(NORTH ADAMS, Mass.) – Bandleader/drummer Ben Perowsky brings his musical collage ensemble, the Moodswing Orchestra, comprised of all-star talents from New York City’s jazz, rock and trip-hop scene, to MASS MoCA on Saturday, October 5, 2013, at 8pm in Club B-10. The group plays a blend of ambient, moody instrumental soundscapes and upbeat, funky, beat-heavy trip-hop featuring vocalists TK Wonder and Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields. Listen to a sample here.
Perowsky is a first-call drummer for jazz artists John Zorn, John Scofield, Dave Douglas, John Medeski and Uri Caine, a contributor/founding member to rock acts Elysian Fields and Joan as Policewoman, a session/touring veteran drummer for Roy Ayers, Rickie Lee Jones, James Moody, Walter Becker (Steely Dan), John Cale (Velvet Underground) and Hercules & Love Affair, as well as a producer of nine of his own critically acclaimed recordings.
He unleashed “Moodswing Orchestra,” the self-titled debut, in 2009. This collage of sounds reflecting his diverse career features guest appearances by Joan Wasser, Miho Hatori, Bebel Gilberto, Elysian Fields, Steven Bernstein and others.
The latest ever-evolving cast within the orchestra includes a crew of who’s who in the greater New York City pool of players today: Peter Apfelbaum, David Baron, Danny Blume, TK Wonder, Glenn Patscha, Marcus Rojas, DJ Olive, Aya, Michael Blake, Adam Rogers, Jonathan Maron, Jennifer Charles, Joan Wasser, Josh Roseman, Miho Hatori, Tim Lefebre, Elyas Khan, Trevor Dunn, Steven Bernstein, Doug Weiselman, Falu, Dean Bowman and Fima Ephron.
TK Wonder is a singer, rapper, and songwriter who has supported such acts as Nas, Erykah Badu, and Talib Kweli. She has opened for major acts including Sting, Justice, and N.E.R.D. The Washington Post says: “TK Wonder sits somewhere between M.I.A. and Flying Lotus. Rhymewise, TK’s ability to spit at aggressive tempos is rivaled by few of her contemporaries, and she’s got that killer combination of looks and skills that the game is sorely missing.”
Jennifer Charles is an American singer, musician, composer, and poet. Along with Oren Bloedow, she co-founded the New York ‘noir rock’ band Elysian Fields. Charles can also be found performing with MASS MoCA alum Kid Koala as one quarter of the band Lovage.
Ben Perowsky’s Moodswing Orchestra, with special guests TK Wonder and Jennifer Charles, takes the stage in MASS MoCA’s Club B-10 on Saturday, October 5, at 8 PM. Club B-10 is a casual venue on the third floor of MASS MoCA. Full bar, plus dinner and snacks from Lickety Split are available before and during the show. Tickets are $12 in advance or $16 on the day of the show. Student tickets are $10. Members receive a 10% discount on tickets. Tickets are available through the MASS MoCA Box Office, located on Marshall Street in North Adams, from 11 am until 5 pm (closed Tuesdays). Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling 413.662.2111 x1 during Box Office hours or purchased online at MASS MoCA.