Season 2Turtle Island Quartet at Montgomery County Community College
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With a name derived from creation mythology found in Native American folklore, Turtle Island Quartet has been creating chic and daring trends in chamber music for string instruments since 1985. Winner of the 2006 and 2008 Grammy Awards for Best Classical Crossover Album, Turtle Island Quartet embodies the classical quartet aesthetic with contemporary American musical styles.
Extra Golden at Johnny Brenda's
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Extra Golden's members are natives of the United States and Kenya. Ian Eagleson, Otieno Jagwasi, Alex Minoff and Onyango Wuod Omari recorded the bulk of the group's debut, Ok-Oyot System, in 2004 in a restaurant. Jagwasi died a year later, and the record was released to wide acclaim in 2006. With the addition of Jagwasi's brother, Onyango, Extra Golden soldiered on and released Hera Ma Nono after recording it in the Poconos in 2007 and Thank You Very Quickly this year. The records blend the buoyant, bouncy sounds of benga, a genre of Kenyan music that features African guitar stylings and American-style rock 'n' roll, with bilingual lyrics.
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet at Sellersville Theater
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A 10-time-nominated and Grammy Award-winning sextet from Lafayette, La., is known for serving up delectable Cajun music since 1975. Their palate — extending to zydeco, New Orleans jazz, Tex-Mex, country, blues and other styles — has won over a worldwide following over the course of releasing 29 records.
Philadanco at Montgomery County Community College
Philadanco, or Philadelphia Dance Company, has had a significant impact in the dance world since its inception in 1970. Founded by Joan Myers Brown, Philadanco is a modern contemporary dance company that tours nationally and internationally. Performing pieces by choreographers Gene Hill Sagan and Christopher L. Huggins, Philadanco's seemingly limitless range is a reason the group is among the nation's most progressive dance companies.
Ra Ra Riot at The Theater of Living Arts
The members of Ra Ra Riot met in 2006 while attending Syracuse University and have created a sound they describe as combining "elements of new wave and classic indie with sweeping orchestral chamber pop." Incorporating sweeping violin and cello arrangements, The Rhumb Line, the sextet's debut album, embodies youthful energy and haunting melancholy.
Koresh Dance Company at Suzanne Roberts Theatre
Koresh Dance Company of Philadelphia has created high-energy, emotional dance performances since Israeli-born choreographer Ronen "Roni" Koresh founded the troupe in 1991. The company's repertoire exceeds 50 pieces, which fuse ballet and jazz into an innovative style of choreography. In their piece, Theater of Public Secrets, dancers examine the complexity of relationships by entering people's homes and their most intimate and private moments.
Hannibal Lokumbe at Girard College celebrating Art Sanctuary's 10th Anniversary
Originally named Marvin Charles Peterson, trumpeter-composer Hannibal Lokumbe studied with John Coltrane and performed and recorded with big-name bandleaders such as Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, and Pharoah Sanders in the early 1970s. Lokumbe performs A Shepherd Among Us, an original piece commissioned by Arts Sanctuary in celebration of the organization's 10th anniversary.
Janis Ian at The Grand Opera House
At the age of fifteen, Janis Ian wrote and sang her first hit single, Society's Child about an interracial romance forbidden by a girl's mother and frowned upon by her peers. In her 2008 autobiography, Society's Child, Janis Ian recalls how the song's lyrical content was too taboo that it was banned by radio stations. With a career that spans over forty years later, Janis Ian plays her music to a loyal audience of fans at the Grand Opera House.
Ragamala Dance at Montgomery County Community College
Combining artistic virtuosity and aesthetic beauty, Ragamala Dance presents the highly sophisticated Indian dance tradition of Bharatanatyam with contemporary ideas and cross-cultural collaborations. In their presentation of Sva (Vital Force), Ragamala explores the connections between Japanese Taiko and Baratanatyam and the spiritual traditions from which they emerge.
Pascal Gallois at Temple University's Rock Hall
Pascal Gallois is one of the world's most celebrated and most active bassoonists. Specializing in music of the postwar and beyond, Gallois performs pieces that were specifically composed for him. He performs with pianist, Charles Abramovic at Temple University's Rock Hall. Sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter of American Composers Forum and funded by Philadelphia Music Project
Terence Blanchard Quintet at The University of the Arts
Terence Blanchard is an internationally renowned jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and arranger. Born and raised in New Orleans, Blanchard emerged on the scene in 1980 with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and then shortly thereafter with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. His trumpet can be heard on nearly fifty film scores. He has composed music for many of Spike Lee's films including Malcolm X, Jungle Fever, and Inside Man. He most recently composed the music for Darnell Martin's film, Cadillac Records and won a Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. Funded by The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage through the Philadelphia Music Project with additional support from the Marketing Innovation Program.
Mehr and Sher Ali at The Painted Bride Art CenterBorn in the Pakistani border town of Kasur, brothers Mehr and Sher Ali were trained from an early age in Sufi philosophy, poetry, texts and Qawwali, the spiritual and devotional music performed by Sufis. Philomel Baroque at Mercer MuseumPhilomel is one of the nation's foremost baroque chamber ensembles in the Philadelphia and Delaware region. Choosing to perform in venues that possess the history and charm of life in the cultural capital of the emerging nation, Philomel plays at the Mercer Museum. Tempesta di Mare at Plays and Players TheaterTempesta di Mare, one of the only permanent baroque ensembles in Pennsylvania, showcases baroque opera in a new and alternative way with the help of master puppeteer, Doug Roysdon.
Cuartetango Music & Dance at the Stockton Performing Arts
The Cuartetango Music & Dance is an innovative group of musicians at the forefront of new tango, accomplishing all the aggressive nuances of the genre with a bare skeleton of instruments, just two violins, a viola and cello. Their 2006 debut record, L'Atelier, incorporates classic works from the golden age of tango and original arrangements from new tango. Cuartetango play at the Stockton Performing Arts Center at Richard Stockton College in New Jersey. Arturo O' Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra at The Painted Bride Art Center
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Recently awarded the Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album for Song for Chico, Arturo O' Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, composed of 18 soloists, became a resident orchestra at Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2002. Latin jazz is a general term given to music that combines rhythms from African and Latin American countries with jazz harmonies from the United States. Joining the orchestra is special guest and preeminent Latin jazz bassist, Andy Gonzales. They bring the rhythms and heat of Latin jazz to Philadelphia when they perform at the Painted Bride Art Center. George Stanford at Tin Angel
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With his unique and definable voice, Stanford plays all instruments except drums on his album, Big Drop. Growing up outside of Philadelphia, his parents' love of classic country and bluegrass by such legendary artists as Ralph Stanley, Hank Williams and Merle Haggard taught him the value of taking the listener on an adventure through song. "I love hearing people tell a story. That's probably why I like old country records so much," he says. George Stanford performs his country-inspired pop sound at the Tin Angel in Old City, Philadelphia. Lightspeed Champion at First Unitarian Church
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British singer-songwriter Devonte Hynes takes his obsessions with super heroes and women to musical heights with his album, Falling Off The Lavender Bridge. Hynes fuses genres and styles of music in deftly serious ways, even if he doesn't intend them to be. Hynes' new group, Lightspeed Champion, is a creative indie-folk group that intertwines lush Britpop with countrified rock. He performs at the basement of the First Unitarian Church in Center City, Philadelphia. Andrew Bird at Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University
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Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist and lyricist Andrew Bird picked up his first violin at the age of four. When Andrew Bird performs, he rarely replicates a song's perfect structure as it lives on the album. Songs shape within their loops, each one constructed on violin, guitar and glockenspiel, layered, then looped over themselves in a tangled and textured layer cake of sonics. Andrew Bird is nothing but astounding to watch - one man, generating the wealth of sound normally produced by an orchestra. He performs at Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University. The Baird Sisters at the Philadelphia Folk Festival
