Crib Notes

The 4TH WARD AFRO-KLEZMER ORCHESTRA plays exactly what the name promises, a merger of Western and African rhythms and Klezmer-influenced song styles laid down by some of the best jazz hands in Atlanta.

Under the direction of composer/trumpeter Roger Ruzow, the 10-piece ensemble barrels through original arrangements of traditional and exotic sounds. With so many players, 4WAKO features members of dozens of acts, including Noot d’Noot, Cadillac Jones and Gold Sparkle Band.

The group features Colin Bragg (guitar), Chris Case (keyboard), Ben Davis (tenor sax), Jeff Crompton (alto sax / clarinet), Ben Gettys (bass), Bill Nittler (baritone sax / clarinet), Keith Leslie (drums), Blake Williams (trombone) and Roger Ruzow (trumpet).

If you didn’t get a chance to witness their debut at Eyedrum a few weeks back, the group is convening  once again, this time at The Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge at 664 N. Highland Ave. this Saturday night (Sept. 13 at 9:00 p.m. Admission is $5 and Jude Stevens (A.K.A. Pete DeLorenzo of Gringo Star) opens the show.

Bookmark to:

In this week’s CL feature story on King Khan and the Shrines I mention that Khan’s first Atlanta appearance, with the King Khan & BBQ Show, took place at the “defunct” Kirkwood Ballers Club open mic night at the old Lenny’s. The day the story went to print I received an e-mail from Randy Castello saying that the Ballers Club was born again and as of Thurs., Aug. 7 will resume at the ever popular Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge underneath the Highland Inn.

Since 2004 KBC has served as a weekly, open mic staple for Atlanta’s more adventurous musicians, and has been housed at 3 locations, including a private residence in Kirkwood, the old Lenny’s Bar and 11:11 Teahouse. Past Baller’s Club events have featured performances from the likes of King Khan and BBQ show, Girl Talk, Deerhunter, Jana Hunter, the Black Lips and hundreds of other local and national acts; some that you have heard of and many others that you have not.

“When I started Kirkwood Ballers Club in March 2004, my intent was to provide an open forum for experimental musicians and performance artist who found it difficult to get shows here in town. I also wanted to create an idea incubator of sorts to allow others to perform and experiment with each other musically in an effort to create and nurture new creative ensembles.”

-Randy Castello founder of KBC

Kirkwood Ballers Club is free and the doors open at 8 p.m. Artists who are interested in performing sign up at the door and music starts promptly at 9 p.m. and end at midnight. Since it’s new home is a hotel, Costello stresses that performers must be mindful at all times of the hotel’s residents and keep the volume at an acceptable level.

Bookmark to: