Martin Perna 3/10/17 Martin Perna 3/10/17

Aretha Carnegie Hall Show Photos / Video

I was blessed with the role of musical director (and flutist/baritone saxophonist) for this show at Carnegie Hall last Monday, putting together charts and arrangements for Antibalas, the ace house band for 18 of the 22 songs performed onstage that evening, among them:

Living Colour "Rock Steady"
Kenny Loggins "Until you come back to me"
Melissa Etheridge "I Never Loved a Man"
Ceelo Green "The Night Time is the Right Time"
Taj Mahal and Deva Mahal "Chain of Fools"
Ledisi "Daydreaming"
Ruthie Foster "Natural Woman"
Sam Moore (of Sam & Dave) "Don't Play That Song"
Don Bryant (Hi Records songwriter/singer) "Drown in My Own Tears"
Bettye Lavette "Ain't No Way
G-Love "Think"
Todd Rundgren "Since You've Been Gone"
Sarah Dash (of Labelle) "Dr. Feelgood"
Naomi Shelton "A Change is Gonna Come"
Little Kids Rock "Respect"
Rodney Crowell "The Weight"
Antibalas "Who's Zoomin' Who"
Full ensemble with Living Colour: "Respect" (Reprise

Here are some of photos collected from the roving eyes of the Internet.

#LivingColour sound check at #CarnegieHall #NYC w/ #Antibalas #TheMusicOfArethaFranklin @vurnt22 @coreyglover @dougwimbish @antibalas @carnegiehall

A post shared by Living Colour (@livingcolourofficial) on Mar 6, 2017 at 1:22pm PST

A family portrait from backstage at @carnegiehall last night. @antibalas @livingcolourofficial @saunwillshine @coldiehawn @ttimmyjames @rajakassis @coreyglover @vurnt22 @willcalhoundrum @amayo66 @reinaldodgsus @kevinraczkaa @systemdialingrecords @stuartbogie @martinperna @kingmarcoos #arethafranklin #carnegiehall #antibalas #livingcolour #anticolor Not pictured: @willrast @morganjprice

A post shared by Nikhil P. Yerawadekar (@npylowmentality) on Mar 7, 2017 at 9:56am PST

Not just one of the greats, Aretha is The Great!! “The Queen of Soul wasn’t in attendance, but Aretha Franklin would have certainly been thrilled by the musical tribute paid her at Carnegie Hall on Monday night (March 6). Featuring a roster of estimable musicians performing songs recorded by the 74-year-old singer, who has recently announced her upcoming retirement, The Music of Aretha Franklin shook the rafters of the venerable auditorium.” - Billboard 📷 by Bobby Bank/WireImage ・・ #ArethaFranklin #QueenOfSoul #CarnegieHall #TheMusicOfArethaFranklin #Benefit #Charity #SarahDash #RodneyCrowell #CeeLoGreen #MelissaEtheridge #CoreyGlover #LivingColour #NYC #Soul #Legend #Respect #NaturalWoman #Antibalas #Gospel #RandB #SamMoore #NaomiShelton #TajMahal #BettyeLaVette #Ledisi #RhiannonGiddens #RuthieFoster #SweetRelief #MusicHeals

A post shared by Sweet Relief Musicians Fund (@sweetreliefmusiciansfund) on Mar 7, 2017 at 11:28pm PST

#anighttoremember #tribute #arethafranklin #carnegiehall #allenstone #antibalas #martinperna #bettyelavette #ceelogreen #donbryant #glove #kennyloggins #ledisi #livingcolour #melissaetheridge #naomishelton #richardthompson #rhiannongiddens #ronpope #ruthiefoster #sammoore #sarahdash #tajmahal #devamahal #toddrundgren

A post shared by Sharon_Held (@sharon_held) on Mar 6, 2017 at 8:57pm PST

A post shared by Pepper Hemingway (@nycityboys) on Mar 6, 2017 at 7:43pm PST

Soundcheck @livingcolourofficial with @antibalas at @carnegiehall #nyc #themusicofarethafranklin #citywinery #coreyglover #vernonreid #dougwimbish #willcalhoun #livingcolour #antibalas #carnegiehall #arethafranklin

A post shared by Doug Wimbish (@dougwimbish) on Mar 6, 2017 at 1:21pm PST

One of my favorite moments from last night's rehearsal was with #melissaetheridge and #antibalas. She's the sweetest. Can't wait for tonight's show at Carnegie Hall. She's singing Aretha Franklin's "I never loved a man." SO good.

A post shared by jenmazer (@jenmazer) on Mar 6, 2017 at 10:10am PST

#Think @glove with @Antibalas @PhillyGLove @CityWineryNYC #MusicOfArethaFranklin #rehearsal #ConcertPhotography #LiveMusic #MusicPhotos

A post shared by Marc Millman (@marcmillmanphotos) on Mar 6, 2017 at 9:14am PST

For my second time @carnegiehall honoring the Queen #ArethaFranklin with a little #RayCharles sprinkled on it. Sometimes soul make you stutter, but everythang gone be alright! 🙏🏽🎼

A post shared by CeeLo Green (@ceelogreen) on Mar 7, 2017 at 9:08am PST

Too much fun being had with @antibalas! They are amazing and I loved every moment of Monday night. We love you #Riri! Thank you! @citywinerynyc @lindsay_at_compass #naturalwoman @arteaganyc #Cassiopeia #dress #custom #loveit!! 💛💛💛💛💯💯💯✨✨✨✨✨

