BROOKLYN Every Wednesday curated by WFMU's Bethany Ryker. $10 per set
SOO BAE. Since her debut with the Korean Canadian Symphony at age eleven, Ms. Bae has concertized in Asia, Europe, Canada and the US, including such prestigious venues as Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. She was featured soloist for the closing ceremony of the 1997 Pablo Casals Festival in Puerto Rico, where she performed on Casals’ own instrument. She is the winner, of the 2006 Adam International Cello Festival & Competition in Christchurch, New Zealand, confirming her status among the premier cellists of her generation. She will be playing works by Elgar, Piatti and others.

8:00pm

THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
This legendary band was originally formed in Guinea, West Africa, in the late 1960’s by Guitarist Mamady “Djelike” Kouyate and singer Emile Soumah. Their music became some of the most beloved and influential of their generation and their songs were widely imitated. Mamady later went on to perform for many years with Guinea’s most popular group, Bembeya Jazz National. Now based in New York, Mamady Kouyate has decided to revive The Ambassadors. His electrifying guitar-work is supported by the new Mandingo Ambassadors, a crew of Guinean and American musicians who have steeped their glorious sound in classic 60's guinean mandingo music.

MATT KANELOS and PETE GALUB. Pete Galub is a Brooklyn-based songwriter and guitarist whose influences range from Thelonius Monk to the Byrds, Louvin Brothers and punk groups such as Wire and the Undertones. He has shared stages with the likes of Gillian Welch and Liz Phair. Matt Kanelos is pianist, singer and songwriter whose music owes a debt to Neil Young, Brahms and Charlie Chapliin

THE LUKE WINSLOW-KING TRIO and the BABY SODA JAZZ BAND
Luke Winslow-King is a singer-songsmith, multi-instrumentalist and composer from New Orleans who is inspired by rag time, impressionism, delta and country blues, poetry, folk, and classical composition, his sound is both rustic and elegant. The Baby Soday Jazz Band features members of New Orleans band the Loose Marbles and alumni of Stephane Wrembel's Hot Club of NY - with Ben Polcer, Trumpet; Patrick Harison, Accordion; Jared Engel, Banjo; David Langlois, Washboard and Peter Ford, Washtub bass.

THE WORLD AT BARBES
Timed to coincide with the APAP conference, twelve special performances
by artists from all over the literal and figurative map
January 9 through 13

Special APAP performances
MAVROTHI KONTANIS. The singer and oud player leads what is probably the best Greek ensemble around. Their repertoire draws from early 20th century Istambul, Izmir, Athens and Salonika: a blend of original compositions and rare old urban songs of the Aegean. Mavrothi just released two new albums featuring this very special repertoire. Featuring Lefteris Bournias - clarinet; Megan Gould - violin; Anastassia Zachariadou - kanun; Phaedon Sinis - politiki lyra (kemence); Timothy Quigley - percussion and Mavrothi T. Kontanis - oud, voice.

Special APAP performances
THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
This legendary band was originally formed in Guinea, West Africa, in the late 1960’s by Guitarist Mamady “Djelike” Kouyate and singer Emile Soumah. Their music became some of the most beloved and influential of their generation and their songs were widely imitated. Mamady later went on to perform for many years with Guinea’s most popular group, Bembeya Jazz National. Now based in New York, Mamady Kouyate has decided to revive The Ambassadors. His electrifying guitar-work is supported by the new Mandingo Ambassadors, a crew of Guinean and American musicians who have steeped their glorious sound in classic 60's guinean mandingo music.

