Millennium Stage Schedule for August 2016

Transcription

1 Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2016 The Kennedy Center announces the Millennium Stage Schedule for August 2016 Free Daily Performances Featuring Signature Jazz Acts Strathmore Artist-in-Residence Series Weekend Participate Series #Yoga4All and many more (WASHINGTON) The Kennedy Center announced today its August 2016 schedule of daily performances on the Millennium Stage. The newly released calendar highlights a variety of jazz acts, including Sariyah Idan (August 2), Kia Bennett (August 4), Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra (August 9), Theo Jackson (August 11), and Charles Covington (August 13). The upcoming month s programming also features a Strathmore Artist-in-Residence series, showcasing contemporary string quartet invoke (August 1), composer and instrumentalist Griff Kazmierczak (August 8), vocalist and singer-songwriter Rochelle Rice (August 23), and composer and guitarist Cristian Perez (August 30). Additionally, the Weekend Participate series will engage audiences in hands-on active arts experiences with performances by the India Dance Educators Association (August 14), La Fiesta Zakke (August 20), and The Barnstormers and Rock Candy Cloggers (August 27). An end-of-the month highlight is the return of #Yoga4All, a free introduction to yoga by instructor Jess Pierno, with more than 1,000 participants expected to attend (August 29). Now in its 19th year, the Millennium Stage is the only place in the United States to offer a free performance every day of the year that is streamed live on the web. A full schedule of Millennium Stage performances for the month of August 2016 is below. Unless otherwise noted, performances will take place in the Kennedy Center Grand Foyer and no tickets are required. Performances are open to television and radio news coverage. Media crews must request access at least one full week prior to the performance date.

2 Full Chronological Schedule for August 2016 DATE TIME PERFORMANCE Mon., August 1 6 p.m. Strathmore Artist-in-Residence: invoke encompasses traditions from across America, including bluegrass, Appalachian fiddle tunes, jazz, and minimalism. The string quartet weaves these together to create a truly unique contemporary repertoire, written by and for the group. Tue., August 2 6 p.m. New York-bred and LA-based singer-songwriter Sariyah Idan is jazztrained, Hip Hop educated, and influenced by the sounds of her Jewish roots. Idan s evocative soulful music blends multiple genres while her poetic lyricism addresses stories of joy, struggle, love, and social justice. Wed., August 3 6 p.m. Bringing together blues and Baião from Brazil, Dirceu Melo performs with the Deltas. Their music combines a wide range of instruments, such as the Turkish baglama, melodica, and guitars with open tuning. Thurs., August 4 6 p.m. James A. Johnson Young Artist Series: Kia Benett brings comfort, groove, warmth, color, fluidity, and sophisticated soul, funk, and jazz to the Millennium Stage. She is a member of RAMP (Roy Ayers Music Production) and has worked with D Angelo, Ledisi, Kindred the Family Soul, and Michael Bolton. This performance is part of the James A. Johnson Young Artist Series, made possible by Target. Presented in collaboration with Grammy Recording Academy, D.C. Chapter. Fri., August 5 6 p.m. Hailing from Goundam near Timbuktu, Mamadou Kelly is backed by veteran sidemen collectively known as Ban Kai Na Hama Sankare on calabash, Youro Cisse on djourkel (a monochord mandolin), Ibrahim Nabo on rhythm guitar, and Baba Traore on bass. The band cooks refined rhythms into profound simplicity. Sat., August 6 6 p.m. As part of Hip Hop at the Kennedy Center, Asheru and Guerilla Arts Ink present a showcase of young artists from the arts collective, including a screening of the 48-Hour Film Project from 5-6 p.m. Sun., August 7 6 p.m. Target Family Night: Grammy Award winning musician Tim Kubart and the Space Cadets bring their indie-pop dance party to the Millennium Stage. Their most recent album, Home, is full of songs about togetherness and is a celebration of the small moments in life spent with family. Mon., August 8 6 p.m. Strathmore Artist-in-Residence: Classical, R&B, Dixieland, funk composer-musician Griff Kazmierczak plays many genres. The trumpeter and violinist started young, inspired by Chuck Mangione and Dizzy Gillespie, but now has limitless influences. Tues., August 9 6 p.m. Under the direction of Joe Bongiovi, the Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra has grown to include appearances in jazz clubs and festivals around the world. PJO is just returning from two performances at the 50th Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Wed., August 10 6 p.m. Muhsinah /mʊˈsiːnʊ/ is a Grammy -nominated R&B and indie-pop singer and producer from Washington, D.C. She cites Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Nirvana, and Chopin among her influences. Thurs., August 11 6 p.m. With a distinctive voice and inspiring stories, Theo Jackson s skilled songwriting and jazzy and contemporary songs are drawn from the imagination of a natural storyteller and have an ethereal, otherworldly quality while being grounded in reality. Fri., August 12 6 p.m. A showcase of up-and-coming youth talent as part of Washington Performing Arts Summer Performing Arts Academy. Sat., August 13 6 p.m. Recognized as a virtuoso jazz pianist and jazz organist, Charles Covington incorporates the styles of jazz greats while achieving the colossal feat of blending disparate elements into a coherent, codified style.

