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Big Picture Learning, Champagne Jerry and More Set for Joe's Pub, 1/23-27

Each week Joe's Pub at The Public presents some of New York City's most eclectic programming ranging from world to classical, pop, singer-songwriter, jazz and more. At the center of Joe's Pub's genre-blind booking is The Public Theater's mission to bring world-class performance to New York City's diverse cultural community.

This week, January 23-27, features: Big Picture Learning, We are the Woods, Holly Williams, Shaving, Champagne Jerry, Diali Cissokho-Kaira Ba/Benyoro, Marion Loguidice, Never Sleep Alone, Dreaming Out Loud, The Sweet Remains and Joey Arias.

BIG PICTURE LEARNING BENEFIT CONCERT
January 23 at 7:00 PM
$250
This concert started with a bet. Andrea Pizziconi has been a long admirer of Big Picture Learning and their pioneering work to sustain innovative schools that foster real-world learning environments for economically-challenged youth around the world. Last fall over lunch, friend and colleague Elliot Washor (Co-Founder of BPL) said, "Sing a benefit concert for us, and I'll put together the team to create our first charter school in New York City." It was an offer Andrea couldn't refuse. From there, Andrea had the great fortune of enlisting Oriente Lopez and his fabulous musical colleagues -- Julio Botti (saxophone), Itaiguara Brandão (bass), and Mauricio Zottarelli (drums)-- to lend their talents to the concert, suddenly: SCHOOL IS IN SESSION!

WE ARE THE WOODS
January 23 at 9:30 PM
$12
This highly anticipated Joe's Pub appearance of NYC's We are the Woods is in celebration of their new album Whales & Roses, produced by Jeremy Sklarsky. WATW combine Simon and Garfunkle-like harmonies with the wild horse spirit (and mane) of Robert Plant, all while invoking the evocative lyrical precision of Emily Dickinson.

HOLLY WILLIAMS
January 24 at 9:30 PM
$15
Hailed by American Songwriter as a "sophisticated, introspective singer/songwriter" and as having "a lovely, ever-on-the-verge-of-breaking voice, and knows how to sell a song" by The Washington Post, critically lauded Nashville-based singer-songwriter Holly Williams will self-release her third studio album, The Highway, on Georgiana Records February 5, 2013. The Daughter of Hank Williams, Jr. and granddaughter of the legendary Hank Williams, Holly released her debut album The Ones We Never Knew (Universal South) in 2004. The follow-up Here With Me (Mercury Nashville) was released in 2009, earning high praise from The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, People, Entertainment Weekly, American Songwriter, NPR Weekend Edition Sunday.

SHAVING: SELECTIONS AND MUSIC FROM THE ROCK MEMOIR
January 25 at 7:00 PM
$15
Casting is set for the upcoming one-night-only world premiere performance of selections and music from Shaving, a new musical by writer/performer Alex Davis, at Joe's Pub on Friday, January 25, 2013 at 7pm. Based on his one-man-show, Alex Davis: Man of the Year, seen a year ago at the famed Knitting Factory Brooklyn, Shaving is a powerful rock musical memoir about love and self-transformation with music & lyrics by Alex Davis and a book by Alex Davis & Miranda Russo. Directed by Joseph Hendel and featuring a live band under the musical direction of Kris Kukul, Shaving features a cast of seven. The cast of Shaving, led by Alex Davis, also includes Chris Henry Coffey (David Schwimmer's Trust), Christopher Ryan Grant (Million Dollar Quartet), Nikki Kimbrough, Grace McLean, Gayle Rankin (Tribes) and Miranda Russo. Shaving is a personal, moving and humor-filled musical by singer/songwriter Alex Davis about his heroic evolution into a transgender man. The only child of iconic actor Brad Davis - the Golden Globe-winner best known for his acclaimed performances in the 1978 film Midnight Express and the 1985 premiere of Larry Kramer's groundbreaking drama The Normal Heart - who died of AIDS when Alex was just eight years old, Shaving exposes Davis's Journey growing up without a father yet triumphantly transitioning into a new world of manhood. Of this courageous tale of love, self-discovery and transformation, Larry Kramer says, "Alex Davis is an extraordinary young man, with an extraordinary story to tell." A Critic's Pick by Time Out New York, Davis returns to New York for this special concert performance of Shaving at Joe's Pub. Shaving, directed by Joseph Hendel with musical direction by Kris Kukul, is produced by Lauren Fitzgerald.

CHAMPAGNE JERRY
January 25 at 7:00 PM
$12 Advance / $15 Door
Champagne Jerry also known as Neal Medlyn is, by far, the greatest rapper in the world. He likes snacks, books, sexual intercourse, and rhyming. Champagne Jerry was born when Neal Medlyn's friend Max Tannone who had success with a Jay-Z /Radiohead "Jaydiohead" mashup album some years back, wrote and asked if he would want to write raps. It quickly became an all-consuming new project with Neal writing original underground-y contemporary hip hop songs in a style all his own, using the name Champagne Jerry, a nickname Bridget Everett gave him one fateful night when he walked around drinking an entire bottle of champagne. Featuring original songs, created with producer and remix master Max Tannone, among others, this long rumored debut will be the most significant occurrence in all of our lives. Special guests include Bridget Everett, Ad-Rock and Kathleen Hanna.

DIALI CISSOKHO-KAIRA BA / BENYORO
January 25 at 11:00 PM
$12
"Diali Cissokho, Kaira Ba's bandleader and kora player, hails from a long line of Griot musicians in Senegal. But moving an ocean away from his musical past has only strengthened Cissokho's resolve to enliven the traditional sound. With four Tar Heel natives behind him, Cissokho & Kaira Ba create a universally appealing sound full of bright tones and driving polyrhythm." - PASTE MAGAZINE. Benyoro plays an energetic and modern take on traditional West African music. With stunning virtuosity, detailed arrangements, and a rhythm section with The Force of a freight train, Benyoro ignites the dance floor at every show. This is not your grandpa's West African band.

MARION LOGUIDICE
January 26 at 7:00 PM
$15
"This recording was my third time around and it was a charm," songstress Marion LoGuidice enthuses about her brand new "Tales From The Topside World." "I loved every minute of making this CD." One listen to "Tales", however, reveals that not everything is hunky-dory in LoGuidice's intimate musical Visions of grief, beauty and forgiveness: "Tales" reflects the dark, light, and sacred parts of myself," New York's LoGuidice admits. "It's a long river from the heart to The Head and on this particular voyage, all the not-so beautiful parts of myself that would have been cast into exile were welcomed - and I pulled up a chair for each one of them." The first time you hear Marion LoGuidice live, you'll quickly realize that you're in for a very special evening.

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