Solution Focused Therapy Leslie Hollenbeck Meggen Sixbey Steve de Shazer Insoo Kim Berg.
SONGS OF FREEDOM - Squarespace · PDF fileguitar phenomenon Ben Monder, John Hollenbeck, and...
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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 Under the direction of Grammy Award-winning drummer, Ulysses Owens Jr., the 1960’s are explored through the work of three prolific artists: Joni Mitchell, Abbey Lincoln, and Nina Simone – all of whom have made an indelible mark in music. Each artist expressed freedom in various ways. Joni composed and sung about the freedom of love, Abbey expressed freedom of her individuality and race through her lyricism, and Nina Simone demanded freedom politically through song. To effectively deliver this vast repertoire, the program features vocalists Theo Bleckmann, Alicia Olatuja, and Joanna Majoko.
Transcript of SONGS OF FREEDOM - Squarespace · PDF fileguitar phenomenon Ben Monder, John Hollenbeck, and...
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.
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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.
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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.
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MostrecentlyhervocaltalentshaveawardedhertheopportunitytotravelabroadtoFrance,touringandperformingwithBlueNoterecordingartistandNewYork-baseddrummer,OtisBrownIII.