3 Sun., August 14 6 p.m. Indian Dance Educators Association (IDEA) presents Folk Dances of India a multihued pageant of folk dances of India, from North to South and East to West. A master class will take place at 5 p.m. Mon., August 15 6 p.m. Ginkgoa is where inspirations meet and marry the swing of old New York and Paris, electronica beats, elegant lyrics, and pop music. Think of a cross between Les Rita Mitsouko and Pink Martini, with only one idea in mind: to get absolutely everyone dancing. Tues., August 16 6 p.m. D.C.-based band Handsome Hound brings a high level of energy to its live shows, inspired by folk, rock, country, and pop. Think Johnny Cash and June Carter meet Shovels & Rope. Wed., August 17 6 p.m. Sister violinists Kanako and Mariko Shimasaki, who are National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute alumnae, perform with internationally renowned pianist Luke Gillespie, a professor of Music (Jazz Studies/Piano) at Indiana University s Jacobs School of Music. Thurs., August 18 6 p.m. Jon Stickley Trio combines Stickley s rapid-fire flatpicking guitar with the sultry and wild, yet refined, melodies of Lyndsay Pruett on violin and the deep groove of Patrick Armitage on drums. The three have fused their styles into a repertoire of innovative original music along with some captivating covers. Fri., August 19 6 p.m. The Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra is a 17-piece big band that presents a variety of jazz styles from standard literature including Ellington, Basie, Strayhorn, Thad Jones, Oliver Nelson, and Maria Schneider, to originals by band members who will embrace and challenge the tradition of big band repertoire. Sat., August 20 6 p.m. La Fiesta Zakke, a world music band from D.C. known for their Latin fusion style and high-energy performances, blends Latin rhythms with an explosive twist of funk, ska, disco, and rock beats. A Latin Dance class will take place at 5 p.m. Sun., August 21 6 p.m. The Great Mindz is a group of Hip Hop vets with a storied past and an equally bright future. Regarded as one of the first Hip Hop groups from Africa to gain international recognition, Great Mindz will showcase past and present classics from Mike G and the Jungle Brothers, YZ and Dumi RIGHT, as well as brand new material from their upcoming album project. Mon., August 22 6 p.m. Hailing from Bogotá, Colombia, Tribu Baharú is a high energy sextet that performs Afro Caribbean folk music known as champeta, uniting its history and culture into a jazzy and energetic sound. Tues., August 23 6 p.m. Strathmore Artist-in-Residence: Vocalist and songwriter Rochelle Rice weaves jazz -influenced contemporary pop with rock and soul. Her highly personal yet relatable original music brings awareness to education and social issues. Wed., August 24 6 p.m. The musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra perform together in honor of the 54th ICSOM conference. KCOHO member Michael Rossi and former NSO Assistant Conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl will conduct. Thurs., August 25 6 p.m. CROSSRHODES, a duo featuring Grammy -nominated singer Raheem Devaughn and emcee/ poet/actor W. Ellington Felton, presents work from their new record, Footprints on the Moon. Fri., August 26 6 p.m. Near Northeast is a D.C.-based music project making melodic-ambientindie-folky music by weaving together Latin American, Indian, and Appalachian influences into a distinctive musical tapestry. Sat., August 27 6 p.m. The Barnstormers and Rock Candy Cloggers perform together in Good Old Time Music & Clogging, combining traditional American roots folk music and dynamic dancing. A master class will take place at 5 p.m.

