On Stage (Extra): Tord Gustavsen cooks up something special

If/Then comes to Philly for six-day run, June 21

By Denny DyroffStaff Writer, The Times 

tord gustavsen

Tord Gustavsen, Jarle Vespestad and Simin Tander.

Tord Gustavsen’s latest project is like the musical equivalent of a master chef fusing together culinary elements from a number of very diverse cuisines — elements that do not seem as if they are at all compatible — and coming out with a very tasty new dish.

Gustavsen, a jazz pianist and composer from Norway, will bring his trio to town on June 20 for a show at Fringe Arts (140 North Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, 215-413-1318, http://fringearts.com).

His current trio features Norwegian drummer Jarle Vespestad and Afghan-German vocalist Simin Tander. The three talented musicians are touring in support of their new album “What Was Said,” which was recently released on ECM Records.

The album features music set to Sufi poems by Rumi, Norwegian Lutheran hymns sung in Pashto, a poem by the Sufi-influenced poet Kenneth Rexroth, and several instrumentals.

“We’ve done 50 concerts since the album came out in January,” said Gustavsen, during a phone interview last week from his home in Trondheim, Norway. “We’ve been growing tighter and freer at the same time. It’s a beautiful paradox.

“I’ve never had the urge to do something different just to do something different. There were several processes leading up to this trio. I had completed a double circle of album trilogies – first in the classical piano-bass-drums trio format and then in a quartet/extended ensemble format. Then, the bass player left the band to pursue a solo career.

“I had done six albums the old way so I figured it was time to try a new soundscape. I started with electronics and optical sensors that trigger MIDI from movement on the keys of the piano. It fascinated me. I incorporated some synth bass. I wanted to keep playing with my drummer — to keep that interplay we had developed.

“At the same time, I heard Simin’s quartet album and was so struck by the colors and timbres of her voice. I was also impressed with the sound of her voice singing in Pashto — the intriguing mysteriousness of it.”

Gustavsen also tapped into his Scandinavian roots — the traditional Norwegian Lutheran hymns he grew up singing and playing in church.

“I wanted to connect with my roots of playing in church,” said Gustavsen. “It was a crazy idea but not a crazy idea of translating the Lutheran hymns into Pashto. I realized it might be possible. I met with Simin and she already knew some of my music.

“We met a tried a little bit — exploring the potential of interplay. And, it worked out. It’s a liberal Sufi-Christian amalgam. We became a new trio and recorded the album a year ago.”

Video link for the Tord Gustavsen Trio — https://youtu.be/rWJGYA18i5Y.

The show at Fringe Arts will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

Philadelphia and Wilmington are great cities for fans of touring Broadway shows with full seasons presented by the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and the Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington.

If/Then

If/Then

Most of the shows that are presented each season are tried-and-true winners — favorites such as “Camelot,” “Annie,” “The King and I” and “Cabaret.” Fortunately, there are also a few new ones thrown in here and there — national tours of productions making their area debut.

One of these new shows is visiting Philly for a six-day run from June 21-26 at the Academy of Music (Broad and Locust streets, Philadelphia, 215-731-3333, www.kimmelcenter.org). The show, which is part of the Kimmel Center’s “Broadway Philadelphia” series, is “If/Then.”

“If/Then” is a hit musical that opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in March 2014.

Produced by David Stone, of the team behind the record-breaking musical “Wicked,” the first National Tour of this production brings together original Broadway cast members Jackie Burns (“Wicked,” “Hair”) and Anthony Rapp (“Rent,” “Six Degrees of Separation,” “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”) with Tamyra Gray (“American Idol Season One Finalist,” “Rent”), and Matthew Hydzik (“Side Show,” “West Side Story,” “Grease”).

“If/Then” is an original Broadway musical which reunites composer Tom Kitt, book writer/lyricist Brian Yorkey, and director Michael Greif — the creative team behind the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical “Next to Normal.”

This contemporary new musical follows two distinct storylines in the life of Elizabeth, a city planner who moves back to New York to restart her life in the city of infinite possibilities. When her carefully-designed plans collide with the whims of fate, Elizabeth sees her life split into two parallel paths. “If/Then” follows both stories simultaneously as this modern woman faces the intersection of choice and chance.

She meets her friends Kate, a kindergarten teacher, and Lucas, a community organizer, in Madison Square Park. Kate suggests that Elizabeth start using the name “Liz” and seeking out new experiences. Lucas suggests that she go back to her college nickname, “Beth,” and start making professional connections in the city.

