Wednesday Aug 16th 2006
Joe's Pub in The Public Theater
425 Lafayette Street, NYC
7 PM - doors 6 PM - 1 show
For securing dinner and reserved seating tickets call 212-539-8778.
Click here for general admission tickets
Arntzen & Arntzen? Try Arntzen, Arntzen, Arntzen, Arntzen...and Arntzen. Canadian-born trumpeter and singer Leif Arntzen, acclaimed leader of NYC based TLAB and Channeling Chet, teams up for the 3rd time in as many years with his father, veteran West Coast jazz soprano saxophone player and singer songwriter Lloyd Arntzen, to form Bad Lake: 3 Generations, which also includes singing piano player and brother Tom Arntzen, singer and saxophone player nephew Evan Arntzen (2006 Galaxy Award winner), and 15 year old singing drummer sensation Miles Arntzen. They all sing, they all play, they all write, they've got a new record called Bad Lake, Big Apple. It's hot, and they'll all be bringing down the house at Joe's Pub Aug 16th.. It's hellzapoppin' sensational music entertainment unlike anything you've ever witnessed in your lifetime.
Lloyd on Lloyd:
“We'll be in style when the world comes 'round again"--lyric from “Thrift Store On The Corner," written by Lloyd Arntzen.
For most of his life, Lloyd Arntzen has neatly managed to stay out- of-sync with the popular music of the day. When country music was in, he played swing: when swing was in, he played New Orleans jazz. But for one brief, delightful period in the sixties when folk music was the rage, his interests coincided with the popular taste. It had never happened before, and it has never happened since.
True to form, he didn't start writing folk-like songs until the 70's when nobody cared anymore. Everyone was into Rock & Roll and went merrily along without him.
However, his song “Where The Coho Flash Silver" spread all over the continent and has been covered by other artists eight or more times. Unfortunately, none of them ever sold a million copies and so Lloyd remains where he has always been, firmly anchored in the lower income brackets.
But maybe, just maybe, it's not too late - maybe.
Leif on Lloyd and Bad Lake: 3 Generations:
“Pop never stops. There's no cutoff time for playing, practicing, telling ridiculous tales, and having some fun, or thinking about how to do those things better for the next time. It's just that total all music, all the time. We all work so hard to learn from our mistakes, but I think Lloyd can't wait to make more, because it means he's living his life for all it's worth. Besides all the music and stories, that's what we get from him. Life. He can't help it: he's an absolute blast to be around. My brother Tom is an extraordinary singer and piano player. After all these years, I still watch and listen to him in marvel at his wonderful power and control. His son Evan just plain scares me...he's so good at such a young age, and I learn something new every time I hear him, something I should practice, especially harmonically. Miles will simply blow your mind. He's hearing and playing the truth...a just add water and watch him grow kind of musician. Very intuitive, with such nuance and sophistication that makes you just shake your head. This is a family band, but I don't think of it that way at all. These guys are wonderful musicians to work with, and we constantly challenge each other's artistry. It's just so unusual and surprising."
Bad Lake: 3 Generations is from left to right:
Miles Arntzen - vocals/drums/guitar
Evan Arntzen - vocals/tenor sax/soprano sax/clarinet
Tom Arntzen - vocals/piano
Lloyd Arntzen - vocals/soprano sax/clarinet
Leif Arntzen - vocals/trumpet/guitar
“Bad Lake Big Apple":
In August 2004 Leif Arntzen and son Miles traveled to Vancouver from New York for a musical family reunion at The Cellar, a nightclub in Vancouver. A recording and documentary crew came in to chronicle the event, and yielded Arntzen: 3 Generations: Live At The Cellar (Gwendoline Records, released 2005) and a video/photo documentary website at http:www.draycottroad.com.
In August 2005 LLoyd Arntzen reciprocal journeyed with son Tom and grandson Evan to New York to re-unite with son Leif and grandson Miles to play music in the regional venues. Daughter Jenny Arntzen came with Matthew McTavish with cameras and film to document the experience. This recording (Gwendoline Records) by Steve Rosenthal (Magic Shop NYC) captures one of their live performances, complete with traditional jazz classics, original folk songs written by all members of the band, and the essential between-song friendly banter and storytelling that has become part of this family's musical trademark over the years. The fact that they are all family is unusual, but at the heart of it all they are first rate musicians and tune smiths first. This recording captures a rare event in any culture: 3 generations of one family performing at a high level on one stage, reaching together in the struggle for some simple truth and beauty. More about the making of this record and the events of August 2005 are at the website below for all to enjoy. “Bad Lake Big Apple" documents the road they've traveled so far.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
