Somi

Tuesday September 27, 2016 at 8PM Jerome Robbins Theater Baryshnikov Arts Center

BARYSHNIKOV ARTS CENTER PRESENTS

SomiTuesday September 27, 2016 at 8PM

Jerome Robbins Theater | Baryshnikov Arts Center

Vocals: Somi

Guitar: Nir Felder

Piano: Toru Dodo

Bass: Ben Williams

Drums: Nate Smith

Leadership support for music programming in 2016 provided by the

Anne and Chris Flowers Foundation and the Thompson Family Foundation.

About the Artists

Somi is a vocalist and songwriter, born in Illinois to immigrants from Rwanda and Uganda. The Huffington Post recently dubbed her “the new Nina Simone,” while NPR describes her as “an ambitious artist and superb jazz singer [who] creates an elegant amalgam of her bi-continental experiences.” Somi is a TED Senior Fellow, an inaugural Association of Performing Arts Presenters Fellow, and was a 2015 Artist-in-Residence at UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance, Baryshnikov Arts Center, and The Robert Rauschenburg Foundation. Known for both her activism and her artistry, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon invited Somi to perform for the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the International Day of Slavery. Later that year, she performed alongside her long-time mentor Hugh Masekela at Carnegie Hall to commemorate 20 years of South African democracy. Somi’s latest album, The Lagos Music Salon on Sony Music/OKeh Records, debuted at #1 on U.S. jazz charts and features special guests Angelique Kidjo and Common. Her forthcoming album Petite Afrique: The Other Black in Harlem will be released in March 2017. She is currently also working on a modern jazz opera about Miriam Makeba. In her heart of hearts, Somi is an East African Midwesterner who loves family, poetry, and freedom.

Nir Felder is a new voice in jazz guitar, called “the next big jazz guitarist” by NPR, hailed by the The New York Times as a “whiz kid,” and dubbed “incredible” by the Montreal Gazette. Growing up right outside New York City, Felder spent his youth playing in rock bands while learning about jazz at the local record store, inspired by icons from John Coltrane to “voodoo chile” Jimi Hendrix. After attending Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, Felder moved to New York City in 2006 and quickly became one of the city’s most highly sought after sidemen, notching credits in bands led by Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding, Terri Lyne Carrington (with whom he recorded the Grammy-winning Money Jungle), Jack DeJohnette, Greg Osby, Eric Harland, Jose James, Meshell Ndegeocello, Cindy Blackman, and others. Felder’s critically acclaimed debut Golden Age (Sony/OKeh) has been called “absolutely beautiful” by The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, “lyrical and lofty” by The New York Times, “mesmerizing” by The Boston Globe, “a melodic triumph” by the New York City Jazz Record, and “mind-boggling” by All About Jazz. “If the hope, thought, depth, and heart displayed on this recording are any indication, Felder sees his own golden age happening right now - and I wholeheartedly agree. A great recording.” - Downbeat Magazine Editor’s Pick. 

Toru Dodo was born in Tokyo and began playing classical piano at the age of four. Dodo discovered jazz music while studying economics at Meiji University and soon began gigging in the Tokyo area. Dodo continued his musical studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston where he graduated summa cum laude in 1998. In New York City, Dodo’s musical career has progressed both as a leader and a sideman, with tours taking him all over the world.

BARYSHNIKOV ARTS CENTER + CROSSING THE L INE PRESENT

Rachid Ouramdane TORDRE (WROUGHT) U.S. Premiere

Oct 13–15 / Thu–Sat, 8 PM

Jerome Robbins Theater

Rachid Ouramdane is at the forefront of dance innovation, extending definitions of performer and choreographer and blurring the line between dance and documentary. In a haunting duet, two dancers perform lonely, intensely physical solos. Through hypnotic, whirling gestures, each woman’s body paints a raw, captivating self-portrait.

$20 BACNYC.ORG | 866 811 4111

Co-presented with French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF)’s Crossing the Line Festival and CCN2 – Centre chorégraphique national de Grenoble. Part of BRIDGING, an initiative supported by the Edmond de Rothschild Foundations.

©2016 BAC. Programs and artists subject to change. Photo by Patrick Imbert.

Dodo has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to jazz education and performance by the International Association for Jazz Education and the Bronx Council on the Arts. To date, Dodo has released five solo albums; his most recent being JAfro in 2013, which he self-produced through his own record label (Do&do). Dodo has been collaborating with Somi since 2004.

Ben Williams is a forward-thinking bassist who crosses easily between straight-ahead, funk, and gospel-influenced jazz. A native of Washington, D.C., Williams graduated from the Duke Ellington School of Arts and went on to study with renowned bassist Rodney Whitaker, while earning a B.A. in jazz studies at Michigan State University and a Master’s degree from The Julliard School. He is an in-demand sideman and has performed with a veritable who’s who of jazz, including Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Mulgrew Miller, Terence Blanchard, Stefon Harris, and others. In 2009 Williams won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and subsequently signed a record deal with Concord Records. Two years later, he released his debut solo album, State of Art. In 2015, Williams delivered his sophomore full-length album, Coming of Age.

