The Kristi Martel Duo:
Kristi Martel - vocals, piano, & other keys
Kevin Silvia - guitar & backing vocals
The Kristi Martel Trio:
Kristi Martel - vocals, piano, & other keys
Nisha Purushotham - Afro-Cuban & West African percussion
Kurt Meyer - fretless & upright bass
The Kristi Martel Band:
Kristi Martel - vocals, piano, & other keys
Angela Romans - backing vocals
Kevin Silvia - guitar
Miya Perry - cello
Kurt Meyer - 5-string fretless & upright bass
Nisha Purushotham - Afro-Cuban & West African percussion
Rich Kulsar - drums
Influences
Tori Amos, Laurie Anderson, Bach, the Beatles, Beethoven, Bjork, Brahms, Jeff Buckley, Kate Bush, Chopin, Ani Difranco, Sheila E., Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Peter Gabriel, Diamanda Galas, Kristin Hersh, Billie Holiday, Incubus, Jane's Addiction, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Cyndi Lauper, Bobby McFerrin, Joni Mitchell, Meredith Monk, Meshell Ndegeocello, Peter Paul & Mary, Prince, Sade, Skryabin, Nina Simone, Barbra Streisand, the Sugarcubes, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Throwing Muses, Tuck & Patti, Vinx, Craig Werth, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder... and writers Denise Duhamel, Louise Erdrich, bell hooks, Keri Hulme, Audre Lorde, Marge Piercy, Alice Walker...
Featured on MTV/LOGO, NPR, WERS, and in Curve Magazine, and voted Rhode Island's Best Female Alt-Rock Vocalist, award-winning songwriter and avant-soul piano diva Kristi Martel grew up in New England and earned an ASCAP grant and two music degrees (Bard and Mills College) before beginning her touring and recording career. Her sweet presence and fearless songwriting endear audiences nationwide. Her piano playing combines her love of blues dissonance and syncopation with her classical training. Her powerful voice is at once sweet and bitter, emotional and visionary, articulating prayers and quirky autobiographical narratives in the same breath. Through Sealed Lip Records she has released six CDs. Ravengirl is Kristi's goofy joke superhero name for herself, her recognition of the crazy blessing it is that she felt joy everyday, amidst the profound grief, after her former life partner's suicide in 2003. This newest album is full up with that joy, with the healing and transformation Kristi has undergone to be singing still so powerfully today. Ravengirl received a "highly recommended" from the Providence Journal and stellar reviews from Motif Magazine, Bay Windows, Curve Magazine, and the Providence Phoenix. Kristi has just recorded demos for her next full-length CD, Sacred Whore. The work is more jazz and soul, and focuses on the universal in our human experience and our need for inner and world peace.
"...a fine musician...Incomparable!" -- Utah Phillips
"Kristi Martel loves life, and the joy she gets out of it exudes from her every pore. She can be singing about the darkest things in the world -- betrayal, self-hate, death -- and yet somehow, coming from her, it feels hopeful and uplifting." -- Marion Davis, Motif Magazine
"She grins when she sings. Watching her perform, it's impossible not to get swept up in the sheer joy of music -- in her deft piano playing and soaring, soul-rhythm-and-blues voice, love emanates from every note." -- Vienna Teng
"Martel proves that she's a powerful storyteller, with meaningful lyrics, passionate performances, and an emotional mission." -- Bob Gulla for The Providence Phoenix
Kristi Martel’s Ravengirl: "In this arresting, intense and surprisingly uplifting album, Martel works out some of her feelings about her lover's suicide...raw awareness, bemused and hurt but grateful and joyous, ...makes Ravengirl so compelling. The album begins with the eerie instrumental "Oya," a sort of rite of passage easing us into Martel's psyche. Martel then wraps us in the gentle "Day of Rain," a song about the day you realize the crying is finally over and are able to look back, calm and clear-eyed. The collage of memories that follows is tinted with the full spectrum of emotion, and Martel's nimble voice constantly shifts with the music... "I am doing fine, I am doing fine," she bubbles; it's not some ironic mantra or attempt at manifesting, just a cheerful chorus of simple truth. She's doing fine indeed, and the album soars way above fine." -- Brian Jewell for Bay Windows
Discography:
Sacred Whore Demos (LP 2009)
Ravengirl (LP 2006)
Quaint & Curious Ravendemos (LP 2005)
The Mule (LP 2004)
bound (single 2003)
brave enough (LP 2001)
give me a little... (EP 2000)
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Join Us at the 2009 NAAFA Fashion Show & Auction Dinner
Enjoy plus-size fashions at their best while you help support and celebrate 40 years of size acceptance advocacy efforts at the 2009 NAAFA Fashion Show on July 31, 2009!
