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I don't suppose that every person who is into music will want to be a jazz musician because it is probably the hardest thing to do in the world.
- Sathima Bea Benjamin |
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 Wednesday, 07 January 2009 |
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SOMI at B.B.King's July 16th |
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Written by Ronaldo Oregano
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Friday, 15 July 2005 |
"...one of the most
distinctive voices of New York's progressive Soul Movement." - Village
Voice
On Saturday, July 16th, 2005, SOMI will perform in the heart of
Times Square at the legendary B.B.King's stage to exhale a belly full
of stories on life, love, and liberation. Originally from Uganda
and Rwanda, SOMI's music gives voice to the post-colonial African
experience in the Diaspora with an authentic blend of the contemporary
and the traditional. First seen in the New York City area as the
featured vocalist with the African Globe Theater production Drums Under the African Sky, SOMI
was soon after seen in Source Magazine alongside Rawkus recording
artist Mos Def and other influential lyricists in an anti-police
brutality project entitled "Hip-Hop for Respect". A former
background singer for Epic Records recording artist Amel Larrieux and
Broadway's Tony Award-winning South African diva Tsidii Le Loka, SOMI's
international appeal is a reflection of her diverse experience and
influences. Since her 2000 New York City debut, SOMI has
performed at Joe's Pub, S.O.B.'s, Central Park's Bandshell Concert
Series, The Museum for African Art, The Village Underground, and Sweet
Rhythm to name a few. In February 2002, SOMI performed on
national television when she appeared on The Ananda Lewis Show as "one
of the most talented up-and-coming-artists," and again in May of 2002,
when she performed on BET's 106 & Park proving her amazing ability
to reach a wide range of audiences.
In June 2002, she reached greater accolades as she was invited to
perform in New York City's prestigious JVC Jazz Festival with the
Harlem Jazztet, and soon after performed at Chicago's famed South Shore
Jazz Festival and the city's premiere venues like the Hot House and The
Green Mill. Summer of 2003, SOMI celebrated the release of her
debut album Eternal Motive at the legendary Blue Note jazz club in New
York City, and she has since been invited to perform at the Atlanta
Jazz Festival to open for N-coded recording artist Maysa of Incognito,
and Blue Note Records artists Soul Live and Eddie Palmieri; The New
Jersey Performing Arts Center's Sounds of the City Festival, The Epcot
Center's World Music Festival, Chicago Tribune's African Festival of
the Arts, and Montreal's famous Maison du Jazz.
In 2004, SOMI was featured as a most promising young songwriter in the
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Playback
Magazine while touring through in Canada, Europe, and Rwanda. She
ended the year lending background vocals to Roy Hargrove's
Grammy-nominated Strength EP (Verve) and sharing the New Year's Eve
stage at the Blue Note in New York with Cassandra Wilson.
Recently featured on CNN International for her work as a performance
artist to empower post-genocidal Rwanda, SOMI is currently finishing
her highly-anticipated sophomore release entitled Red Soil In My Eyes
which celebrates her East African heritage while staying true to soul
and jazz traditions. The juxtaposition of her mellifluous voice
and the ferociously beautiful acoustic composition of her band creates
organic textures that are at once haunting and sweet, subtle and
profound.
somi - vocals; liberty ellman - guitar; daniel moreno - percussion;
george farmer - bass; banamas bouie - piano; nicole williams &
chanda rule- bkg. vocals
B.B. King's is located at:
237 West 42nd Street b/n 7th & 8th Avenues
Times Square, NYC
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
$15 at the door (www.ticketmaster.com)
212.997.4144
www.bbkingblues.com
www.somisunshine.com
www.jeremiahonline.com
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