We are called a Fauxtet because we can be a duo or a sextet. Many of the musicians I play with you can find here amongst my friends on Myspace and/or Facebook. They are all great musicians AND special people. Some of them include: George Koller, Robi Botos, Eric Boucher, Ross MacIntyre, Gord Webster, Michael Stuart, Etric Lyons, Rich Brown, Ernie Tollar, Stich Wynston, Mark Hundevad and many others.
Influences
I am influenced by many musicians, artists and writers...I don't think I can get into them all at this time. But I imagine this profile will grow and change with time, so stay tuned!!
I have heard folks say that vocally I remind them of Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, Jeanne Lee, Jay Clayton, and Carmen McRae. I guess those folks are not far off the mark, no matter how incredibly humbled I am by those remarks. I hope I do create something new with their influence and guidance. I certainly try.
I love all of them and have learned from them in different ways. I have had the opportunity to spend time will all through technology, had the opportunity to hear some live and spent sometime in New York being mentored by the great Aminata Moseka. I am truly blessed and grateful.
I must make mention here of Billie Holiday and her influence on me. She could not only sing and swing, she is a testiment and example to all who call themselves an artist. A great singer and/or artist doesn't have just a pretty voice and excellent musicianship....she also has something to say. An artist makes a statement and shares it with the world, even if the world doesn't want to hear it. And Billie helped changed the world!!
I love horn players like Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane and Dexter Gordon!! Instrumental music inspires me to try to put into words what I think they say through the horn. I consider them singers anyway ;-)
I love pianists like Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Mary Lou Williams, Herbie Nichols, Randy Weston and Abdullah Ibrahim. They have showed me that the piano is a great problem solver and wonderful playground!
Sounds Like
Everyone and no one! Just kidding folks...i think i sound like me. what do you think? Have a listen and judge for yourselves
some stuff about me!
i am a smart, sensitive, mother, sister, lover, friend and daughter...
i am musical, mixed race, dreadlocked, creative, spiritual, honest, loving, affectionate, and intense!!
at the moment i am studying voice with Ali Garrison...in the past i have studied voice with counter-tenor Theodore Gentry, Liz Naylor and i owe much gratitude to my mentor Aminata Moseka/Abbey Lincoln
lately, i’ve immersed myself in choral work resulting in work with choirs such as the Nathaniel Dett Chorale and Vespera!! I love them both so check them out!! it is something to be a soloist and band leader, but it is also important to understand how to support others in a unit...i am LOVING this process!!
i have done some theatre work acting and vocal arranging for The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God written by the immensely talented playwright Djanet Sears and written a play myself which is currently being reworked...
musically, i write and interpret songs in the jazz tradition...my concept of that anyway...i love to sing and make music that is inspired, free, experiential and in the spirit of the griot....i also love to play the piano just for me, though i have been know to play in public ;-) for me jazz is the synthesis of human experience through music made in the moment... an expression of heart, and soul, mind and spirit....
i write articles on music at www.griotsarts.com, www.toonage.ca and swag magazine... i am also a radio broadcaster and have hosted and created programming for FLOW 93.5 FM (Epistrophe) and CKLN 88.1FM(Face The Music) and was a jazz columnist of Metro Morning on CBC 99.1 FM.
i have appeared on recordings by pianists Rodney Kendrick and Ken Skinner...currently, i am writing for an independent release featuring several inspired original songs and editing a new play/performance piece through agencies like the Toronto Arts Council, and bcurrent....have a listen to the player for samples of recordings i have done
in the past i have studied flute, piano, improvisation and voice with folks Jay Clayton, Art Levine, Doug Stewart, Don Naduriak, Marilyn Crispell, Rufus Reid, Steve Coleman and Kevin and Robin Eubanks, Theodore Gentry, Hugh Fraser, Sheila Jordan and the Banff Jazz Workshop and of course i have attending the workshops of the great pianist and teacher Barry Harris
in the past i have taught through the New School For Social Research in New York City... right now i teach workshops for an organization called arts for children...check them out at www.artsforchildren.org...i also teach privately so if your interested, contact me!
i have shared the stage with artists like Jane Bunnett, Bob Fenton, Archie Alleyne, Salome Bey, the great Jimmy Lovelace(he has a special place in my heart), Jackie Richardson, Yoron Isreals, Dwayne Burno, Hilario Duran, Tyler Mitchell, Michael Stuart and many more...i have played in clubs and festivals in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and New York City, and i am coming soon to your town!! Contact me!
It's my pleasure to check you in, do take up residency in the penthouse suite (top comment box) and of course everything in the mini bar is free. Enjoy168
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