Hugh Blumenfeld
Encyclopedia
Hugh Blumenfeld is an American
folk
music
ian and singer-songwriter
from Connecticut
. He was born in Jamaica, Queens
, New York City
, graduated with degrees in Biology and Humanities from M.I.T. in 1980, and got a Masters in English Literature from the University of Chicago
in 1981. He was active in the Greenwich Village
music scene in the 1980s, attending the Cornelia Street Songwriters Exchange and performing at Folk City and Speak Easy while working on a PhD in Poetics from New York University
. He also helped to edit the Fast Folk Musical Magazine (now part of the Smithsonian-Folkways collection) and recorded songs for a dozen issues. After earning his PhD in 1991, he worked as an English professor until 1994, when he began writing and performing full time. Over the next 10 years he toured mainly in the Northeast and Midwest, with several short tours in Europe and one in Israel. In 1999 he was appointed Connecticut State Troubadour
.
In the fall of 2003, after many forays into the realm of music and healing, he enrolled in medical school at the University of Connecticut
and became an MD in the field of family medicine.
, Marshal Rosenberg, Kenny Kosek
and Mark Dann, and was produced by David Seitz. It includes "Brothers" and "Let Me Fall In Love Before the Spring Comes," which was later included in On A Winter's Night, a popular compilation edited by Christine Lavin
. His second collection of songs, Barehanded, was recorded in 1990 and originally released on cassette for limited distribution. In 1993, this album became the first release of the New York-based independent label Prime-CD, which re-released The Strong In Spirit on CD the following year.
In 1996, Blumenfeld released Mozart's Money, an album that helped him gain a national audience through reviews and indie radio airplay. The album combined high energy folk-rock and jazz-tinged tracks with more lyrical, strictly acoustic pieces. Lucy Kaplansky and Mark Dann feature prominently and are joined by Michael Visceglia (of Suzanne Vega's band), Mindy Jostyn and Madwoman in the Attic. Its hidden track, "When Hiroshima Comes to Disneyland" was penned during a recording session, the first in a string of sharp political satires. Rocket Science, the last of his Prime-CD recordings, came out in 1998 and includes "Longhaired Radical Socialist Jew." In 2000, he recorded Big Red in Switzerland
for the Brambus record label during one of his tours with percussionist Shane Shannahan, who later toured and recorded with Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Project. On the CD, recorded live in the studio in just two days, they are joined by popular Swiss country music singer Doris Ackermann. Mr Jekyll and Dr Hyde is an expanding collection of satirical songs that includes live recordings, basement tapes and previously-released CD tracks.
Compilations:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
ian and singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He was born in Jamaica, Queens
Jamaica, Queens
Jamaica is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States. It was settled under Dutch rule in 1656 in New Netherland as Rustdorp. Under British rule, the Village of Jamaica became the center of the "Town of Jamaica"...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, graduated with degrees in Biology and Humanities from M.I.T. in 1980, and got a Masters in English Literature from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1981. He was active in the Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
music scene in the 1980s, attending the Cornelia Street Songwriters Exchange and performing at Folk City and Speak Easy while working on a PhD in Poetics from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. He also helped to edit the Fast Folk Musical Magazine (now part of the Smithsonian-Folkways collection) and recorded songs for a dozen issues. After earning his PhD in 1991, he worked as an English professor until 1994, when he began writing and performing full time. Over the next 10 years he toured mainly in the Northeast and Midwest, with several short tours in Europe and one in Israel. In 1999 he was appointed Connecticut State Troubadour
Connecticut State Troubadour
The Connecticut State Troubadour is an honorary position, established in 1991 by the Connecticut General Assembly. The State Troubadour functions as an ambassador of music and song to encourage cultural literacy and promote the State of Connecticut. It was at some points an annual position, but...
.
In the fall of 2003, after many forays into the realm of music and healing, he enrolled in medical school at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
and became an MD in the field of family medicine.
