The JDs and Yael Deckelbaum

Wednesday March 25, 2010 @ 8:00 PM

"While each of these talented women is individually recognized as an accomplished player and vocalist, it is their combined artistry that creates an unparalleled musical dynamic" - 2011 The Standard Times

The JDs - who are Liz Simmons, Nicole Zuraitis, Kath Buckell and Hadar Noiberg, blend stunning renditions of traditional and contemporary original folk music and elements of improvisation from each of their cultures. There is a strong educational component to their music that is not only embodied through song with beautiful blend of harmonies though through storytelling as well that studies the history of how these cultures came together and influenced one another.

Liz Simmons grew up listening to her mother sing traditional songs from Ireland, Scotland, England and America, as well as the New Orleans brass music her father plays. Since then, she has developed a vocal and guitar style that draws from her musical history in folk, roots and ballad traditions as well as the sounds of contemporary folk music, and she has also become a respected songwriter– her original melody for the traditional song "False Sir John" reached #1 on the international folk DJ charts. Liz is known for her work with Annalivia, the John Whelan Band, and Long Time Courting. Her singing is featured in the film "Time and Charges" (2013), written and directed by Grammy and Emmy award winner Ernest Thompson. "A honey voiced singer... Simmons sings with winsome ease and genuine feeling." –Dirty Linen Magazine

Singer/songwriter and pianist Nicole Zuraitis has been turning heads with her huge voice and catchy melodies since she returned to New York in 2009 as Suzanne Lorge from ALL ABOUT JAZZ recognized her as "...the big-voiced, well schooled singer". She reflects a broad mixture of jazz, pop, r&b and indie fusion where she bridges the gap between genres and unleashing her unparalleled vocals. Having recently returned from a tour of Asia and India, she shared the stage with the extraordinary Jane Monheit for the performance of "Jane Monheit and the Ladies of Jazz". She recently was recognized as a finalist in the 2013 Songdoor International Songwriting Contest, as well as selected for the 2013 New York City Battle of the Boroughs Competition. Nicole has opened for jazz legend Dave Brubeck, as well as "the Platters" and collaborated with world renowned Indian carnatic guitarist and composer Prasanna. She was featured by Columbia News Tonight as "New Yorker of the week" for her work with music and shelter animals. "Zuraitis’ fluid, natural sound is very much richly expressive and wide ranging... her composing full of jazz sensibility and great emotional depth, open to a variety of influences.... an emotive voice with seductive warmth.... 'Pariah Anthem' is a winning exhibition of her performance and songwriting skills." Owen McNally HARTFORD COURANT

The Australian counterpart Kath Buckell is a rising Folk/Rock artist in the USA opening for JEWEL and BEN TAYLOR and receiving airplay in the US, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Germany and the UK, charting on the following US charts: #63 on the National Folk DJ chart, #25 on the Roots Music Report Top 50 Internet Airplay Chart (for 6 weeks), #27 on the Antiquarian Librarian Breakthrough Recordings for 2012, Top 40 Americana Chart at KVMR (CA), Top 25 AAA chart at WVIA (PA) #12 on the Americana station at WERU (ME) and already won honorable mention at the Mid Atlantic Song Contest for her song ‘Orphaned By The Color Of My Skin’ along with a national radio representation that gave astonishing reviews for her new record… “ Faces Do Not Change stands as the strongest singer-songwriter albums I’ve heard in years” The Gazette (Tom Stauder, 2012) She has toured from Australia, Israel and now the USA and has found her roots in a project that is preserving traditional Australian poetry put to her original music. This new project call Faces Do Not Change was produced by Daniel Jakubovic and supported by well known producer Jaruslav Jakubovic (Bette Midler, Paul Simon, Carly Simon) with guest appearances of Bette Midlers very own Harlette, Ula Hedwig, where she did a beautiful rendition of her song Bird Of Mine.

