Three composers receive grants to create and perform music for performances in Rhythm Journeys: Masters of Jazz and World music
Free concerts to take place in NYC and NYS beginning Spring- Summer 2007.
Circuit Productions receives a total of $30K from the NYS Music Fund.
Brooklyn, New York, May/June, 2007 Circuit Productions, Inc., the recipient of a NYS Music Fund grant ("The Fund"), announced today that it has awarded three composers grants totaling $6000 for RHYTHM JOURNEYS: MASTERS OF JAZZ AND WORLD MUSIC.
The project is a series of free and low-cost concerts showcasing jazz and world music throughout New York City and State in collaboration with local cultural institutions and public libraries.
Circuit Productions, through its new community outreach series, RHYTHM JOURNEYS, will provide new music and live performances presenting senior and emerging artists in a range of culturally relevant music programming aimed primarily at youth and family audiences in culturally under-served communities state-wide. “We are delighted to be in the position through The Fund - to award grants to three outstanding composers to create and perform their work in underserved communities throughout the city and state," said Susan Goldbetter, executive director of Circuit Productions. The three composers are Sarah McLawler, John Miller and Andy Algire. Each will receive $1500 towards commission of their music and $500 towards a public performance. Performances will take place through March, 2008.
Sarah McLawler's earliest introduction to music was piano and organ playing in her father's church in Indiana. Later, she became interested in secular music Jazz meeting both the famous Hampton family (Lionel and Slyde) and the Wes Montgomery family. Shortly after winning a music scholarship to Fisk University in the 1940's she began touring with the Lucky Millender Big Band. Striking out on her own she soon formed the “all-girls" band known as The Syn-Co- Ettes. Their extraordinary popularity brought them to Chicago where they became the house band at the great Savoy Ballroom. Ms. McLawler's recordings for Brunswick and Vee-Jay Records include some of the greatest standards in jazz music. Sarah is a recipient of a Meet the Composer grant; Outstanding Jazz Artist Award, St. Peters Church; WWRL's Jazz Woman of the Year; a Lifetime Achievement from International Women in Jazz; and the Music Danceology Award. In March 2005 she traveled to Virginia Tech University as part of a Ford Foundation grant award through Circuit Productions.
“The Fund will allow me to create new work, and present it this summer (6/24) at the Harlem Meer Performance Festival in Central Park," said John Miller, accomplished pianist, composer and arranger. He has recorded, performed and made television appearances with the Stanley Turrentine Band for the past seventeen years. He has also performed with George “Big Nick" Nicholas, Frank Foster, Harold Ousley, Sy Austin, Bruce Hayden and Dee Clark. In the past decade John has recorded albums with Count Basie, Angela DeNiro and the Ron Aprea Orchestra, George Jackson, Mel Bliss, The Baritone Saxophones, and Gene Gardener and the Jazz Recoverers. Mr. Miller has also taught his art extensively throughout New York State and has his own company, Jomil Music. Currently, he is the lead pianist for the legendary Harlem Blues and Jazz Band. They recently appeared at Westchester Community College, the Museum of the City of New York and the Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts at Brooklyn College.
“It's extremely difficult to find sources of funding for a young artist," said, Andy Algire, composer and performer. Andy plays drum set, congas, African drums and percussion, balafon (wood xylophone), kalimba (thumb piano), keyboards and piano. His performances include the Kennedy Center with Rhythm Exchange World Music Ensemble (REWME), Manhattan Tap, the Lakestreet Foundation and clubs, theaters, festivals both nationally and internationally. For the past five years Andy has worked closely with Fraba: African Rhythm Tap Dance Co.'s Artistic Director, Irene Koloseus - a prolific tap and African dance choreographer to create unique rhythmic patterns her feet acting as an additional percussive instrument. The two are currently working on Andy's new work “Sound Bridges" which will be heard during their performances in “Rhythm Journeys" at Riverbank State Park (7/ 18) and the Brooklyn Children's Museum (7/20), respectively.
The New York State Music Fund published guidelines and criteria and accepted grant applications in a number of categories, including music education and public performances of music by artists working in hip hop, reggae, fusion, jazz, classical and folk music of all cultures. Applications related to recording, distribution, or broadcast through traditional or new media were also eligible. Special emphasis was placed on reaching underserved populations and broadening awareness of artists, genres or styles with limited access to commercial broadcast or other mass distribution vehicles.
Awards to the 218 grantees represent every region of NYS and range from $10,000 to $500,000. Diverse forms of popular or experimental music, including indie rock, salsa, electronic, fusion and reggae account for almost 37 percent of grants and more than 15 percent celebrate a spectrum of jazz; nearly 25 percent include new classical music.
About Circuit Productions, Inc.
Circuit Productions, Inc. was founded in 1986 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, production and preservation of the uniquely American art forms of jazz and tap dance. Our mission is to inspire, entertain and educate underserved audiences in New York through performances, public classes, workshops, and arts education programs featuring senior artists of color who are living legends of the city's rich tap and jazz history. Annually, Circuit provides booking and management services for senior and emerging artists; placing performers in museums, public libraries, community- based organizations, local colleges, public schools, hospitals and nursing homes.
