Andrew Wangemann's Jazz Folk

The members of Andrew Wangemann's Jazz Folk met while studying at The Juilliard School in New York City. Inspired by Aaron Copland and his musical quoting of folk songs in orchestral music (i.e. "Simple Gifts" in "Appalachian Spring" and "Whoopee Ti Yi Yo" , "Goodbye Old Paint" and others in "Billy the Kid"), Wangemann formed the band with a vision of playing folk songs in a jazz context and folk-inspired originals.

"Sea Shanty" quotes "The Drunken Sailor" while introducing an original countermelody on alto saxophone, played by Immanuel Wilkins. This countermelody draws inspiration from the lilting fiddle airs and ornamented bagpipe parts of the Celtic folk tradition. The song also features an added bridge in 6/8 time, evoking the turbulence of a ship sailing rough waters. Pianist, Frank Kimbrough and Wilkin's solos epically navigate uncharted sonic territories with virtuosic intensity.

“Erghan Diado”, arranged by pianist and accordionist Ben Rosenbaum, is a classic Bulgarian song penned by musicologist Petar Lyondev, and features a 7/8 time signature characteristic of Balkan Musial traditions.

"No More, My Lawd", an African American spiritual – is re-harmonized by Wangemann in five different ways, each one increasing in tension and complexity.