*

I caught up with Americas Musicworks founder Rebecca DeLamotte. She talked about her music agency, her artists, and her mission.

Rebecca DeLamotte, second from the right.

From the Americas Musicworks website: “Americas Musicworks represents classical andjazz ensembles who tour throughout the United States and across the globe. We work closely with artists and arts presenters to develop successful long-term relationships. Our mission is to build audiences for live performances by delivering world-class musicianship, distinctive programs, and positive educational connections.”

Doug Holder: You founded Americas Musicworks in Somerville. Before this you worked as an executive in the energy industry. Why the switch?

Rebecca DeLamotte: Yes, I spent more than 20 years as a marketing executive in the corporate world. Being married to a professional musician (flutist Peter H. Bloom), I was closely attuned to the life of a concert musician. Peter and his ensembles were superb musicians with terrific programs, but they were not well suited to promoting themselves, booking concerts, negotiating contracts and running a business. So, I decided to start my own company, Americas Musicworks, which would represent these groups and put my marketing and management skills to work for them. It was a way to bring my business experience together with my love for the arts.

DH: Somerville, often called the Paris of New England, is fertile ground for artists, musicians, etc. Tell us about your Somerville experience?

RD: I’ve lived in Somerville since 1993. My husband Peter has lived here for more than 40 years. We love the vitality of the city, the diversity and inclusiveness of our community; the energy of the street scenes; the wealth of restaurants of every size, shape, style and cuisine; the emphasis on green space and walkability; and the arts and cultural scene, with everything from Arts at the Armory to the Somerville Theater to HONK to Joe’s Jazz & Blues Festival to the Fluff festival to ArtBeat to Porchfest, and many more.

DH: You represent a lot of musicians of various genres. Can you tell us a bit about your clients? Do you represent any musicians in Somerville?

RD: Americas Musicworks specializes in chamber music and jazz ensembles, but within those niches, we have a variety of groups. For example, Ensemble Chaconne is a Somerville group that performs renaissance and baroque concerts on historical instruments. One of their most widely-performed concerts is The Music of Shakespeare’s Plays. Peter Bloom is the flutist with Ensemble Chaconne; Carol Lewis plays viola da gamba; and Chris Henriksen plays lutes and early guitars. Ensemble Aubade is a chamber music trio (Peter on flute, with Frank Grimes on viola and Mary Jane Rupert playing harp and piano) that tours across the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest; they perform familiar masterworks as well as new compositions by living composers. The Modernistics are a jazz quintet of singers, tap dancers and instrumentalists, performing hits by great American tunesmiths like Hoagy Carmichael, Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin. The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra is one of the longest running large jazz ensembles in the world, celebrating its 48th season (!) this Fall, led by internationally-acclaimed composer Mark Harvey. Aardvark plays Mark’s original compositions, as well as music by Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan, and others.

DH: I really enjoy jazz- from Stan Getz, Max Roach, Monk, Oscar Peterson to Louis Armstrong and everything in between. You represent the Mark Harvey Group. They seem to be bringing an original sound into play. Can you talk about this?

RD: Americas Musicworks has just released a new CD by The Mark Harvey Group called A Rite for All Souls. This is a long lost recording of a 1971 concert by The Mark Harvey Group, a quartet on the leading edge of experimental music 50 years ago. The group played without scores or notation; all concerts were entirely improvised through collective improvisation. The music is adventurous and forward-looking. Donald Elfman writing for The New York City Jazz Record called it “mysterious…other-worldly … haunting … strange and wonderful … cosmically unusual” – so that gives you an idea of the sound. The music was also a form of activism and protest in a turbulent time: the Vietnam War was raging overseas, and lives were threatened here at home by poverty, discrimination, and inequality. Today, we find ourselves in another dark and tumultuous time, and A Rite for All Souls is powerful and relevant.

Two of the original members (Mark Harvey and Peter Bloom) have been working together since their first days with the MHG. The other two members (percussionists Craig Ellis and Michael Standish) have passed away, but their music has been brought back to life in this remarkable new CD. We’ll be holding a Virtual CD Release on August 9, at 7:00 p.m., in a Zoom Event. Veteran jazz writer Bob Blumenthal will interview Mark and Peter and play excerpts from A Rite for All Souls. More information is on our website at http://www.americasmusicworks.com/mark-harvey-group.html.

DH: Now during the pandemic, you probably have not been able to book live performances. What is the state of things for you?

RD: The pandemic has been a crisis for many musicians and people from all walks of life. Peter and I, and our ensembles, are okay, but things are tough. Our last concert tour ended on March 2, 2020. We flew home from Charlotte NC, vaguely aware of the coronavirus but having no idea that, very soon, everything would-be put-on hold. At this point, all of our 2020 concerts have been postponed, and many of our 2021 concerts have also been delayed. Some of our clients in New England have asked us to perform outside during the Summer months, so Peter and his jazz groups have been playing outdoor concerts. We’re happy to have these jobs, but they are only a fraction of our usual activities, and, once the weather turns cold, there is no sign of indoor concerts starting up again. Our plan for the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra is to hold the band’s 48th season online. We’ll share interviews and videos on Facebook and Zoom, and hope to stay connected with our friends and fans that way. It’s important to stay positive and keep the music going, in these challenging times.