Imani Winds Performs Wayne Shorter's 'Terra Incognita' Nov. 26 at Salle Athena de l'Acropolis, Nice, France

[Imani Winds: Terra Incognita; E1 Music CD 7782 (2010)]

Imani Winds has a European tour date tomorrow, at a huge festival in Nice, France:

C'est pas classiqueé festival

Salle Athena de l'Acropolis

NICE, FRANCE

November 26, 2011

6:00 PM

Program

Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream - Mendelssohn/Gabler

Terra Incognita - Wayne Shorter

Le Sacre du Printemps - Stravinsky/Russell

Klezmer Suite - Gene Kavadlo

Do Grants and Competitions Exist for Black Composers of Classical Music?

[Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Violin Concertos, Op. 5, Nos. 1 & 2; Op. 3, No. 1; Op. 8, No. 9; Bernard Thomas Chamber Orchestra; Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Violin; Arion 68093 (1990)]

A reader has asked if grants and competitions exist for Black Composers of Classical Music. We have made an initial reply, and we hope others will provide further suggestions:

A number of opportunities for composers of African descent are provided by individual performance organizations. Here are some examples:

The Sphinx Commissioning Consortium involves the Sphinx Organization and 12 U.S. orchestras:

http://www.sphinxmusic.org/programs/scc.html

The Imani Winds Quintet, http://www.imaniwinds.com/, has commissioned a number of works as part of its efffort to expand the Wind Quintet repertoire of works by composers of color.

The Ritz Chamber Players have had a number of composers-in-residence

http://www.ritzchamberplayers.org/

The pianist Terrence Wilson took an entrepreneurial approach to the commissioning process. He solicited 6 orchestras to form a consortium to commission Grammy-winning composer Michael Daugherty to write a piano concerto. The resulting work is Deus Ex Machina for piano and orchestra (2007). Naxos paired the work with Daugherty's Metropolis Symphony on its release Naxos 8.559635 (2009), performed by the Nashville Symphony under the direction of Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor.

This reply is copied to my principal associates, who may contact you if they have additional suggestions. I hope you will keep the Center for Black Music Research (CBMR) at Columbia College Chicago informed of your compositions and recordings. Its web address is: http://www.colum.edu/cbmr The CBMR has a unique and enduring research collection of scores, recordings and other materials related to Black composers.

Sincerely,

Bill Zick
[Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) is featured at AfriClassical.com]

Comment by email:
Your information was especially thorough. Precisely what I needed. Thank you very much. Steve Burks

Rochester.edu: Eastman School of Music Hosts Imani Winds for Lecture & Masterclass 6:30 PM Feb. 9

[Imani Winds]

The Imani Winds will present “a lecture/demonstration and masterclass” at the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester:

Eastman School of Music

Rochester, NY

February 9, 2011

6:30 PM

“Eastman School of Music will host Imani Winds for a lecture/demonstration and masterclass with the wind and brass department. Schedule: 6:30 pm - Lecture demonstration Eastman East Wing Hatch Recital Hall 7:45 pm - Guest Master Class Eastman East Wing Hatch Recital Hall 7:45 pm - Guest Master Class Ciminelli Formal Lounge.”

Bucknell U.: “'This Christmas' with Imani Winds opens holiday season at Weis Center” Dec. 4

[Imani Winds]

Posted: November 29, 2010

By Kathryn Kopchik

LEWISBURG, Pa. — “The Grammy-nominated ensemble Imani Winds and Friends, including the renowned jazz pianist, song writer and record producer Cyrus Chestnut, will perform 'This Christmas' on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m. 'Imani Winds, which first performed at Bucknell in 2005, is an outstanding woodwind ensemble whose members are of African-American and Latin heritage,' said Bill Boswell, executive director of the Weis Center.

“Cyrus Chestnut, an American jazz pianist, songwriter and producer will be joined by a bassist and two percussionists for this special program. 'In the unique style infused into so much of what Imani Winds does, “This Christmas” mixes classical, jazz and world influences into a program of holiday standards,' added Boswell. Founded in 1997, Imani Winds has taken a unique path, carving out a distinct presence in the classical music world with its dynamic playing, culturally poignant programming, genre-blurring collaborations, and inspirational outreach programs.

