BELLOWS FALLS — Spanning genres and moving into edgy new territory, Night Tree comes to Immanuel Episcopal Church, the “Stone Church on the Hill” at 20 Church St., on Friday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m.
Night Tree consists of Lily Honigberg and Chris Overholser on violin; Zach Mayer on baritone and soprano sax and vocals; Sunniva Brynnel, accordion and vocals; McKinley James on cello; and Julian Loida on percussion. Though each member of Night Tree originates from a different world, the six members have come together to create something new and unique.
Rooted in original works from the Celtic world, Night Tree creates original music that borrows from the Swedish, Jewish, and American folk tradition.
Their sound includes the dark resonance of the cello, baritone saxophone, and cajón, the drone of the accordion, and the soaring melodies of dueling fiddles.
Night Tree, named the 2016-17 Wildcard Honors Ensemble at the New England Conservatory, began in a practice room with just a fiddle, a cajón, and an accordion. The ensemble quickly expanded to include an additional fiddle player, a cellist, and a baritone saxophone.
The band held early rehearsals in complete darkness to develop their musical and aural connection, exploring free improvisations, traditional Irish jig-to-reel sets and everything in between - as can be heard in their arrangement, Ships, which surrounds two traditional tunes about actual ocean vessels with improvisational sections depicting a shipwreck.