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Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble CD Release party at the Velvet Lounge |
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Written by Ronaldo Oregano
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Wednesday, 31 October 2007 |
“One of Chicago’s most inspiring jazz visionaries”- Chicago Tribune
 Nicole Mitchell - Black Earth Ensemble
Join Nicole Mitchell and her Black Earth Ensemble at the Velvet Lounge in Chicago on November 7th to celebrate the release of BLACK UNSTOPPABLE!!, the first Delmark recording in its 54 yrs to feature a woman instrumentalist as a leader. Nicole was awarded “Chicagoan of the Year 2006” by the Chicago Tribune and was voted #1 in DOWNBEAT's critic's poll for "Rising Star Flutist" 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Black Earth Ensemble’s music embraces the ancient past and paints visions of a positive future; a weaving of swing, blues, avant garde jazz, bebop, African rhythms, Eastern modes, and Western classical sounds. The Black Earth Ensemble includes Nicole Mitchell (flute, piccolo, composer), Justin Dillard (piano), David Boykin (tenor saxophone, percussion), David Young (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals), Jeff Parker (guitar) ( Jeff will not be performing at the gig), Tomeka Reid (cello, shakere), Josh Abrams (bass), Marcus Evans (drums), and Ugochi Nwaogwugwu (vocals).
Black Earth Ensemble (BEE) is a musical celebration of the African American cultural legacy. Founded and directed in 1988 by Nicole Mitchell, BEE has performed at festivals and art venues throughout Europe and Canada, New York and Chicago. The name “Black Earth” was chosen to honor the feminine source that our lives depend on- Mother Earth! The purpose of BEE is to inspire human spirit with thought provoking beauty and to present a positive, healthy, and culturally aware image of African Americans. As a woman-directed, co-ed, multi-generational group, it touches a range of emotional spaces rarely expressed in a “jazz” setting, and its message is intended for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. BEE has 3 previously recorded critically acclaimed CDs: Vision Quest, Afrika Rising, and Hope, Future and Destiny, all on Dreamtime Records.
Nicole Mitchell has been celebrated for bringing a exciting new approach to flute improvisation. Co-president of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), Mitchell is the founder of the critically acclaimed Black Earth Ensemble and Black Earth Strings. Mitchell has performed with creative luminaries including George Lewis, Anthony Braxton, Lori Freedman, Miya Masaoka, James Newton, Bill Dixon and Muhal Richard Abrams. She also works on ongoing projects with Ed Wilkerson, David Boykin, Hamid Drake and Arveeayl Ra. Nicole Mitchell is one of few African American women to take the path as a creative instrumentalist, composer, bandleader and an educator. With her ensembles and as a featured flutist, she has been a highlight at art venues and festivals throughout Europe, the U.S. and Canada. Mitchell does a variety of residencies, workshops and panel discussions in Europe, Canada and the U.S. with a focus on creative music. Mitchell is thankful to mentors and teachers including: Jimmy Cheatham, Donald Byrd, Brenda Jones, James Newton, George Lewis, John Eaton, Fred Anderson, Ernest Dawkins, John Fonville, Susan Levitin, Mary Stolper, John Sebastian Winston and Edward Wilkerson.
In addition to her own many projects, Nicole also performs with: Frequency (with Ed Wilkerson Jr., Avreeayl Ra and Harrison Bankhead), The Indigo Trio (with Hamid Drake and Harrison Bankhead), The Exploding Star Orchestra (project of Rob Mazurek), The Orbert Davis Jazz Philharmonic, The New Black Reperatory Ensemble (of Columbia College), The David Boykin Expanse, The Great Black Music Ensemble (of the Chicago AACM) and Anthony Braxton's 12tet. Her newest project is founding and directing the AACM Creative Youth Orchestra, which began in fall 2006.
Join Nicole Mitchell and her Black Earth Ensemble CD/DVD Release Party on Novemeber 7th at 9 PM at teh Velvet Lounge, 67 E. Cermak Rd. in Chicago.
For more information visit www.velvetlounge.net and www.nicolemitchell.com.
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 Friday, 25 July 2008
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