Monday
Oct 05
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6:00PM
MONOLOGUES & MADNESS
Tulis McCall, host
Shy people break out of their performance inhibitions, extending the borders of mental health.
Cover $7
(includes one house drink)
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8:30PM
AMRAM & CO
David Amram, piano, french horn, flutes, composition & surprises;
Kevin Twigg, drums, glockenspiel;
John de Witt, bass;
Adam Amram, percussion;
John Ventimiglia, actor
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This series explores in his highly personable, generous and informal style the astonishing variety of David Amram's interests
and accomplishments--renowned composer of symphonic classical music, jazz compositions, improvisation, spoken word,
scat, he sits at the piano, schmoozes about music, about the greats, the beats, the obscure, the legendary; plays the French
horn, pulls out all kinds of instruments (flutes, drums, horns) gathered from his many circumnavigations of the globe, pulls in
guests drawn from just about every artistic walk of life.
Cover $10
www.davidamram.com
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Tuesday
Oct 06
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6:00PM
MOLLY’S STORY
Kathleen Frazier reads from a work in progress, Molly’s Story, an historical novel and second book in the Irish American Maguire family series. It is told through the eyes of a sixteen year old ghost who immigrated to New York in 1899. Meet up with silkies, stowaways and the kindness of strangers.
"I've just returned from an all too brief visit to Dublin and can't wait to hear yet again Kathleen's beautiful Irish lilt."
_Angelo Verga (Poet Laureate of The Cornelia Street Cafe)
Cover $7
(includes one house drink)
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8:30PM
SPEAKEASY: STORIES FROM THE BACKROOM
Sharon Spell, host
Tracy Rowland;
Allen Norvick;
Andy Christie;
David Wolkin;
Kambri Crews;
James Braly
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SpeakEasy is . . .
A new twist on the ancient tradition of oral history.
SpeakEasy is people telling stories-- true stories. Period. No scripts. No crib notes. No rehearsals.
SpeakEasy has a dynamic and constantly changing cast of storytellers that include such greats as Mike Daisey, Jonathan
Ames, and Reno, along with homemakers, lawyers, dog walkers, street magicians and writers
You never know what you'll hear. So join us for what could be a life changing experience!
Cover $10
www.speakeasystories.com
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Wednesday Oct 07
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6:00PM
FREE RANGE READINGS
Mira Ptacin, host
Our favorite newly wed orchestrates a somewhat new genre with many young clever practitioners. As sexy as it sounds.
October 7th readers include:
Among the readers this month are the lovely and talented Claudia Cortese, Aldina Kennedy,
and Claire Shefchik
Featuring :
Jeffrey Gustavson, the editor of Epiphany magazine. He will be reading from “The Little Iceberg; or, Can You Say ‘Solipsism’?,” an autobiographical essay.
as well as American novelist Mark Childress, author of six novels: A World Made of Fire, V for Victor, Tender, Crazy in Alabama, Gone for Good, and One Mississippi. Mark is a native of Alabama and now lives in New York and Key West.
Cover $7
(includes one house drink)
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8:30PM
ENSEMBLE ELEKTRA
Elektra Kurtis, violin;
Curtis Stewart, violin;
Lefteris Bournias, clarinet;
Stuart Popejoy, bass;
Kahlil Kwame Bell, drums;
Babatunde Don Eaton, percussion
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Ensemble Elektra brings a fresh perspective to jazz and world music, blending the modern beat of New York City’s life with its leader's multi-ethnic roots. The all star musicians’ repertoire of original compositions and improvisations fuses contemporary jazz and western classical music forms, with funk and ethnic music from Greece, the Mediterranean and North Africa. Musicians: Elektra Kurtis, violin, Curtis Stewart, violin, Lefteris Bournias, clarinet, Stuart Popejoy, bass, Kahlil Kwame Bell, drums and Babatunde Don Eaton, percussion play with both a nod toward tradition and a flair for the new. Visit us at:
www.elektrakurtis.com
Ensemble Elektra’s music was recently called by the audience "Mediterranean Dixieland" and described by All About Jazz as “profound yearning, ecstatic wailing, and an aching beauty.
Cover $12
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Thursday
Oct 08
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6:00PM
QUETZAL QUILL
Rigoberto Gonzales, host
An extraordinary reading put together by one of our most gifted hosts, too bad we can't get him back to NYC on a regular basis.
BLAS FALCONER, A Question of Gravity and Light
TYEHIMBA JESS, leadbelly
HELENA MESA, Horse Dance Underwater
SUSAN B.A. SOMERS-WILLET, Roam & Quiver
Cover $7
(includes one house drink)
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8:30PM
GNU VOX: DEADRA HART & MEL FLANNERY
David Devoe, curator
Deadra Hart, voice;
Zach Brock, violin;
Jim Ridl, piano;
Matt Clohesy, bass;
Fred Kennedy, drums;
Mel Flannery, voice;
Lee Pardini, piano;
Matt Aronoff, bass;
Danny Sher, drums
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Regarded by fellow jazz singers as “a dynamic improviser who interprets a lyric with sincerity and a beautiful sense
of style,” Deadra Hart’s unique, crystal-clear voice breathes new life into music. This New York City –based vocalist
has lived and performed all over the world, from Los Angeles to the Midwest and from Amsterdam to Ecuador.
