Tag: The Green Room

Crosstown Arts presents singer-songwriter duo Church Brothers in The Green Room.

Doors at 7 pm | Show at 7:30 pm

Tickets: $10

Ben and Jacob Church have been making music in Memphis for nearly 20 years, but they’ve only recently embarked on a collaborative project called, cleverly, Church Brothers. With voices that blend seamlessly like only siblings can and songs that range from pop to rock to country to soul and beyond, there’s something for everyone at a Church Brothers show. They recently recorded their debut EP, featuring their first co-write, “Only Life,” to be released this fall. They’ll be joined by Jon Harrison, Daniel McKee, Zach Nixon, and Bill Mard.

Crosstown Arts presents guitarist Marc Ribot in The Green Room.

Doors at 7 pm | Show at 7:30 pm

Tickets: $20

Enigmatic guitarist Marc Ribot has released six very diverse solo guitar albums, including John Zorn’s Book of Heads, Plays the Works of Frantz Casseus, Saints, Don’t Blame Me, Exercises in Futility, and 2010’s Silent Movies (Pi Recordings). Silent Movies has been described as a “down-in-mouth-near master piece” by the Village Voice and has landed on several “Best of 2010” lists, including in the LA Times. His live solo performances are unpredictable events which may draw upon a sonic matrix of memory, free improvisation, zeitgeist, extra-terrestrial radio signals, and much more — always leaving the listener on the edge of their seats.

“In the hear-a-pin-drop setting of Cafe Oto, Ribot’s intense, heartfelt commitment invited not only the closest of listening but also allowed scrutiny of his technical approach, offering a minor spectacle, as well as a rare, transportative musical experience.” – London Jazz News, review of his 2015 OTO residency

“… he can sit down with just his guitar and simultaneously confound you with technique, beauty, and surprise.” – John Garratt and Will Layman, PopMatters Picks: The Best Music of 2010 for the album “Silent Movies.”

“In discussing the guitarist Marc Ribot, it’s more efficient to wonder what he hasn’t done than to list what he has actually accomplished. Across four decades, Ribot’s career has spanned smooth soul and gnarled blues, blaring no wave and elegant film scores, solo composer roles, and Tom Waits supporting work; that’s only a sliver of his prolificacy. … Though his solo range is only slightly less boundless than his overall discography, he favors quiet, intricate improvisations around standards that you will recognize in flashes but will rarely sound repetitive of their sources. Ribot is a master of timing, tone, and taste, with a bank of experiences so vast and varied he can navigate his way through any song or situation with panache. Consider this visit a master lesson.” —Grayson Haver Currin, indyweek.com

Crosstown Arts presents New Orleans-based Balkan band Blato Zlato in The Green Room.

Doors at 7 pm | Show at 7:30 pm

Tickets: $15

Blato Zlato is a New Orleans-based Balkan band that puts a contemporary Louisiana twist on traditional folk music from Eastern Europe. The band performs dark, improvisational arrangements with particular focus on Bulgarian folk songs, three-part vocal harmonies, and driving, odd-metered rhythms. Hailed as a band with “galactic ambitions” by The New Orleans Advocate, Blato Zlato features musicians from Europe and the United States with a collective goal to produce meaningful cultural and musical bridges between the two continents. In 2019, Blato Zlato released their anticipated sophomore album, In The Wake, following their acclaimed 2017 releases of their debut album Swamp Gold and the limited-edition EP Voyage. They have toured both within the U.S. on the East and West Coasts as well as in Europe. This is their first time performing in Memphis.

Crosstown Arts presents jazz and soul artist Chantae Cann in The Green Room.

Doors at 7 pm | Show at 7:30 pm

Tickets: $15 advance | $20 day of show

If we’re being honest, no one’s ever really just heard Chantae Cann. In truth, you experience her.

She opens her mouth, and 10,000 hours of studied mononymous legends filter through that voice — the Stevie, the Chaka, the Erykah, Jill, India, and Brandy.

It’s the church in her work. The courageous blend of an authentic soul choosing to exist in the midst of an often inauthentic industry. Yet somehow she chooses to find strength in her vulnerability.

Chantae Cann, the artist, is both jazz and soul. Rooted in gospel, reflective of world rhythm and hip-hop.

Her debut release, Journey to Golden, landed at #1 on the iTunes Jazz Charts and #7 on the Jazz Billboard Charts in March of 2016, and was a much-welcomed introduction to the songstress. By the time of her follow-up release, Sol Empowered, we were well into the story. Earning #8 on the Jazz Billboard Charts, this album resonates with so many because they genuinely connect to the story. And Chantae, if nothing else, knows how to make a connection — whether it’s with the parents who divulge the fact that their kids listen to and sing along to her songs or those who express that Chantae’s artistry has gotten them through some pretty tough times. Chantae makes music that serves as a safe haven for those seeking respite and reformation, all the while undergirded with a simple, but profound truth: love heals.

When she’s not working, Chantae can be found binge-watching episodes of Sister, Sister or freestylin’ these bars since she is an incredible emcee in her head … for now. But even if she’s not in your Top5 Dead or Alive GOAT convo for rappers, Chantae is one of the best-kept secrets in music. She’s collaborated with PJ Morton, Masego, Tarriona “Tank” Ball, Snarky Puppy, Foreign Exchange, and Jonathan McReynolds. Chantae has electrified stages with Cory Henry, Robert Glasper, and Marcus Miller. She’s opened up for India.Arie, Tweet, Avery Sunshine, and Lalah Hathaway. With her sights set on Barack and Michelle’s Spotify playlists and new music on the way in 2021, it’s only a matter of time.