Seth Kibel: News

 

Hey there, folks!

2010 got off to a bit of a slow (and snowy) start, but things are starting to kick into high gear now.  A few highlights:

On Saturday, February 28, the 24th annual Washington Area Music Awards (or "Wammies") were held at the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia.  I'm happy to report that, once again, I was honored with two Wammies from my colleagues in the greater Washington musical community.  I was given the Wammie for "World Music Instrumentalist" for the SEVENTH year in a row, and "Peace, Love and Coffee" became the 4th album by The Alexandria Kleztet to receive the Wammie for "World Music Recording." 

Plus, it was a pretty busy night for me, because I was also the leader of the pit band for the awards show.  That's right -- I was the guy cutting off everyone's acceptance speeches!  For the occasion, I threw together an all-star conglomeration of some of the area's best and brightest musicians:  trumpeter Justine Miller, trombonist Brian Priebe, pianist Sean Lane, guitarist Phil Mathieu, bassist Scott Harlan, and drummer Wes Crawford.  We called ourselves "Seth Kibel & DC Time Machine," and we played a wide variety of material associated in some way with our nation's capital.  It was our debut gig, and since I seldom get calls for bands that play both John Philip Sousa and Chuck Brown, it was also probably our farewell performance.

 

In other news, I want to hip everyone to the brand new album from SONiA & disappear fear.  It's called "Blood, Bones & Baltimore," and it's really an amazing record.  And I'm proud to report that I'm all over it!  I urge all of you to check it out!

Hey there, folks!

This Wednesday, August 26, we'll be kicking off a series of "official" CD Release shows for our brand-new album, Peace, Love and Coffee. We decided to start right at the top, so we'll be performing at the most prestigious venue in the Greater Washington area, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. We'll be playing from 6 to 7 pm on The Millennium Stage. As I mentioned, it's completely free, and no tickets are required. And if you can't make it in person, you can watch it live (or archived after the fact) on the web here:

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/

We'll be playing a program almost entirely of music from the new record which will be, of course, available for purchase from your friendly Kleztet sales team. We hope you can make it!

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We're kicking the promotion for this record into high gear, so anything you can do to spread the word would be greatly appreciated. Tell your friends. Tell your enemies. Tell your frenemies. Speaking of which, this Friday, August 21, you can hear extended excerpts from the new album, plus a witty and wacky interview with yours truly, on Metro Connection, WAMU's (88.5 FM) award-winning local affairs program. You can hear the show live at 1 pm, or anytime afterwards at the Metro Connection website.

And the great press just keeps rolling on in:

Here's a great review from DC's On Tap Magazine

We've been getting a lot of airplay on various folk, world music, and Judaica radio shows all across the country. If you listen to one, please request us! If they don't have our album yet, let us and know and we'll send 'em one!

So don't forget to buy the new record -- it's available on-line just about everywhere fine music sold, both as a physical CD and as a digital download. And go friend us on MySpace and/or Facebook and/or ReverbNation and/or OurStage. We'd love to sink our many digital tentacles into your online lives...

I've got two fun swing dances coming up this weekend. Different locations, different bands, and different music -- so hopefully I'll see you at one or the other.

First, on Friday, June 12, my award-winning jump blues outfit, The Natty Beaux, will once again be playing for a dance at The Washington Dulles Hilton, in Herndon, Virginia.

The dance runs from 9 pm until midnight, with a free lesson at 8:30 pm. Admission is $15. Click here for more information.

Here's a sneak preview on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozwP1fUcQo4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Then, on Saturday, June 13, I'll be leading a quartet for a very special swing dance at The Dickeyville Mill in Baltimore, from 9 pm to midnight.

With me for this engagement will be pianist Sean Lane, bassist Bob Abbott, and drummer Mark Carson. Together, we'll be celebrating the recent centennial of the King of Swing, Benny Goodman, who would have been 100 years old on May 30.

We'll be playing three hours of music associated with this giant of American music, and doing our best to live up to the high standards he set.

The Dickeyville Mill is located at 4900 Wetheredsville Road in Baltimore, and a free introductory dance lesson will be taught at 8 pm.

Click here for more information.

And here's a peek at Mr. Goodman in his prime:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh93540ymaY

There's a bunch of cool shows coming up in the next week that I wanted to put on your radar.
 
First off, on Wednesday, May 6, The Alexandria Kleztet will be giving yet another of our famous free shows at The Peabody Institute in Baltimore.  This concert will be from 7 to 9 pm, and is completely free -- no ticket required.
 
We'll be in Leakin Hall 16, which is one of the larger dance studios.  It's rather hard to find, so I'd recommend just entering Peabody through the main entrance on Mount Vernon Place, and then asking the friendly security officer to direct you.  Peabody is located at 1 East Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore.  For directions, just call 410-659-8100 or click here.
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Then, on Friday, May 8, my award-winning jump blues band, The Natty Beaux, will play a hot and sweaty swing dance at The Chevy Chase Ballroom from 9 pm until midnight.
 
The name notwithstanding, The Chevy Chase Ballroom is located at 5207 Wisconsin Avenue in NW Washington.  The admission is $15, and includes a drop-in beginner lesson from 8:30 to 9 pm.  For directions, or more information, just click here.
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Finally, on Sunday, May 10, it's Momma's Day!  And what better way to kick-off this special day than with some hot coffee, unique shopping, and free klezmer music?
 
As such, we'll be playing a free show at DC's historic Eastern Market from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm.  We'll be on the corner of 7th Street and North Carolina Avenue, SE, just outside of Port City Java (which is where I'll be when we're not playing).
 
Eastern Market is a really fun, festive place, with lots of opportunities to support the local DC economy while buying lots of pretty things for Mom and treating her to a lovely morning.
 
Click here for more info.
 
See ya!
 
- Seth

Just a real quick note to let you know that I'm gonna be giving a special klezmer concert in Metairie, Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans, this coming Monday evening, April 27. 
 
It'll be at 7:30 pm at Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation.  It's free, and it's open to the public.  For more information, just click here, or call the temple at 504-889-1144.
 
It's JazzFest time in New Orleans, so I'm delighted to be adding to the cornucopia of fine music that can be heard down in the delta over the next two weeks.
 
Accompanying me for this performance will be the fine pianist, and fellow New Yorker-in-exile, Sean Lane.
 
If you're down in that neck of the woods, please stop on by, and if you know anyone who lives down that way, please feel free to let 'em know!

Hey folks!

So this is my brand-new website! It's clearly a work-in-progress, so please check it out, and let me know if you have any comments, complaints, criticisms, or concerns.

Thanks!