4 Sun., August 28 6 p.m. Gold Connections is a Virginia-based indie-rock band that blends vintage sounds with punk tenacity. Their debut album, 7, will be released this coming fall on Fat Possum Records. Mon., August 29 6 p.m. D.C.-area studio Yoga Heights hosts #Yoga4All, a free introduction to yoga by instructor Jess Pierno and other experienced practitioners. They will demonstrate how yoga helps them achieve balance, strength, and flexibility of the mind, body, and spirit. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a basic yoga class for all ages and abilities. Tues., August 30 6 p.m. Strathmore Artist-in-Residence: Argentine guitarist and composer Cristian Perez presents original compositions and arrangements of music from throughout the world. With backgrounds in South American folk, classical guitar, and jazz, his group draws from various music styles with the refinement of classical music and the freedom of jazz. Wed., August 31 6 p.m. MetroPerforms!, the performing arts component of Art in Transit, features performances by selected musicians and dancers who have performed at Metro stations and on the National Mall this summer. All performers and programs are subject to change without notice. ABOUT THE KENNEDY CENTER MILLENNIUM STAGE The Kennedy Center is the only U.S. institution that presents a free performance 365 days a year. Created in 1997 and underwritten by James A. Johnson and Maxine Isaacs, the Millennium Stage features a broad spectrum of performing arts each day at 6 p.m. Brought to the public by Target Stores and The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, the Millennium Stage helps fulfill the Center s mission of making the performing arts accessible to everyone. In the past 17 years, more than 3 million visitors have seen 6,000 groups with performances as varied as: jazz, ballet, storytelling, popular music, contemporary dance, opera, choral music, tap dance, theater, chamber music, symphonic music, puppetry, stand-up comedy, and cabaret. Of the more than 43,000 performers that have appeared on the Millennium Stage, approximately 25,000 have been Washington-area artists and more than 4,500 have been international performing artists representing more than 50 countries. The Millennium Stage has also hosted artists representing all 50 states, and has presented more than 15,000 artists in their Kennedy Center debuts. Since 1999, each night s performance has been broadcast live over the Internet, and more than 4,430 of these performances have been digitally archived on the Kennedy Center s website, kennedy-center.org. Need a Lift? The FREE Kennedy Center Shuttle, the Center s link to Metro s Foggy Bottom/George Washington University Metro station (blue/orange/silver lines), departs every 15 minutes from 9:45 a.m. to midnight, Monday Friday; 10 a.m. to midnight, Saturdays; noon to midnight, Sundays; and 4:00 p.m. to midnight on Federal holidays. Free parking is not available when attending free events. FUNDING CREDITS The Millennium Stage is brought to you by Target and The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. The Millennium Stage was created and underwritten by James A. Johnson and Maxine Isaacs to make the performing arts accessible to everyone in fulfillment of the Kennedy Center's mission to its community and the nation.

5 Additional funding for the Millennium Stage is provided by Bernstein Family Foundation, The Isadore and Bertha Gudelsky Family Foundation, Inc., The Meredith Foundation, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A.J. Stolwijk, U.S. Department of Education, and the Millennium Stage Endowment Fund. The Millennium Stage Endowment Fund was made possible by James A. Johnson and Maxine Isaacs, Fannie Mae Foundation, the Kimsey Endowment, Gilbert and Jaylee Mead, Mortgage Bankers Association of America and other anonymous gifts to secure the future of the Millennium Stage. Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program. Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President s Advisory Committee on the Arts. David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO. For more information on the Millennium Stage, please visit the Millennium Stage event page or Millennium Stage Facebook page. Discover the Kennedy Center on social media: #MStage365 # # # PRESS CONTACT PUBLIC INFORMATION Camille Cintrón Devlin (202) ; (800) (202) ccdevlin@kennedy-center.org