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Brad Hammonds Group – Greene Street (2012)

Posted by S. Victor Aaron

Photos by Clay Patrick McBride

I’m not sure if it’s the composing pen of someone who’s soaked in Ani DeFranco, Tool, Metallica and Shakti, or the insertion of an electric bass among all those acoutsic string instruments or the creative rhythms or the inclusion of Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber players, but there’s definitely something a little different about acoustic guitarist Brad Hammonds’ music. For his upcoming album Greene Street, he decided to cobble together a quartet of musicians who can help him create a set of instrumental music that would better exploit his acoustic guitar skills and an eclectic songwriting background. The Brad Hammonds Group is thus made up of Hammonds, cellist Will Martina, bassist Jason DiMatteo and percussionist Mathias Kunzli (Nick Russo adds banjo and mandolin where needed).

You could call this music “bluegrass,” but at times it’s by default. Hammonds can redirect his very capable band to so many parts of the country and of the world: there’s the bluesy, hoedown thump of “Stomp,” the Appalachia symphony of “Chesapeake,” and the multi-mood “If This, Then That” (see Youtube below). But it’s not all Americana; “Parisian is a modern take on the prewar French swing of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt, “Further East” has a Middle-Eastern flair, “Summer Feel” feels like European chamber music and “Ryan The Lion” appears to blend Celtic with North African folk music.

[SOMETHING ELSE! REWIND: Brad Hammonds Group's own Will Martina is a force on his own as a cellist, composer and bandleader, as his recent recent release The Dam Levels affirms.]

Everywhere on this album, Kunzli’s percussion adds another kick in the pants to these tunes: as a drummer first, Hammonds understands rhythmic concepts first hand and allowed his percussionist to play bolder than what’s usually allowed in these kind of settings. The Brad Hammonds Group, however, don’t approach anything in a necessarily conventional way, yet it all somehow comes together impulsively with a rich composite sound. Not too unfamiliar but definitely not rote, Hammonds is onto something good, here.

Original Post 

Monday, July 02, 2012

Brad Hammond is a singer/songwirter. He started his music career, right here at Caffe Vivaldi, some 7 years ago. Now he is a very successful entrepreneur, but his passion and first love is making music. Below is the review of his new album.   
-Sullivan dF

Sunday, July 1, 2012CD Review: 
Brad Hammonds Group's 'Greene Street'

      

Brad Hammonds Group Greene Street Self-Release

The effervescent world folk music of guitarist Brad Hammonds adds another dimension to the world of music with his fellow bandmates. The folk guitarist composes instrumental guitar jams that are accompanied by cello, banjo, mandolin, bass, and percussion. The lightning fast acoustic picking is top-notch and readily processed by all who listen to it's twinkling melodies. The folk percussion and Brad's 12 and 6-string guitars add a little Appalachian splendor to the mix. The ten tracks represent a lush collection of emotive compositions are fun to listen to and each one reveals something new with every listen. Fans of Ben Bowen King, Bob Brozman, European/Celtic traditions, and instrumental guitar-folk music will love it.
 ~ Matthew Forss
 “Inside World Music"

Mary Jennings video shot at Caffe Vivaldi

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VbrD2jWNszA

The first person who can guess how many wrist watches Mary is wearing, 

gets a free Caffe Vivaldi Martini!!!

Stepanie Carlin’s band gets a new recording contract!!!

                                                                 Stephanie Carlin

The band recently got a recording contract with an amazing jazz label. Thank you for giving us a space to perform together, refine our craft, and build a fan base. Caffe Vivaldi is such an amazing spot.

Lots of love,

Stephanie

--

Stephanie Carlin

stephaniecarlin.com

                                             Warren Malone’s new album cover shot at Caffe Vivaldi


"Warren Malone has created an absolutely amazing album.“And The Ants Ate The Bee” never sounds the same twice/absolutelyspellbinding/each listen feels fresh and different/The album is like a audio kaleidoscope/And then there’s that voice…an entirely unique instrument that sounds like a slightly androgynous soul singer/this album deserves repeated spins."
Andy Miller/
www.folkyourself.comless

Satsang meet-up @ Caffe Vivaldi, Sat. 6/23, 5-7pm

Aarthi Be. is a lawyer, singer, yogi, and friend of Caffe Vivaldi

In our busy city, packed with achievers, so much of how we interact with people is goal-oriented and proceeds from a closed position. Communities are already defined, and gatherings almost always have a purpose. My friends Lydiah and Ochoro put me up to hosting a monthly salon, which kicked off as a satsang (literally, "truth gathering" in Sanskrit) - borrowing from both the continental and subcontinental traditions of gatherings proceeding from an open position. The response to the first invitation was overwhelming. More people wanted to attend than could fit. So I asked Ishrat of Caffe Vivaldi if he would be interested in giving satsangs a trial run. Caffe Vivaldi still puts first the seeding and maintaining of an open, creative community. Brought together by a warm host, strangers become acquaintances and acquaintances become collaborators. It's a perfect, soulful spot for a motley, honest lot.
- Aarthi Be.

Jones Street Music & Wine Festival @ Caffe Vivaldi (6/7/2012)

Jones Street Music and Wine Festival (Thursday, June 7, 2012) was the brainchild of Joel Zighel, singer/songwriter/pianist and the owner of Jones Street Wine, who curated the evening’s music program. The show delivered more than it had promised. The idea was to do things the old-fashoned way -- invite people from the neighborhood and have a party: wine tasting, followed by live music performances, food and drinks. For some people from the neighborhood, stepping inside the venue was their first experience of the colloborative culture on which Caffe Vivaldi thrives. Almost all of the musicians who performed had their roots in Caffe Vivaldi’s Open Mic Night and its regular artists’ roster. The emcee of the show was the idiosyncratic quintessentail Village figure, Joel Cohen, fondly known as The Sticker Dude. The way he ran the proceedings in a professional but genteel and friendly manner added to the success of a memorable evening.

—Ishrat

Partial list of the performers:

Joel Zighel - Curator

Sticker Dude - Emcee

Ace Elijah

Adam Bonahan

Amy Vachal

Bianca Merkley

Jamie Bendel

Jeremy Nash

Jon D’Angelo

Josh Taylor

Matt Succich

Sarah Chesler

Tim Nugent

Tod Kramer

Tracy Thorne 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz4iFV3gQqg

Per 

Stephen Stavola

Vinyl Record Release Event at Caffe Vivaldi - Sunday, June 10

A vinyl record - nostalgic and comforting, old school and somehow still easy on your ears. I believe my music of violin and voice fits best on vinyl. This being my first vinyl record, I wanted to have a release show where people could listen - someplace where intimate words and comforting music wouldn't be lost amidst background noise. I chose Caffe Vivaldi. I have always enjoyed playing and listening there. It is nostalgic and comforting to me, just like vinyl. The wooden walls, beautiful bar, and recital grand piano give it an air of an old jazz club, where locals might pop in for a drink now and then. I look forward to the next time I can perform there... maybe when I release the next record...

Ben Russell
benrussell.bandcamp.com
www.benrussellmusic.com
www.bryantparkquartet.com