Take a musical journey with the Gravikord Trio

CAMPBELL HALL — The public is invited take "A Musical Journey with The Gravikord" on Friday, Dec. 28, at 7 p.m. at Noble Coffee Roasters Cafe. The special event will feature the Gravikord Trio, with Bob Grawi on the Gravikord, an electric double harp he invented based on the kora; his wife Pip Klein on flute; and son Ben Grawi on percussion. Grawi’s musical journey will encompass the story of harps and harpers through the ages from the musical bow, to the frame harp, to the Gravikord, illustrated by selections of harp music from around the world.

“The roots of this creation spring from Japan and Africa,” explains Grawi. “The purity of sound of the koto from Japan, and from Africa, the double musical structure of the kora and kalimba, my music, however, must be called American,” adds Grawi. “My performances are mixtures of original and traditional songs and I find inspiration in a variety of styles, including jazz, Dixieland, Balinese gamelan and American folk music.”

Together, the trio will perform an instrumental mix of traditional original and popular music from around the world that is perfect fare for all ages. They characterize their own music as “new folk chamber jazz,” an upbeat style with rhythms that refuse to be pinned down in any way.

There is no admission charge. Refreshments will be available to purchase from Noble's menu while they hear about the two schools of the harp – the bardic and the shamanistic and of practitioners from the blind Greek harper poet Homer, King David, and Leonardo DaVinci, to present day South American Spanish and Indian harp composers.

“From 'Running with the Wildebeest' to flying 'Over the Rainbow,' we will take you on a spiritual journey around the world and through time,” said Grawi, who aligns himself with the shamanistic harp tradition.

Based in Florida, the group has performed at venues around the world including the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Venice Carnevale, and at dozens of festivals and private events. The Gravikord was recently included in the prestigious “Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments,” a multi-volume reference source published by Oxford University Press. The Gravikord was also featured in the book “Gravikords, Whirlies & Pyrophones” and was showcased at a 10-month exhibit in the late 1990s, “Enduring Rhythms” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This presentation is based on a lecture/concert the duo performed at the Met in conjunction with that show.

The events takes place at Noble Coffee Roasters Cafe, 3020 Route 207, Campbell Hall.

This project is made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts’ Decentralization Program administered by Arts in Orange.

For more information, contact Klein at 845-216-1293.