AKUA ALLRICH
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival 2023
Jazz vocalist and DC-native Akua Allrich has proven herself to be a musician of extraordinary talent and crowd-moving passion. With finesse and charisma, this vocalist, composer and teacher, has successfully etched out a place for her unique musical expression, electrifying audiences in and around the nation’s capital with sold-out performances.
With the launch of her independently produced albums, A Peace of Mine in 2010, Uniquely Standard, Akua Allrich Live! in 2012, and her latest release Soul Singer, the young artist’s music and concerts created a significant buzz with critics and music-lovers alike. Said Franz Matzner of All About Jazz, “Akua Allrich’s music flows with a free, natural energy as engaging as her equally ingenuous personality.” Her appeal soon reached across US borders and attained international attention. In early 2011, Allrich signed a distribution deal with Japanese record label AGATE/Inpartmaint Inc. Her debut CD, A Peace of Mine, was released in Japan during their “Golden Week” of May 2011. Music lovers and tastemakers from around the world expressed their appreciation and excitement for this new music.
Allrich’s style is fluid and ever evolving. Her musical roots run deeply into blues, soul and rhythm and blues, with a clear grounding in jazz and pan-African music. She sings in many languages including Portuguese, French, Spanish, English, Xhosa, and Twi. Given her ability to capture the essence of a broad range of musical genres, Allrich is often likened to legendary artists such as Oscar Brown, Jr., Miriam Makeba and Nina Simone. She has developed popular tribute programs involving the latter two women and other great African American women of jazz.
Akua Allrich was educated at Howard University, where she obtained her BM in jazz vocals and a master’s degree in social work. She was taught, coached and mentored by talented musicians such as world-renowned singer Kehembe V. Eichelberger, singer/drummer Grady Tate, and pianist Charles Covington.
Joining her is The Tribe: Kris Funn ~ bass, Samuel Prather ~ keys, Tyler Leak ~ drums
More Posts: adventure,festival,genius,jazz,music,preserving,travel,vocal
The Jazz Voyager
From the West Coast to middle America the jazz Voyager is off to Ann Arbor, Michigan to seize the opportunity to witness the ambience of Blue Llama, a jazz club where it is said they present live jazz and world music paired with New Orleans-inspired cuisine. A destination music venue and restaurant located at 314 S. Main Street 48104, this week they are offering up for our musical pleasure the guitar talents of Randy Napoleon.
The jazz guitarist, composer, and arranger has toured both nationally and internationally leading his own groups as well as with the Freddy Cole Quartet, pianist Benny Green, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra led by John Clayton, Jeff Clayton, and Jeff Hamilton, Rene Marie, and Michael Bublé.
He is an associate professor in the College of Music at Michigan State University[5] and has done master classes at universities and music schools throughout the United States, Canada and Japan.
More information can be had by calling 734-372-3200 or go to bluellamaclub.com.
More Posts: adventure,club,genius,guitar,jazz,music,preserving,travel
DUETS: DIANNE REEVES, CHUCHO VALDÉS, JOE LOVANO
Jazz royalty – times three.
In a rare engagement together and their only joint appearance in NYC, the powerhouse triumvirate of Dianne Reeves, Joe Lovano, and Chucho Valdés joins us for an evening of duets. Don’t miss the preeminent vocalist and NEA Jazz Master, saxophone titan, and leading figure in Afro-Cuban jazz, as they perform in pairings that showcase their artistry in stunning new ways.
More Posts: adventure,club,genius,jazz,music,piano,preserving,saxophone,travel,vocal
PAT METHENY
Dream Box Tour | Kaufmann Concert Hall
Guitar god Pat Metheny – one of the most revered and influential artists in jazz and beyond – joins us for an exclusive NYC appearance on his new Dream Box solo tour.
An unprecedented performance setting for the 20-time Grammy Award winner, the concert features personal and fan favorites from Metheny’s remarkable nearly 50-year career, with an emphasis on the “quiet electric guitar” aspects of his artistry in music Downbeat has hailed for its “unadorned, heartfelt beauty.”
Metheny says, “[This] is something different for me – focused on the various ways of playing solo I have explored across all these decades, in an evening that I think will be very special.” Performing on 12 guitars from his ever-growing collection, this is a rare chance to hear the most personal side of this trailblazing artist.
More Posts: adventure,club,genius,guitar,jazz,music,preserving,travel
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE BIG BAND
One of today’s most influential musical explorers in jazz and beyond, eight-time Grammy Award-winning bassist Christian McBride joins us with his stellar 17-piece big band.
In a career that has featured him in collaboration with artists from James Brown to Kathleen Battle to Sting and includes work as artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival and more, it’s the Christian McBride Big Band that is his longest-running project. Hear the inimitable blend of hard swing, infectious grooves, funk, swagger, and joy that has made this band one of the most thrilling large ensembles in jazz.
Location: Kaufmann Concert Hall
More Posts: adventure,bass,club,genius,jazz,music,preserving,travel