Special APAP performances
ROB CURTO'S FORRO FOR ALL. Led by accordionist Rob Curto, the band plays the classic brazilian Northeast forros of Luis Gonzagua and Jackson do Pandeiro as well as orignial compositions. Forro comes from the African word “forrobodó” which means big party. Mispronounced by the English railroad workers in Brazil, Forró became For All. Forro Updating the traditional setting, Forro For All uses Accordion, Zabumba (a bass drum strapped on at an angle) and Triangle; Cavaquinho (ukulele-size steel string guitar), a 7-String Guitar (which plays the bass lines), and percussion such as Snare Drum, Agogo and Pandeiro. $10

Special APAP performances
JUAN CARLOS FORMELL' JOHNNY'S DREAM CLUB.
Grammy-nominated Cuban composer/guitarist/vocalist Juan-Carlos Formell is a 4th generation musician, now based in New York, part of what he calls "the diaspora generation." His fifth album, "Johnny's Dream Club", recorded in New Orleans, presents a stellar line-up of pan-Latino musicians: Cuban jazz pianist Elio Villafranca, Argentinian bassist Pedro Giraudo, Cuban percussionist Jorge Leyva, and Lewis Kahn, the renowned virtuoso of Latin jazz on trombone and violin.
Named for a legendary Havana jazz cabaret, Johnny's Dream Club representsa place outside time -- the vortex of the tumultuous force field between New Orleans and Havana, where the parallel lines of Cuban music and American jazz converge.
Juan-Carlos describes his new project as "a reflection of our culture today -- in the post-modern landscape, we are all refugees from the broken city, haunted, adrift at sea, in danger of losing our true reference points and losing our way forever. I keep returning to New Orleans for inspiration because the city I believe that here, at the crossroads of the Caribbean, it's
possible to create music that embraces the past while gazing at the future -- a new music without genres and categories." $10

Special APAP performances
MARIA DE BARROS. Chanteuse of Cape Verde
Cape Verdean chanteuse Maria de Barros invites us into her culture's joyful musical tradition, a danceable blend of both African and Latin rhythms. -“… De Barros is fully human, although her crystalline, soulful voice and otherworldly appearance defy reality.” - Global Rhythm

Special APAP performances
VAGABOND OPERA. New-Wave Bohemian Cabaret
Paris hot Jazz, gut bucket swing, Tangos, Ukrainian folk-punk ballads, Klezmer, and vigorous originals meet a world of riverboat gamblers, Turkish belly dancers, and the enigmatic Marlene Dietrich. This is not your granny's opera, but a highly eclectic theatrical experience. “A rabble-rousing vision of globalization, 1920s-style.” - SF Bay Guardian

Special APAP performances
GENTICORUM
Firmly rooted in the soil of their native Quebec, the energetic and original traditional ‘power trio’ also incorporates the dynamism of today’s North American and European folk cultures in their music. They weave precise and intricate fiddle and flute work, gorgeous vocal harmonies, energetic foot percussion and guitar and bass accompaniment into a big and jubilant musical feast. They have toured toured in over 15 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

Special APAP performances
STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephane Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards

CURHACHESTRA
The Curha-chestra is Curtis "Curha" Hasselbring's forum for reinterpreting his electronic music in a performance-friendly fashion. Curha's sample-based pieces and remixes are re- and deconstructed by his good pals Ron Caswell (tuba, bass), Brian Drye (farfisa), Tim Monaghan (drums and percussion) and Brandon Seabrook (guitar and banjo). Curha will, course, be present as well, wielding a trombone, guitar and maybe a few random plastic nightshades. Expect some rather odd segues....$10

Special APAP performances
LAS RUBIAS DEL NORTE
Their sound is a re-invention, a nostalgic throwback to a time and place mostly imagined where Peruvian waltzes, Andean huaynos and Cuban Guajiras mix with French opera, Cowboy tunes and Bollywood classics. The result plays like a dreamy soundtrack with classical harmonies set to a Latin beat. Songs on their latest album Panamericana have been called “sparlking gems” (The New Yorker) and their harmonies described as “pure as Andean air” (LA Times). The group has been featured on NPR's Weekend Edition, Studio 360 and the NY Times.

Special APAP performances
ONE RING ZERO. One Ring Zero is led by Michael Hearst and Joshua Camp. The band has released six CDs, including their acclaimed album, As Smart As We Are–which features lyrics by literary figures including Paul Auster, Rick Moody and Margaret Atwood. Using odd-ball instruments including claviola, accordion, and theremin, ORZ creates a musical landscape tha't is part cartoon, part klezmer, and part circus.