Deadra is an active performer, leading a jazz quartet that mixes traditional jazz elements with gorgeous, original
melodies. Her debut album, Wherever I Go has already sold hundreds of copies and can be heard on jazz radio
stations as far away as Indonesia and Australia. Deadra has recently been exploring her newfound passion for the
songs of South America with her Latin jazz trio, Ligaçao. She has been praised by critics and musicians alike as “a
woman who sings with sophistication” (Cincinnati Post) and “a superb musician with exquisite taste” (Paris Rutherford
– Vocal Jazz Arranger).
Since 2003, Mel Flannery Trucking Co. has carved a home for themselves in New York's most influential independent and jazz venues including Joe's Pub, the Cutting Room and Rockwood Music Hall. Defining what it is to be a 'band' and not a group of hired musicians, Mel Flannery Trucking Co. has developed an organic and nuanced sound that comes on easy, but leaves one breathless in its wake. The songwriting of frontwoman and namesake, Mel Flannery (with the occasional co-writing of pianist Lee Pardini) is an exercise in balance; blending complexity and accessibility, heartbreak and humor, wisdom and youth. MFTC injects electricity and fire in their live performances, shunning the notion that a jazz is ‘background music.’ Playing songs off their two acclaimed self-produced records, MFTC is an unforgettable event of jazz for a new audience.
Cover $10
www.deadrahart.com
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www.melflannery.com
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Friday
Oct 09
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6:00PM
SON OF PONY
Jackie Sheeler, host
The Friday night legendary open mic poetry series.
Arrive before 6 pm to sign up.
Cover $7
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9:00PM & 10:30PM
BEN WALTZER GORUP
Bill McHenry, tenor saxophone;
Ben Waltzer, piano;
Matt Penman, bass;
Gerald Cleaver, drums
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This no-nonsense jazz pianist in the Ellington and Monk vein (who has
occasionally written for Arts & Leisure) gets a big, ringing sound out
of the extreme registers of the instrument; he also takes a decisive
stand against the ultra-sensitive, lush-harmony tendency of so many
young jazz composers. "One Hundred Dreams Ago" (Fresh Sound), with a
trio including the bassist Matt Penman and the drummer Gerald Cleaver,
is by far the best thing he's done, but he hasn't been making records
for very long.”
--NYTimes
“Brilliantly performed…very impressive.”
- Ahmad Jamal, jazz piano legend, of Waltzer's ‘100 Dreams Ago.’
"In the era of concept records, this startling young pianist has
flipped the script: the message behind One Hundred Dreams Ago is
‘let's just play.’ Accordingly the trio gets its bustle on.
Ellington's small groups are in the air here, and the pleasure Waltzer
generates is bountiful.”
- Jim Macnie, the Village Voice
Cover $12
www.myspace.com/benwaltzer
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Saturday
Oct 10
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6:00PM
ITALIAN-AMERICAN WRITERS ASSOCIATION
Maria Lisella, Gil Fagiani, hosts
Italian American Writers Association, featured readers are: TBA, plus open mic, 5 minute limit.
Cover $7
(includes one house drink)
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9:00PM & 10:30PM
JAMES SHIPP’S NÓS NOVO: CD RELEASE PARTY FOR “STRANGE SWEETHEARTS IN AMERICA”
James Shipp , vibraphone, percussion, shrutis;
Jo Lawry, voice, mandolin, melodica;
Gilad Hekselman, guitar;
Rogerio Boccato, percussion/drums
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Nós Novo is vibraphonist/percussionist James Shipp’s vehicle for the exploring Celtic musics and their connections to Afro-Brazilian grooves and modern, open-minded jazz improvisation. The ensemble is made up of vibes, voice, guitar, and percussion; instrumentation that offers a wide spectrum of timbres and configurations, but few opportunities to fall into conventional role-playing. Their treatments of Irish reels, jigs, and sean-nós songs both celebrate and deconstruct traditional folk musics -- Irish repertoire comes out sounding like it’s from elsewhere, and their renditions of songs by artists like Björk, José González, and Milton Nascimento end up sounding Irish.
Nós Novo’s new recording, “Strange Sweethearts in America”, is an eclectic mix that crosses cultural and stylistic boundaries in an effort to bring universal themes to the surface. As one listener remarked upon hearing it: ” I love how effortlessly [Nós Novo has] blended Dublin, Rio, and Istanbul into one unified vibe. You'd think it was a no-brainer after hearing this record!”