This year Washington DC will take its place as the leading plus-size fashion capital of the world as we bring you the NAAFA 2009 Fashion Show & Auction Dinner being held on Friday, July 31, 2009, at the Dulles Airport Marriott. NAAFA is the world's oldest, largest civil rights organization working to improve the lives of people of size. We turn forty years old this year and are going strong with the strength we need to build a new future. This major fund raising event for our organization will feature food, fashion, music and our well known Not-So-Silent Auction.
Plus size fashion designers from around the country will present their latest collections of inspired designs. These talented designers have a sincere desire to see women return to the truth within themselves as expressed through what they wear, giving women of any age and size the opportunity to be truly fabulous. We are happy to announce that we have award winning makeup artist, Maisie Dunbar, to assist our volunteer model participants with their makeup and hair stylists from Paul Mitchell The School Virginia to finish their looks.
Be sure to bring your wallets, checkbooks and credit cards as we will showcase vendors of fashion, accessories and furniture--all catering to the plus size audience.
The event begins with dinner at 7pm on Friday, July 31, 2009. Tickets to this exciting fund raising event are $75 each for the entire fashion-filled evening and may be purchased through July 26, 2009 online by going to http://www.naafaonlin
Only $25.00 buys you a chance to win a week in a bungalow at a fabulous Wyndham Resort in Hawaii and raises much needed funds for the work NAAFA is doing to end discrimination against people of size. This prize is a one week stay for the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday week in an Hawaiian timeshare.
Unwind during your island retreat at Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort, designed in the style of an 1880’s Hawaiian village. Palm thatched roofs, rustic bungalows and paths lie amidst flower and fruit bearing trees, palms and tropical vegetation. The resort lies on 30 acres overlooking Kahului Bay and is two blocks from the beaches of the Pacific Ocean
The two-bedroom bungalow features a king size bed in each bedroom, sleeper sofa in the living room, two private baths, whirlpool tub in the master bath, full kitchen, washer/dryer and lanai. Maximum occupancy is 6. Private sleeping area sleeps 4. Wyndham will provide our winner with a ground level, accessible bungalow.
Other amenities include two outdoor pools, two outdoor hot tubs (with steps entering pools and hot tubs), a fitness center, tennis and volleyball courts, a putting green and a children’s activities program.
It's an easy walk or drive to Kailua-Kona Village, with ocean activities and exciting night life. Also minutes away are Hulihee Palace, University of Hawaii, Onizuka Space Center and Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Park. Fly into Kona International Airport, approximately 15 minutes away.
This vacation package is scheduled for Thanksgiving week 2009, with check in at 4:00PM, November 22, 2009 and check out at 10:00AM, November 29, 2009.
Any request for change in date or location would be subject to charges by the Wyndham Resorts of approximately $20
well, it's been a long and winding road, and an even longer time coming, but my debut CD, 'I Remember', is FINALLY HERE!!! YAY!!!!!
to celebrate, American HeartBeat Records(tm) has arranged a FREE DOWNLOAD of "Now Is The Time" in exchange for a valid email address. "Now Is The Time" is a brand new, upbeat song I wrote: we're living in turbulent times. suddenly it's okay to be greedy and heartless? no way! a song of hope for our future, a new vision of America and the world.
we've got a bunch of exciting things planned to kick this whole thing off, and we need to get a better picture of who our friends are, so the FREE DOWNLOAD form will ask you a few questions, like, what's your country and nearest major city. it all takes maybe 15 seconds.
Dear Kristi, I mean it when I say it is an honor to be your friend! I think your music is lovely and full of soul and depth! Now that's my kind of music! Thank you for having me and visit me to say hello! Much love to you! Keep doing what you do. John
Hello! Just wanted to drop in and let you know that pre-orders for my new jazz standards album "Bittersweet" are now taking place! The first 100 pre-orders will receive a signed and numbered copy! Release date is set for May 19th, but you will get your copy a few days earlier! Kate and I are very excited about the record, and we can't wait for you to hear it. Head over to www.bittersweetthealbum.com to pre-order! Thanks! ~Mark
Wuz good, showin love on ya page and wishin u much success! We might know certain connects and vice versa, so lets stay in touch! Da muzik, modeling, and entertainment industry makes goals much easier when u have da right connects. Amen...Amen!! When u get tyme, slide through n drop a line…Much respect to U n Muzik
Hey Kristi - long time no word from you. Hope you're well, of course! We are enjoying the first pollen of Spring...sneeze...I miss taking lessons from you and coming to your shows. My friend Snow said she was going to see you at the Hi Hat - hope she made it. Hugs and Kisses from out West - Michelle :)
