Description
The Celtic Jazz ensemble SYNKOFA builds upon innovative folk song arrangements of violinist Theresa Ellis and adds the original compositions of guitarist Eric McKenna. The four-piece instrumental band features soloist extraordinaire Steve Wesson on the upright bass and the skillful violin and viola lines of their newest member Mary Otterstrom. Together, they play Celtic and world roots music with a Gypsy flair, carrying listeners to the misty Irish Highlands, the hot jazz clubs of 1950’s Paris, the stone cathedrals of the Renaissance, to the porch steps of Appalachia, and beyond! The English word Jazz may have been derived from the Irish Gaelic T'chass, which means "fiery and full of life", as Theresa's surprising twists on traditional melodies and rhythms exemplifies. But the Celtic Jazz approach is just a springboard for the SYNKOFA Ensemble as they pluck pieces from the vines of Praetorius, Eric Satie, and David Grisman before infusing them with swing tempos, juxtaposed melodies, and extended improvisations. Each member bestows instrumental proficiency as though it were a solar flare upon the material. Upright bassist Stephen Wesson, equally competent with fingers or a bow, traverses syncopated lead lines to deep sustained tones while holding down the groove. Guitarist Eric McKenna artfully employs harmonics and pull-offs with rasgueado flamenco strums to craft his chords and solos. Masterful techniques underpin fiery leads and stirring melodies by violinist Theresa Ellis. A distinctive feature of the group is their employment of “Verdi” or “Pythagorean” tuning of A to 432Hz. Historically prevalent and sonically organic, the 432 tuning is designed to speak to your soul and sync with universal vibrations! The name SYNKOFA is a variation on the West African concept of "Sankofa", meaning to reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us so that we may use it to gain our highest potential as we move forward. The sankofa (SAHN-koh-fah) adinkra symbol is a bird with its head turned backwards while its feet face forward carrying a precious egg in its mouth and appears frequently in traditional Akan art. SYNKOFA (we say sing-KOH-fah) has adopted the Mpatapo adinkra as part of it's branding, reminiscent of the Celtic knot. It represents the bond or knot that binds parties in a dispute to a peaceful, harmonious reconciliation and it is a symbol of peacemaking after strife. SYNKOFA has inverted the A to a Y in their name, just as they have transfigured all of their performances by the new tuning frequency of A=432 Hz. More info about 432 tuning here. The ensemble seeks to transport listeners to distant times and places only to bring them back again to the present with a better outlook for the future.
SYNKOFA can be found at 3230 N River Dr. . The following is offered: Music - In Eden there are 0 other Music. An overview can be found here.
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