Upload
vannhi
View
220
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
BOOKING INQUIRIES
[email protected] (732) 566-2881
www.unlimitedmyles.com
SONGS OF FREEDOM WITH MUSIC DIRECTION BY ULYSSES OWENS JR. FEATURING THEO BLECKMANN, ALICIA OLATUJA AND JOANNA MAJOKO
UnderthedirectionofGrammyAward-winningdrummer,UlyssesOwensJr.,the1960’sareexploredthroughtheworkofthreeprolificartists:JoniMitchell,AbbeyLincoln,andNinaSimone–allofwhomhavemadeanindeliblemarkinmusic.Eachartistexpressedfreedominvariousways.Jonicomposedandsungaboutthefreedomoflove,Abbeyexpressedfreedomofherindividualityandracethroughherlyricism,andNinaSimonedemandedfreedompoliticallythroughsong.Toeffectivelydeliverthisvastrepertoire,theprogramfeaturesvocalistsTheoBleckmann,AliciaOlatuja,andJoannaMajoko.
2
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES Ulysses Owens Jr. UlyssesOwens,Jr.isoneoftoday’spremierdrummersandarapidlyevolvingproducer,composer,educator,andentrepreneur.Owenshasestablishedhimselfasaleaderinhisgenerationofjazzartists,admiredforhissensitive,fiery,andcomplexplaying,vividdisplayoftexturalnuance,andgiftforpropellingabandwithcharismaandintegrity.Humbleinpersonandimposingbehindakit,heisagraduateoftheinauguralJazzStudiesProgramatTheJuilliardSchool,andheearnedhisstripesasamemberofbassistChristianMcBride’sacclaimedTrioandBigBand.OwensreceivedhisfirstGrammyAwardin2010forhisperformanceonKurtElling’sDedicatedtoYouandhissecondGrammyAwardfortheChristianMcBrideBigBandalbumTheGoodFeeling.HehasalsoreceivedfourGrammyAwardnominationsforhisworkwithChristianMcBrideandpianistJoeyAlexander.OwensisincrediblyversatileandhastouredandrecordedwithartistsincludingWyntonMarsalis,DianeSchuur,ReneeFleming,MontyAlexander,RussellMalone,andMulgrewMiller.Hehasreleasedthreealbumsasaleader,startingin2009withIt’sTimeforU,whichfeaturedfouroriginalcompositionsandarrangements.Hissecondalbum,Unanimous,wasreleasedontheEuropeanlabelCrissCrossJazz,andOnwardandUpwardwasreleasedin2014onDClefRecords.Asco-leaderoftheNewCenturyJazzQuintet,hehasreleasedtwoalbumswiththeJapaneserecordlabelSpiceOfLife:TimeisNowandInCaseYouMissedUs.In2015hewasrecommendedbyWyntonMarsalisandJazzatLincolnCentertocomposeaworkfortheMuseumofModernArt’sSummergardenseries,andhepremieredaseven-movementsuiteentitledStagesofUs.Owenshasbeenhonoredwitha2015JazzAtLincolnCenterSwing!Award,2014GlobalMusicAward,2013ASCAPPlusAward,wasdesignateda2014DownBeatRisingStar,andappearedasaTEDxJacksonvilleperformer.Theo Bleckmann Ajazzsingerandcomposerofeclectictastesandprodigiousgifts,GrammyAward–nominatedTheoBleckmann(Vocals)makesmusicthatisaccessiblysophisticated,unsentimentallyemotional,andseriouslyplayful.Hisworkprovokesthemindtowonder,butconnectsimmediatelywiththeheart.BleckmannhasreleasedaseriesofalbumsonWinter&Winter,includingrecordingsofLasVegasstandards,BerlinKabarett,andpopular“barsongs”(allwithpianistFumioYasuda);arecordingofnewlyarrangedsongsbyCharlesIves(withtheimprovisationaljazz/funkcollectiveKneebody);andmostrecently,acousticSolosforVoiceandToys.HemaintainsanongoingcreativerelationshipwithguitarphenomenonBenMonder,JohnHollenbeck,andGaryVersace(asRefugeTrio);withsingersPeterEldridge,KateMcGarry,LaurenKinhan,andLucianaSouza(asMoss,avocalall-starcollective);andhehascollaboratedwithmusiciansandcomposersincludingLaurieAnderson,PhilipGlass,SheilaJordan,PhilKline,MichaleLang,KirkNurock,MichaelTilsonThomas,JuliaWolfe,JohnZorn,theBangonaCanAll-stars,and,mostprominently,MeredithMonk,withwhomBleckmannworkedasacoreensemblememberfor15years.Bleckmann’sjoyous,mischievoussensibilityisalsomanifestinhiscompositionalwork,settingssetbyRumi,EmilyDickenson,andKurtSchwitters,aswellastheineffablesoundscapesbuiltwithjusthisvoiceandlooppedals,includingarecentstringquartetforJACKStringQuartet,commissionedbytheSloughtFoundation.Bleckmann’sapproachtomusicandperformancehaveledtorecognitioninunusualquarters,includingaFreshAirinterviewwithTerryGrossandanarticleonvocaltechniquesolicitedforJohnZorn’sArcanaseries,VolumeIII.Bleckmann’sadventurous,extravagantlybeautiful,andmagicallyotherworldlychoiceshaveledtomystifiedaccoladesfromsuchpublicationsastheNewYorkTimes,VillageVoice,andvariousjazzpublications.
