{"id":20879,"date":"2020-03-26T15:43:25","date_gmt":"2020-03-26T19:43:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/?p=20879"},"modified":"2020-03-26T15:43:27","modified_gmt":"2020-03-26T19:43:27","slug":"music-spotlight-music-artists-cope-with-pause-in-age-of-coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/?p=20879","title":{"rendered":"Music Spotlight: Music artists cope with pause in age of Coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, <\/span>Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Noa<\/p><\/div>\n

When it comes to concerts, shows, annual events and other entertainment and group activities, the coronavirus pandemic has thrown us into an era of \u201cwould have\u201d \u2013 an era in which virtually everything involving more that three or four people being together has been cancelled.<\/span><\/p>\n

On May 15, it would have been the 42nd annual staging of the Winterthur Point-to-Point \u2013 not this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the end of April, the 126th Annual Penn Relays Carnival would have been staged at Franklin Field. This year, the huge track and field event has been cancelled for the first time ever.<\/span><\/p>\n

The list goes on and on.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last weekend would have marked the area debut of legendary Israeli singer Noa at Longwood Gardens. Instead, she is back home in Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m quarantined at home,\u201d said Noa, during a phone interview last week from her home in Tel Aviv. \u201cThings are not good here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The concert at Longwood would have featured Noa and her musical partner Gil Dor performing songs from her new album, \u201cLetters to Bach.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s leading international recording and performing artist Noa (also known by her birth-name Achinoam Nini) and her long-time artistic partner and collaborator, the renowned guitarist, composer, and educator Gil Dor performed their first concert together in 1990. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLetters to Bach\u201d was executively produced by the legendary Quincy Jones and represents a creative correspondence that transcends space and time between Noa\u2019s vocal\/lyrical stylings and the music of iconic German composer Johann Sebastian Bach.<\/span><\/p>\n

The album is comprised of twelve pieces of instrumental music composed by Bach, for which Noa has written lyrics (in both English and Hebrew) that touch intimately and thoughtfully on subjects ranging from technology and religion to global warming, feminism, euthanasia, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the trials of relationships in the age of social media.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEarly on in my career, I got noticed by Pat Metheny,\u201d said Noa, during a prior interview from Tel Aviv several weeks ago. \u201cHe produced our first album and took it to David Geffen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Geffen an American business magnate, producer, film studio executive, and philanthropist. Geffen co-created Asylum Records in 1971 with Elliot Roberts, Geffen Records in 1980, DGC Records in 1990, and DreamWorks SKG in 1994.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was with Geffen for a number of albums,\u201d said Noa. \u201cI only became an independent a few albums ago and we\u2019ve managed to survive.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am a creative artist and love it like that. I pray at the temple of the god of music not the god of money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Noa has built a strong following around the world \u2013 but not so much in North America.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the U.S., we\u2019re much less well-known,\u201d said Noa. \u201cWe have a strange relationship with the states. Our music is not easy to compartmentalize. It doesn\u2019t fit into one genre. I am very definitely odd-shaped. But we have gotten the attention of American musicians like Pat Metheny, Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bach album was an idea I had several years ago. I started writing lyrics to all these Bach pieces. Gil did all the arrangements. The major instrument is guitar along with cello and choir.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe stayed accurate to Bach and didn\u2019t change a note. When Quincy Jones heard it for the first time, he flipped out. He said \u2013 this is unique and deserves a Grammy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Bach\u2019s compositions and lyrics sung by a modern vocalist may seem like strange bedfellows.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Noa, \u201cI found in Bach\u2019s ageless compositions an incredible platform for conveying very, very contemporary ideas. The lyrics I wrote for them are not sung in a classically trained fashion, but rather something that could be described as musical theater-oriented with elements of jazz, scat, or even rapper-ish with spoken-word. All these things can be found in the way that these pieces are performed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But for now, Noa\u2019s performances are all suspended.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started the tour in Boston on March 10,\u201d said Noa last week. \u201cThen, everything started shutting down and I had to return home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Back in Israel, Noa face two situations more pressing than her music \u2013 one medical and the other political.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThings here are not good for two reasons \u2013 the coronavirus pandemic and the political situation,\u201d said Noa, who is a long-time political activist.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur country is locked up and we\u2019re undergoing a political crisis. We have a prime minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) ousted in the last election who refuses to hand over power. He\u2019s a criminal and he needs to stand trial.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe world is undergoing a huge crisis and Israel is in a very dangerous place. I don\u2019t know if you can trust any of his decisions. He\u2019s a drowning man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Israel is not the only country in danger because of its political leaders.<\/span><\/p>\n

