If you’re not sure what to expect from a harp and percussion duo, don’t worry! Musician Abbie Palmer thrives on surprising audiences with her genre-defying sound. On November 5, Palmer will perform alongside Brazilian American percussionist and composer Lucas Ashby in a Matinee Idylls concert spanning traditional Celtic, African, New Age, and Hip-Hop.
“Folks can expect to experience a truly novel and fresh tonal experience between our harp and drums duo,” said Palmer. “I personally enjoy the fact that Lucas and I are able to create so much sound just as a duo. I also have a distinct improvisational style on the harp, which Lucas is able to follow with a tasteful and artistic approach on the drum kit. In this seemingly odd pairing, we love astounding audiences with the innovative sound we create."
Palmer comes from a diverse musical background, including being a board-certified music therapist for 15+ years, music teacher, and a singer-songwriter. Meanwhile, Ashby is a lifelong percussionist who has worked extensively with renowned musicians including Big Mean Sound Machine, Ivan Lins, and Paquito D’Rivera—who brought his signature Latin jazz flair to the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra’s November 1 performance at the Hylton Center.
"Presenting music in a duo format, especially music that draws from so many sources, is a high-trust proposition,” said Ashby. “Because a musician like Abbie enters each performance with an almost pathologically open mind, the lines of communication always remain open. We both tend to contribute lead-line and support-oriented ideas in equal measure, essentially the whole time we are on stage. In that sense, our duo performances get to feel both like a comfortable exploration into shared vocabulary, and an exciting high-wire act where the audience invariably witnesses moments where Abbie and I make a decision together without ever having discussed it in advance—a real treat for us all!"
Don’t miss this unique duo’s bold and captivating performance on November 5.