A post shared by Deva Mahal Afro-FuturisticSoul (@devamahal) on Mar 8, 2017 at 8:10am PST

@ledisi #bettyelavette and me. In the most incredible company!! Thank you @rontyoungphotography for catching this moment. @carnegiehall @citywinerynyc #arethafranklin dress by @arteaganyc #Cassiopeia dress

A post shared by Deva Mahal Afro-FuturisticSoul (@devamahal) on Mar 7, 2017 at 10:25am PST

Tonight! @antibalas @carnegiehall #arethafranklin #chainoffools @lindsay_at_compass @arteaganyc #anightoremember @btarlow @marlowgoods

A post shared by Deva Mahal Afro-FuturisticSoul (@devamahal) on Mar 6, 2017 at 8:30pm PST

What a great evening at #citywinerynyc

A post shared by andrewfbellwine (@andrewfbellwine4905) on Mar 6, 2017 at 4:07am PST

#citywinerynyc #melissaetheridge

A post shared by Maureen Campbell (@rhtugs1) on Mar 5, 2017 at 6:18pm PST

Went to #TheMusicofArethaFranklin at Carnegie Hall tonight, and got to see the roof blown off by Living Colour and @antibalas, among many talented others. #WhyWeLiveinNYC

A post shared by Adair (@_adairdevil) on Mar 6, 2017 at 8:33pm PST

I don't know who decided I deserved these seats. Amazing celebration of Aretha Franklin. Among the people on stage: Bettye LaVette, @melissa_etheridge, @ceelogreen, Sam Moore, @livingcolourofficial, @antibalas, @thekennyloggins, @allenstone, and Taj Mahal #musicofarethafranklin #carnegiehall #musiceducationmatters

A post shared by Carter Gray Shelter (@cartergray22) on Mar 6, 2017 at 8:09pm PST

Antibalas with vocalist Courtney Trice at City Winery NYC 3-7-2017 / Music of Aretha Franklin Afterparty

Martin Perna 2/20/17 Martin Perna 2/20/17

New Music / Collaboration // "Gracias" by La Banda Bastön

New collaboration with La Banda Bastön (Mexico) and members of Antibalas (NYC) for their latest album "Luces Fantasmas"

This past spring, Antibalas performed at the Bahidora Festival in Morelos, Mexico. The festival was beautiful and amazing, and we made a lot of new friends, including La Banda Bastön, a hip hop group from Mexico City. A few of us stuck around to DJ/perform at a party in Cholula and then we spent some time at the Bastön studios in Mexico City, working on their new record.

The result: the song "Gracias," from their brand new album "Luces Fantasmas."

Check it here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/luces-fantasmas/id1207376131

Martin Perna 10/17/16 Martin Perna 10/17/16

Nov. 1 "Words Without Borders" Event in NYC

Words Without Borders translates literature and writing from all around the world. They're doing a party/fundraiser to continue their noble efforts in New York City on November 1 at Three Sixty, 10 Desbrosses St. NY NY at 8:30PM. Click on the image above for the event's Facebook link.

I'll be spinning records-- all vinyl -- lots of new, wild wonderful stuff from all of my excursions.

Please come, dance, and support.

TICKETS / INFO: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-wwb-globe-trot-tickets-27776880397

Martin Perna 8/30/16 Martin Perna 8/30/16

On Tour with Quantic this Fall across US & Canada

A few weeks back I got a call from my friend Will Holland aka Quantic asking me to join his four-piece band for a bunch of dates all across North America in October. The group will include vocalist Nidia Góngora and drummer/percussionist/vocalist Wilson Viveros!

Here is Nidia with a Quantic's Ondatrópica group:

How could I say no? I'll be playing flute, tenor saxophone, percussion, and some keyboards. Come and hear us play.

Martin Perna 8/30/16 Martin Perna 8/30/16

Ocote Soul Sounds with Brownout / Brown Sabbath

A few weeks back we got the boys together for a beautiful night of music. Our first live Ocote Soul Sounds show since 2012.

Here's a REVIEW of the show from Joy of Violent Movement

and more PHOTOS by William Ruben Helms

Martin Perna 8/30/16 Martin Perna 8/30/16

Fall 2016 Performances with Antibalas

After a brief respite in August, we are back out on the road, debuting unreleased songs from our upcoming album and some old surprises

Martin Perna 7/4/16 Martin Perna 7/4/16

Summer 2016 Performances

July 12: Lowdown Hudson Music Festival (Brookfield Place, NYC) with Antibalas and the Roots (FREE)
July 15: SESC Pompeia Choperia (São Paulo, Brazil) with Antibalas
July 17: Instrumenta Brasilia Festival (Parque da Cidade, Brasilia, BR) with Antibalas
July 22: Amsterdam Bar and Grill (St. Paul, MN) with Antibalas (Info/Tickets)
July 29: Lincoln Center Out of Doors (Lincoln Ctr, NYC) with Antibalas, in collaboration with Davido. (FREE)
August 10: Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn) with Ocote Soul Sounds, opening for Brownout.

Martin Perna 7/2/16 Martin Perna 7/2/16

Daptone Horn Explosion at Prospect Park, Brooklyn

On June 8, we staged a live debut of Bosco Mann's "Fugue In Soul," which we recorded at the Daptone House of Soul a few months back for Daptone's 100th 45 rpm release. Present here are the horn sections from the Dap Kings, Antibalas, Lee Fields and our extended family of musicians.

Here's a fan video of the performance from June 8, 2016 for the inauguration of Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Stay tuned for the 45.