 “Liz” stays in the park with Kate while “Beth” leaves with Lucas, and the remainder of the show depicts two paths that Elizabeth’s life could take. One of the other main characters is “Anne,” who is Kate’s girlfriend/partner.

Janine Divita plays the role of “Anne” and also is the understudy for “Elizabeth.”

“This is a very interesting and funny show,” said Divita, during a phone interview last week. “It holds people’s attention.”

Divita, a native of Kansas City, was a music theater/communications major at Michigan State University. After graduating in 2007, she immediately moved to New York.

“About a year after I moved, I got the role of Rizzo in ‘Grease’ on Broadway and then also did a national tour with the show,” said Divita.

“I didn’t know much about ‘If/Then’ when I auditioned. But, I knew Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey so I knew it would be really good. We started rehearsals in New York and L.A. and then teched and opened in Denver. It officially opened in October.

“This show is about choice and destiny — about chance and connectiveness. The message is that we should trust the process, trust the journey and trust the universe. It’s a beautiful and powerful show — and the music is wonderful.

“Elizabeth’s split comes in the very first scene. She makes one decision. From that, she takes two paths. My character is one of her friends who encourages things. Kate is the first person Elizabeth meets and I play Anne, Kate’s lover/wife.”

The show is entertaining, inspirational and motivating.

“It’s a message about moving forward — about the importance of keeping that forward motion. People who see the show love it. They come up to us all the time and say that their lives have been affirmed and changed.”

Video link for “If/Then” — https://youtu.be/-JscWhkRLT0.

The show at the Academy will be performed June 21, 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m., June 24 at 8 p.m., June 25 at 2 and 8 p.m. and June 26 at 1 and 6:30 p.m.  Tickets start at $20. 

On June 21, the World Café Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, philly.worldcafelive.com) will host a singer who had her own “If/Then” situation. She has a highly successful career as a backup singer and is also an established artist on her own.

Judith Hill

Judith Hill

Judith Hill, a Los Angeles native, has provided backing vocals for such artists as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Josh Groban.

In 2009, Hill was chosen as Jackson’s duet partner for the song “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You’” during his “This Is It” concert tour. She also is a talented and versatile solo artist.

A number of her original ballads — including “Desperation” — were featured in the 2012 Spike Lee film “Red Hook Summer.” In 2013, Hill became a contestant during the fourth season of the TV show “The Voice.”

“I’ve always been an artist on my own,” said Hill, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “Touring with Michael Jackson was like a dream come true — and Stevie too.

“Finally, I realized — I’ve got to stop doing these dream gigs and do what I’m called here to do — even if it was tough financially. Still, I’m really thankful for those opportunities.”

Hill has been praised by Rolling Stone for her “stellar powerhouse vocals.” Hers is one of the stories told in director Morgan Neville’s acclaimed “20 Feet From Stardom,” a film that shines the spotlight on the untold true story of the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 21st century.

The film has won the Film Critics Award for Best Documentary and an Academy Award for Best Documentary. The film also won the 2015 Grammy for Best Music Film. Hill, who was also featured on the film’s soundtrack, was a contestant on season four of “The Voice.”

As a solo performer, Hill has already garnered much praise for her live performance as opener for Josh Groban, John Legend and Prince both in the US and the UK. Her debut album, “Back In Time,” produced by herself and Prince is out now on NPG Records.

“I’ve already finished making another record but I’ll be touring this one until the end of the year,” said Hill. “I’ve got a band with a lot of great musicians — including my mom and dad.”

Hill’s mother is a classically-trained pianist from Tokyo who met Hill’s father in a funk band in the 1970s. Her father played in Sly and the Family Stone.

“Some of the songs on ‘Back in Time’ were older and some were written in the two-month period prior to making the record,” said Hill.

Obviously, having Prince produce the album was a life-changing experience.

“I was doing a television interview and was asked who I would like to have produce my album,” said Hill. “I said ‘Prince.’ Not long after, he reached out to me. I had songs that I had already written. Prince invited me up to Paisley Park in Minneapolis, and I jammed with his band.

“The sessions were fun. It was old school — just jamming with the band. We kept coming up with cool arrangements. We were recording to tape. All the recording was analog. Everything was very organic — and very refreshing.”

Another break for Hill’s career was her time spent on “The Voice.”

