GINA LEISHMAN’s music performances with MR WAU WA and KAMIKAZE GROUND CREW at Lethe Lounge, Cathedral of St John’s, Weseleyan College, and Westbeth – all in February

Saturday, Feb. 4th
*MR. WAU-WA plays the songs of Bertolt Brecht @ Lethe Lounge
Times like these need songs like these…
618 W. 113th St, #3F/2R, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan
Doors open 7.30, music at 8, two sets
$20 suggested donation
Management asks”RSVP please so we can count heads Lethelounge@gmail.com”

MR. WAU WA
The Mr. Wau Wa Band was formed in 1998 as part of a project at P.S 122, which was celebrating Bertolt Brecht’s centenary. The band was inspired by a photo of Brecht from the ‘20s, performing with some clowns including the famed Karl Valentin and his partner Liesl Karlstadt. Brecht is standing in a cart playing the flageolette, behind a roll-down cartoon drawing of a strong-man being run over by a car full of revellers, with the inscription “Mr. Wau Wa”. The band is dedicated to performing the songs of Bertolt Brecht as set by his collaborators Kurt Weill, Hanns Eisler, and Paul Dessau, as well as some contemporary settings by David Hidalgo (from Los Lobos). Formed with four members of Kamikaze Ground Crew, plus the internationally renowned performance artist Rinde Eckert, members of the band are:

Gina Leishman – vocals, accordion, pump-organ
Rinde Eckert – vocals, pump-organ, accordion, euphonium
Doug Wieselman – guitars, clarinet, saxophone, vocals
Marcus Rojas – tuba, bass trombone
Kenny Wollesen – drums, percussion

Friday, Feb. 17th
*texts&beheadings/ElizabethR @ Wesleyan College.
This is the piece that was at BAM in 2015 and many folks missed it since it sold out very quickly.
There are 2 chances to see it, up at Wesleyan or at St. John The Divine on the 23rd…
for more info go to www.colombari.org

Thursday, Feb. 23rd
*texts&beheadings/ElizabethR @ the Cathedral of St. John The Divine
for more info go to www.colombari.org

Saturday, Feb. 25th
*KAMIKAZE GROUND CREW @ Westbeth
We had such a good time last year we’re doing it again…
Westbeth Community Room, 155 Bank Street
An early gig, doors open 4.30, music at 5, two sets
$15 suggested donation

KAMIKAZE GROUND CREW
A seven-piece horn ensemble (3 brass, 3 reeds and a drummer), a super-group of New York “downtown” luminaries, each a band-leader in their own right, KAMIKAZE GROUND CREW has been performing and recording together for over 20 years, on both coasts of the US and in Europe.
Gina Leishman, co-leader, alto and baritone sax, bass clarinet, accordion, piano, vocals
Doug Wieselman, co-leader, Eb, Bb & bass clarinets, tenor & baritone sax, guitar
Peter Apfelbaum, tenor sax
Steven Bernstein, trumpet & slide trumpet
Art Baron, trombone
Marcus Rojas, tuba
Kenny Wollesen, drums & percussion