“With two member composers and a deep commitment to commissioning new work, the group is enriching the traditional wind quintet repertoire while meaningfully bridging European, American, African and Latin American traditions. Tickets for the performance are $20 per person. Discounts for senior citizens and students are available.”

Boulder Weekly: 'Chamber music mash-up, Imani Winds throws expectations out the window'

[Imani Winds]

BoulderWeekly.com

By Peter Alexander

“A tango-like serenade from Argentina? Check.

Music by a jazz musician? Check.

Straight-up Americana?

Russian primitivism? Jewish celebration music? Check, check and check. Add a piece by a local composer, and the program by the Imani Winds has just about every cultural tradition you could fit into one concert. But that’s part of the point with the Imani Winds, which will perform that program at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, in Macky Auditorium as part of the CU Presents concert series.

"In fact, the distinctive woodwind quintet was founded on the ideal of breaking new ground, both in its makeup — all five members are musicians of color — and in its programming, which joins traditional European concert music with music from other cultures, especially African-American and Latin American.” “Just this month, Boston Globe critic Harlowe Robinson wrote that the Imani Winds are “recognized by many as the leading wind quintet in America,” noting that the group 'revels in challenging preconceptions about “classical” music and musicians.'”

Imani Winds' 'Terra Incognita' For Your Grammy Consideration

[Terra Incognita; Imani Winds; E1E-CD-7782 (2010)]

“Imani Winds' Terra Incognita features new works by Wayne Shorter, Jason Moran and Paquito D’Rivera -- written especially for the group for their Legacy Commissioning Project. That these three composers accepted the challenge of writing for this ensemble is a source of great honor for the group. For those NARAS voting members out there, thanks for the consideration. Of course, please feel free to pass this around to anyone you think may be interested.”

* * *

Best Classical Album (#302)

Best Chamber Music Performance (#193)

Best classical contemporary composition:

D'Rivera: Kites (#48)

Shorter: Terra incognita (#161)

You can hear the album here:

http://www.e1music.us/imaniwinds

* * *

Many thanks!

Stuart Wolferman

Unfinished Side Productions

Reviews

“Imani Winds has made this unlikely amalgam work through a combination of great performance chops, charismatic stage presence, fascinating projects, and a selection of repertoire that both calls attention to each of their personal strengths and pushes them to other places." New Music Box

"Terra Incognita suggest that jazz and concert music can still blend into a hybridized form of music containing considerable eloquence." Sequenza 21

Imani Winds: 14th Season and 5th CD on Entertainment One Music, 'Terra Incognita'

[Terra Incognita; Imani Winds; E1 (2010)]

AfriClassical has featured the innovative quintet Imani Winds for several years. The group recently released its latest CD on the E1 Music label. It also has a new website:

Imani Winds

7 October, 2010

New Album, New Season & more!

As we start our 14th season, Imani Winds is thrilled to announce the release of our 5th album with Entertainment One Music, Terra Incognita. This unprecedented collection features the music of jazz greats, Wayne Shorter, Paquito D'Rivera and Jason Moran ~ who was just awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. All three composers have written specifically for Imani Winds.

New Website, http://www.imaniwinds.com/

Check out our new website! Easily navigate to our Calendar, Twitter, Facebook, Media Center and so much more.

Imani Winds Quintet In World Premiere of 'The Jazz Oratorio' by Valerie Coleman Oct. 30

[Imani Winds, photo credit Chris Carroll]

ImaniWinds.com
Join Imani Winds and Saint Peter's Church as we celebrate the installation of Rev. Kaji Rosa Spellman with the world premiere of:
THE JAZZ ORATORIO for wind quintet, jazz ensemble and choir by Valerie Coleman; text by A.B. Spellman; with special guests: Arturo O'Farrill – piano, Ike Sturm – bass, Zack O'Farrill – drums, Javier Diaz – percussion, A.B. Spellman – narrator; The Saint Peter's Church Choir
This Friday, October 30, 2009, 7PM
Saint Peter's Church, Lexington Avenue at 54th Street, New York City
Free and open to the public. Dessert Reception to follow.
For more information on Imani Winds and their upcoming events, visit: http://www.imaniwinds.com