Special APAP performances
JENNY SCHEINMAN. Robbie Gjersoe (guitar/vocals) & Adam Levy (guitar/vocals) Jenny Scheinman works with a variety of performers including Rodney Crowell, Bill Frisell, Jason Moran, Madeleine Peyroux and Jimmy Dale Gilmore. When she is not touring the world, she can be found here most Tuesdays with an almost infinite variety of lineups. Adam Levy has been playing with Jenny Scheinman for nearly as long as either of them can remember, toured with Norah Jones for the whole run, has a whole catolog of solo instrumental and vocal recordings, and coaxes pure magic from the strings of his electric guitar. Robbie plays acoustic and electric, was born with a slide on his finger and has toured and recorded with outlaw country artists Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, The Flatlanders, The Greencards and Robbie Fulks.

Special APAP performances
SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Eastern Orthodox New Year!
Fiery Gypsy brass, soulful Balkan anthems, and hip-grinding American funk: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City; their half-decade bacchanal is a destination for locals as well as brass and Balkan fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last three cds (Teknochek Collision, Remixed, and Bigger) are all available from Barbès Records. John Carlson & Ben Holmes (trumpet), Peter Hess (sax/clarinet), Roland Barber and Tim Vaughn (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Peter Stan (accordion), Matt Moran and Chris Stromquist (snare/bubanj/darabouka), Eva Salina Primack (voice). $10. 9:00pm

STOCHASTIC BROOKLYN Every Wednesday curated by WFMU's Bethany Ryker. $10 per set
CHRISTOPHER HOFFMAN'S SAD COMPANION
Dulcet tones for the emotionally fragile, reckless abrasion for those who neglect them. Led by cellist Christopher Hoffman with Christina Courtin, Ryan Scott - guitar, Frank Locrasto - Rhodes, Bill Campbell and special guest Michael Pitt.

8:00pm

THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
This legendary band was originally formed in Guinea, West Africa, in the late 1960’s by Guitarist Mamady “Djelike” Kouyate and singer Emile Soumah. Their music became some of the most beloved and influential of their generation and their songs were widely imitated. Mamady later went on to perform for many years with Guinea’s most popular group, Bembeya Jazz National. Now based in New York, Mamady Kouyate has decided to revive The Ambassadors. His electrifying guitar-work is supported by the new Mandingo Ambassadors, a crew of Guinean and American musicians who have steeped their glorious sound in classic 60's guinean mandingo music.

THE UKELADIES. Audience sing-a-longs? Cheap champagne? Balloon animals? Delicious bacon? What more could you want? The Ukuladies, a perpetually-touring, twin-sister, aunt, and one tap-dancing-cousin act from Winnipeg, Canada with a lust for life and its idle curiosities include fraternal twins Genevieve (tenor uke, bari uke, banjo uke, voice, toy piano, flute, glockenspiel, penny whistle, and kazoo), Jimmy Lou (ukes, voice, fiddle, saw, kazoo), Aunt Mary (ukes, voice, kazoo, toys), and Cousin Bunny (tap, interpretive dance, toy accordion, party favors and antics).

MATT MUNISTERI. is a guitarist, composer and singer who likes pop music from the past 80 years - from Hoagy Carmichael to Bob Dylan - and his own songs should one day figure in the American pantheon of Great Tunes. He is here the 3rd thursday of every month.

JIM CAMPILONGO'S SUPERFINE BAND. Country Swing, Hot Guitar, Steel and beyond. Campilongo has been called an American Treasure" by Billboard magazine, and he keeps living to his reputation by playing music that owes as much to classic Telecaster twang as it does Thelonious Monk. With Jim Campilongo, Chris Cheek, Jon Graboff, Tim Luntzel and Andrew Borger.

MAMIE MINCH. The former Roulette Sister sounds like she stepped out of an old 78 recording, but plays mostly her own compositions which remained steeped in the music of Bessie Smith, Sarah Martin, Memphis Minnie and other greats.

KILL HENRY SUGAR. Music of the huddled masses. With the snap of a drum and the moan of a dobro, Erik Della Penna and Dean Sharenow create folk songs from the roots of gotham. Think Gangs of New York (book, not movie) and Metropolis (movie, not book). "Exquisite compositions, stunningly performed without a net" says Joan Baez.

STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephane Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards

STRANGE CARGO. an exciting blend of country, funk and rock and roll - all accentuated by two to four part vocal harmony. Featuring Byron Isaacs - Bass (Ollabelle); Pete Smith - Guitar (Hazmat Modine, Flying Neutrinos); Dave Berger - Drums(Elysian Fields); Skip Krevens - Pedal Steel (Western Caravan, The Moonlighters)

CHICHA LIBRE. Every Monday! Chicha Libre plays a mixture of latin rhythms, surf music and psychedelic pop inspired by Peruvian music from the Amazon. The Brooklyn-based band mixes up covers of forgotten Chicha classics with French-tinged originals, re-interpretation of 70’s pop classics as well as cumbia versions of pieces by Satie and Ravel. Chicha Libre debut cd will be in stores March 25. With Greg Burrows - percussion; Joshua Camp - Hohner Electravox; Olivier Conan - Cuatro & Vocals - Nicholas Cudahy - bass; Vincent Douglas - Guitar - Timothy Quigley - percussion.

OBAMA'S INAUGURATION.
You don't have to go to DC. We will be open at 11am and show the festivities live on our big screen in the backroom.

BLACK BEAR COMBO Black Bear Combo is Chicago's premier avant-gypsy-brass-punk band. Over the last four years they have brought their ecstatic sound to wedding, funeral, rock club and party audiences in Chicago and Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. Doug Abram - tenor and alto saxophone, Gerald Bailey - trumpet, Leslie - alto saxophone, Rob Pleshar - sousaphone, Dersu Burrows - bass drum.

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Best Reason Tuesdays are the New Friday. Best of The Village Voice 2007. Balkan Party. Every Tuesday. For ever! Fiery Gypsy brass, soulful Balkan anthems, and hip-grinding American funk: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City; their half-decade bacchanal is a destination for locals as well as brass and Balkan fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last three cds (Teknochek Collision, Remixed, and Bigger) are all available from Barbès Records. John Carlson & Ben Holmes (trumpet), Peter Hess (sax/clarinet), Roland Barber and Tim Vaughn (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Peter Stan (accordion), Matt Moran and Chris Stromquist (snare/bubanj/darabouka), Eva Salina Primack (voice). $10. 9:00pm

STOCHASTIC BROOKLYN Every Wednesday curated by WFMU's Bethany Ryker. $10 per set
BUY MY BOOK. Buy My Book is a new project co-led by the creative team of Alex Hills (piano/accordion) and Christopher Tordini (bass). There really is no book to buy. Good music though. With Becca Stevens - voice, Masahiro Yamamoto - sax, Greg Ruggiero - guitar, Jeff Davis - drums.

8:00pm

THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
This legendary band was originally formed in Guinea, West Africa, in the late 1960’s by Guitarist Mamady “Djelike” Kouyate and singer Emile Soumah. Their music became some of the most beloved and influential of their generation and their songs were widely imitated. Mamady later went on to perform for many years with Guinea’s most popular group, Bembeya Jazz National. Now based in New York, Mamady Kouyate has decided to revive The Ambassadors. His electrifying guitar-work is supported by the new Mandingo Ambassadors, a crew of Guinean and American musicians who have steeped their glorious sound in classic 60's guinean mandingo music.

THE SNOW. A folk-pop ensemble with jazz inflections. They could as likely be heard on the streets of Paris, St. Petersburg or Bucharest as in the rental basements of DUMBO. Their influences are as diverse as their sound – having been described in turns as post-apocalyptic French cabaret, gypsy pop, and carnival Americana. with Pierre de Gaillande (Melomane)- vocals and guitar; Hilary Downes - vocals, keyboards and pianohorn; David Spinley (Morricone Youth) - sax & clarinet; Jeffrey Schaeffer - drums and Christian Bongers (Botanica) - upright bass.

