Monday, February 13, 2006

From the inbox:

ZEITGEIST GALLERY TO MOVE; THE LILY PAD SPROUTS UP IN ITS PLACE

 

Announcing the establishment of a new venue for creative, original music: the Lily Pad.

 

On March 1st, 2006, the Lily Pad will sprout up in the Inman Square location that currently houses the Zeitgeist Gallery.  The Zeitgeist's director, Alan Nidle, is relocating the gallery around the corner to 186 Hampshire Street.  Gill Aharon, who co-owns and lives above the gallery's current Cambridge Street abode, will be assuming full responsibility for the Lily Pad.

 

Aharon and partner Alan Carrier bought the property--a national historic building registered as Cambridge's oldest functioning wooden commercial structure--when foreclosure proceedings began in 2002.   Aharon wanted to ensure that the space would continue to function as a venue.  The building is a magical location that benefits from the ghosts of the 1369 Jazz Club of two decades ago, and Aharon could not imagine a better spot to create a permanent home for musicians and artists.  He secured most of the musical equipment for the gallery, including his 7-foot Kawai piano, and is responsible for bringing such Zeitgeist staples as the legendary Fringe's weekly residency and the Wednesday night open jam session.  These-as well as all of the currently established residencies-will continue to play in their usual time slots at the Lily Pad, so the musical content will be similar to what you've come to expect from the Zeitgeist Gallery. 

 

However, one can expect a ramping-up in the intensity of the music program at the new venue.  Although Zeitgeist director Alan Nidle will continue to curate art for the Lily Pad's walls, the Lily Pad will make its focus more music-based. There are already some new series in the works, including the establishment of a Sunday-afternoon "musical prayer" event starting in April led by Jeff Robinson and his trio. This is in addition to the already established series including the Tuesday night tango, Thursday's Hammond organ shows, and the Saturday afternoon Classical Appetizer.  Rob Chalfen's subconsciouscafé series will continue to showcase the eclectic and bizarre.  The Pad will continue to reflect a wide range of genres and be a place for the unusual and underrepresented.

 

The ethos, as Aharon describes, is to provide a venue for activities that encourage sustained focus and inspiration.  Future plans include the establishment of a music, math, and martial arts summer and after-school program for children, improvisation and composition workshops, ensembles, and a Lily Pad Big Band.

 

Also in the works is the establishment of an online record label that will release many of the accumulated live recordings, including most of the Fringe concerts, as well as events like the Pianofest. These will be available in digital form as well as limited-edition hard copies.

 

The venue's new manager, Andrew DiMola, who has brought in musicians like Trevor Dunn (Fantồmas, Mr. Bungle, John Zorn's Masada), Apollo Sunshine, and Dana Colley (Morphine), is responsible for the booking, and is reachable via email at easybooking@gmail.com.

 

Brett Rautenberg is the venue's webmaster and archivist.  Rautenberg, who is also the webmaster for Ropadope Records, has made a name for himself as the go-to person in town for quality live recordings of shows.   He's been recording the Fringe every week since July 2004 and has amassed a veritable library of live shows.  This huge archive will form the basis for the formation of the Lily Pad's record label.

 

Rachel Koppelman is the venue's publicity consultant.  Koppelman, who heads the publicity department at Powderfinger Promotions, will help to publicize the Pad's major happenings (venue news, festivals & major events).  She is also excited to launch the Floating Opera concert series under the auspices of the production company she co-heads with Andrew Bergmann, Floating Opera Records & Productions.

 

Kathleen Fulton, illustrator, graphic designer and product genius, is working on the new sign and logo.

 

This stellar team of young, motivated people will infuse the halls of the venue with fresh energy.  And with nearly all of the people at the helm being working musicians, the Lily Pad is in the unique position of fostering a true community of musicians working together in the collective interest of the music itself.

 

The Lily Pad will celebrate its grand opening with a performance featuring a double-header of Bar Rot (Max Ribner - trumpet, Rick StoneDave Coniglio - drums, Andrew DiMola bass and compositions) and the Gill Aharon group (Dave ConiglioRick Stone, Alec Spiegelman - horns, Eric Hofbauer - guitar, Andrew DiMola - bass, Gill Aharon piano and composition).  So mark your calendars for March 1, (8pm amd 10pm).  There will be a $10 suggested donation, and proceeds will go to the building fund.  Following the show will be the weekly jam session.

2/13/2006 1:15:01 PM by On the Download | Comments [0] |