student blog

pretend encore / Brian

From the moment the lights dimmed at the IMU and Abraham Inc. took to the stage, it was clear the audience wasn’t quite sure what to expect. From a visual standpoint, there’s no reason the band members belonged together: hooded sweatshirts, formal suits, baggy hip-hop t-shirts and jeans, and tasseled leather jackets were all represented by various musicians. It was a jarring image, certainly, for any audience member expecting a cohesive ensemble like that of a string orchestra or jazz big band.

But Abraham Inc. has little in common with those stuffier styles of music. And when they launched into their first track, it all began to make sense. Abraham Inc. is the very definition of a gestalt; that is, a group greater than the sum of its parts. While each musician had his or her chance to shine at some point during the night, the group was at its strongest when they were all grooving together, each member doing what he or she does best and contributing to some really fantastic tunes.

Although not everyone seemed to appreciate Abraham Inc. (early on I saw a woman turn to her friend and mime shooting herself in the head), those of us who even slightly enjoy the genres Abraham Inc. represents (klezmer, funk, hip-hop) found a lot to like throughout the night. Best of all, instead of partaking in the irritating charade of the entire band leaving the stage at the end of the night, only to return for an encore, “beat architect” Socalled asked the audience to simply pretend as if the ten members had exited. So we all applauded for a few seconds, and then the band kept right on playing.

Thanks, Abraham Inc. That made my night, and more acts ought to follow your lead.

—Brian

groovy / Erin

Abraham Inc.  How do I begin to describe you?

As your resident dancer intern and critic, I’m slightly less comfortable reviewing an instrumental ensemble.   Don’t get me wrong, I took piano lessons for eight years and played trumpet for six so I’m not a complete stranger when it comes to instrumental music. 

But this performance was something totally foreign and new to me—a sound that a week later I’m still having a hard time describing.  Self-professed as a klezmer-funk dance party, Abraham Inc. somehow combines unrelated music genres to make an energetic and powerful show.  An electric mix of jazz, funk, hip hop, Yiddish influences and a big band look, this 10 member ensemble had a striking presence on stage. (Look at a picture of the group, you’ll see what I mean…)

Honestly, I was skeptical at first. The first song “Baleboste” confused me; I couldn’t understand what they were saying and I wasn’t sure whether they were speaking English or just had bad enunciation.  As the show went on, I became more accustomed to their off-beat grooves and sometimes lengthy improv solos.  It didn’t faze me when a rapper and an accordion were highlighted together during a song—I started to look forward to what crazy combination they’d show us next.  By the end of the show, I was bouncing in my seat and really enjoying this eclectic (and somewhat strange!) performance.

Abraham Inc. is packed with extremely talented artists, ranging from famous jazz musicians to rappers making the Billboard charts. David Krakauer, the star soloist of the group, has performed with groups such as the Kronos Quartet and the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra.  One of the founding members of the group, Krakauer amazed me song after song with his clarinet solos, including starting one piece with a two-minute trill on his instrument.  Fred Wesley, the trombone player, worked extensively with James Brown and is also one of the best in his field.  Most members of the group have long lists of accolades and high profile jobs in the music industry, showing how powerful this new fusion music can be.

Although I’m not sure Abraham Inc. will ever have their music played on a popular rap station, they are paving the way for new ideas for music collaboration.  Their show is accessible to a wide variety of ages and people with different music preferences.  Even if you don’t particularly like their music, the sheer talent and ingenuity of the group will make you appreciate their innovative sound and funky beats.

Keep grooving, Abraham Inc.  I’m excited to see what you’ll come up with next…

—Erin