Slope Lounge welcomes the really big bands
By Alexandra Simon
They’re thinking big!
A Caribbean restaurant in
Park Slope welcomes jumbo
jazz ensembles and oversized
orchestras to play new
tunes each Monday night.
“The Living Large Ensemble
Series” takes place at the
Slope Lounge, opened last
September by husband-andwife
Omari Clarke and Nicole
Price-Clarke.
The Caribbean fusion spot
took over the space previously
occupied by the Tea Lounge,
which often invited bands to
play at the space, and the
music series is an expanded
version of that tradition.
To accommodate the musical
acts, the new owners built
a stage, adorned by a colorful
mural in the background.
Previously, bands had just set
up in the corner, said the
Lounge’s co-owner.
“When we walked into
the space, I felt it was missing
something, and it was a
stage,” said Clarke. “We needed
to make one just so bands
could come and play, and I felt
the corner wasn’t the right
place.”
The center of the cafe now
holds a raised platform large
enough to hold up to 24 musicians
at once. The expansive
stage is a welcome change
from other spots in Brooklyn,
which can often only host a
jazz trio, according to the cocurator
of the music series.
“There really aren’t a lot of
big rooms in town that can
Off Broadway production
tackles ‘perfect’ utopia
Caribbean L 32 ife, Jan. 11–17, 2019
All that jazz
even accommodate groups
that large,” said Joshua Schneider,
who also lives in the
Slope. “But the idea was to
have the place where writers
and players who are into this
kind of music, where there are
sometimes 20 people on the
bandstand — can have a place
to come and play. We’ve been
fortunate in getting some
really wonderful bands.”
Previous bands have included
the Grammy-winning Afro
Bop Alliance, along with some
of the city’s best established
and up-and-coming bands.
The series has gotten a great
reception from regulars and
musical acts, and several
groups have clamored to play
again, said Schneider.
“It’s been really heartening,
and a lot of bands are interested
in trying to get in the
series,” he said. “We are seeing
bands from all over the city.”
Up next, on Jan. 14, will be
Michael Sarian and the Big
Chabones, followed on Jan.
21 by the Neal Kirkwood Big
Band, led by the other curator
of the music series.
In addition to Monday night
jazz, the lounge also hosts an
open mic night, soca music
on Saturdays, puppet shows
for kids, and karaoke with a
live band.
The lounge is currently
experimenting with other
daily and weekly themes to
find out what appeals most
to its patron. The owners
hope the Living Large series
becomes a staple for the community.
And Schneider said that he
hopes the series introduces
live jazz to a new demographic
of listeners.
“People are not really
exposed to this kind of music,
and unless you know about it
or are introduced to it, you’re
really not going to know
about it,” said Schneider. “It’s
contemporary music, and it
comes from all different directions.
What we are hoping to
do is to make it available to
people, because a lot of people
aren’t exposed to live music.”
“Living Large Ensemble
Series” at the Slope Lounge
534 Union St. between Sixth
and Seventh avenues in Park
Slope, (347) 889–5005, www.
theslopelounge.com. Monday
nights at 8 pm. Free.
On the boards: The owners of the Slope Lounge, from left, husband and wife Omari Clarke
and Nicole Price-Clarke, teamed up with jazz musician Joshua Schneider to create the Living
Large music series every Monday night. Photo by Alexandra Simon
By Alexandra Simon
A new off Broadway play is set to
debut at The Theatre at St. Clement’s
Jan. 15–Feb. 16. The play titled “Eco
Village,” is somewhat based on the
life of young playwright Phoebe Nir,
and her experiences at the well-known
Vermont-based puppet theater — Bread
and Puppet Theatre.
The story follows the character
Robin, played by actress Arianna Williams,
currently living on the streets
and navigating herself around to find
shelter.
On her trek to find a home at an eco
village she read about online, Robin
thinks it will be a safe haven, and
instead comes across a different type of
environment she did not expect.
At the village, her interpersonal and
life skills come to the test, and she
forms a romantic relationship with a
young man. And the pairing leads to
several instances where their love affair
and village are in jeopardy.
The plays consists of six cast members,
and has a runtime of one hour and
20 minutes.
“Eco Village” at The Theatre at St.
Clement’s 423 W. 46th Street between
Ninth and Tenth avenues in Hell’s
Kitchen, ecovillagetheplay.com. Mon.
and Wed., 7 pm, Thu–Sat., at 8 pm.
Sun. at 3 pm. $35-69.
A scene in the debut play, “Eco Village.” Eco Village
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/ecovillagetheplay.com