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Influenced by Appalachian mountain music, contemporary outsider folk, and Library of Congress recordings of their great uncle, sisters Laura and Meg Baird have been performing in the Philadelphia area for several years. Intertwining natural harmonies with intimate acoustic guitar and banjo playing, their new album Lonely Town is at once foreboding yet wistful. Meg Baird is also a founding member of Espers, a psychedelic folk sextet. Pistolera at the Kimmel Center
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A Brooklyn-based quartet, Pistolera borrows from traditional styles of Mexican music, fusing it with indie-rock sensibilities to amass a melodic, danceable sound. Singing in Spanish, their lyrics teem with political vigor, covering U.S.-Mexico border issues, the plight of immigrants and other topics. Watch them perform at the Kimmel Center's Perelman Theater in Philadelphia. Stanley Jordan Trio at Wiggins Waterfront Park
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Guitarist Stanley Jordan ushered a new sound into the world of instrumental music with this "touch" or "tap" technique, a method that allowed him to play two independent parts simultaneously. With his new album, State of Nature, Jordan uses music to illustrate the unifying truths about man's relationship to nature and humankind. Watch him play the guitar and incorporate the piano into his music at Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden, New Jersey. Oud Blues at North Star Bar
Fusing styles from the Gypsy mountains of Romania to the Saharan and Middle Eastern deserts and back to the streets of Philadelphia, Oud Blues is comprised of the upright bass, saxophone, trumpet, percussion, drumset, and the oud. Led by Philadelphia native, Brian Nadav, Oud Blues doesn't want to break with tradition but add to it. The oud is a fretless, short-necked, pear-shaped, plucked lute of the Arab world, the direct ancestor of the European lute, mandolin and guitar. California Guitar Trio at Sellersville Theater
Fusing classical, rock, blues, jazz, world music, progressive, as well as the quintessential California musical genre of surf music, California Guitar Trio's stunning virtuosity has earned them an enthusiastic following. Paul Richards of Salt Lake City, Utah, Bert Lams of Brussels, Belgium, and Hideyo Moriya of Tokyo, Japan first met in England at one of Robert Fripp's (of King Crimson) Guitar Craft Courses in 1987. Wanting to continue working together, Bert, Paul and Hideyo met up in Los Angeles and founded the California Guitar Trio in 1991. They've honed their intricate original compositions, surf covers, and classical re-workings into a repertoire that is striking to hear and mesmerizing to watch. Thao and the Get Down Stay Down at the Electric Factory
Thao Nguyen can't help but play the guitar with insatiable talent and intuition. From Falls Church, Virginia, Thao Nguyen, a self-taught musician and graduate from William and Mary College, originally aimed to work in social activism. After performing in cafes all throughout college, Thao began to garner attention for her skillful guitar playing and compactly soulful lyrics. Watch her perform with the Get Down Stay Down at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Dolce Suono Chamber Music Concert Series at First Unitarian Church
Dolce Suono is a chamber music ensemble that is developing a dedicated following in the Philadelphia region. Founded by internationally acclaimed flutist, Mimi Stillman, Dolce Suono means 'sweet sound' in Italian, and originated out of Mimi's study of Dante's Divine Comedy. Ms. Stillman is known for her vibrant and lively performances as a soloist and chamber musician at major concert halls and festivals, including The Philadelphia Orchestra and Philadelphia Classical Symphony. At the First Unitarian Church, Dolce Suono highlights the diversity of American music, from George Gershwin, who mixed Broadway and jazz elements with classical music,to Nino Rota and Albert Hay Malotte, who wrote and composed music for film. She & Him at The Trocadero
Since their first collaboration on a single for a film soundtrack, renowned producer and guitar player, M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel went on to record a full-length collection of her demos. Taking up the name She & Him, their first record, Volume One seamlessly combines her elegantly sweet voice with his simplistic and captivating instrumentals. Simone Dinnerstein and Jennifer Curtis at The Kimmel Center
Simone Dinnerstein, a classical pianist, performs Mozart's Concerto No. 10 for Two Pianos. In addition to her dramatic and unique playing style, Dinnerstein was most recently celebrated for her interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach's Goldberg Variations. Noted for her dynamic, eclectic performances, Jennifer Curtis features as the soloist in Ravel's Tzigane with Symphony in C. Ms. Curtis appears regularly as a featured soloist and collaborative chamber musician across the U.S. and abroad. Tamagawa University Taiko Drumming and Dance Ensemble at Painted Bride Art Center