Hadar Noiberg hails from Israel growing up with its eclectic musical culture. Hadar was surrounded by various musical styles that are a part of the Israeli melting pot; Middle Eastern, Eastern European, Yemenite and Moroccan Music to name a few. Since arriving in New York Hadar has been one of the leading players in the Cuban scene and Jazz scenes showcasing at Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club, Central Park Summer Stage, WOMEX, Iridium Jazz Standard, Merkin Hall and Lincoln Center to name a few. Hadar has been a featured performer with Dave Valentine, Anat Cohen, Omer Avital, Joel Frahm, Alvester Garnette, Junior Rivera, Louis Kahn, Rufus Reid and many more.

“…Noiberg is an extremely gifted flutist who manages to bring out the deep colors and soul of her flute. With it she presents music that is nevertheless jazzy, and yet still reminiscing of Israeli music, of home.” – Lilit Vagner, Yediot Agaronot (nation Israeli newspaper)

Craig Akin is an in-demand upright and electric bass player living in New York City. Between 1997 and 2007 he averaged 270 gigs a year in his musical hometown of Kansas City. There he developed his rhythm and tone while playing or recording with nearly everyone on the jazz and blues scene. Craig has also performed with emerging pop and indie songwriters as well as legendary jazz artists including Tim Hagans, Pete Christlieb, Frank Mantooth, John McNeil, Dick Oatts, Karrin Allyson, Gary Foster, Bobby Watson, Dave Pietro, Claude Williams, Ken Peplowski, among others. To continue his growth as a musician, Craig moved to New York in 2007. He honed his skills even further with the help of Jay Anderson, Scott Colley, and Larry Grenadier. Craig was thrilled to be able to study with legendary Miles Davis bassist, Ron Carter, for two years.

"Craig Akin is one of the most versatile bassists I've worked with. He is equally skilled with acoustic or electric bass and can play any style. Regardless of the setting, Craig always plays with commitment and creativity." -Kerry Strayer, Artistic Director/Conductor, Kansas City Jazz Orchestra

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Yael Deckelbaum (Singer/Songwriter) was born in Jerusalem, Israel, in 1979.

At the age of 16 she won first prize in a national contest for the best young singer-songwriter in Israel.

In 1999, After two years of serving in military band Yael had been chosen to perform as a vocal soloist with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra at a tribute concert to the Beatles, directed, and conducted by Sir George Martin [arranger and producer for the Beatles].

There she met Shlomo Artzi – long considered Israel’s leading singer-songwriter – and toured with him for two years, joining him on a hit duet of his famous album, “Ahavtihem”.

Yael is also a founding member of “Habanot Nehama”, a superb female trio together with Karolina Avratz , and Dana Adini. Their album to date has sold over 50,000 copies in Israel alone, and has also been released in Germany, Austria & Switzerland.

Yael’s first solo album (Ground Zero) had been released in Germany, Austria, France and Benelux. Three of her songs were featured on the international TV series “The L Word” and two were featured in the movie “Antarctica’ , in which Yael was also one of the actors.

Over the years ,Yael has been performing all over Germany and Europe playing solo and with “Habanot”, in many venues and festivals such as Fusion Festival, Ziget Festival, Rudelshtat Festival & many more .

Yael is known for her versatility and has collaborated with many different national and international artists, such as Peter Kruder(Kruder & Dorfmister), Yossi Fine, Eli Degibry, Dani Sanderson, Rona Kenan, Shabak Samech, Hadag Nachash, Rami Fortis, Tamar Izenman, Geva Alon, Funkenstien & more...

Yael has been chosen to be the opening act for Chris Cornell .

After releasing her second solo album “Joy & Sadness” , Yael has been invited by Mashina (Israel’s most highly considered rockband), to join them for a two year tour, and has performed with them all over Israel & the US.

These days Yael is releasing her third solo album, "Enosh", produced by Yossi Fine, and funded successfully by a Kickstart project.

Links:

Tickets:

$22, $32