George Crotty has forged his own unique vocabulary on the cello. His compositions for cello, bass, and percussion draw on modal jazz, Arabic maqam, and Indian raga. This performance will also feature a suite by Palestinian cellist Naseem Alatrash entitled “Bright Colors on a Dark Canvas” that brings the Arabic style of cello into conversation with western classical and jazz genres.
George Crotty Trio Featuring Gideon Forbes 7pm Wednesday January 10th 2023 Barbes - 376 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215 $20 cover
Featuring: George Crotty - cello John Murchison - bass Jeremy Smith - percussion + Gideon Forbes - winds
“A stream of genre-blurring invention.” —All About Jazz
George Crotty is the insider’s outsider.
He brings fresh ears to folkloric traditions while staying hip to their stylistic nuance and cultural significance. Crotty’s cello playing is kinetic and magnetic. With passion and posture, he evokes sounds from the verdant hills of Ireland to the arid atmosphere of the Levant, always with the rhythmic playfulness of someone who has listened to everything from James Brown to Shakti to Mulatu Astake.
The George Crotty Trio makes music that is cinematic, pluralistic, and conversational. Known for an expressive fluidity and modal orientation, they draw on modal jazz, Indian raga, and Arabic maqam, all while pushing the boundaries of the cello as a jazz instrument. Featuring bassist John Murchison and percussionist Jeremsy Smith, the three players intertwine on their own terms in an exploration of groove and colour, lending Crotty's tunes an exciting three-dimensional quality.
Crotty has performed at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Koerner Hall, Savannah Music Festival, Globalfest, Newport Folk Festival and the Vancouver Jazz Festival. He was invited to play at the prestigious New Directions Cello Festival and has toured internationally playing Bogotá, São Paulo, Berlin, and Paris. Crotty toured North America with 10-time Tony-winning Broadway musical, “The Band’s Visit,” and played on the video game soundtrack for “Assassin’s Creek Mirage.” A member of the Brooklyn Raga Massive and the National Arab Orchestra, he has also worked with Simon Shaheen, Paquito D’Rivera, Anat Cohen, and Darol Anger. When not playing cello, Crotty loves cooking, learning new languages and spending time in his favourite temple, the ocean.