Lily Kaufman Trio’s Fabulous Double Doina Suite Live at RCI

Launched this year, the "Jazz & Fusion Jamboree" is our newest permanent program that complements "The Enescu Soirees" with concerts devoted to contemporary forms of musical creativity, such as the fascinating recontextualization of Romanian folklore's most original genre, the doina, created by up-and-coming saxophone & piano player Lily Kaufman and performed alongside Anna Abondolo (double bass) and Alberto Oliart (drums).

Lily Kaufman, of Romanian origin herself, draws influence from the melismatic, solo instrumental improvisations of the doina – a lyrical genre of Romanian music often expressing sadness and longing –, which are blended, with spectacular effects, with contemporary classical, modal jazz and free improvisation. The concert, entitled "Double Doina Suite - On a Theme of Longing", includes first ever live performances of extracts from Lily’s debut saxophone EP The Chaos of Longing (to be released in summer 2023), a captivating musical foray into identity, heritage, family dynamics, and generational longing.

"Double Doina Suite - On a Theme of Longing".

Romanian Doina

Doina for Roma Women (with vocal track)

Hora

For the Crooked

Bb minor Bulgar

Mining for Crystal

Sing

Lily Kaufman is a saxophonist, composer, collaborator and educator based in Brooklyn, New York. Past performances showcase a range of genres and mediums including classical/avant-garde, klezmer and Romanian folk music, solo saxophone works and saxophone accompanied by live electronic processing. Her debut saxophone EP of original works entitled The Chaos of Longing (to be released summer of 2023), combines elements of Romanian folk tunes, contemporary classical and modal jazz and free improvisation. The album is inspired by family dynamics and her mother's impetus to flee Romania in 1983 to come to America.

Anna Abondolo is a bassist, vocalist, and composer originally from Los Angeles, California.  Her work spans theater, movement, song, and improvisation. She is currently developing an interdisciplinary collective entitled “Rainbow Princess” based in Brooklyn, New York.

Alberto Oliart  is an artist, drummer, and activist. He grew up in Mexico, where he studied Visual Arts at Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado La Esmeralda. He then went on to complete a degree in Jazz Studies at William Paterson University. His creative work attempts to formulate critical and emancipatory interpretations of hegemonic social relations, events and cultural products through intervention, recontextualization and association. He also likes making arrangements of revolutionary songs.