3
Alicia OlatujaPraisedbytheNewYorkTimesas“asingerwithastrongandluscioustoneandanamiablyregalpresenceonstage”,AliciaOlatujahasbeenastoundingaudienceswithherexquisitevocals,artisticversatilityandcaptivatingdemeanor.Shefirstcameintothenationalspotlightin2013,whilstperformingasthefeaturedsoloistwiththeBrooklynTabernacleChoiratPresidentBarackObama’sSecondInauguration.Shortlythereafter,sheassembledherownjazzbasedensembleandrecordedherfirstsoloalbum,Timeless(2014).OriginallyfromSt.Louis,MO,Aliciagrewupimmersedinawiderangeofmusicalstyles,includinggospel,soul,jazzandclassical.Theseinfluenceshaveinformedherartisticjourney,andshelatergraduatedwithaMastersdegreeinClassicalVoice/OperafromtheManhattanSchoolofMusic.Afterappearinginnumerousoperaticandmusicaltheaterproductions,shestartedtoperformmoreregularlyingospelandjazzconcertsandworkedwithsuchesteemedartistsasChakaKhan,BeBeWinansandChristianMcBride.In2014,Aliciacametotheattentionoftheacclaimedcomposer/arranger/pianistBillyChilds,andwasbroughtontobepartofthetouringincarnationofMaptotheTreasure:ReimaginingLauraNyro,alongsidevocalistBeccaStevens,inthe2015-16season.HervoicehasalsoentrancedthelegendaryHammondB3organistDr.LonnieSmith,andshehasrecentlyperformedwithhimatmultipleeventsincludingtheCharlieParkerFestivalandtheBRICJazzFest.InAugust2016,shewasthefeaturedsoloistattheCabrilloMusicFestival,performingOsvaldoGolijov’s“Oceana”,underthedirectionofMarinAlsop.Alicia’sownband,overthepastyear,hasbeensteadilyindemand,andtheyhaveperformedattheJazzStandard,VermontJazzCenter,SiouxFallsJazzFest,RockportJazzFestival,MarkhamJazzFestival,MontyAlexanderJazzFest,andtheHarlemStageGatehouse,tonameafew.Joanna Majoko
Naturallygiftedandhighlytrained,JoannaMajokohasbeencaptivatingaudienceswithhervoicesinceshewas14.BorntoGerman&Zimbabweanparents,Joannagrewupinaculturallydiversehome-ahomethatmovedfromGermanytoZimbabwe,SouthAfricaandfinallytoManitoba,Canadain2001.Growingup,shewasexposedtoarichpracticeofmusicanddance,participatingineverythingfromchoirs,musicals,drumensembles,totraditionalZimbabweandancegroups.Atthispoint,shebegantogainrecognitionforhervocalabilities.AfterrelocatingtoManitoba,Joannainvolvedherselfinthelocalartsscene.Shortlythereafter,agrowingloveofjazzbroughthertoWinnipeg,Manitoba,whereshegraduatedwithaBachelorofJazzStudies(Honours)degreefromtheUniversityofManitobain2014.
Althoughhergreatestaffinityisforjazz,Joannaisversatilewithinmanymusicalgenres.ShehasworkedwithnumerousaccomplishedCanadianandAmericanrecordingartistsincludingRonPaley,IsmailaAlfa,LesJupes,TheLytics,CurtisNowosad,SteveKirby&TheOceanicJazzOrchestra,QuincyDavis,andDerrickGardner.Asshecontinuestobuildanameforherselfasasolovocalist,shecanbeseenperformingthroughoutWinnipegandbeyond.InAugustof2015,Joannaparticipatedinathree-weekartistresidencyaspartoftheBanffInternationalWorkshopinJazz&CreativeMusiconfullscholarship,withsupportfromtheManitobaArtsCouncil.HertimeinBanff,AlbertaallowedhertoworkcloselywithjazzluminariessuchasVijayIyer,BillyHart,Somi,BeccaStevensandMarkTurner.
4
MostrecentlyhervocaltalentshaveawardedhertheopportunitytotravelabroadtoFrance,touringandperformingwithBlueNoterecordingartistandNewYork-baseddrummer,OtisBrownIII.