 (L-R) Latt Citrawireja, Langston Brand, Christian Pickett, Carson Brand. Front, Lauren Martin. In Black is a jazz quintet that has performed throughout northern California for four years, with a repertoire of swing, standards and straight-ahead. The Solutions Tour is their first in Southern California, sponsored in part by Clif Bar. The musicians now range in age from 14-16, and like most teens, maintain busy lives. All enjoy music, theater and Friday night dancing at Ellington Hall in Santa Rosa:
Carson Brand, 14, plays keyboards and drums. Finishing 8th grade, he’s a 5-year veteran of Little League Baseball in Healdsburg and also plays soccer. An actor with the Imaginists (5 years) and the Camp Rose Players (3 years), he currently studies fencing and guitar through Santa Rosa Junior College and has studied piano since age 6. He became a founding member of In Black at age 8. Langston Brand, 16, has played saxophone for eight years, and alto sax for In Black since its inception when he was 11. Enrolled in the Independent Study Program at Healdsburg High School, he is just completing a full semester of classes at Santa Rosa Junior College. Also an actor, Langston has performed with the Imaginists for 5 years, and has served as a lighting tech and stage manager for the Raven Players; he has just been accepted into the Junior/Senior summer camp program at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon.
Latt “Melati” Citrawireja, 14, plays the electric bass for In Black (for four years) and for the Healdsburg rock group, Secret Cat. Studying theater with Imaginists in Healdsburg for 5 years, she has attended Camp Winnarainbow for the last several years and has studied swing dancing through the Nordquist youth program. She also can ride a unicycle and juggle!
Lauren Martin, 15, is the lead singer for In Black, and has been singing on stage since age 6. She’s had major roles in Santa Rosa Junior College productions, including appearing as “Annie” and in “The Music Man.” She has studied swing dancing through the Nordquist youth program as well as the use of “scatting” in jazz. Christian Pickett, 15, drums and vibes player for In Black, is finishing his junior year in high school while taking classes at Santa Rosa Junior College. An active Boy Scout, he has also played piano for several years, enjoys baseball and soccer, and refereeing soccer programs. Christian recently took up swing dancing and has studied theater for three years with the Imaginists.
The In Black band members cite a number of diverse influences on their music, including “Our teachers and mentors over the years to whom we owe so much: Keith Terry, Ali Jackson, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Louis Prima, Nneenna Freelon, Wynton Marsalis, Carlos Antonio Jobim, Miles Davis, Bobby Darin, Cal Tjader, Gary Burton, and many more.” And these kids walk the talk: They’re traveling in a biodiesel van rented from VIP Greenride in San Francisco, fuel donated by Yokayo Biofuels. If you are in southern California during the Solutions Tour, be sure to check out this talented group of teens who have a mission beyond music—to save the planet. “Tired of feeling helpless about the planet’s impending doom? Join us on the Solutions Tour as we swing through California promoting possible solutions to the climate change problem.” –-In Black More information (including a list of environmental advocacy websites) available on the band’s website at www.myspace.com/inblackjazz. Southern California itinerary: June 20, 6:30 pm, E3 Playhouse, Santa Cruz (www.e3playhouse.com) June 21, 7 pm, Mission Plaza, Alternative Fuel Car Fesetival, San Luis Obispo June 22, 6 pm, Universal Citywalk, Hollywood June 23, 3-5 pm, Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Festival, McDonald’s Stage June 24, 4-6 pm, Jazz Bakery, Los Angeles (www.jazzbakery.com) June 25-26, Disneyland, Anaheim (6/25, 5 pm on Carnation Stage; 6/26, 8 pm) June 27, 2-4 pm, Los Angeles Zoo (www.lazoo.org)
Solutions to climate change are invited—send to
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Saturday, 05 July 2008
