Kara Suzanne

I had such a great time playing with everyone. Thanks to everyone at the 78 Project and the 7 Train Sessions for making it happen! - xoxo Kara Suzanne

“Friday night, December 2, at 9:02pm, forty New Yorkers piled onto a 7 Train bound for Flushing, Queens. Not an unusual occurrence in and of itself, except that these particular New Yorkers had more than commuting in mind. As the subway sped out of Grand Central Station, guitars, drums, banjos, mandolins, accordions, and even a mbira came out and a hootenanny began.

7 musicians and bands each played a cover song in honor of the borough of Queens, and a song of their own, and The 78 Project cameras caught it all.”

- the78project.com

The 78 Project is a documentary and recording journey inspired by Alan Lomax and his quest to capture music where it lived throughout the early 20th century. Their object is to bring the spirit of his work into the present by pairing breakthrough musicians with the songs and recording technology of the past.

The 78 Project asked me and The Reverend John DeLore to take an old folk song of our choosing and recreate our own version of it. We ended up with an American classic murder ballad that tells the sad story of Omie Wise. An early 19th century murder victim who was strangled by her beloved and drowned in a river. Our performance was captured in one take using one mic and recorded straight to a lacquer disc using a 1930’s Presto direct-to-disc recorder. 

While DeLore rewrote the lyrics to fit a murder trial from the mid-90’s, I wrote and arranged the harmonies for a more modern take on a classic tale.

Fri • 2011-09-02 • 09:00 PM • Rockwood Music Hall • New York City, NY • with the band

Thu • 2011-07-28 • 08:00 PM • Gramercy Theatre • New York City, NY • with the band

Thu • 2011-07-14 • 08:00 PM • Brooklyn Lyceum (Ugly Rhino Records) • Brooklyn, NY • with Steve Lewis

Thu • 2011-02-03 • 09:30 PM • Joe’s Pub • New York City, NY • with the band (Kraig Stover tribute show)

Thu • 2011-01-13 • 08:00 PM • Banjo Jim’s • New York City • sit in on a few with Linda Hill

Thu • 2010-12-20 • 09:00 PM • ? • New York City • sit in on a few with Andrew Paine Bradbury

Sat • 2010-11-20 • 08:00 PM • 92|Y Tribeca • New York City, NY • with Steve Lewis & Jordan Scannella

Fri • 2010-10-15 • 09:30 PM • Clementine Cafe • Harrisonburg, VA • solo - opening for The Hackensaw Boys

Tue • 2010-09-28 • 08:00 PM • Lucky 7 Tavern • Jersey City, NJ • solo

Tue • 2010-09-25 • 08:00 PM • Mother Earth News Fair • Seven Springs, PA • solo

Tue • 2010-09-23 • 08:00 PM • Acoustic Cafe • Bridgeport, CN • solo

Sat • 2010-08-14 • 10:00 PM • Tina Angel • Philadelphia, PA • with Steve Lewis

Sat • 2010-07-03 • 07:00 PM • Rockwood Music Hall • New York City, NY • full band

Fri • 2010-06-11 • 08:00 PM • Spike Hill • Brooklyn, NY • full band

Sun • 2010-03-21 • 03:00 PM • Brooklyn Country Fair @ Spike Hill • Brooklyn, NY • full band

Sat • 2010-02-27 • 08:00 PM • Gramercy Theatre • New York City, NY • full band

Wed • 2010-02-03 • 08:00 PM • Haiti fundraiser @ Parkside Lounge • solo

Tue • 2010-01-26 • 09:00 PM • Joe’s Pub • full band