Pamela Means. Occasional band members include Anand Nayak (b), Sturgis Cunningham (d), Robert McCullough (b), Sonny Ratcliff (d), Connie Grauer (k), Kim Zick (d)
Influences
Audre Lorde, bell hooks, Billie Holiday, Michael Franti, Chet Baker, Nick Drake, James Baldwin, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Wes Montgomery...
Pamela Means, "one of the fiercest guitar players and politically-rooted singer-songwriters in the music industry today," (Curve Magazine) is a Brooklyn-based, internationally-touring singer-songwriter and jazz musician.
Pamela Means, with "mad guitar-and-vocal skills," (Time Out New York) is spending 2009 on the road, with a new acoustic album, Precedent, an anticipated follow-up to both Pamela Means Jazz Project, Vol. 1, "Top 10 Album of 2007" (muruch.com), in which, "Means takes her rightful place among contemporary superstar jazz vocalists such as Cassandra Wilson and Norah Jones," (Curve Magazine) and the preceding politically-provocative Pamela Means release, Single Bullet Theory, named 2004 "Outmusic Outstanding New Recording."
Pamela Means' many honors include being named Falcon Ridge Folk Festival's ..1 "Most Wanted New Artist", and both Wisconsin's "Folk Artist of the Year", and "Female Vocalist of the Year". Pamela has also been a Boston Music Award Nominee ("Outstanding Contemporary Folk Artist").
Pamela has shared the stage with artists including Ani DiFranco, Joan Baez, Neil Young, Shawn Colvin, Richie Havens, Patty Larkin, Melissa Ferrick, Violent Femmes, Pete Seeger, Janis Ian, and Holly Near.
Quoting her inspiration, Warrior Poet Audre Lorde, Pamela asks "I am myself- a Black woman warrior poet doing my work- come to ask you, are you doing yours?" With Truth as ammunition, a Pamela Means performance brings the fight for social justice and human dignity to the forefront of a new generation.
Hi Pamela - Just found out you're playing in Mpls tonight. Bummed that I have another commitment but best of luck on the tour. Hope to see you before too many years go by!
"Make Way" came up on my random song playlist yesterday and caused me to remember the "good 'ol days." I think the first time I heard that was at Passim in Harvard Square. A long time ago. God(dess) I do love that song. Hope you're doing good, my dear. xoxo
HEY!!!! Last time we spoke- I was sleepy and it was my birthday- which means it's WAY TOO LONG since we've connected. I see you're going to coming up my way soon- I guess I'll have to pop down the road and show my love!!!
Hope you're well. I'll give ya a ring-a-ding and we'll catch up...