The Jascha Ephraim Memorial Library
Posted by R. Weiss on March 16, 2007
Last Monday I went to see the Jascha Ephraim Memorial Library at the L Cafe on 24th St. I’ve known Jascha for a few years now, and he is quite an intriguing character. His first album is catchy and often hilarious, especially when seen live and accompanied by Jascha’s excellent dance moves and bizarre back-up videos. But after seeing this new turn his music has taken, I’ve come to realize Jascha Ephraim is nothing short of a man-boy musical genius.
On this particular night the Jascha Ephraim Memorial Library included multiple violinists, a keyboardist, and a bassist, with Jascha conducting from its midst in a self-styled headdress while singing and playing guitar. The band members were all outfitted in gray sweatsuits and had their faces painted in blue and red tribal fashion.
The music has the same pop sensibility as his earlier work, with similarly absurd lyrics, but it’s now less synthesizer driven, with a richer and more varied sound. The whole thing had a rock opera-esque quality about it–with an emphasis on rockin.’ They finished the set with a great rendition of “Be My Baby,” by the Ronettes.
Conclusion: I highly recommend that you go see this band if you have the opportunity. At the Jascha Ephraim Memorial Library the librarians dance on the tables and you only get kicked out for not having fun.
