Chocolate Church Arts Center

Ozere: The best of both musical worlds

Tue, 05/16/2017 - 9:30am

Story Location:
804 Washington Street
Bath, ME 04530
United States

The Toronto-based Ozere, created by Jessica Deutsche, who amalgamated the initial group together one night in 2012, showcases freewheeling Celtic music with violin, mandolin, cello, bass and percussion. This robust quartet plays Friday, May 19 at the Chocolate Church Arts Center, located at 804 Washington Street in Bath. Show begins at 7:30 p.m.

Violinist Jessica Deutsche is classically trained but found her passion when she stumbled across a Celtic music jam at a pub near her place in Vancouver. She was intrigued, began to participate, and became hooked. “I introduce the music, but the others bring their own contribution to it and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Deutsche says. Now with a cream of the crop rotating cast of fine musicians she can call upon whenever she takes Ozere on the road or into the studio.

2016 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee Ozere takes inspiration from classical string quartets and world folk bands. Fiddler Deutsch's compositions bridge her upbringing as a chamber musician and her experience playing many styles as a side-woman, including Celtic; Bluegrass; Old Time American as well as Folk and world music. This band takes you on a journey, from knee-slapping reels that emit all the joy of an Irish pub session to solemn suites inspired by the Middle East and back to lively Folk traditions. 2017 has turned out to be an exciting year for Ozere as they were featured at Celtic Connections in Glasgow in January, and now touring in the U.S. and Canada on an extended tour over the spring and summer.

Described by the Boston Globe as a “rootsy take on the string quartet,” Ozere blends together the intimacy of chamber music and the spontaneity of an improvisational jam session, performing original compositions and traditional favorites. . Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Call 442-8455 or visit chcolatechurcharts.org.