Innovative jazz musician Sam Reider and his band the Human Hands perform at Boulevard Music on Sunday, as they celebrate the release of new album The Golem and Other Tales. Reider told the News about what they have in store for Culver City…
When did you start playing and performing? How did the band form?
I started playing the piano when I was five years old. At first I played classical music. My dad was a musical theater composer when I was growing up. In high school I fell in love with jazz and moved to NYC for college in part to play jazz piano. I attended Columbia University and ended up studying American literature, which led me to become interested in American folk music. I picked up an old accordion and began learning to play some American bluegrass and fiddle tunes. This set me off on a journey around the world with the accordion.
The Human Hands got started in Brooklyn in 2016. We used to play regularly at various little bars and music venues each week. Our sets careened between bluegrass, gypsy jazz, and everything else under the sun. Shortly thereafter we recorded my first record of original instrumental music, Too Hot To Sleep. The record did quite well and we ended up touring the project quite a bit.
Describe your sound/style?
Our sound combines folk instruments with jazz improvisation and chamber music sensibility. We play my original music which is inspired by Duke Ellington, Astor Piazzolla, George Gershwin, Aaron Copland, Bela Fleck, and others.
What Are your career highlights so far?
Last year I got to perform on NPR Tiny Desk with Venezuelan maestro Jorge Glem. Our duo record was then nominated for a Latin Grammy and I got to go to Spain to attend the ceremony.
What recorded music is available — particularly the most recent?
The new record by the Human Hands is called The Golem and Other Tales. It features a suite of instrumental music based on the Jewish legend of the golem, a clay man brought to life. Each instrument plays a character in the story. It’s fun and fast and full of lively improvisation.
Have you performed at Boulevard Music before?
Yes, the Human Hands performed there in 2018, I believe. Gary reached out to me earlier this year to see if we’d come back, and coincidentally I was just planning our fall tour.
What can the audience expect from the set this time?
We’ll be playing all the music from our new record + more! I’ll be joined by an all-star band including saxophonist Eddie Barbash (Cory Wong), violinist Duncan Wickel (Rising Appalachia), and guitarist Roy Williams (Stephane Wrembel).
What else do you have coming up?
We’ll be performing up and down the West Coast in September.
Sam Reider & the Human Hands perform at 8 p.m. on Sunday, September 8 at Boulevard Music. Go to boulevardmusic.com for more information.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
There’s a full program of music at the Cinema Bar this week, as usual. The Hot Club of Los Angeles plays every Monday, and Wednesdays are singer/songwriter and open mic night. Other artists performing this week include Rick Shea & the Losin’ End, Bruce Ray White, the Clams, and more. Go to thecinemabar.com for more info.