“I wanted to break out from just being a backup singer,” said Hill. I was ready to put out a solo record and ‘The Voice’ was a good way to get exposure. It did what it was supposed to do for me. And, it came at the right time.”

Video link for Judith Hill — https://youtu.be/2bzPrQvs1fo.

The show at the World Café Live, which has Ginger Coyle as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10.

grand shell game

grand shell game

Also on June 21, the grand shell game will be in Philly for a show at the Tin Angel (20 South Second Street, Philadelphia, 215-928-0770, http://www.tinangel.com). The grand shell game just released its debut album “man on a wire” on June 11.

The band’s line-up features e-s guthrie (guitar and vocals), Daniel Fields (electric guitar), Dylan Turner (bass/vocals), Joe MacPhail (keyboards), Rob Davis (drums/percussion/vocals) and Rob DiMauro (drums/percussion/vocals).

“I had been touring solo but I got burnt-out doing it for so long,” said Guthrie, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from the band’s home base in Carrboro, North Carolina.

“This band had its start in May 2014 when we all ended up in the same room at the same time. “I met Daniel first and he brought in Joe M. Dylan was in a band with Rob Davis. Then, Rob Davis was unable to play shows for awhile so we got Rob DiMaura. The first Rob came back and now there are six of us.

“My stuff has always been interpreted as fairly folky because I was playing my acoustic guitar. I had songs so I gave them to the band to see what they could do with them. Now, I write lyrics and come in with skeletons of songs. The band has a lot of influences but, basically, it’s just good music.

“We went to Bridgeport, Connecticut — to Tarquin Studios — for a week at the beginning of 2015. We went back up in April to do the mixing and then went to Sleepy Cat Studio in Carrboro to finish it. But, most of the magic happened in Bridgeport.”

The magic resulted in a debut album that rocks out — and works on both physical and intellectual levels. It is also an album with just six songs.

“It’s not really a concept album but there is an arc between the songs,” said Guthrie. “It’s a choose-your-own vibe. We don’t explain it. The only thing we’ll say about it is that you can do anything if you allow yourself  to. You just have to look beyond for greater potential.”

Video link for grand shell game — https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7U8-e9MxeHA

The show at the Tin Angel, which also features Shadowplay and Kid Felix, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. 

whitfor st. holmesOn June 22, Whitford/St. Holmes will headline a show at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com). This act is a band that brings a lot of rock-and-roll history with it.

Brad Whitford gained world-wide fame as guitarist for Aerosmith — a job he still holds today. Derek St. Holmes is best known as the vocalist and rhythm guitar player for Ted Nugent’s successful early solo career.

In 1981, they got together and recorded one album. Then, they put the project to bed — until last year when they joined forces again. They released a new album called “Reunion” and now are touring in support of the album.

“It was a simple matter of geography,” said Whitford, during a phone interview Monday morning from his Tennessee home.  “Derek and I have been buddies ever since the day. Then, a few years ago, we ended up being neighbors in the south side of Nashville.

“We’ve been hanging out together — playing together rand writing some songs. So, we decided to take it up to the next level and we put a band together. It was just like putting on a pair of old slippers. That’s how well it fit.”

This project is about the interaction of the players and the quality of the music. It’s not about musicians’ egos.

According to Whitford, “We loved the idea of being in a rock band that’s really about the music, not about personalities. We don’t have to worry about a Steven Tyler or Ted Nugent or anybody else. We’ve all been guys in a more supporting role in big bands so an opportunity like this is really rare, where everyone brings so much talent and excitement and openness to the table.”

The quintet also features Tesla drummer Troy Lucketta, bassist Chopper Anderson and keyboardist Buck Johnson.

“We recorded the album at Castle Recordings in Nashville,” said Whitford. “We had a great experience and got great results. We cut the album about a year ago and did the whole thing ourselves — no record company. We figured we’d just make the album and see if anybody was interested after the fact

“We recorded the whole thing basically live. It’s not cluttered up with a lot of production. The intent was to keep it very straight-ahead — the kind of music that was played by Humble Pie, Bad Company and the early Yardbirds.”

Video link for Whitford/St. Holmes — https://youtu.be/b1584v5lCbE.

The show in Sellersville, which also features Stolen Rhodes, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $33 and $45. 

The Mystery Lights

The Mystery Lights

The show on June 22 at Kung Fu Necktie (1248 North Front Street, Philadelphia, 215-291-4919, kungfunecktie.com) featuring The Mystery Lights will have a vibe that is up-to-date and directly linked to the past.

