13 Years of Brotherhood and Beats

The Afro-Semitic Experience came into existence in 1998 whenAfrican American pianist Warren Byrd and Jewish-American bassist David Chevan performed for an Interfaith Memorial Service for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Their blend of gospel music, jazz and Jewish liturgical music is informed by their belief that one can create a better world through communication and song. 

In the early years of the 21st Century, the duo expanded to a sextet with the addition of Stacy Phillips (dobro, violin), Will Bartlett (reeds), Baba David Coleman (percussion) and Alvin Carter, Jr. (drums, percussion). And their sound expanded as well.  While the material continued to plumb the same sources, rhythms from Central and South America, funk, classic jazz, swing, Eastern Europe and more informed the music.  Middletown residents may remember that, for several years, the group held monthly rehearsal/workshops at The Buttonwood Tree, trying out new material and staying fresh between gigs.  They now have toured throughout the United States and parts of Europe, performing at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Greater Hartford Jazz Festival, the International Festival of Arts and Ideas (in New Haven), the Eldridge Street Synagogue, the Charles Wright Museum of African-American History in Detroit, the Amsterdam Festival of Jewish Music and the Paris Festival of Jewish Culture.
 
Byrd and Chevan have issued 2 CDs as a duo, the band has released 3 CDs as a unit (since 2003) and accompanied Chevan on 3 of his solo projects - all recordings are on the Reckless DC label and are available through the ensemble's new website, www.afrosemiticexperience.net. 

The Afro-Semitic Experience comes back to Middletown this Saturday to perform at 8:30 pm. in the main auditorium of Congregation Adath Israel, 8 Broad Street.  The concert is open to all music lovers and the suggested donation is $10 per person.  For more information, call 860-346-4709.