The Ba Ban Chinese Music Society of New York is a Chinese music group that conserves, generates, and performs Chinese traditional and modern performing arts. Named after an ancient piece of folk music, “Ba Ban” literally means “Eight Beats” which is the structural basis for the grouping of notes in traditional Chinese music. Founded in 1999, it is based in Queens, New York. The musician Zhou Yi co-founded the group. The ensemble includes highly accomplished artists who graduated from the top conservatories in China and have performed in concert halls around the world. The ensemble performs on “silk and bamboo” (sizhu) instruments: a classical instrumental grouping dating from the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) that includes various dizi (bamboo flutes), sheng (mouth organ), pipa (lute), qin (seven-stringed zither), ruan (alto lute), huqin (fiddles) and yangqin (dulcimer). In 2015, the group was recognized by the New York City Council for exemplary cultural service to the community.
The Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo, comprised of Valerie and Benedict Turner, are ambassadors of Country Blues music, the Piedmont style of fingerpicking, and roots percussion. Their mission is to help bring awareness to these unique aspects of African-American culture and the contributions of early blues artists through performing and teaching. Valerie’s fingerpicking is reminiscent of the intricate stylings of Mississippi John Hurt, Elizabeth Cotten, and Etta Baker. Although the Piedmont style is her main focus, her repertoire also includes pieces from the Delta Blues tradition. Benedict tastefully accompanies Valerie with a washboard style he developed after being inspired by Newman Taylor Baker, a classically trained drummer, and Washboard Chaz of Louisiana fame. Sometimes, he chimes in on bones or harp.
Led by percussionist Willie Martinez, the New York City Salsa All Stars are comprised of the most talented and accomplished Salsa musicians to be found anywhere in the country. The various members of the ensemble can be found on scores of iconic recordings by such notables as multi Grammy Award winners Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, Chico O’Farrill, Mongo Santamaria and dozens more. The incomparable swing of this great orchestra transcends musical genres, consistently leaving audiences on their feet screaming for more!
In her teaching and scholarly research, Emily Eagen uses innovative pedagogies within and across classical, early, contemporary, and traditional/folk music genres. Emily teaches individual and group/chorus voice lessons through her private studio in and around New York City, and on-line. She regularly leads voice and harmony classes at Brooklyn-based Jalopy Theatre that focus on traditional/folk music. She also is a regular faculty member at the Augusta Festival, a traditional/folk music festival held each summer at the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, West Virginia.
Eli Smith is a folk singer, banjo player and guitarist who grew up in New York’s Greenwich Village. Smith has recorded for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and Jalopy Records. He regularly performs as a solo musician and with the string band the Down Hill Strugglers. Eli has performed and recorded with John Cohen (New Lost City Ramblers) and Peter Stampfel (The Holy Modal Rounders and The Fugs), and has opened for songwriters Patti Smith and Steve Earle. He can be heard singing “The Roving Gambler” on the soundtrack to the Coen Brothers film Inside Llewyn Davis. Eli Smith has performed at festivals and venues including the Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, Newport Folk Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival, The Jalopy Theatre and many more. Eli is also a music producer, heading the annual Brooklyn Folk Festival and Washington Square Park Folk Festival and has curated releases of historic archival recordings, including the Harry Smith B-Sides for Dust-to-Digital and numerous albums for Jalopy Records.
The Brooklyn Folk Festival presents the best in American and world folk music and is a celebration of down home music, cultural diversity and memory. Each year, it draws talent from the New York, the national and the international world of folk, traditional and vernacular music. The annual festival provides an opportunity for community to come together, enjoy music and take part in workshops, film screenings, contests and jam sessions. The Festival is presented by the Jalopy Theatre & School of Music, a grassroots community space that is a music venue, presenting organization, music school, and record label. By growing the Brooklyn Folk Festival since 2009, the Jalopy has created a substantial and unique community event that brings together thousands of music lovers and hundreds of musicians to celebrate the valuable musical traditions of the world’s peoples.
