The Return of Miche Fambro

Saturday, September 27 @ 8PM

Admission: $12 (free with a 2008 Passport)

Listen to "Can You Spare Some Change"

Crossing Borders LIVE, WVBR's multicultural radio concert series wraps the September Songwriter Series with a feature performance by ex-Ithacan Miche Fambro, LIVE at the Lost Dog Lounge at 106 S. Cayuga Street on Saturday, September 27th, 8pm. The two- hour simultaneous broadcast can be heard on WVBR 93.5fm or online at wvbr.com and crossingborderslive.org. Admission for the live show is $12.00 or free to Crossing Borders Passport holders.

The songwriter and silky voiced crooner will dish up an exclusive, double feature for the Ithaca audience, offering first a solo set of new original material, yet to be heard locally. This will be followed by a set of jazz standards in his unique, original style, when Miche's stellar vocal talents are highlighted by a trio plucked from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. They include John Nyerges on piano, Jeff Campbell on bass, and Alan Ward on drums.

Miche Fambro moved with his family from Ithaca three years ago, resettling first in Baltimore and eventually in Geneseo. He has been busy during that time, recording and performing through the Chesapeake area with new ensemble structures and in a variety of genres. Miche also produces a video series called "Guitar Lessons" : interview workshops on video featuring guest artists sharing stories, sketches, outrageous moments, stirring memories, great gigs, give-it-up-and-go-home gigs, chance encounters, lessons learned...etc. Episodes have featured Jerome Carr, William Hart Strecker, Karter Jaymes, Snake George, Ron Palmer, and never before seen footage of James Brown writing a hit song. (See Miche.com and click on Guitar Lessons to view the series or to read more about Miche).

Miche's return to Ithaca on Saturday will be far from empty handed. His 2007 Cafe Vignettes was released to a warm and welcoming reception:

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said 'a cynic can chill and dishearten with a single word' - an opinion, listening to, that one imagines Miche Fambro shares. 'I don't stew in a cynical view, I'll tell you why, I've got hope', he sings, which in itself would usually be enough for this hardened cynic (I'm a repeat offender) to turn off. Luckily for me, though, Fambro, has a voice well worth listening to, and between the gaps the hardened voice of experience speaks - hope is as much an aspiration as a conviction for this stand-out musician. Remember David Wolf's remark that "Idealism is what precedes experience, cynicism is what follows. Fambro intriguingly hovers between the two poles, while he dazzles with his technical ability.

Fambro is a one-man performer, a gifted guitarist, and former drummer mixing jazz, pop, folk and flamenco. These recordings, more than anything, display personality. He reminds me, at times, of Ben Harper, or in his more soulful moments (and there are plenty on offer) of master Jazz man Olu Dara - not to forget, of course, Robert Cray.

Originally from West Philadelphia, Fambro has spent years as a journeyman player touring around the States and Canada. His latest album, Cafe Vignettes, was recorded entirely at home - and it sounds that way, in the best sense. When those great minds at MTV thrashed out the 'unplugged' concept way back, they would have benefited from hearing this album, an album that stands or falls on the quality of its songs and performance.

Stand out track is A Bus Ticket and Amercian Flag, which skillfully matches up the themes of travel and identity. It also perfectly marries together that hope and bitter experience already mentioned, and manages to be proudly patriotic without, ironically enough, engaging in flag waving. It's a song that, on a very personal level, delves into what it means to be an African-American musician

...Paul Murphy

Miche Fambro specializes in a quiet storm - a delicate blend of acoustic chamber folk, Brazilian tropicalismo, and metaphysical introspection.and you can practically feel the ambient hush hanging over Fambro's elegant picking and the sweet longing and devotion in his singing.Beautiful, earnest, soulful...

...David Fricke, Rolling Stone

A man of many skills, Miche captivates his listeners with his mastery of the guitar. But his mastery of the guitar is not his only forte; Miche is an amazing singer with skills that equally match that of his guitar playing. The bottom line is that Miche knows how to entertain; and he does it well.

One of the magical parts about Miche's performances is that he fuses elements of flamenco, jazz, classical, pop and soul into a style all his own. But, if you don't believe me, check out his EPK (Electronic Press Kit) on Sonicbids.com (Music Resources/Submission Giant) for yourself..

...Junior's Cave