Welcome to the Schimmel Center Blog!

Schimmel Center Blog Schimmel Center seeks to enrich and engage our audiences by bringing world-class talent to Lower Manhattan. Our programming features internationally-acclaimed talent in the areas of music, dance, cabaret, comedy and family programming

23 September 2013 ~ 0 Comments

School of Rock: Inside Acoustic Underground

New York has always been a breeding ground for artists. From the razz-ma-tazz of tin pan alley in the jazz era to the underground beatnik movement of the 1950’s Greenwich Village, artists and especially musicians have been finding their creative voices here for over a couple of centuries. Currently, New York neighborhoods such as Greenwich Village, Park Slope, and Williamsburg have been giving way to a rich and flourishing acoustic singer-songwriter culture. Pace Presents couldn’t be more thrilled to showcase three up and coming New York based artists on the Schimmel Stage.  Although our artists all reside in the Big Apple and play acoustic music, their voices couldn’t be any more different. From Phoebe Lyng’s raw but warm folk rock to Melanie Penn’s quirky yet reverent Americana to Andrew Rose Gregory’s satirical, loungy “Folk-Soul,” each talent brings forth a distinct expression to the Schimmel Stage.

“Acoustic Underground promises to be New York’s hottest new show case for singer/songwriters.”  The series offers emerging musical artists an intimate setting to share art in both a conversational and concert format. Be sure to watch the following videos of these outstanding artists’ works.

Phoebe Lyng

Visit this artist’s site at www.phoebelyng.com

Melanie Penn

Visit this artist’s blog at http://www.melaniepenn.com/blog/

Andrew Rose Gregory

Visit this artist’s site at http://andrewrosegregory.com/

Acoustic Underground / Thursday October 3rd/ 7:30PM/ The Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts/ 3 Spruce St, New York, NY/ All Tickets $20

For tickets, visit Schimmel.pace.edu or call (212) 346-1715

See you at the Schimmel!

Michael Torbet

2013-14 Pace Presents Blogger

17 September 2013 ~ 0 Comments

Make a Day of it in Downtown Manhattan: 5 Moments You Need To Have in Lower Manhattan

 Recently I saw a Buzzfeed video entitled, “13 Moments you need to have in New York City”. We here at Pace Presents are very passionate about our neighborhood here in Lower Manhattan. We are very confident that you can have a very fulfilling day right in our neighborhood just before you settle in for a seat at one of our great offerings this season. Here is a video of the top 5 moments you need to have in Lower Manhattan.

If you enjoyed this video we have an even longer one with “10 moments you need to have in Lower Manhattan” that you can find at our youtube page. Hope You enjoyed!

See you at the Schimmel

Michael Torbet

2013-14 Pace Presents Blogger

13 September 2013 ~ 0 Comments

Ease On Down The Road: Locating The Schimmel Center

 At the Michael Schimmel Center box office, we have been receiving many phone calls, inquiring how to locate our theatre from the various convenient subway stops in our area. We could give you all the directions you want but we thought it might be easier if we just showed you ourselves! Below are three tutorial videos to show you how to get to our theatre from the three perspective subway stops in our area. Follow me along the bustling streets of downtown Manhattan to our location at 3 Spruce Street!  I promise they are both entertaining and educational (as always)!

See You at the Schimmel!

Michael Torbet

Pace Presents 2013-14 Blogger

From the A,C, 2 and 3 Trains

From the 4 and 5 trains

From the R Train

04 September 2013 ~ 0 Comments

Some Like It Hot: Inside “Django’s Dream” and the World of Reinhardt’s Hot Gypsy Jazz Guitar

On Saturday, September 28, a group of the world’s leading Gypsy Jazz guitarists will assemble on the Schimmel stage to celebrate the work of the late, great French guitarist and composer, Django Reinhardt. “Django’s Dream” promises to be an unforgettable event that will honor the 1930’s gypsy swing music in astonishing and unpredictable ways, but who was this man and why was he considered one of the greatest jazz guitar players of all time?

The man best known as “Django” was born of “Romani” (or Gypsy) descent in Belgium on January 23, 1910. He developed a penchant for music at a young age and learned to play the violin and banjo in the traditional Roma practice of “playing by ear” and mimicking the fingering of older generations. By the age of 13, Reinhardt had already started to make a living off of his musical gifts and capabilities.

When Django was 18 years of age, the jazz community almost lost Django before he had ever discovered it. He was left disfigured by a fire that had started in his caravan. His left ring and pinky fingers were paralyzed and doctors doubted that he would ever be able to play guitar again. Reinhardt refused to give up on his musical career and through determination, retaught himself to play the guitar in an original way. All of his guitar solos were played while making use of only two fingers! Reinhardt’s ability to triumph over his encumbrance has inspired many musicians throughout history. Two artists known to the world of rock music, Jerry Garcia of The Greatful Dead and Tony Lommi of Black Sabbath were inspired to keep playing by Django’s compelling story after both loosing fingers to accidents.

Django Reinhardt is widely considered the father of jazz guitar.

Django Reinhardt is widely considered the father of jazz guitar.