The Mystery Lights are a garage rock band that started in California, and relocated to New York City. The group’s music blends garage rock and punk rock and filters it through those two genre’s influences — the raw guitar rock and the smoky blues found in the DNA of a number of bands in Britain in the late 1960s.

The Mystery Lights’ line-up features Mike Brandon (guitar, vocals), LA Solano (guitar), Alex Q Amini (bass) and Kevin Harris (organ).

“We all come from Northern California,” said Brandon, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. “We grew up together in Salinas. L.A. and I have been in bands together since we were 15 years old.

“We got a punk band together — Shameless Wonder — for what was supposed rto be a one-off show. We got along really well and realized that we all liked 60s garage rock. It wasn’t trendy.

 “Some of our main influences are the Seeds, Chocolate Watch Band, the Kinks and the Pretty Things. Kevin is a big fan of Krautrock — bands like Neu, Kraftwerk and Can. I love the bands that go under the radar and then get discovered 15 years later.”

The Mystery Lights also stayed under the radar as they developed as a band.

“We played together for three years and never told anyone about our band,” said Brandon. “Then, we thought — wouldn’t it be fun if we played out and people liked it.”

Not surprisingly, that’s exactly what happened.

They built a reputation as one of New York City’s best garage rock bands and became known as a band with one of the best live shows in the city. That led to a recording contract with Daptone’s new rock imprint, Wick Records.

The self-titled album, which will be released out June 24, was made at Daptone’s House of Soul studio with Wayne Gordon at the controls.

“We tracked everything live in one week,” said Brandon. “We did it all analog on eight-track, two-inch tape. We really did a good job of capturing the raw sound of our live show.”

Video link for The Mystery Lights — https://youtu.be/wSeTtJ5hBvk.

The show at Kung Fu Necktie, which also features The Snails and J.A.K., will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. 

On June 22, Philadelphia will be host to two Canadian music acts — Pkew Pkew Pkew and Eilbacher / Moskos / Moore  — while another act from north of the border — SonReal — will be in town on June 21.

SonReal

SonReal

SonReal, whose real name is Aaron Hoffman, will be sharing a bill with Jon Bellion at the Trocadero (10th and Arch streets, Philadelphia, 215-922-6888, www.thetroc.com).

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Son Real is a Juno and MMVA nominated artist whose unique approach to hip-hop has allowed him to sustain a loyal and growing domestic fan base.

SonReal’s success took shape online when several of his music videos racked up over hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. He was able to maintain buzz around his music with the release of a number of mix tapes over the years. He recently signed with Black Box Recordings.

With the help of a label for the first time (Black Box Recordings), SonReal embarked on the journey of his first collaborative project with fellow Canadian rapper/producer Rich Kidd. Rich Kidd had popularity on the East Coast of Canada and SonReal had conquered the West Coast. “The Closers” (their collaborative album) was an introduction for each of them to new markets.

His most recent record “Everywhere We Go” was SonReal’s first release coming away from “The Closers” campaign. The plan was to seed and test the market, engage his fans and deliver a different caliber of music, all while delivering amazing visual pieces that set him apart in the hip hop world (both domestically and internationally). 

SonReal’s new single, “Can I Get A Witness” on Capitol Records has hit Spotify’s Global, U.S., and Canadian Viral charts — already racking up more than 1.8 million plays. Spotify showcased the song as part of its coveted “New Music Friday” Playlist, along with “Most DefiLitly” and “Hip Hop Hits.” In addition, Apple Music featured it on the “Best of the Week” Playlist.

Known for his comedic larger-than-life videos which have over 8 million combined views, SonReal upholds this tradition with the clip for Can I Get A Witness,with a concept inspired by the song’s lyrics in which the rapper explains how some of his old fans are accusing him of changing his musical style. Rocking in a court room, he presents a wild lyrical case as the jury sits astonished.

On this tour, SonReal is doing more than just rapping to the accompaniment of beats. He is presenting a performance with a more real, more organic vibe.

“On stage, it’s me and my DJ Rich-A,” said SonReal, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. “And, I have a guitarist — Joey Resley. Having the three of us onstage is definitely something different. We wanted to give our fans more that what they expect from rappers.

“We’re putting out an EP in August and we’re performing all the songs from the EP on this tour. It’s fun to test out the music. The EP was done with all sorts of producers, including DJ Khalil and Rocky.

