Kicking brass

Tromboners unite!

The Second Annual Trombone Festival lands in Brooklyn next weekend, with a month of events planned at Ibeam in Gowanus.

Here's a look at who's going to be there:

April 3rd

8 pm

Josh Roseman Trio

Lineup TBA

9 pm

Rick Parker Trio

Rick Parker - Trombone

10 pm

Ryan Snow’s Trio Unleashed

Ryan Snow – trombone

Aidan Carroll – bass

Bram Kincheloe – drums

April 10

8 pm

Jacob Garchik Trio

Jacob Garchik, trombone

Jacob Sacks, piano

Dan Weiss, drums

9pm

Jen Baker

Jen Baker – Solo Trombone

10 pm

Joe Fiedler Trio

John Hebert/bass

Michael Sarin/drums

Joe Fiedler/trombone&compositions

April 17

8 pm

ERGO:

Brett Sroka: trombone/computer/fx

Sam Harris: rhodes electric piano/synthesizer/piano/prepared-piano

Bryan Teoh: guitar/computer

Shawn Baltazor: drums

10 pm

Curtis Hasselbring’s New Mellow Edwards

Curtis Hasselbring – Trombone

Ches Smith – Drums

Trevor Dunn – Bass

April 24

8 pm

Steve Swell Trio

Steve Swell – Trombone

Andrew Drury – Drums

Ken Filiano – Bass

10 pm

Brian Drye (pictured) Presents: Bizingas

Brian Drye – Trombone / Piano

Kirk Knuffke – Trumpet

Ches Smith – Drums

Jonathan Goldberger – Guitar

April 30

8 pm

Westbrook Johnson’s Three Roads Band

Westbrook Johnson – Trombone

Jesse Bartlet-Webber – Drums

Alex Vallejo – Bass

John Welsh – Guitar

10 pm

Ben Gerstein Quartet

Ben Gerstein – Trombone

Michael Attias – Saxophone

Mat Maneri – Viola

Jacob Sacks – Piano

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Still life inside 'The Batcave'

Broken-down industrial structures might detract most people, but for photographers with a sense of adventure, they can be ideal spots for urban exploration and inspiration.

Take Park Slope-based photographer Nathan Kensinger, who prefers to shoot in abandoned buildings to find exclusive snapshots and edge out competitors.

“The same people have taken the same pictures — the same bridge, the same dead-end street,” said Kensinger, who’ll show off his photos next week in Downtown Brooklyn. “It’s rare to find a place that no one else has documented.”

One such place is “The Batcave,” a squatter house along the Gowanus Canal, which he photographed in 2007. The inhabitants of the Batcave originally lived in a communal style, said Kensinger, but the building’s owners evicted them once drug use and violence became common in the illegal residence. Kensinger wasn’t deterred, as he and a group of photographers sneaked past the guard and documented the impromptu bedrooms, shanties and remnants of a bike shop within the building.

Curiosity has also driven him to infiltrate other “mysterious” industrial buildings and neighborhoods throughout the borough, including “The Hole,” a neighborhood of abandoned houses near Howard Beach. The border town got its name because it’s sunken into the ground, said Kensinger, and is prone to flooding.

“There are boats in the front yards,” he said. Reportedly used a mob dumping ground, more than a few bodies are suspected as well.

Other off-the-beaten-path locations Kensinger has captured include the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the Fresh Kills landfill.

Nathan Kensinger’s photos and lecture, Metropolitan Exchange [33 Flatbush Avenue Ext. between Nevins and Livingston streets in Downtown, (718) 643-7361], March 30, 6:30 pm. For info, visit metropolitanexchange.org. His work also can be seen in “The Gentrification of Brooklyn” show at MoCADA [80 Hanson Pl. at S. Portland Avenue in Fort Greene, (718) 230-0952] through May 16.

— Tony Cella

Photo by Nathan Kensinger

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Pumps & Pleats: London hits Brooklyn

By Michèle De Meglio

Every gal loves roses, tulips and gardenias but Liberty of London has taken florals too far.

The posh British brand just unveiled a cheap and chic collaboration with Target, which has three stores in Brooklyn.

The massive collection includes girls’ and ladies’ apparel, shoes, bedding and housewares — all decorated in outlandish floral motifs.

Don’t get me wrong, I dig flowers as much as the next lady but it’s the print that makes all the difference.

If you ask me, spring should be about tiny and delicate daisies — not carnations the size of my skull. And what’s with the muted shades? Bring on the bright colors!

Fortunately, Liberty does have some shining moments.

Designers get it right with an oversized tote in Jennifer Blue ($19.99). The slouchy bag is coated with itty-bitty green leaves and blue and white flowers, which are perfectly offset by two crisp white straps with subtle matte studs. Liberty made a huge goof, nearly ruining the sweet spring style, by including a pitch black interior lining. Would a happy color kill ya? (I must admit, this is a recession-friendly trend in both affordable and high-end handbags. So depressing.)


