Inheritance

Drawing from a classical background, and influenced by the pianism of Rufus Wainwright and Ben Folds, the storytelling of Paul Simon, and the vocal harmonies of classic folk duos, Spark & Echo sings epic tales of love and adventure. Husband-wife duo Jonathon Roberts and Emily Clare Zempel are Wisconsin natives who now find themselves in the South Bronx, living in a converted piano factory. There they craft songs with beautiful harmonies and diverse instrumentation led by Emily's longtime companion Boris the Bassoon, with piano, accordion, clarinet and ukulele in tow. They bring forgotten poetry and wild stories from the Bible to new audiences in urban clubs and country corner churches. Visions of sparkling wheels in the sky, hunger and thirst, and legends of love as strong as death weave with memorable melodies and captivating rhythms. This band grows out of and raises funds for the non-profit Spark and Echo Arts which is illuminating the entire Bible through the arts, supporting diverse artists from NYC and beyond.