NATION BEAT. Brazilian Back Porch Romp & Stomp.
Unplugged and acoustic, Nation Beat will showcase songs from their new CD "Legends of The Preacher" as well as popular Brazilian and American standards in this rare intimate all acoustic setting. Nation Beat was just featured on NPR where the American music icon Willie Nelson heard them and invited them to perform with him at Farm Aid. Nation Beat is an explosive, groundbreaking ensemble that explores the deep-rooted connections between the musics of northeastern Brazil and North America. Led by 2006 Latin Jazz Ambassador, percussionist Scott Kettner, and sensational Brazilian vocalist Liliana Araujo, Nation Beat has quickly become one of the of the most exciting and culturally rich ensembles to hit the world stage. Their new album "Legends of the Preacher" seamlessly blends Brazilian maracatu, forro, coco, and ciranda rhythms with American rock, pop, country, bluegrass, and funk. With Scott Kettner: drums/percussion Liliana Araujo: vocals Skye Steele: violin/rabecca Mike Lavalle: bass Raphael McGregor: lap steel/guitar Rob Curto: accordion Eduardo Guedes: percussion.

MATUTO. Brazilian slang for "country bumpkin," Matuto plays all original music inspired by Northeastern Brazilian Rhythms and American Folk Music. For the past 3 years, guitarist Clay Ross has submerged himself in Brazilian music as a member of Cyro Baptista's world renowned percussion ensemble "Beat the Donkey." With Matuto, this South Carolina native mixes the best of Bluegrass and Baiao for a sound like a Carnival in the Appalachian Mountains. With Clay Ross - Guitars and Vocals; Rob Curto - accordion and Scott Kettner - percussion

THE MOONLIGHTERS. Gorgeous vocal harmonies interwoven with guitar and ukulele, the Moonlighters are as comfortable with classic Hawaiian melodies as they are innovative with their original songwriting. With Bliss Blood - vocals and ukulele ; Cindy Ball - vocals and guitar, Peter Maness - bass; and Mark Deffenbaugh - steel guitar.

THE PRE-WAR PONIES. 20's and 30's forgotten gems such as 'Pettin' In The Park', '(Give Me The) Moon Over Brooklyn', 'Pardon My Southern Accent', and 'The Gentleman Just Wouldn't Say Goodnight.'- with Daria Pancaldo - vocals & baritone uke; Jon Dryden - Piano & Tim Luntzel - bass and special guests tba.

CONJUNTO GUANTANAMO. Second generation Cuban musician Ulises Beato leads Conjunto Guantanamo, a band which plays Afro-Cuban rhythms such as Son Montuno, Guaguanco, Mambo, Guaracha and Rumba as well as modern Timba (the Cuban equivalent of New York Salsa) and descargas - the extended Cuban Jam sessions pioneered by Cuban legendary bassist Cachao. Unlike most New York Latin bands, Conjunto Guantanamo keeps a specifically Cuban focus on the music, drawing from the traditions of Matanzas and Havana as exemplified by Benny Moré, Sexteto Habanero, Miguelito Cuni and Arsenio Rodriguez. The result is adventurous dance music steeped in the Yoruba and Abakua traditions of Cuba – with new flavors borrowed from neworican salsa. with Osmay Calvo - lead vocals; Ulises Beato - conga and vocals; Eddie Valentín - bongó and vocals; Reut Regev – trombone; Pedro Cruz - bass and vocals; Manolo Alba – piano and Isabel Alfonso - backup vocals

BEN HOLMES TRIO. Trumpeter Ben Holmes leads his trio through original compositions, seeking to mingle the melodic and rhythmic turns particular to the folk music of Eastern Europe and the Middle East with the improvisational spontaneity and harmonic openness of jazz. Featuring Vinnie Sperrazza on drums and Dan Loomis on bass.

STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephane Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards

MICHEL HAUMONT. The french guitarist has played with a veritable who's who of french singers - George Moustaki, Maxime Le Forrestier, Pierre Barouh and Julien Clerc. He has also toured the world as a solo guitarist and composer.