In 1929, Reinhardt was exposed to the hot jazz recordings of Louis Armstrong. Upon hearing the track, he exclaimed, “Ach moune,” which is the Romani translation for “My Brother!” He put down his banjo guitar and started playing a six-string concert guitar. Django became adept at recreating the same sounds Armstrong was making on his trumpet, with his guitar. Because of his Romani upbringing, Reinhardt had never become literate and was therefor never taught to read or write music. This did not stop him from composing his own music. Many would come and marvel at his ability to improvise original music on the spot.

An informal jam session in 1933 with Stephane Grappelli, Roger Gaput and Louis Vola led to Reinhardt’s involvement in the famed “Quintette du Hot Club de France”.  The famed ensemble is widely considered by jazz historians to be the greatest European Jazz group of all time. It was with this group that most of the world became acquainted with Reinhardt’s playing through the many recordings produced by the Utlraphone Record label. The group played together until war broke out in Europe in 1939. Most of the group fled to London while Reinhardt decided to stay in Paris, which eventually fell to Germany. The musicians would not play together again until 1946 when the war had finally ended. That year, the group traveled to the United States and toured the country as a special guest of Duke Ellington’s orchestra. The tour culminated in a fabled two night gig at Carnegie Hall, where he played to standing ovations.

Stephane Wrembel is just one of the renowned artists who will pay tribute to Reinhardt on the Schimmel Stage!

Stephane Wrembel is just one of the renowned artists who will pay tribute to Reinhardt on the Schimmel Stage!

When Django died in 1953 at the age of 43, he left behind a most incredible legacy to both the jazz community and to the world at large.  Django’s contemporaries continued on his legacy, exposing hot gypsy jazz guitar to new generations of talented musicians.  Pace Presents couldn’t be more proud to welcome this new generation of talented musicians to our stage. We are confident that Django’s dream would have been to hear the likes of Stephane Wrembel, Alfonso Ponticelli and Kamlo perform his works in new and exciting ways, all the while exposing his art to yet another generation. Come experience the dream for yourself on September 28th!

For Tickets, visit schimmel.pace.edu or contact our box office at (212) 346-1715

Be sure to watch the launch of our exciting vlog series below this post!

See you at The Schimmel!

Michael Torbet

Pace Presents 2013-14 Blogger

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15 August 2013 ~ 0 Comments

Announcing the Esquivel Photo Contest!

Juan Garcia Esquivel was hailed during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s as “The king of space age bachelor pad pop arrangements!” On September 21, 2013, Pace Presents will be welcoming Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica to our stage. This group is the only musical ensemble dedicated to performing Esquivel’s arrangements. To celebrate this event, Pace Presents and the Celebrate Mexico Now Festival are sponsoring the Esquivel Photo Contest!

To participate, simply take a photo of yourself or a friend dressed up in your best 1960’s lounge outfit. If you are using an Instagram filter on your photo, make sure to include the hashtag: #esquivelphotocontest with your photo. Then post  your image to the Pace Presents Facebook wall along with a caption reading Esquivel Photo Contest. The photo that best personifies Esquivel’s 1960’s bachelor pad sound will win a pair of tickets to our September, 21st concert, SONORAMA:THE LOST SPACE AGE POP MUSIC OF ESQUIVEL, as well as a signed copy of Mr. Ho’s first album, The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel.The winner will be picked and notified on September 18. You have until Monday, September 16, to send in your submissions. All photos submitted may end up on either our blog or facebook page.

Having a hard time figuring out what to wear? Take a look at these photos taken by myself and The Schimmel’s Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Abigail Buell. For our photo-shoot, we visited Star Struck Vintage Clothing on 47 Greenwich Ave. The store’s father-daughter staff was beyond helpful at showing us through their amazing stock of high-quality vintage clothing. A look at their website shows that they are a favorite stomping ground for the likes of Emmy Award-Winning Wardrobe Stylist, Rebecca Weinberg and designer, Michael Bastian. Every single item in the store is a one of a kind gem, the kind that you’d spend hours looking for in your average run-of-the-mill thrift shop. I couldn’t recommend this shop enough.

Michael Torbet and Abby Buell. Wardrobe courtesy of Star Struck Vintage Clothing.

Michael Torbet and Abby Buell, Wardrobe courtesy of Star Struck Vintage Clothing.

The Esquivel Photo Contest is sponsored by Pace Presents and the Celebrate Mexico Now Festival. It is also sponsored in part by Star Struck Vintage Clothing.

Be Sure to check out our official Instagram!

See you at the Schimmel!

Michael Torbet

Pace Presents 2013-14 Blogger

*** Winner Announced on September 18th******

Congratulations to Emma Ramos for winning the Esquivel Photo Contest!

Michael Torbet, wardrobe courtesy of Star Struck Vintage Clothing

Michael Torbet, wardrobe courtesy of Star Struck Vintage Clothing!

Abby buell, wardrobe courtesy of Star Sturck Vintage Clothing

Abby Buell, wardrobe courtesy of Star Struck Vintage Clothing

Michael Torbet, wardrobe courtesy of Star Struck Vintage Clothing

Michael Torbet, wardrobe courtesy of Star Struck Vintage Clothing