October 19
Social Saturday
featuring
YUSA
Yusimil Bridón Lopez, known as Yusa, was born in the neighborhood of Playa, Havana. She is a multi-instrumentalist playing classical guitar, electric bass, keyboard and percussion instruments. She decided to start composing her own music and was signed with the British label Tumi Music. Her first album Yusa (2002), introduced her on the international stage. Her performances have earned her two nominations for the World Music Awards from BBC Radio 3 in the categories of best album and best beginner American artist. Her performances in London during the period 2003-2004, with Interactivo group, had as a result the DVD Yusa live at Ronnie Scott (2010). She has toured Brazil, Netherlands, France, Ireland, Japan, Scotland, Germany, Italy and Belgium. Yusa is able to condense Cuban music with international music, taking all without typecast and sowing in that no one’s land called fusion, to create a style all her own that draws the listener. Its blend of trova, son, pop, jazz and Brazilian rhythms well she deserves to be known as one of the most interesting Cuban artists of the century.
October 25
Feel Good Friday Sessions
featuring
Dr. Michael Terragano, Sr.
Dr. Michael Torregano comes from a musical family. The youngest of four boys, he began playing piano at the age of five. Michael studied music at Southern University in New Orleans earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. He later received a Master in Music Performance with an emphasis in conducting from the University of New Orleans. He received a Doctor of Musical Arts from Boston University. Michael has been an educator for 32 years, teaching music in Elementary, Middle, High Schools, and at the university level. He performed in his brother, Joseph Torregano’s quartet for 31 years. Michael has also had the pleasure of performing with many New Orleans artists including Allen Toussaint, Deacon John, Dave Bartholomew, and Johnny Adams.
November 2
Social Saturday
featuring
Brian Quezergue
Brian Quezerque, a sought after New Orleans bassist, received his B.A. in instrumental music education from Southern University at New Orleans. Upon graduation he began his teaching career in the public schools of New Orleans. Mr. Quezerque has been involved in Jazz Camp since its inception in 1995 when he enrolled as a student. In 2004, he became the first alumni to join the camp’s faculty as the bass instructor. Mr. Quezerque is currently a faculty member at Audubon Charter School. The son of New Orleans composer/arranger Wardell Quezerque, he performs a variety of music genres and has performed with the likes of the Wild Magnolias, Kidd Jordan, the late Alvin Batiste, Clyde Kerr Jr., Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and many others.
November 6
Wine Down Wednesday
featuring
Betty Shirley
Jazz Vocalist extraordinaire, artist and teacher Betty Shirley has come full circle in her life and is now reaping the benefits of her hard-earned endeavors. Blessed with all the range and tonal control one might expect from a first-class Jazz singer, Shirley can scat, propel, coax and hang on to a note. She improvises with unerring instincts and delivers exactly what a song needs, spinning notes like silk. Shirley’s extensive repertoire ranges from original compositions, Jazz (modern and traditional), and Blues to R&B, and Bossa Nova. Betty Shirley honed her skills on the New York scene performing in such clubs as Birdland, Green Street Café and the Village Gate. In the early 1990’s she followed her muse and settled in the great Jazz city of New Orleans. She has sung with some of the best Jazz musicians in the world: Ellis Marsalis, Art Blakey Jr., Benny Green and Bross Townsend, to name a few. Betty Shirley’s most recent award was being named and honored as a 2007 Jazz All-star by New Orleans Magazine. Her other awards received included Best Jazz Vocalist, Gambit Magazine’s Big Easy Awards and Duke Ellington Concerts Award. As a recording artist, Shirley has 3 critically acclaimed CDs to her credit as a leader.
Social Saturday
featuring
Roderick Harper
Roderick has been singing almost as long as he has been speaking. Chicago Sun-Times writer Lloyd Sachs states that he is, “a smooth and serious singer.” Baton Rouge Morning Advocate writer Rod Dreher calls him, “a very special talent.” Jazztimes Magazine proclaims, “he is an able convert to jazz, when Jon Hendricks invited him on stage for a round of Thelonius Monk’s ‘Rhythmaning.’”
He has worked with Clarinetist Alvin Batiste, Pianist Ellis Marsalis, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and numerous others. His recordings are as follows: Beautiful Beginnings, produced by Delfeayo Marsalis and The Essence Of… produced by Grammy Award Winner, Nicholas Payton, and a self-produced CD, Perfect Imperfections, E-VOL-VING, featuring, Ellis Marsalis and Saxophonist Donald Harrison. His first recorded EP of original R&B music, Back To Love, became an top charting project overseas. It spawned a #1 single, Got To, #3 Make It Last Foreverand #5 Back To Love. His voice was apart of the HBO Soul of the Game, the BET BlacKout, and UMC series, Terror Lake Drive, a featured vocalist on Kent Jordan’s CD, Out of this World, as well as, a Folgers Coffee and McDonaldsCommercial. His latest release, “2702”, produced by Grammy Award Nominee, Vocalist and Drummer, Jamison Ross is well received overseas as well as in the states. The current project, “2702”, went to #4 on the Amazon U.K. In the states, it went to #26 on JazzWeek Charts.
November 15
Anais St. John
Josephine Baker: From Creole Goddess to Siren of the Resistance
New Orleans singer and entertainer Anaïs St. John brings her latest cabaret show back for one weekend. Through song and spoken word, Anaïs brings to life Josephine Baker’s extraordinary journey from humble beginnings in East St. Louis to the stages of Jazz Age Paris, to her wartime service in France and North Africa, and to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Josephine Baker: From Creole Goddess to Siren of the Resistance, created for and starring Anaïs St. John, was written by @denisealtobello with musical direction by @harrymayronne