Imani Winds: 2009 NANM Gala Artists in Concert, Monday, July 27, 7:30 PM

The Imani Winds will be in concert in the Grand Ballroom, The Double Tree Hotel, Chicago Magnificent Mile, 300 East Ohio Street,Chicago, Il 60611 Ticket price: $35.00. Tickets may be purchased at http://www.nanm.org or at the Hyde Park Suzuki Institute, 5500 South Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, on Mondays through Thursdays from 2:00 until 7:00 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Please call 773-643-1388 to confirm ticket availability. If ordering by mail, please make checks payable to NANM, Inc., and furnish a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Celebrating our 90th Anniversary in Chicago, “Our Hometown.” NANM (The National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc.) 11551 South Laflin Street, Post Office Box 45053, Chicago, IL 60643 773-568-3818 (Voice) 773-785-5388 (Fax)

Imani Winds Plays Daniel Bernard Roumain's 'Five Chairs and One Table' March 5 & 8

ImaniWinds.com

"As part of the Legacy Commissioning Project, Imani Winds presents the world premiere of Daniel Bernard Roumain's Five Chairs and One Table and the New York premiere of Jason Moran's Cane as part of Carnegie Hall's Honor Festival, curated by Jessye Norman. Sunday, March 8th at 12 PM, Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall. Another performance, also part of Carnegie Hall's Honor! Festival, at CUNY Graduate Center, Thursday, March 5^th at 1 PM. Concert is free and open to the public.”

Imani Winds

·· Valerie Coleman, Flute

·· Toyin Spellman-Diaz, Oboe

·· Mariam Adam, Clarinet

·· Jeff Scott, French Horn

·· Monica Ellis, Bassoon

DANIEL BERNARD ROUMAIN

Five Chairs and One Table

“Imani Winds has proven itself to be more than a wind quintet—more like a force of nature.”—This Week in Philly. Since 1997, the Grammy-nominated ensemble Imani Winds has carved out a distinct presence in the classical music world with its dynamic playing, culturally rich programming, genre-blurring collaborations, and inspirational outreach programs. With a deep commitment to commissioning new work, the group enriches the traditional wind quintet repertoire while bridging European, American, African, and Latin traditions.

Imani Winds Perform World Premiere of 'Cane' by Jason Moran in Philadelphia Oct. 24

Imani Winds Legacy Commissioning Project presents CANE by Jason Moran THIS FRIDAY!

October 24th at 7:30 p.m. Perelman Auditorium, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia. Through the Legacy Commissioning Project, Imani Winds continue to celebrate their decade anniversary with new works written exclusively for the ensemble. Their third installment in the project is the World Premiere of CANE by Jason Moran. This intriguing musical portrait of Moran’s Louisiana bayou ancestry dates back to his great grand-aunt Marie CoinCoin, an ex-slave, who opened a plantation and bought her family's freedom. CANE is made possible through generous support from The Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust and The Kimmel Center. Program will also include: Call (world premiere) by Imani's own Toyin Spellman-Diaz, Ten pieces for wind quintet by Gyorgy Ligeti, speech. and canzone an electro-acoustic work by Valerie Coleman, Terra Incognita by Wayne Shorter, Contrabajissimo by Astor Piazzolla arr. Jeff Scott.

Imani Winds Play 'Afro Blue' in Jacksonville, Florida on October 5 at 3:30 p.m.

ImaniWinds.com:

“Imani Winds has established itself as more than a wind quintet. Since 1997, the Grammy nominated ensemble has taken a unique path, carving out a distinct presence in the classical music world with its dynamic playing, culturally poignant programming, genre-blurring collaborations, and inspirational outreach programs. With two member composers and a deep commitment to commissioning new work, the group is enriching the traditional wind quintet repertoire while meaningfully bridging European, American, African and Latin American traditions.”  “The Legacy Project kicked off in 2008 with world premieres by Alvin Singleton and Roberto Sierra. In 2008-09, Jason Moran's Cane will premiere at the Kimmel Center for the Arts in Philadelphia, followed by a performance at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall.”

The next performance of The Imani Winds will take place in St. Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 3:30 p.m. The program will be Afro Blue: Santamaria/Coleman; Five Poems: Karel Husa; La Nouvelle Orleans: Lalo Schifrin; Ten pieces for wind quintet: Gyorgy Ligeti; Portraits of Josephine Baker: Valerie Coleman; Libertango: Piazzolla/Scott.