ABOUT HUGH MASEKELAHugh Masekela is a world-renowned flugelhornist, singer, and defiant political voice who remains deeply connected at home while his international career sparkles.

Masekela was born in the town of Witbank, South Africa in 1939. He was given a trumpet at age 14 by Louis Armstrong and is still blowing strong at 75. He has released over 40 albums

and been featured on countless more. Masekela has worked with legends such as Harry Belafonte, Dizzy Gillespie, The Byrds, Miles Davis, Abdullah Ibrahim, Paul Simon, and Miriam Makeba. He has been honored in numerous ways, including receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at WOMEX and a Gold Medal of the Order of Ikhamanga from the South African government in 2010, and having March 18 proclaimed Hugh Masekela Day in the US Virgin Islands.

ABOUT HUGH MASEKELAHugh Masekela is a world-renowned flugelhornist, singer, and defiant political voice who remains deeply connected at home while his international career sparkles.

Masekela was born in the town of Witbank, South Africa in 1939. He was given a trumpet at age 14 by Louis Armstrong and is still blowing strong at 75. He has released over 40 albums

and been featured on countless more. Masekela has worked with legends such as Harry Belafonte, Dizzy Gillespie, The Byrds, Miles Davis, Abdullah Ibrahim, Paul Simon, and Miriam Makeba. He has been honored in numerous ways, including receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at WOMEX and a Gold Medal of the Order of Ikhamanga from the South African government in 2010, and having March 18 proclaimed Hugh Masekela Day in the US Virgin Islands.

HUGH MASEKELA & LARRY WILLIS: FRIENDSThu, Nov 12, 2015, 7pm & 9:30pm

HUGH MASEKELA & LARRY WILLIS: FRIENDSThu, Nov 12, 2015, 7pm & 9:30pm

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Hugh Masekela, trumpet, flugelhorn, lead vocalsLarry Willis, piano

Nicholas Mendell, Tour Manager

Opus 3 Artists, North American managementSemopa Entertainment, worldwide management

Program announced from stage

Hugh Masekela, trumpet, flugelhorn, lead vocalsLarry Willis, piano

Nicholas Mendell, Tour Manager

Opus 3 Artists, North American managementSemopa Entertainment, worldwide management

Program announced from stage

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Masekela’s eclectic musical style is pervaded by jazz and mbaqanga combined with a gravelly voice, stirringly smooth horn sound, and an ever-present concern for his home country and continent. He is now based in Johannesburg, South Africa while continuing a lively international tour schedule. His latest album, Playing @ Work, was released in 2014.

Masekela is currently using his global reach to spread the word about heritage restoration in Africa—a topic that remains very close to his heart. “My biggest obsession is to show Africans and the world who the people of Africa really are,” he confides, and it’s this commitment to his home continent that has propelled him forward since he first began playing the trumpet.

ABOUT LARRY WILLISBorn in 1942 in Harlem, Larry Willis grew up around music. Jazz was popular in his neighborhood and he had a brother who played piano. As a child, Willis noodled around on the piano in his house, but his talent seemed to lie in singing.

Willis was accepted into New York’s High School of Music and Art as a voice major. His career there was very successful,

and included a performance of a Copland opera with the Music and Arts Choral Ensemble conducted by Leonard Bernstein. His senior year, Willis found his way back to the piano. Later that year, he started gigging around town with his fellow classmates, Al Foster and Eddie Gomez.

Willis continued his musical studies at the Manhattan School of Music, where he switched his concentration from voice to music theory. He also spent more time at the keyboard and soon began studying with John Mehegan, his first and only piano teacher.

At the age of 19, Willis was discovered and recruited by saxophonist Jackie McLean, and made his jazz recording debut on McLean’s Blue Note release, Right Now! The album also included two of Willis’ compositions. From that auspicious start, Willis went on to play with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, Cannonball Adderley, Stan Getz, Carmen McRae, and Shirley Horn. From 1972–79, Willis was the keyboardist for the fusion group Blood, Sweat & Tears. He’s also been a crucial part of the Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban jazz group Fort Apache. In all, Willis has appeared on more than 300 albums, with more than 20 recordings as a leader.

Masekela’s eclectic musical style is pervaded by jazz and mbaqanga combined with a gravelly voice, stirringly smooth horn sound, and an ever-present concern for his home country and continent. He is now based in Johannesburg, South Africa while continuing a lively international tour schedule. His latest album, Playing @ Work, was released in 2014.

Masekela is currently using his global reach to spread the word about heritage restoration in Africa—a topic that remains very close to his heart. “My biggest obsession is to show Africans and the world who the people of Africa really are,” he confides, and it’s this commitment to his home continent that has propelled him forward since he first began playing the trumpet.

ABOUT LARRY WILLISBorn in 1942 in Harlem, Larry Willis grew up around music. Jazz was popular in his neighborhood and he had a brother who played piano. As a child, Willis noodled around on the piano in his house, but his talent seemed to lie in singing.

Willis was accepted into New York’s High School of Music and Art as a voice major. His career there was very successful,

and included a performance of a Copland opera with the Music and Arts Choral Ensemble conducted by Leonard Bernstein. His senior year, Willis found his way back to the piano. Later that year, he started gigging around town with his fellow classmates, Al Foster and Eddie Gomez.

Willis continued his musical studies at the Manhattan School of Music, where he switched his concentration from voice to music theory. He also spent more time at the keyboard and soon began studying with John Mehegan, his first and only piano teacher.

At the age of 19, Willis was discovered and recruited by saxophonist Jackie McLean, and made his jazz recording debut on McLean’s Blue Note release, Right Now! The album also included two of Willis’ compositions. From that auspicious start, Willis went on to play with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, Cannonball Adderley, Stan Getz, Carmen McRae, and Shirley Horn. From 1972–79, Willis was the keyboardist for the fusion group Blood, Sweat & Tears. He’s also been a crucial part of the Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban jazz group Fort Apache. In all, Willis has appeared on more than 300 albums, with more than 20 recordings as a leader.

PROGRAM NOTESHugh Masekela, world-renowned trumpeter, band leader, composer, singer, and activist, combines his talents with long time musical cohort and exceptional pianist Larry Willis for a show of historic proportions. These two giants of music, after decades of cultivating careers apart and together, take us on a grand journey through the Great American Songbook.

When they first met in 1961 at the Manhattan School of Music, Masekela was fresh off the plane from South Africa and imbued with not only the sounds of kwela, marabi, and mbaqanga, but the richness of American jazz players and singers, and Willis was an opera major with heavy jazz leanings.

Experience this rare opportunity to listen to two master musicians, and best of friends, perform the Great American Songbook together.

PROGRAM NOTESHugh Masekela, world-renowned trumpeter, band leader, composer, singer, and activist, combines his talents with long time musical cohort and exceptional pianist Larry Willis for a show of historic proportions. These two giants of music, after decades of cultivating careers apart and together, take us on a grand journey through the Great American Songbook.

When they first met in 1961 at the Manhattan School of Music, Masekela was fresh off the plane from South Africa and imbued with not only the sounds of kwela, marabi, and mbaqanga, but the richness of American jazz players and singers, and Willis was an opera major with heavy jazz leanings.

Experience this rare opportunity to listen to two master musicians, and best of friends, perform the Great American Songbook together.