CHICHA LIBRE. Every Monday! Chicha Libre plays a mixture of latin rhythms, surf music and psychedelic pop inspired by Peruvian music from the Amazon. The Brooklyn-based band mixes up covers of forgotten Chicha classics with French-tinged originals, re-interpretation of 70’s pop classics as well as cumbia versions of pieces by Satie and Ravel. Chicha Libre debut cd will be in stores March 25. With Greg Burrows - percussion; Joshua Camp - Hohner Electravox; Olivier Conan - Cuatro & Vocals - Nicholas Cudahy - bass; Vincent Douglas - Guitar - Timothy Quigley - percussion.

SKYE STEELE. Skye's arrangements bring American popular songs of his own generation crashing head-on with influences ranging from Turkish Gypsy music, to Afro-Brazilian, to French Impressionism. His own compositions combine driving, angular rhythms and darkly nuanced harmonies with an infectious sense of lyricism. With Harel Shachal, Turkish Clarinet and Alto Sax
Nir Felder, guitar; Josh Myers, Bass; Skye Steele, violin and voice.

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Best Reason Tuesdays are the New Friday. Best of The Village Voice 2007. Balkan Party. Every Tuesday. For ever! Fiery Gypsy brass, soulful Balkan anthems, and hip-grinding American funk: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City; their half-decade bacchanal is a destination for locals as well as brass and Balkan fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last three cds (Teknochek Collision, Remixed, and Bigger) are all available from Barbès Records. John Carlson & Ben Holmes (trumpet), Peter Hess (sax/clarinet), Roland Barber and Tim Vaughn (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Peter Stan (accordion), Matt Moran and Chris Stromquist (snare/bubanj/darabouka), Eva Salina Primack (voice). $10. 9:00pm

STOCHASTIC BROOKLYN Every Wednesday curated by WFMU's Bethany Ryker. $10 per set
JEREMY UDDEN'S PLAINVILLE
"With an uncommon instrumentation and a pluralistic stylistic orientation (rock, free, folk build upon the underlying jazz), Udden's group creates a resolutely new music where eclecticism and personal experience play an important role." - JAZZ MAN (FRANCE) Also described as "an appealingly dreamy roots-jazz combo" TimeOut NY), the group, named for Udden's home town, will release it's first for Fresh Sound New Talent in March, marking Udden's second as a leader for the label. Jeremy Udden - saxophone, Pete Rende - pump organ, rhodes, Brandon Seabrook - banjo, Opsvik, bass, RJ Miller, drums.

8:00pm

THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
This legendary band was originally formed in Guinea, West Africa, in the late 1960’s by Guitarist Mamady “Djelike” Kouyate and singer Emile Soumah. Their music became some of the most beloved and influential of their generation and their songs were widely imitated. Mamady later went on to perform for many years with Guinea’s most popular group, Bembeya Jazz National. Now based in New York, Mamady Kouyate has decided to revive The Ambassadors. His electrifying guitar-work is supported by the new Mandingo Ambassadors, a crew of Guinean and American musicians who have steeped their glorious sound in classic 60's guinean mandingo music.

THE MATT PAVOLKA BAND. A “virus-like sonic discharge”according to Jazz.PT Magazine .  They’re not sure what that means, but they like it.. with Matt Pavolka - bass; Ben Monder - guitar; Pete Rende - keyboards - drums tba.

GAUCHO. A West Coast Global Gypsy swing sextet which brings Klezmer, Brazialian Choros, Swing, and New Orleans to its Django-inspired mixture. They play every Wednesday at San Francisco's Amnesia, which we've been told is the Barbès of the West...

OPERA ON TAP. Opera is fun. Most people don't seem to realize how much fun it really is. In order to prove it, Opera on Tap has taken its act to barrooms where they found out that beer on tap enhances the operatic experience. The company is made up of young singers and instrumentalists who relish the direct contact with audiences not inhibited in their reactions by the looming menace of giant chandeliers.

