051: Avram Fefer
Good morning! This is Play It Like It’s Music. I’m Trevor, thanks for listening.
On Wednesday August 12 of 2020 Music is not content, it’s connection.
[photo by Rene Thomas]
A while back (like 20 years or something back) I put on a joint birthday party with a good friend named Celine at a spot in Alphabet City. For the most part our two groups of friends mixed well, everybody was happy but Celine had cooler musician friends than I did.
I spotted her out on the sidewalk talking to this crazy looking dude. Weird glasses, athletic energy, hair everywhere. I had to know this guy, I knew he was into some weird s**t… and sure enough he is. You’ll get to find out today as we spend some time with the very same man, Avram Fefer.
He’s always up to some madness.
[photo by Nina Roberts]
I’ve seen this guy play his horn all over town, from the dustiest unknown free jazz improv spots to the Old Office at the Knit, burning it down at the coolest restaurants and even working with sculptors in high society art galleries. He always has amazing players in tow as well with a list of collaborators to make even the most jaded snob take notice. We’ve been friends for a while and I remember visiting him at his old walkup on Ludlow St for years before he moved into my old neighborhood, Prospect Heights.
Now what is it about Avram? Folks on here are into all kinds of music, some of us are focused on mental and technical aspects, others dwell in the emotional areas of great melody and songwriting, Some people are about the message, others all about that booty. We take all kinds. But when you witness a performance that just owns on every level those distinctions just fly out the window. You see someone who commits and delivers, leaving it all on the bandstand and making sure the folks in the room know that a musical animal has wandered through your life.
Avram is one of those cats. He takes full possession of the proceedings with full physicality, melody, heart and sophistication. I’ve seen the guy perform dozens of times and he never disappoints. Music is a contact sport to people like Avram and I’m very glad to bring him to you today.
His latest album TESTAMENT has received "Best Albums of 2019" honors from Rolling Stone, NPR, Downbeat, Bandcamp, Cadence, Jazz Magazine. It features Marc Ribot, Eric Revis and Chad Taylor. Link for that is in the show notes.
Let’s not waste any more time, check out Avram Fefer:
Press PLAY above to hear my convo with Avram Fefer.
Artist’s tracks all composed by Avram Fefer, provided by the artist:
“Loss (for Flo)” from the album “Calling All Spirits” feat. Eric Revis and Igal Foni
“Essaouira” - from the album “Avram Fefer's Big Picture Holiday”
Thanks for listening to Play It Like It’s Music. Thanks so much to Avram Fefer for spending some very generous time with us. You can find him at Avram Fefer dot com and check out his albums on Bandcamp.
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We're all contending with a mutating professional landscape, jacked revenue streams, a catastrophic global pandemic and plenty of other noise out in the culture.
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As always, thank you for listening and remember to play it like its music.
You can check out my music on bandcamp and other places. It’s all at my website, trevorexter.com. Sign the mailing list on substack to get this show sent right to you the very moment it comes out. Consider hiring me to score your piece, do some cello, teach you lessons, produce your show or back you up onstage.
Music is a beautiful thing and it makes the world go round.
Big love to your ears.
Trevor
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