Omar's Hat "On Our Way" Release with WPO, Jake Sherman, AJAY and DJ w/Res

523 Church Lane,Philadelphia PA 19144

04 July, 2021

Description

Four sets of live music from a slew of Philadelphia'a true party starters. Come prepared with your own container for water. Picnic Positive! Omar's Hat started on the corner of 45th and Locust when a group of musicians gathered at Meskerem to spark a jam thats never stopped since. This collective is our open act of rebellion, always expanding, never settling. This music is our love for Philadelphia, for a history of sounds that make and remake us every day. Our music is for Omar, whose dance never quit reminding us that each day is to be treasured; that you can always find magic in the everyday. This music is for you, come join in. All creative attitudes are welcomed and celebrated. Omar's Hat is free to try on and wear out and pass off to a friend or a loved one or a sister or a stranger. We thank you for being a part of the vibe. The West Philadelphia Orchestra is a unique ensemble in today’s musical field. According to Stranded in Stereo, “The music has a magical quality, and we mean that in the darkest and most arcane sense of the word.” Founded in 2006 as a weekly neighborhood Balkan music workshop replete with strings, WPO has evolved into a tight knit brass band. WPO’s brass and drums merge with the fusion of Bulgarian/American vocalist Petia Zamfirova to ignite parties with joy and love through infectious dance - “Despite a sizable portion of the crowd likely not understanding the various languages of the southeastern Europe region, there always seems to be a supernatural synergy between the crowd and the band.” (Jump Philly). WPO is known for ecstatic parties where the band’s mashup blend of Balkan brass, improvisation, and American beats has deepened with age. WPO was founded in 2006 with the purpose of studying Balkan music. The band specifically developed repertoire in Romanian horo, Bulgarian folk, and most significantly Romani brass band traditions from Serbia and North Macedonia. We have been fortunate to share stages and host Roma luminaries, including Fanfare Ciocarlia, Boban and Marko Markovic Orchestra, and most recently in May of 2019 the Dzambo Agusevi Orchestra, which World Cafe's David Dye said was, "the most ecstatic party I’ve been to in decades." WPO and the Dzambo Agusevi Orchestra collaborated in studio for NPR, WXPN, The Key, and posterity while they were visiting, featuring segued arrangements of the Esma Redžepova classic Ibrahim and the Macedonian pop/Romani wedding banger, Kes Kes. The future of WPO is found in our mission to spread the special blend of music we make with the world by continuing to fuse our work here at home and abroad with our original music. WPO has released two full length LP's, one EP, and one live collection commemorating our tenure at the now shuttered Tritone. WPO is currently in a fertile stage of recording and self producing a slew of original material. Born in Boston, JAKE SHERMAN has found a way to combine his appreciation of great songwriting with his piano/organ-playing prowess. He has become a go-to musician on recordings, and tours for artists including Meshell Ndegeocello, Bilal, Emily King, Blood Orange, Benny Sings, Doyle Bramhall II, Gabriel Garzon-Montano, Andrew Bird and Nick Hakim. Everything from gospel heavyweight Doobie Powells Close to You to Chance the Rappers Grammy-winning song No Problem includes Jakes work. 23 year old singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, AJAY, encompasses all the best parts of modern production, with the smooth, soul-drenched ingredients that defined the sound of Philadelphia for decades. Equally comfortable with the nuances of Alternative R&B, Neo-Soul, Hip Hop, or Bedroom Pop, his production and musical prowess blend seamlessly with his vulnerable, yet confident falsetto voice. A critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter-band leader, Res is widely recognized for her distinct style, a style that treats musical categories with a deft indifference. Is she Rock, is she R&B, is she Alternative, is she something somewhere in between; she says, "genre blending is where music is right now." And, that she will "stick to this style until people catch back up with me." Res has worked with an impressive roster of award-winning artists including John Mayer, Mary J. Blige, Gnarls Barkley, Maxwell, Alanis Morissette, Shaggy and Musiq Soulchild, among others. Additionally, artists as diverse as The Internet, Kaytranada, Estelle, Solange have cited her as a musical influence. Res' debut album, How I Do, released in 2001, sold over 300,000 copies and offered an edgy rock-soul alternative to the neo-soul wave that dominated the era. How I Do represents a defining moment in music in which underdogs were celebrated, artificial celebrity was mocked and artists who boldly rebelled against conformity were embraced.