Program - Nnenna Freelon (Saturday, April 9, 2005 - 8 p.m.)
Contents
- Introduction
- About the Artists
- Hancher Family Arts Adventure
- Cookin' Up Excitement at Hancher in April
Introduction
- Wayne Batchelor, Bass
- Kinah Boto, Drums
- Brandon McCune, Piano
- Beverly Botsford, Percussion
Program will be announced from the stage.
About the Artist
Five-time Grammy Award-nominee Nnenna Freelon has earned a well-deserved reputation as a compelling and captivating live performer. In 2001, she inspired an enthusiastic standing ovation from 20,000 music-industry insiders and celebrities when she took to the stage at the 43rd annual Grammy Awards telecast from Los Angeles. Prior to that stirring appearance, Freelon's performances for the legendary Julie Andrews at the Society of Singers' "Ella Awards," Variety's The Children's Charity (as a featured vocalist at the Stephen Sondheim Tribute at Carnegie Hall), Jerry Lewis' Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy Telethon and at the most famous jazz festivals around the globe have all been rousing successes. No wonder - for anyone who has heard and seen Freelon sing knows she is a skillful interpreter of even the most familiar chestnuts.
On her fifth Concord Records release, Live, Nnenna Freelon brings all of her alluring talents to bear. The result is a beguiling and intimate achievement. Recorded at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on February 21 and 22, 2003, Live marks a decade-long recording career for Freelon, as well as 20-years on the road.
It has certainly been a heady decade for Freelon. In addition to five Grammy nominations while on the Concord label, Freelon also made her feature film debut in the Mel Gibson hit, What Women Want, and sang a remake of Sinatra's classic "Fly Me To The Moon" for The Visit, starring Billy Dee Williams. She is a winner of both the Billie Holiday Award from the prestigious Academie du Jazz and the Eubie Blake Award, and has twice been nominated for the "Lady of Soul" Soul Train Award. What's more, Freelon has performed and toured with a veritable who's who in jazz, from Ray Charles and Ellis Marsalis to Al Jarreau and George Benson, among many others.
Though she has eight recordings to her name, including three earlier releases on the Columbia label, Live is Freelon's first live recording and her second as producer - she handpicked the tune list, which includes five previously unrecorded tracks. "This record is a present to myself, a documentation of where we were in 2003," she says. "We continue to evolve - artists have hungry minds and hearts, so we're always working on the next thing - but I felt it was just time to stop, take a breath, and enjoy! I've grown a lot, both musically and spiritually, on this ten-year journey. Before, many things were 'first' experiences, but now I'm going back to some of the same festivals and clubs, and realizing I am happy and content where I am. It's great to see all the awards and career milestones building up," she admits, "but it's even nicer to realize people are coming to the shows and saying, 'I saw you back in '95!' I've made a lot of friends on the road."
An accomplished singer, composer, producer, and arranger (as well as budding actress), Freelon has dedicated herself to educating young people, both musicians and non-musicians. She toured the United States for four years as the national spokesperson for Partners In Education. Her master classes and workshops, from "Sound Sculpture" to the ground-breaking "Babysong" (which Freelon presented at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics during her stay in Iowa City), teach adults and children that you too can change the world–even one person at a time–but it takes dedication and perseverance, the substance of her educational activities. The messages in Freelon's activities go far beyond technique. Her messages reach into the very soul of the person, listening, encouraging and motivating them toward constructive change and to create positive energy.
With her anthem "One Child At A Time" (found on her Soulcall recording), Freelon took on the task of fund-raising and bringing greater attention to the needs of children in education through mentoring and the arts. The song has been used by countless local, regional and national organizations, including the United Way.
Earning consistently rave reviews from even the toughest of jazz critics and with her global fan base growing, Freelon is far from done, however. In fact, as she enters a new recording decade, one thing is certain - Nnenna Freelon is a true original.
Hit the "Spot" with the Hancher Family Arts Adventure!
ODC/San Francisco and Dan Zanes kick off four-year statewide project
Children and parents in Iowa City, Marshalltown, Spencer and Perry are gearing up for Spot - The Hancher Family Arts Adventure. Thanks to a generous grant from The Wallace Foundation, Hancher and partnering organizations in each community are bringing two artists to each town each year for the next four years.
The ambitious project kicks off in late April as dance company ODC/San Francisco comes to Iowa to complete three-day residencies in each location. Community members will have the opportunity to work with the dancers to explore the expressive possibilities of movement and to enjoy - and participate in - a public performance by the company. On Mother's Day (May 8) at Hancher, ODC/San Francisco will perform the company's acclaimed version of the classic children's tale The Velveteen Rabbit which the New York Times hails as "delightful, imaginative, with something to offer both adults and children…The choreography makes the story come alive."
"Romper rocker" Dan Zanes brings his unique blend of roots rock and folk music to Iowa in June. The former lead singer of the rock band the Del Fuegos delights children and adults alike with what the New York Times calls "true children's music, but executed with such sweet (and un-gooey!) humor, casual multiculturalism and shambling groove that you can call it your own." Like ODC/San Francisco, Zanes will spend three days in each participating community inviting families to make music with him and culminating in a public performance. He will perform at Hancher on Father's Day (June 19).
Spot is supported by an interactive web site where children can sign up to be "Spot Kids." The site features information about the artists, games and activities and will eventually include contributions from Spot Kids around the state. Parents are encouraged to surf to www.spotkids.com with their children to sign up. Additional information for parents is also available on the site.
Both Hancher performances will be preceded by a picnic which is included in the ticket price. The picnics begin at 12:30 p.m. with performances begining at 2 p.m.
The public libraries in each community are Spot partners. The other participating community organizations will be the Iowa Children's Museum in Iowa City/Coralville, the Spencer Community Theatre Playhouse, Arts on Grand and the YMCA in Spencer; the historic preservation organization Hometown Perry; and the Community Y in Marshalltown.
The ODC/San Francisco performance and residency is supported by Doug and Linda Paul and The Wallace Foundation while the Dan Zanes performance and residency is supported by Peggy Scholz and The Wallace Foundation with media support from the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Both pre-performance picnics are supported by the Waterfront Drive Hy-Vee Food Store in Iowa City.
For tickets to the Hancher performances by ODC/San Francisco and Dan Zanes, call the Hancher Box Office at 335-1160 or 1-800-HANCHER or purchase online at the Hancher website.
Cookin' Up Excitement at Hancher in April
Four zany Korean chefs have a wedding feast to prepare! Join them in the kitchen for a food fight crossed with a percussion festival. Cookin' is coming to Hancher on Friday, April 15 at 7:30 pm.
Performed to the fast-paced rhythms of traditional Korean drumming - with a pinch of jazz and rock thrown in for flavor - Cookin' is a fabulous family show full of laughs and action. Martial arts, drumming and dancing are all stirred into the recipe.
"Take equal parts of Jackie Chan, the Marx Brothers and Stomp - and blend," raves "CBS Sunday Morning." The food will be flying while the chefs pound out the beat and cook up a tasty finale.
For tickets, call the Hancher Box Office at 335-1160 or 1-800-HANCHER, or purchase online at the Hancher website.
Cookin' is supported by Everybody's Whole Foods and the Sheraton Iowa City Hotel with media support from KDAT-FM.
© 2003-2005
The University of Iowa Center for Macular Degeneration
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