Tamagawa's performances consist of speed, fluidity, and an energy that can only be described as contagious. From one of the best performing arts schools in Japan, the Tamagawa University Taiko Drumming and Dance troupe, led by professor and renowned choreographer, Isaburoh Hanayagi, presents resonating drumming medleys with visually stunning Japanese dance at the Painted Bride Art Center. Taiko drummers carry out intense acrobatic movements while combining theater, music and motion in a high-energy performance. The Tamagawa University troupe is ranked among the top taiko groups in the world. Ben Sollee at First Unitarian Church
Named one of NPR Music's Top 10 Unknown Artists of 2007, Sollee is gaining recognition for his soulful voice and unique cello playing style. On his latest album, Learning to Bend, Ben plucks cello strings and uses percussive bow techniques to create sounds that encompass jazz, bluegrass, and folk. Ben Sollee performs solo at the First Unitarian Church's sanctuary in Center City, Philadelphia. Dengue Fever at Johnny Brenda's
The psychedelic pop-rock band Dengue Fever features Cambodian singer Chhom Nimol backed by elements of surf-rock, and spy music, and the backing players' indie-rock sound. Brothers Zac and Ethan Holzman, a guitar-playing singer-songwriter and a keyboardist, respectively, re-discovered vintage Cambodian pop and decided to create a band inspired by the music. They found Chhom Nimol, a Cambodian singer with a startlingly beautiful voice who had recently moved to L.A., and formed a group called Dengue Fever. Marcia Ball at Montgomery County Community College
Singer/pianist Marcia Ball works her infectious, intelligent and deeply emotional brand of southern boogie and roadhouse blues at Montgomery County Community College. Over the course of her three-decade career, Ball has earned a huge and intensely loyal following all around the world. Her passionate piano playing and playful vocals fuse New Orleans and Gulf Coast R&B with Austin's deep songwriting tradition into a sound that is, in every sense of the word, moving.
Season 1Transonic Jazz Band at Media Bureau
Bob Musso's Transonic Band is an improvisational jazz fusion ensemble. Transonic features drummer, Claude Coleman, Jr., and bassist, Dave Dreiwitz, both from the alt-rock group Ween. Legendary Philadelphia jazz saxophone/flute artist Elliott Levin and producer/guitarist Robert Musso bring over 50 years of musical experience to the Transonic band. A.J. Racy and the MidEast Ensemble at Swarthmore College
A.J. Racy, is a performer, composer and Professor of Ethnomusicology at the University of California at Los Angeles. Born in Lebanon, he comes from a well-known family of artists, scholars, and academics. Racy is internationally recognized for his extraordinary musicianship and numerous publications on Arabic music. The concert presents a repertoire of traditional, folk, and popular Arab music as well as original compositions and improvisations.
Natalie Walker at Johnny Brenda's
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Hailing from Indiana, Natalie has called Philadelphia her home for the last six years. Formerly the lead singer of downtempo electronic group, Daughter Darling, Natalie Walker stepped out to make her own music and hasn't looked back. Walker's clear voice contrasts with a haunting sonic landscape to create songs that are ethereal, reflective, and elegant. 10th Annual Banjo Gathering at Philadelphia Ethical Society
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From its African origins to the mountain music of the Appalachians, the banjo's presence in music parallels America's multi-national origins. Banjo players and historians from across the United States convene at the Ethical Society of Philadelphia to perform pieces that span the various genres and styles of banjo music. Orchestra 2001 at Independence Seaport Museum
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Award-winning Orchestra 2001 has grown into one of America's most influential and important cultural institutions since its founding in 1988 as ensemble-in-residence at Swarthmore College. Under the artistic direction of James Freeman, Orchestra 2001 is noted for its adventurous programming and focus on contemporary American music. Ursula Rucker at Rutgers-Camden
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Philadelphia's poet laureate, Ursula Rucker, shares her songwriting talent and mesmerizing voice to an excited audience at the Gordon Theater at Rutgers-Camden. As a poet and performance artist, Ursula has enchanted critics and fans across the globe with her captivating vocals and accessible poetic verse. Ursula has collaborated with an array of recording artists and producers including King Britt, 4 Hero, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Josh Wink and The Roots. Winners of the Marian Anderson Prize
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