Last night WNYC’s Greene Space hosted the second installment in an ongoing competition to find the best up and coming music group in the five boroughs. Nine groups, ranging from individual singer/songwriters to full on six person ensemble playing classical South Indian music with a jazz infusion came from Queens to fight for an opportunity to face off against the best groups from every other borough in June.
Before I get into the highlights of the various groups, I’d just like to point you, dear reader, in the direction of this little known but totally awesome venue. The Greene Space, as far as I am concerned, stole the show. It is a fully equipped television recording studio that just happens to double as a perfect recording studio and its an awesome party/event space. Furthermore, the wonderful people at WNYC have a refreshingly diverse line of programming for the space. And its very affordable. Click here and take your first step towards more meaningful cultural experiences: The Greene Space.
One view of The Greene Space
Now what really counts: who was really good? Who should you google?
I’ll get there. First, it is necessary to say that comparing most of these groups was totally unfair since they represented a huge array of musical styles. Obviously, a jazz trio such as the Danny Fox Trio, while excellent in every respect is not going to bring the popular acclaim of the first group, a psychedelic, omni-amorous Why G? and the XYZ’s. Competitions like this tend towards popularity contests, as long as everyone is a willing participant, than so be it!
WHY G ? and the XYZ’s
Gettin' their funkadelic, multi-cultural, love groove on.
You may be beyond the ABC’s but chances are you have never heard of the XYZ’s. This group led off the night with a song whose title and lyrics I do not remember. However, what was memorable was the huge ethnic diversity in the group. It was like The Polyphonic Spree in sapling form. The charismatic lead rapper energized the crowd with rap while the 3 guitarists rocked hard while two chorus girls danced disco? Um yeah, I guess that’s what it was. It was almost awesome. Check them out here.
Danny Fox Trio
Danny Fox drives the group with unique jazz progressions.
Why G was followed by the Danny Fox Trio. This is the kind of band that you sometimes run into in Central Park on a summer day that just makes your day perfect. Unfortunately, the crowd was not necessarily jazz enthusiasts and this group was largely panned. Following each performance, the host would interview the musicians. He asked, “What would you guys do differently to capture the audience’s attention?” Mr. Fox was at somewhat of a loss for words. His response should have been, ” Nothing.” If the audience wasn’t feeling it, it wasn’t the bands fault. You can hear their music here.
That’s all for now. I’ll continue to highlight the best groups over the next couple days, including one group that deserves a post all of its own.