Recordings
Blumenfeld's first album, The Strong In Spirit, was self-released as an LP in late 1987. It featured performances by Lucy KaplanskyLucy Kaplansky
Lucy Kaplansky is an American folk musician based in New York City. Kaplansky also has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University.-Biography:...
, Marshal Rosenberg, Kenny Kosek
Kenny Kosek
Kenny Kosek, born in 1949 in The Bronx, New York, is an American fiddler who plays bluegrass, country, klezmer, folk music and roots music. In addition to his solo career, he has performed with many other well-known performers and contributed to film and television soundtrack music. He is also a...
and Mark Dann, and was produced by David Seitz. It includes "Brothers" and "Let Me Fall In Love Before the Spring Comes," which was later included in On A Winter's Night, a popular compilation edited by Christine Lavin
Christine Lavin
Christine Lavin is a New York City-based singer-songwriter and promoter of contemporary folk music. She has recorded numerous solo albums, and has also recorded with other female folk artists under the name Four Bitchin' Babes...
. His second collection of songs, Barehanded, was recorded in 1990 and originally released on cassette for limited distribution. In 1993, this album became the first release of the New York-based independent label Prime-CD, which re-released The Strong In Spirit on CD the following year.
In 1996, Blumenfeld released Mozart's Money, an album that helped him gain a national audience through reviews and indie radio airplay. The album combined high energy folk-rock and jazz-tinged tracks with more lyrical, strictly acoustic pieces. Lucy Kaplansky and Mark Dann feature prominently and are joined by Michael Visceglia (of Suzanne Vega's band), Mindy Jostyn and Madwoman in the Attic. Its hidden track, "When Hiroshima Comes to Disneyland" was penned during a recording session, the first in a string of sharp political satires. Rocket Science, the last of his Prime-CD recordings, came out in 1998 and includes "Longhaired Radical Socialist Jew." In 2000, he recorded Big Red in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
for the Brambus record label during one of his tours with percussionist Shane Shannahan, who later toured and recorded with Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Project. On the CD, recorded live in the studio in just two days, they are joined by popular Swiss country music singer Doris Ackermann. Mr Jekyll and Dr Hyde is an expanding collection of satirical songs that includes live recordings, basement tapes and previously-released CD tracks.
Discography
- The Strong in SpiritThe Strong in SpiritThe Strong in Spirit is the debut album by folk artist Hugh Blumenfeld. It was released in 1988 by Prime CD.-Track listing:#"Brothers" – 2:59#"Leather and Lace" – 2:39#"Let Me Fall in Love Before the Spring Comes" – 4:02...
(1988) - BarehandedBarehandedBarehanded is the second album by folk artist Hugh Blumenfeld. It was released in 1993 by Prime CD.-Track listing:#"Bring Stones" – 3:59#"Thread City" – 3:24#"America Redux" – 3:06#"Carrie " – 2:19#"Carrie" – 3:55...
(1993) - Mozart's MoneyMozart's MoneyMozart's Money is the third album by folk artist Hugh Blumenfeld. It was released in 1996 by Prime CD.-Track listing:#"Mozart's Money" – 3:15#"Raphael" – 3:48#"Waiting for the Good Humour Man" – 2:28#"This Mountain" – 3:44...
(1996) - Rocket Science (1998)
- Big Red (2000)
- Mr Jekyll and Dr Hyde (1998, 2004)
Compilations:
- On A Winter's Night (Rounder)
- Big League Babe: Tribute to Christine Lavin, Vol. 2 (Prime-CD).
- PostcryptPostcrypt CoffeehousePostcrypt Coffeehouse is an all-acoustic music venue in the basement of St. Paul's Chapel at Columbia University in New York City, run completely by students. Founded in 1964, Postcrypt has hosted many up-and-coming folk musicians, including Jeff Buckley, Dar Williams, Shawn Colvin, and Ani DiFranco...
(Prime-CD) - The Folk Next Door (WWUH-FM)
- Fast Folk Musical Magazine
- Fast Folk Musical Magazine: A Community of Songwriters (Smithsonian-Folkways, 2002)