Noa is staying optimistic about her music \u2013 and her North American tour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very sorry not to be able to complete the tour,\u201d said Noa. \u201cI was very disappointed that I had to stop after one show and fly home. But the music will continue and hopefully we\u2019ll reschedule.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Noa — https:\/\/youtu.be\/ahsopdTFFDo<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another artist scheduled to play in the area with shows scheduled for the New Hope Winery last weekend and this weekend also had two nasty situations to face at the beginning of the month.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Raul Malo<\/p><\/div>\n

Raul Malo had to deal with the coronavirus pandemic and the serious tornado activity that ripped through Nashville on March 3.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, Malo and his family remained safe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt touched down here in Nashville yesterday but we\u2019re O.K.,\u201d said Malo, during a phone interview from his home on March 4.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEast Nashville has been destroyed but it\u2019s not nearly as bad in Nashville. It\u2019s like \u2013 \u2018Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTons of businesses have been destroyed. A lot of musicians have lost stuff that was destroyed. The tornado just came on without much notice. Now, it\u2019s the calm after the storm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Malo<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is the incomparable frontman of the GRAMMY\u00ae\u00a0Award-winning band\u00a0The Mavericks, and the sole writer of many of their songs. His free-wheeling, swaggering style seamlessly blends neotraditional country, rock \u2019n roll, and Latin rhythmic fervor, and prominently features his lush, soaring baritone.<\/span><\/p>\n

His compositional craftsmanship includes penning progressive and timeless hits like \u201cHere Comes the Rain,\u201d \u201cWhat A Crying Shame\u201d, \u201cDance The Night Away\u201d, \u201cBack In Your Arms Again\u201d, and \u201cAll You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Malo, who is Cuban-American, also has a strong solo career. Had it not been for COVID-19, he would have been in the middle of one of his solo tours right now.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been doing solo tours since way back,\u201d said Malo. “I like doing them for the reasons you think. You get away from your comfort zone. They\u2019ve helped me become a better entertainer \u2013 how to read the crowd, how to read the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just me and my guitar so I\u2019m definitely out of my comfort zone. It\u2019s a necessary exercise. I love doing it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On March 18 after the cancellation of his tour, Malo posted this on his Facebook page: \u201cI hope everyone is staying as safe as possible. Social distancing seems to be working. It sucks. But it is working. Cubans don\u2019t social distance even when they\u2019re mad at each other. We are all adjusting. I know that there are people dying and suffering, and in no way do I mean to make light of this. But I\u2019m a firm believer that especially in darkness, we must find the light. There\u2019s always room for a song. Here\u2019s a little musical fun on a gloomy day…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Each day, Malo is posting a freshly made video as part of his project \u201cQuarantunes with Raul Malo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are links to the ones already posted:<\/span><\/p>\n

Quarantunes 1 — https:\/\/youtu.be\/MR2U9S4Zd5o<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Quarantunes 2 — https:\/\/youtu.be\/AO2Q4DGvJpQ<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Quarantunes 3 — https:\/\/youtu.be\/jx9GAtffC-0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Quarantunes 4 — https:\/\/youtu.be\/0qNa04VBcYo<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Quarantunes 5 — https:\/\/youtu.be\/WeLILB2ufhE<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

It has just been announced that Malo\u2019s shows at New Hope Winery have been postponed to October 1-4.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Liz Longley<\/p><\/div>\n

Also, check this out. It\u2019s Nashville recording artist and Downingtown native Liz Longley performing in a new benefit video for Brandywine SPCA. Enjoy, donate and wash your han<\/a>ds.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BrandywineSPCA\/videos\/2782802425149881\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times When it comes to concerts, shows, annual events and other entertainment and group activities, the coronavirus pandemic has thrown us into an era of \u201cwould have\u201d \u2013 an era in which virtually everything involving more that three or four people being together has been cancelled. On May 15, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4357],"tags":[3162,1639,8742,8743],"class_list":["post-20879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-featured","tag-liz-longley","tag-noa","tag-raul-malo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20879"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20880,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20879\/revisions\/20880"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}