Valerie Coleman, flute
Toyin Spellman-Diaz, oboe
Mariam Adam, clarinet
Monica Ellis, bassoon
Jeff Scott, French horn
Influences
From Valerie:
gospel music, Ciara, Billy Joel, music of the 80's, Alanis Morrisette, Donnie Hathaway, Villa-Lobos, Wayne Shorter, Osvaldo Golijov, Charles Trenet, sci-fi/fantasy books, comics (Marvel), tennis, roller skating, baking, Fame (with a capital F), In living Color, Naruto, America's Next Top Model, Ninja Warrior, the Cooking Network, my family!
From Toyin: early: Gumby. Lancelot Link Secret Chimp. Grover. later: Prince. Michael Jackson. Beethoven. Public Enemy. Bach.
From Mariam:
Weather above 70 degrees, Stravinsky, Brahms, Paquito D'Rivera, frozen yogurt, Arab-influenced Spanish music, spreadable chocolate, Luis Rossi ;) & life when it smiles at you.
From Monica:
Barbie (the doll), Mac and Cheese, Clarence Oden, Stevie Wonder, Prince, the 80’s, Frank Morelli, Nate Smith
From Jeff:
Johannes Brahms, Alberto Ginestera, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Milton Nascimento, Paco De Lucia, Nina Simone, Machito, Earth Wind and Fire, Micheal Jackson
Imani Winds has established itself as more than a wind quintet. Since 1997, the Grammy nominated ensemble has taken a unique path, carving out a distinct presence in the classical music world with its dynamic playing, culturally poignant programming, genre-blurring collaborations, and inspirational outreach programs. With two member composers and a deep commitment to commissioning new work, the group is enriching the traditional wind quintet repertoire while meaningfully bridging European, American, African and Latin American traditions.
Performing a wide range of programs, the group's extensive touring schedule has taken them across the U.S. to venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Ravinia Festival, and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. They have toured Europe with Wayne Shorter and collaborated with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Paquito D'Rivera, and David Shifrin. Additionally, the group is in the midst of its Legacy Commissioning Project, an ambitious five-year endeavor launching Imani Winds into its second decade of music making. The ensemble is commissioning, premiering and touring ten new works for woodwind quintet written by established and emerging composers of various musical styles, including Alvin Singleton, Jason Moran, Roberto Sierra, and Stefon Harris.
Imani Winds perform Poulenc's Piano and Wind Sextet at La Jolla Music Society's SummerFest 2007.
* * *
"But what's striking about Imani is that each player is polished and virtuosic. They took the first half of the program by themselves, giving elfin accounts of scherzos by Franck and Bozza. In an arrangement of Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin by horn legend Mason Jones, each player in the ensemble was a marvelously agile proxy for a full orchestra." [PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER]
"If it's possible for a classically trained wind quintet to rock the house, Imani Winds blows the roof off." [NPR/ALL THINGS CONSIDERED]
"Classical music has been stubbornly resistant to an increasingly multicultural world. Imani Winds represents nothing less than the future of the once-quaint notion of the wind quintet." [WASHINGTON POST]
Dear friends, felicitations for Le tombeau de Couperin : very fine arrangement and beautiful interpretation. Best wishes from Québec, Jean Chatillon, composer
Your concert in Philly last night really was a unique performance, played with such commitment and passion. It was great to be there - thank you so much!
hi,thanks for the request.you sound wonderful!unfortunately i missed you with shorter last year in "la villette".i'll try to make it next time.take care,J.L.
