The Rua: Essence of a group

Alanna, Roseanna, and Jonathan Brown

Alanna, Roseanna, and Jonathan Brown

Today at the Music Room, we did not talk to one artist. We talked to three.

Alanna, Roseanna, and Jonathan Brown, living in Windsor, London, are here in NY on their third visit to the US, after their performance at the NYC CMJ festival last October. Their group’s name The Rua, comes from the Hebrew word “ruah” meaning “essence of a group,” and the Irish word “rua” or “red.” Given the siblings’ Celtic roots and soaring melodies on the violin, this choice seems very appropriate.

That being said, The Rua is best known for their percussive guitar style, rock genre, and thematic lyrics.

Although the siblings have fairly distinct roles, with Alanna on piano, Roseanna providing vocals, and Jonathan playing the violin and fiddle, all three are familiar with various musical disciplines, and consequently are attentive to each others’ individual parts…a very useful advantage when co-writing songs.

They have also collaborated with Nigel Harrison, a bass player from London, and Portishead drummer Clive Dreamer, and this December at France’s RFM Studios, broadcasted an acoustic version of their song “Without You” from their Essence album of last fall, a version that has apparently never been replayed…until now.

The Browns also discussed learning curves during their career, their tour in Rome, the importance of music education, their role in the Harry Potter movies, and ginger stereotypes.

The Interview

The Rua
(Recorded live 03/03/15; host: Mandorichard), 31:35, 30.3 MB.

The Music

The following music is heard in this episode of The Music Room:

  • Artist / Song / Album (or note) / Date / Notes
  • The Rua / Into the Crowd / Essence / 2014
  • The Rua / Without You / Live on RFM, Paris, France, 12.5.14 / 2014
  • The Rua / Fight for What’s Right / Essence / 2014

CCT: Bringing holiday cheer to the Delaware Valley

The Cartoon Christmas Trio

The Cartoon Christmas Trio! From left to right: Rob, bass; Jackie, drums; and Jeff, keyboards.

The Cartoon Christmas Trio is one of the tri-state areas holiday traditions. From their website:

The trio is comprised of Jeff Knoettner on piano, Jackie Browne on drums, and Rob Swanson on double bass violin. All members are professional, full time musicians and educators in the Greater Philadelphia Region.

The music of Vince Guaraldi, in particular the soundtrack of the Peanuts Christmas Cartoon, has become the best selling Christmas recording of all time. The trio performs every song from this recording, using the exact instrumentation that Guaraldi originally composed for. In addition to the Peanuts music, the trio plays songs from “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”, “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer”, “Frosty the Snowman”, and “The Little Drummer Boy”, just to name a few. So when the 63rd version of the Messiah has left you uninspired and you are looking for a fresh alternative, come out at listen to the sounds of the Cartoon Christmas Trio because after all, Christmas Time is here!

 

The Interview

Interview with the Cartoon Christmas Trio (Recorded 11/12/12; original broadcast date: 12/17/13; host: Steve Kramarck). 29:18, 28.1 MB.