Vampire Suit, Brooklyn, NY, Jan 18, 2007
Kicking off their 2007 activities, Vampire Suit is performing at the Tea Lounge, one of Brooklyn's new and exciting spots for improvised music. The performance will take place on January 18th, at 9:00pm. The Tea Lounge is located at 837 Union St., Park Slope, Brooklyn.
As the group's leader and composer, Jay Vilnai brings to Vampire Suit his wide palette experiences as a musician in New York, having shared the stage with such diverse figures as Klezmer great Frank London, Brazilian percussionist Jorge Martins and saxophonist Roy Nathanson, and having played anything from traditional jazz to Balkan music, Klezmer to Schoenberg, free improv to cabaret shows.
"The music has enduring beauty that touches on the heart of the Middle East's musical culture while exhibiting western flair. Open improvisations and the spirit of the belly dance coexist, encouraging the traditional undulated hip movements as a supplement to the solid instrumentation....—Frank Rubolino, Cadence Magazine
Also in play is Vilnai's unique musical heritage as a Russian-Romanian-Polish descendant raised in Jerusalem around a mix of contemporary and traditional Jewish and Arab music, with a soul for rock n'roll and a BFA in jazz. Couple that with a passion for Bartok and Stravinsky and you end up with all original music that draws on all those influences to create something akin to traditional music for a generation that hails from so many traditions. Balkan and Middle-Eastern rhythms are prominent, backed by 20th century composing concepts and jazz improvising.
"If Bram Stoker's imaginary Transylvania had a jazz scene, the music might sound something like this."—Jazz Review