“The EP is very musical with a lot of live instruments. It’s a different approach to rap music. We just tried to think outside the box. It’s not for everybody because not everybody can sing. As long as I’ve been doing rap, I’ve also been singing and dabbing in melodic stuff. I’m not a one-trick pony.

“I wanted to write more simple songs — just really expand my horizons. I’ve been writing songs about things that mean a lot to me. We’ve been focusing on content a lot. I love staying connected with my fans.”

SonReal conquered western Canada first and then expanded his popularity to Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Now, he has his sights set on America.

“America is a huge challenge for any Canadian artist,” said SonReal. “Everyone in Canada looks to America for music and trends. We really want to make the leap. We signed with Capitol Records for a reason.”

Video link for SonReal — https://youtu.be/pyXhsTTD0Tk.

The show at the Troc, which also features Jon Bellion and Blaque Keyz, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.

pkew pkew pkew 1

Pkew Pkew Pkew

On June 22, Pkew Pkew Pkew, a Toronto-based band that just released its self-titled album, “Pkew Pkew Pkew” on Royal Mountain Records on June 10, will visit the area for a show at PhilaMOCA (531 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, 267-519-9651, www.philamoca.org).

Pkew Pkew Pkew is four guys from small towns in Southern Ontario — Mike Warne (vocals, guitar), Ryan McKinley (guitar, vocals), Emmett O’Reilly (bass and vocals) and Dave Laino (drums and vocals). Their new album features a raucous 21 minutes of punk frat-boy party anthems that are made for the mosh pit.

“We’ve had the current line-up for just over two years,” said Warne, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. “We were just friends — hanging out and having beers. We started making songs and I forced everyone to be in the band with me.

“I started with Ryan. We all met in Toronto. Actually, me and Ryan met through a Craigslist ad. I was working in a music industry licensing company and so was Dave.

“I grew up on punk rock. We all did. When we got together, it was the music we wanted to make because it was fun. And, it was easy to do. Whatever the four of us can do is what you hear. You won’t ever hear a song over four minutes.

“Our influences are Bouncing Souls and Rancid — and I can’t forget Diarrhea Planet. We try to put as much energy into it as we can. It’s really hot in the state so we’re going to sweat a lot — and so will the audience.”

With Pkew Pkew Pkew’s new album, the songs may be short but the recording process was far from short.

“We recorded the album over a long period of time over the last year,” said Warne. “It took a bit longer than we expected to record it. And, we’re having it pressed on vinyl and that takes a lot of time too. We’re really excited that it’s finally coming out.”

Video link for Pkew Pkew Pkew — https://youtu.be/yrQKW6ijrK0.

The show at PhilaMOCA, which also features Pup and Rozwell Kids, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

On June 22, Eilbacher/Moskos/Moore will be in Philly for a show at The Vat (1026 Arch Street, Philadelphia) and the trio will be performing music that is hard to describe. It will be music from the group’s new album “SEF III,” which will be released on June 24 on Ehse Records. It is music that has sonic collages, spoken word and outrageous electronics slamming into each other.

Recorded in Montreal, Quebec by Duncan Moore (reel to reel tape, voice, electronics), Max Eilbacher (electronics, synth, voice) and Alexander Moskos (voice, programming), “SEF III” presents a series of visions and vignettes.

“I had another project called Dranolith so I asked Max and Duncan to tour with me,” said Moskos, during a phone interview Monday evening from his home in Quebec.

“We were rehearsing for the tour. We put together a set for a show the two of them were doing in Baltimore. It started with the track ‘I’m Sitting in a Room.’ It was piece Duncan had written and I wanted something that I could recite during the performance. After that, we decided — let’s make a record.”

And so they did.

“The three of us got together in the studio in August last year,” said Moskos. “We made the album at my studio in Montreal. We all brought ideas we were interested in to the table and then spent three weeks playing together. A lot of the electronic playing comes from different stuff we’ve done on our own.”

“SEF III” presents the trio’s vision as post-music — Everything reduced to a process… the dream of creating a story-based record for the age of memetic fractal echoing.

“When we’re making music live onstage, I do voice and electronics,” said Moskos. “Max plays synthesizer and uses layered sound. Duncan uses tape machines and tape loops. Right now, it’s about a 45-minute show.”

Video link for Eilbacher/Moskos/Moore — https://youtu.be/JFm_IyM45Ng.

The show at will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12.

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