Free concerts to take place in NYC and NYS beginning Spring- Summer 2007.
Circuit Productions receives a total of $30K from the NYS Music Fund.
Brooklyn, New York, May/June, 2007 Circuit Productions, Inc., the recipient of a NYS Music Fund grant ("The Fund"), announced today that it has awarded three composers grants totaling $6000 for RHYTHM JOURNEYS: MASTERS OF JAZZ AND WORLD MUSIC.
The project is a series of free and low-cost concerts showcasing jazz and world music throughout New York City and State in collaboration with local cultural institutions and public libraries.
Circuit Productions, through its new community outreach series, RHYTHM JOURNEYS, will provide new music and live performances presenting senior and emerging artists in a range of culturally relevant music programming aimed primarily at youth and family audiences in culturally under-served communities state-wide. “We are delighted to be in the position through The Fund - to award grants to three outstanding composers to create and perform their work in underserved communities throughout the city and state," said Susan Goldbetter, executive director of Circuit Productions. The three composers are Sarah McLawler, John Miller and Andy Algire. Each will receive $1500 towards commission of their music and $500 towards a public performance. Performances will take place through March, 2008.
Sarah McLawler's earliest introduction to music was piano and organ playing in her father's church in Indiana. Later, she became interested in secular music Jazz meeting both the famous Hampton family (Lionel and Slyde) and the Wes Montgomery family. Shortly after winning a music scholarship to Fisk University in the 1940's she began touring with the Lucky Millender Big Band. Striking out on her own she soon formed the “all-girls" band known as The Syn-Co- Ettes. Their extraordinary popularity brought them to Chicago where they became the house band at the great Savoy Ballroom. Ms. McLawler's recordings for Brunswick and Vee-Jay Records include some of the greatest standards in jazz music. Sarah is a recipient of a Meet the Composer grant; Outstanding Jazz Artist Award, St. Peters Church; WWRL's Jazz Woman of the Year; a Lifetime Achievement from International Women in Jazz; and the Music Danceology Award. In March 2005 she traveled to Virginia Tech University as part of a Ford Foundation grant award through Circuit Productions.
“The Fund will allow me to create new work, and present it this summer (6/24) at the Harlem Meer Performance Festival in Central Park," said John Miller, accomplished pianist, composer and arranger. He has recorded, performed and made television appearances with the Stanley Turrentine Band for the past seventeen years. He has also performed with George “Big Nick" Nicholas, Frank Foster, Harold Ousley, Sy Austin, Bruce Hayden and Dee Clark. In the past decade John has recorded albums with Count Basie, Angela DeNiro and the Ron Aprea Orchestra, George Jackson, Mel Bliss, The Baritone Saxophones, and Gene Gardener and the Jazz Recoverers. Mr. Miller has also taught his art extensively throughout New York State and has his own company, Jomil Music. Currently, he is the lead pianist for the legendary Harlem Blues and Jazz Band. They recently appeared at Westchester Community College, the Museum of the City of New York and the Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts at Brooklyn College.
“It's extremely difficult to find sources of funding for a young artist," said, Andy Algire, composer and performer. Andy plays drum set, congas, African drums and percussion, balafon (wood xylophone), kalimba (thumb piano), keyboards and piano. His performances include the Kennedy Center with Rhythm Exchange World Music Ensemble (REWME), Manhattan Tap, the Lakestreet Foundation and clubs, theaters, festivals both nationally and internationally. For the past five years Andy has worked closely with Fraba: African Rhythm Tap Dance Co.'s Artistic Director, Irene Koloseus - a prolific tap and African dance choreographer to create unique rhythmic patterns her feet acting as an additional percussive instrument. The two are currently working on Andy's new work “Sound Bridges" which will be heard during their performances in “Rhythm Journeys" at Riverbank State Park (7/ 18) and the Brooklyn Children's Museum (7/20), respectively.
The New York State Music Fund published guidelines and criteria and accepted grant applications in a number of categories, including music education and public performances of music by artists working in hip hop, reggae, fusion, jazz, classical and folk music of all cultures. Applications related to recording, distribution, or broadcast through traditional or new media were also eligible. Special emphasis was placed on reaching underserved populations and broadening awareness of artists, genres or styles with limited access to commercial broadcast or other mass distribution vehicles.
Awards to the 218 grantees represent every region of NYS and range from $10,000 to $500,000. Diverse forms of popular or experimental music, including indie rock, salsa, electronic, fusion and reggae account for almost 37 percent of grants and more than 15 percent celebrate a spectrum of jazz; nearly 25 percent include new classical music.
About Circuit Productions, Inc.
Circuit Productions, Inc. was founded in 1986 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, production and preservation of the uniquely American art forms of jazz and tap dance. Our mission is to inspire, entertain and educate underserved audiences in New York through performances, public classes, workshops, and arts education programs featuring senior artists of color who are living legends of the city's rich tap and jazz history. Annually, Circuit provides booking and management services for senior and emerging artists; placing performers in museums, public libraries, community- based organizations, local colleges, public schools, hospitals and nursing homes.
For more information contact Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services.