ETHAN LIPTON & HIS ORCHESTRA. A soulful singer of wry, original songs, Ethan Lipton delivers tales of misfortunate everymen in deft, lyrical packages. His songs are steeped in American traditions of yore (jazz, blues, country), but his subjects are thoroughly modern (thrift stores, office crushes, renaissance faires). It all adds up to a hilariously cockeyed view of an odd, disjointed age (Popmatters called him “a man out of time”). Lipton is joined by his incomparable band (Eben Levy on guitar; Ian Riggs on standup bass; Vito Dieterle on sax), with which he recently toured and recorded his third album.

GATO LOCO plays arrangements of early Cuban son dance hits from the 1920s-1940s. The quartet plays the great compositions of Ignacio Pinero, Arsenio Rodriguez, Chano Pozo, Quarteto Habanero, Casino De La Playa, Maria Teresa Vera, as well as traditional folk songs, all filtered through subsonic instruments played as delicately as possible. tuba, bari sax, baritone acoustic guitar, and acoustic bass guarantees that you feel the music, rather than hear it. With Stefan Zeniuk (Bari Sax), Ari Folman-Cohen (bass), Joe Exley (tuba), Clifton Hyde (baritone guitar) and Greg Stare (congas)

RED BARAAT FESTIVAL. Baraat is Hindi for a marriage procession. In North India, it is a tradition on the day of the wedding for the groom to travel to his bride’s home on a magnificently decorated horse, accompanied by family and friends. Red Baraat Marching Band, led by international drumming sensation, Sunny Jain, it is the first and only Indian marching band in the States. Comprised of dhol (a double-sided, barrel shaped drum from Punjab), percussion and horns, this NYC-based group plays traditional baraat songs, Punjabi songs, as well as classic Bollywood numbers and originals.

STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephane Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards

STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephane Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards

CHICHA LIBRE. Every Monday! Chicha Libre plays a mixture of latin rhythms, surf music and psychedelic pop inspired by Peruvian music from the Amazon. The Brooklyn-based band mixes up covers of forgotten Chicha classics with French-tinged originals, re-interpretation of 70’s pop classics as well as cumbia versions of pieces by Satie and Ravel. Chicha Libre debut cd will be in stores March 25. With Greg Burrows - percussion; Joshua Camp - Hohner Electravox; Olivier Conan - Cuatro & Vocals - Nicholas Cudahy - bass; Vincent Douglas - Guitar - Timothy Quigley - percussion.

JENNY SCHEINMAN. Violinist/composer Jenny Scheinman works with a variety of performers including Norah Jones, Bill Frisell, Madeleine Peyroux and Jimmy Dale Gilmore. When she is not touring the world, she can be found here most Tuesdays with an almost infinite variety of lineup

SLAVIC SOUL PARTY. Best Reason Tuesdays are the New Friday. Best of The Village Voice 2007. Balkan Party. Every Tuesday. For ever! Fiery Gypsy brass, soulful Balkan anthems, and hip-grinding American funk: Slavic Soul Party! is just what it says. Brash and strong as slivovitz, these nine musicians have forged a virtuosic new brass band music in the heart of New York City; their half-decade bacchanal is a destination for locals as well as brass and Balkan fans from around the globe. SSP!'s last three cds (Teknochek Collision, Remixed, and Bigger) are all available from Barbès Records. John Carlson & Ben Holmes (trumpet), Peter Hess (sax/clarinet), Roland Barber and Tim Vaughn (trombone), Ron Caswell (tuba), Peter Stan (accordion), Matt Moran and Chris Stromquist (snare/bubanj/darabouka), Eva Salina Primack (voice). $10. 9:00pm

STOCHASTIC BROOKLYN Every Wednesday curated by WFMU's Bethany Ryker. $10 per set

8:00pm

THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS. Every Wednesday
This legendary band was originally formed in Guinea, West Africa, in the late 1960’s by Guitarist Mamady “Djelike” Kouyate and singer Emile Soumah. Their music became some of the most beloved and influential of their generation and their songs were widely imitated. Mamady later went on to perform for many years with Guinea’s most popular group, Bembeya Jazz National. Now based in New York, Mamady Kouyate has decided to revive The Ambassadors. His electrifying guitar-work is supported by the new Mandingo Ambassadors, a crew of Guinean and American musicians who have steeped their glorious sound in classic 60's guinean mandingo music.