Berlin-based musician Paul Brody to speak, perform at URI

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Berlin-based jazz trumpeter, radio documentarian, installation artist and composer Paul Brody will perform and speak about his work with the Semer Ensemble’s project to discover, restore and perform Jewish music from 1930s Germany during an appearance at the University of Rhode Island’s Hillel. The program, on Thursday, April 12, at 7 p.m., is free and open to the public.

Brody’s presentation will include prerecorded musical illustrations, and will feature a live performance, with Christina Crowder on accordion. Light refreshments will be served.

Since 2015, Brody has worked with the Semer Ensemble to find and restore forgotten treasures of Jewish music from 1930s Germany. Brody’s work also focuses on the intersection of spoken language and music, which is reflected in sound installations featured at the Jewish Museum Berlin. (His documentary exhibit, “Voices of Help,” was inspired by people who helped Brody’s mother when she was put on the children’s transport at the age of 13 to escape from Nazi Vienna. Brody’s most recent commission is to produce music based on the voices of the translators at the Nuremburg trials.) 

Since moving to Berlin in the 1990s to work as a composer and trumpeter, Brody has produced 10 solo albums, including three for John Zorn’s Tzadik label. He has also performed as a soloist with jazz, pop, klezmer and other groups around the world.

While originally exploring the crossroads of contemporary jazz and traditional klezmer, Brody’s band, Sadawi, has branched out into what he calls “Indie Jazz cinematic sound.” His album, “Behind all Words,” featuring Meret Becker, Jelena Kuljic and Clueso, won a German Recording Prize.

The April 12 event will be held at the Norman M. Fain Hillel Center, 6 Fraternity Circle, Kingston.

Brody’s visit is hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences’ Kenneth and Susan Kermes Distinguished Lecture Endowment, URI Hillel, The Harrington School of Communication and Media, the departments of Journalism and English, the Film/Media Program and Department of Music faculty and staff.

Submitted by URI Hillel

 

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