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Artist Website
Music Samples
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Abby Ahmad
Band
with
Ann Klein
Saturday March 10th 7:30pm
Suggested Donation:
$15 per person
$10 ages 10-18 & active military
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Abby Ahmad |
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With edgy, intelligent lyrics and hypnotic melodies, Abby Ahmad's music is as passionate as it is profound. Bridging genres of folk-rock, blues, and alternative, Abby's percussive guitar style and arresting vocals captivate and challenge her audiences. She is at once in your face and in your heart.
Minor 7th Webzine Reviews "The Rearview"
By Tom Semioli
As Sir Bono opined a generation ago, all it takes is "three chords, a red guitar and the truth." Though her acoustic six-string appears to be natural wood finish, twenty-four year old urban folk diva Abby Ahmad comes roaring in like a reality freight train on her impressive debut long player (she has two EPs to her credit). Wistful, literal, and occasionally confrontational and cathartic, the young Ms. Ahmad emerges as an authoritative singer, songwriter, and an accomplished guitarist. Akin to her more veteran contemporaries such as Ani DiFranco, Mary Lou Lord, Tori Amos and Tracy Chapman, Ahmad does not require a traditional backing band nor ornate arrangements to grab your attention - though she does employ a moody rhythm section on a few cuts, plus atmospheric / minimalist cello, banjo, dobro, violin, piano, and Hammond B-3 accompaniment on others. Fingerpicking, strumming, and riffing with impressive dexterity and harmonic expertise, Ahmad's guitar wizardry incorporates a myriad of influences ranging from traditional folk and country to blues and R&B. Ahmad's vocal delivery, which morphs from angelic to a down-and-dirty Delta blues rasp, cuts through her often hectic rhythms and tempos throughout every track. When a forceful lyric demands emphasis: "So the big bang / in the center of the sky /i gnites a light / in the pit of your mind's eye" in the stirring opener "Big Bang," Ahmad leaps on top of the beat with a rapid-fire release that commands notice. On the dirge "Seven Year Itch" she simmers beneath Matt Zeiner's gothic keyboards and the mournful, lethargic fretless bass of Chris Anderson. If you had to choose a single it would probably come down to the brisk, overtly melodic "Solo Act," an up-tempo cut that recasts a patented Willie Dixon riff in a fresh new light. For the pure-bred shredders out there, make sure to check out the instrumental "The River Song" wherein Ahmad's blazing technique catches fire on the always challenging 12 string. A talent this promising cannot go unnoticed by the mainstream for long. Ahmad needs that one big song to take her career to the next commercial level.
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Opening: Ann Klein |
Ann Klein has established herself as one of downtown NYC’s premier guitarists and writers.
Her credits include (recording & touring):
- Keri Noble (EMI)
- Natalie Imbruglia (BMG)
- Joan Osborne
- Kate Pierson (of the B-52s)
- PM Dawn
- Ani DiFranco
- Alisha’s Attic
- Imani Coppola
- Stephen King (audiobooks)
- Maurice Sendak and Randall Woolf
- Toshi Reagon
- Sara Lee
- Gail Ann Dorsey
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“... her guitar strides so high, you're mesmerized ... Ann Klein is the real thing.” (Manhattan Mirror, October '96)
Ann moved to NYC from Connecticut and soon landed a gig with Joan Osborne. She played steadily with Joan for a year, sometimes just the two of them doing radio shows. They did a cable TV show together, which was constantly broadcast on VH-1’s “Before They Were Stars”.
By this time, Ann had written countless songs and independently recorded “Driving You Insane.” “Insane” was critically acclaimed in Billboard (2 full length articles), Relix and Guitarworld. She was featured on the cover of Billboard in an article on NYC's best unsigned bands. Ann took “Insane” on the road, travelling the Northeast and Europe. She received support from college radio and local press. She has been invited to perform on WXPN’s (Philadelphia) “World Cafe” and WDST’s (Woodstock) “Sessions”. Producer Mark Plati (David Bowie) heard “Insane” and asked Ann to play guitar on Natalie Imbruglia’s “Left of the Middle” (BMG), which she did. Some of her songs have made it on to MTV's "Undressed" and "Real World". Since then Ann recorded and released 4 more solo-CDs.
In 2005, Ann was invited to teach a master class at copenhagen's rhythmic music conservatory and was commissioned to write music for "The Energy Factory", a company dedicated to addressing the growing problem of obesity in children.
In 2006 Ann recorded a live double CD with her Austrian touring band (Klaus Kircher –b, Robert Kainar –dr) at CTS in Brooklyn, NYC. Producer was Tim Hatfield.
More highlights, latest & greatest …
- Tours of Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland … more than 150 shows!
- Recorded & released 5 Solo-CDs
Driving You Insane (p.prod, 1997)
For The Love Of Love (Vincona, 1999)
Waiting For The Snow (ATS, 2002)
My Own Backyard (CTS Rec., 2005)
the hope street sessions – live at the lakeside lounge (ATS, 2006)
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