Cover $10
www.jamesshipp.com
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www.myspace.com/nosnovo
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Sunday
Oct 11
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6:00PM
POETRY & JAZZ
Kirpal Gordon, poet;
Steve Elmer, piano
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The return of jazz pianist Steve Elmer and jazz writer Kirpal Gordon to the Cornelia Street Café.
For a YouTube preview of their amazing wedding of word and song, go to BeBopElmo.
The critics say:
---Elmer’s Fire Down Below, “The music is gorgeous. You get wrapped up in each song like it's a novel you don't want to put down.”
---Gray Hunter, BlogCritics.Org
---Gordon’s Speak-Spake Spoke, “Precise of word and rhyme and ready of wit, his poetry aligns closely to jazz music.”
---Fred Bouchard, All About Jazz
Cover $10
(includes one house drink)
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8:30PM
KRIS DAVIS TRIO
Kris Davis, piano;
Eivind Opsvik, bass;
Tom Rainey, drums
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Performing new compositions from Davis' soon to be release trio record-
Good Citizen- on Fresh Sound records. Expect to hear intricate forms with
explosive improvisation. Featuring Tom Rainey and Eivind Opsvik.
"Davis' compositions are carefully drawn but explosive."-Jazz Times
Cover $10
www.krisdavis.net
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Monday
Oct 12
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6:00PM
THE WHITE SWALLOW READING SERIES
co-curated by Angelo Nikolopoulos and Mark Rice
Mark Bibbins ;
Bianca Stone;
Guillermo Castro;
Michael Montlack
The White Swallow Reading Series, featuring Bianca Stone, Guillermo Castro, Michael Montlack, and Mark Bibbins.
The White Swallow Reading Series is a forum for queer, queer-friendly, and outspoken poets and prose writers who explore issues of identity in an honest, bold way. We welcome writers who explore the boundaries of language, take risks, and challenge traditional definitions of gender. Co-hosted by Angelo Nikolopoulos and Monica McClure.
FEATURED WRITERS
Bianca Stone is the co-curator of the Ladder Poetry Reading Series and received her MFA from NYU’s creative writing program in poetry. She is also a freelance illustrator and her most recent poetry publications include The Patterson Literary Review, Fou, Agriculture Reader and Elimae. Her blog is called Poetry Comics. She lives in Brooklyn.
Guillermo Castro’s work is forthcoming or appears in Quarterly West, The Bellevue Literary Review, The Brooklyn Rail, LaFovea, EOAGH, Nthposition, Barrow St, among others, and the anthologies My Diva, This Full Green Hour, My Diva, Saints of Hysteria, and more. His translations of Olga Orozco, in collaboration with Ron Drummond, appear in Guernica, U.S. Latino Review and Visions. He lives in New York City and is a native of Argentina.
Michael Montlack is the editor of the essay anthology My Diva: 65 Gay Men on the Women Who Inspire Them and the author of three poetry chapbooks: Cover Charge (Winner of the 2007 Gertrude Prize); Girls, Girls, Girls; and The Slip. His work has appeared in Cimarron Review, Swink, New York Quarterly, Poet Lore, Court Green, Columbia Poetry Review, and other journals. Recently he was awarded residencies from Ucross, Soul Mountain Retreat, VCCA and Lambda Literary Retreat. He splits his time between New York City and San Francisco.
Mark Bibbins lives in New York City and teaches at The New School and Columbia University. He is the founding editor of The New School's LIT magazine. He has been published in journals including Poetry, The Paris Review, The Yale Review, Boston Review and in anthologies such as Take Three: 3. He is the author of Sky Lounge, which received a Lambda Literary Award, and The Dance of No Hard Feelings.
Cover $7
(includes one house drink)
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8:30PM
COMPOSERS COLLABORATIVE: SERIAL UNDERGROUND
Jed Distler, host
Stephanie Kai-win;
Saar Ahuvia;
Deborah Atherton;
Momenta Quartet
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Serial Underground, “the subversive nightclub series” (Time Out NY)
Allan Kozinn (New York Times) contextualizes CCi’s
monthly performances in the basement of the Cornelia Street Cafe – “... part of the ecology of urban night life.” CCi artistic
director, Jed Distler, curates the programs abetted by director Arnold Barkus and lighting designer David
Lovett.
Tonight:
The Stephanie & Saar DUO return for a Serial Underground residency, with
works ranging from Conlon Nancarrow’s wildest excursions to Bill Evans’ most
urgently lyrical inspirations (piano duo).
Writer/reader Deborah Atherton waxes upon Columbus Day and Halloween
Momenta Quartet plays Gordon Beeferman’s String Quartet (chamber danger).
Box office: 212.663.1967 (advance purchase discount available)
Admission at the door: $15 gen’l, $10 student/sr + one drink minimum
www.composerscollab.org
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October 05-October 12, 2009 
