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Shakers n Bakers

The Shakers n’ Bakers are an improvising ensemble that reinterprets the music of the utopian religious community known as the Shakers. Their repetoire is primarily drawn from the body of work known as the “Vision” or “gift” songs which sprang from the Shaker community during the period of inspiration from 1837-1850. These visoion songs were received in states of inspiration by young women of the shaker community, and their authorship is attributed to spirits which took possession of the recipients, thus the term “gift” songs. The texts of many of the songs are partially or entirely written in the languages of inspiration; some are identified loosely as African, Native American or “moon” languages. Other texts are in English contain a beautiful poetry echoing the unique worldview of the Shakers. The Shakers n’ Bakers use this body of music as a focal point for composition and improvisation. Orignal Shaker texts and songs are reinterpreted through the lens of Ayler and Lennon. The group is made up of many well known musicians on New York’s “downtown” jazz and new music scene including Mary LaRose and Miles Griffith (vocals), Jeff Lederer(reeds), Jamie Saft (electric harpsichord and other keyboard instruments), Chris Lightcap (bass) and Allison Miller (drums).

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211
Album Review

Shakers N' Bakers: YFZ (Yearning For Zion)

Read "YFZ (Yearning For Zion)" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni


Sometimes odd matches promise the most perfect couplings. Such is the case with the second release of the New York-based improvising ensemble, Shakers N' Bakers. They succeed beautifully with inspired interpretations of 19th century spiritual vision songs by the radical Utopian religion community known as the Shakers. The ensemble transfers the original texts through the musical lens of the revolutionary figures of free jazz, most notably Albert Ayler, while spicing an ecstatic stew with quotes from contemporary modern composers including ...

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85
Performance / Tour

Firehouse 12 to Present Shakers N' Bakers October 10th

Firehouse 12 to Present Shakers N' Bakers October 10th

Source: Improvised Communications

On Friday, October 10th, New Haven's Firehouse 12 will present a two-set performance by Shakers n' Bakers, an improvising ensemble of New York jazz scene veterans created to reinterpret original 19th century music discovered in the archives of the Shaker religious community. The band, featuring vocalists Mary LaRose and Miles Griffith, multi-instrumentalist Jeff Lederer, keyboardist Jame Saft, bassist Chris Lightcap and drummer Allison Miller, is on tour this fall in support of its second CD, YFZ (Yearning for Zion), which ...

67
Performance / Tour

Shakers N' Bakers - Mother Ann's Day Tour 2007

Shakers N' Bakers - Mother Ann's Day Tour 2007

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

The Shakers n' Bakers is a band made up of leading improvisers on the New York jazz/new music scene who perform reinterpretations of Shaker “vision" songs, received in states of inspiration by young women of the Shaker religious community during the years 1837-50. The group will be performing three special concerts this summer at sites of historical significance to the Shaker movement. The band's tour will roughly retrace some of the travels of the founder of the Shaker movement in ...

66
Performance / Tour

Shakers n' Bakers CD release event at the BAM Cafe on Friday Jan 5th: Free

Shakers n' Bakers CD release event at the BAM Cafe on Friday Jan 5th: Free

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Little (i) Music announces a CD release event at the BAM Cafe on Friday Jan 5 featuring a performance by the Shakers n' Bakers, an ensemble which performs the music of the utopian religious community known as the Shakers. Their repetoire is primarily made up of “Vision" songs, received in trance during the years 1837-50 by young women and reinterpreted through the lens of Albert Ayler and John Lennon. The group is made up of Mary LaRose and Miles Griffith ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

YFZ (Yearning For...

Little (i) Music
2008

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Shakers n' Bakers

Little (i) Music
2008

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