The Afro-Semitic Experience is an American roots band with a difference--they merge Jewish and Afro-diasporic melodies and grooves, combining the core concepts of ase and shalom - power, action, unity, and peace.
As legendary jazz critic, Nat Hentoff wrote “. . . never before have I heard this lyrically powerful a fusion of Jewish and jazz souls on fire. . .” The Afro-Semitic Experience's music is described by critic Carlos Ramos as "a whoopin', hollerin', testifyin' celebration of multicultural soul music. Imagine Charles Mingus sitting in with a Klezmer band, playing Gospel music set to the polyrhythmic pace of congas and bongos."
The name of the group says it all: Afro-Semitic Experience. Imagine a band that smoothly and creatively moves from Klezmer to hard bop in the same piece. Imagine musicians who have found a way to play with the feel of both a synagogue and an African American church. This is root music-- soul jazz meant to move you as they make a joyful noise!!!
The Afro-Semitic Experience has been together for almost 17 years. The group was founded in 1998 by pianist Warren Byrd and bassist David Chevan. It all began when the duo were invited to play at a Martin Luther King memorial service. They thought this was going to be a one-time gig, but during the reception following the service they had received four more performances. And that is pretty much how it's been since then (word of mouth may be a slow way to grow a group but it is honest and real). As this project grew the duo quickly expanded into a seven piece ensemble that could play music of almost any style from the Jewish and African American musical traditions. In so many ways the Afro-Semitic Experience is a truly American band, albeit the America of immigrants and forced migration and it is the music of freedom that brings these musicians together. In the past sixteen years the band has recorded 8 albums and given concerts throughout the United States.
I'll be joined by Dana Astmann, Will Bartlett, Hedda Rubenstein and Cynthia Astmann for a depressing set of melodramatic songs of misery (and also maybe one or two songs of hope and liberation to barely balance things out, also it's going to be Passover in a couple of days so maybe a rendition of my arrangement of Eliyahu Hanavi)
I'm going to play the opening set at the Tuesday night New Haven Jazz Underground Jam Session. I'll be playing some of my originals along with interesting covers
After almost a four-year COVID hiatus, I am returning to Elm City Market to play for the Jazz Brunch series. I'll be joined by Ellynne Rey on vocals, Abdul-Rahim Sands on drum set, and Andrew Wilcox on keyboards
I've curated a set of songs, mostly from Eastern Europe, that reflect the various ways that Jews have reflected on this season. Joining me will be Cynthia Astmann and Hedda Rubenstein on vocals, Dana Astmann on accordion, and Will Bartlett on clarinet
very excited to play on the Wednesday night jazz series at Black Eyed Sally's. Leading a stellar quintet from behind. Please come enjoy me jamming with Sarah Uyar on trumpet, Will Bartlett on sax and reeds, Mary DiPaola on piano and Alvin Carter, Jr. on drum set
Please join us for a very rare club performance. We'll be playing two sets of Klezmer and Yiddish songs for dancing and listening. First set at 8:00 pm Second set at 9:30 pm.
To mark the 50tg anniversary of my Bar Mitzvah and the 20th anniversary of the release of my CD The Days of Awe I will be performing works from that recording with the musicians who recorded it with me
This event is part of the New Haven Jazz Underground Series. After our set there will be a jazz jam session