The $19.99 Susanna duffle bag is all wrong. Flowers should come in pretty shades of pink and periwinkle — not mustard yellow or moss green. Who wants daisies that look like dirt? Not me!

A few of the tops and dresses work. Namely, the silky Fairford tank adorned with ruffles and a dangerously low keyhole cutout ($19.99) and the one-shoulder maxi dress in a pleasant plum ($34.99).

But there’s no excuse for wearing a sleeveless jumpsuit covered in large black and white sunflowers. Boring!

Although you might think Liberty of London’s sweet pea prints are only for ladies, there’s a whole series of boxershorts, ties and shirts for men.

Fellas, picture yourself in a button-down business shirt plastered with pink and yellow flowers. Now add a paisley tie. That’s taking flowers way too far.

Target has three stores in Brooklyn — at the Triangle Junction at 1598 Flatbush Avenue, in Gateway Mall at 519 Gateway Drive, and at the Atlantic Center Mall at 139 Flatbush Avenue. Visit www.target.com for hours.

Michèle De Meglio is a native Brooklynite addicted to all things chic. Check out Pumps & Pleats each week for more adventures as she scours the borough for fab duds and accessories.

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Where should the First Lady have gone for pizza in Brooklyn?

Michele Obama and children went to Grimaldi's in DUMBO, like every other tourist to our fair borough (something tells us they didn't casually stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge to get there, though).

They had "one pie with pepperoni and sausage, one classic Margherita, and one with mushrooms, peppers and onions," reports the Brooklyn Paper).

But what about Brooklyn's other famous pizza joints, like Roberta's, Di Fara, L&B and Lucali? Where do you have told them to go? Sound off in the comments.

Photo: The Brooklyn Paper / Tom Callan

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High-flying fun

Break out your 1940s vintage finest.

Next month, Suspended Cirque brings “Swingin’ at Jack’s” to Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO, a speak easy-themed show that mixes class with sass.

Circus art enthusiasts may find the new show familiar; it’s an expansion on the aerial theater troupe’s last show, “Speak Easy,” which ran earlier this year, and is a “new and improved version,” said Angela Jones, founder of Suspended Cirque.

In the encore performances, expect more of the same high-flying action, performed on ropes, trapezes and hoops, and jazzy soundtrack, provided by Victoria Cave and her band. Order a sidecar and sit back as coy cigarette girls, a sassy French maître d’ and Jack himself let the drama unfold right in your lap. Just remember, no smoking allowed.

Swingin’ at Jack’s runs at Galapagos Art Space [16 Main St. at Water Street in DUMBO, (718) 222-8500] every Sunday in April at 8 pm. Tickets $25, $20 for students and those in costume. For info, visit www.galapagosartspace.com.

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Ear-splitting sound

Kerretta lets the music do the talking.

Not only is the New Zealand band instrumental, the three-piece has a thing about not taking photographs of themselves. Same thing goes for film (no camera interviews and limited face time in their videos).

Luckily, that ethos doesn’t cancel out live performances. Currently on their first US tour, the band is out in support of their new album “Vilayer,” eight tracks of propulsive angular rock, which includes a stop in Brooklyn next month.

Hailed in their native New Zealand for their ear-splitting live shows, the band has gained fans touring with the likes of ...And You’ll Know Us by the Trail of Dead and The Breeders. A US tour was only a matter of time, even if it is halfway across the globe.

“People say the world is getting smaller with technology and all which is true, but it’s still a long way for a band from New Zealand to come,” says the band’s W. Waters. “We’re doing our best to back it up and slip in some tasty new tunes to show what’s to come.”

Yep, for Kerretta, it’s all about the music.

Kerretta play Union Hall [702 Union St. at Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, (718) 638-4400] on Friday, April 2 at 10 pm. Tickets are $8. For info, visit www.unionhallny.com.

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Big pimpin'

Brian J once said you can’t kick a can in Williamsburg without hitting another musician. To build a following, you have to be doing something pretty special.

It’s safe to say that the musician has that recipe figured out. His global mix of funk, soul and Afrobeat with his band Pimps of Joytime has steadily gained a following here and abroad. When they’re not on tour, they head to their local hang, Brooklyn Bowl, to sweat things out.

That’s where you can find them April 2 in a rare hometown engagement before jetting off to festivals and club dates across the country. There they’ll be testing out a new set of songs from their latest project, “Janxta Funk!” largely inspired by the Williamsburg DJ culture from which the band emerged several years back.

The tracks have us helplessly grooving in our swivel desk chairs. Borrowing from the title of one the new tunes, we say: “Keep That Music Playing.’ ”

The Pimps of Joytime play Brooklyn Bowl [61 Wythe Ave. between North 11th and 12th streets in Williamsburg, (718) 963-3369] at 10 pm. Tickets are $5. For info, visit www.brooklynbowl.com.

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