Nate Smith is a drummer from Chesapeake, Virginia. Since moving to New York City in 2001, Smith has helped reinvigorate the international jazz scene with his visceral style of drumming by playing with such esteemed leading lights as bassist Dave Holland, saxophonists Chris Potter and Ravi Coltrane, and singers Patricia Barber, Somi, and José James. The New York Times described Smith as “a firecracker of a drummer.” Smith’s rising career reaches a new benchmark with the release of his forthcoming bandleader debut, KINFOLK: Postcards from Everywhere, on which he fuses his original modern jazz compositions with R&B, pop, and hip-hop. The disc shows Smith leading a scintillating core ensemble, consisting of pianist and keyboardist Kris Bowers, guitarist Jeremy Most, alto and soprano saxophonist Jaleel Shaw, electric bassist Fima Ephron, singer and lyricist Amma Whatt, and Michael Mayo on backing vocals. The lineup expands on several cuts with the inclusion of Potter and Holland along with other illustrious guests – guitarists Lionel Loueke and Adam Rogers, and singer Gretchen Parlato.

BARYSHNIKOV ARTS CENTER PRESENTS

$20 BACNYC.ORG | 866 811 4111

BAC Salon is a series of concerts performed in an intimate salon setting.

Leadership support for music programming in 2016 provided by the Anne and Chris Flowers Foundation and the Thompson Family Foundation.

©2016 BAC. Programs and artists subject to change. Photos: León by Michael Provost,

Brower by Christian Steiner, Spalding by Carlos Pericás, Du Yun by Giorgia Fanelli;

Eyck by Christian Hüller.

Two BAC Salons. One Week.

NOV 1 + 4

NOV 1 TUE / 7:30 PM

Dialogues with Margaret Brouwer, Esperanza Spalding + Du YunModerated by Tania León, founder of Composers Now

An Evening of Performance and Conversation

NOV 4 FRI / 7:30 PM

Carolina Eyck + ACME (American Contemporary Music Ensemble)

Fantasias World Premiere

León Brouwer

Spalding Du Yun

Baryshnikov Arts Center AcknowledgementsBaryshnikov Arts Center is grateful for the support of its generous individual and institutional annual fund donors in 2015––2016.

Individual

Anonymous (3)Pierre ApraxineElena AristovaDarcy BaconMikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa RinehartDr. Phillip BaumanCarol Baxter and Loren Plotkin Talia BilodeauLeon and Debra BlackTina and Jeffrey Bolton Family FundCatherine Brennan Clyde BrownstoneValentino D. CarlottiCarroll CartwrightMeredith CarusoFadi, Terri and Claudine ChartouniLori Cohen and Christopher RothkoBrian Coleman and Olga

SmagarinskayaFrank and Monique CordascoNancy DalvaEdoard DejouxMichael and Denise DelerayRichard and Jennie DeSchererMichael DevinsJoseph and Diana DiMennaKatie Dixon and Richard FlemingDebbie and Harry DrukerJames H. DuffyCheryl Lee and Steven C. DupréJennifer and Russell EchlovGwen EdelmanEhrenkranz Family FoundationBrittawnee EnosBarbara FileMichele Lee FineBarbara FleischmanRichard and Nicole FortsonSandra FoschiNatasha FrankRandy GaugertPhilip GiambancoPaola GianturcoJon Gilman & Brad Learmonth

Brianna GitnikSlavka B. GlaserRebecca GradingerPeter GreenleafLouise GuentherAgnes GundDr. Ayele HaderoAnnie and John HallElaine M. HalpinCharles HamlenThe Hare FamilyNicole and Paul HarmanElisabeth HayesBrian and Tania HigginsRoger and Joan HookerIn Honor of Roger HookerHuong HoangFredericka HunterMary Anne Hunting and

Thomas RemienYukiko InoueSusan IsraelLaith and Adele JazrawiCarine JoannouStephanie JoelAnnie JordanZuzana JustmanJulia and Michael KatzColleen KeeganDrs. Nadine and Leo KeeganDonald M. KendallJennifer KesslerPaul and Teresa KimJoan Konner and Alvin PerlmutterSonja KostichHerman KrawitzSali Ann KriegsmanMark Ladner and Julie RossThe LeRoy FamilyCharlie and Lorie LevyJarrett and Maritess LilienJulie LilienTopper LilienJane Lipton

Lew LloydNicholas Lloyd and Megan CraigMarianne Lockwood and David BuryNick and Cass LudingtonDavid M. and N. Heller McAlpinSarah and Alec MachielsCheryl Yeager MarshallPatrick A. Meere, MD and Ingrid E.

Weigel, MDJane & Richard MesconAdam MillerValerie and Stuart MogulIn Honor of Natalie MoodyAidan MooneyCheri MowryElizabeth OshaHubert and Joanna ParzeckiSteven and Michèle PesnerSteve and Randi PiakerDarryl PinckneyLily PotterTamar QuillenAidan and Elizabeth QuinnJudith ReganLaila RobinsJames RoeJohn S. RockwellLeslie RuffDorothy ScheuerNatasha SchlesingerFiorenza ScholeySherry SchwartzTatiana SegalJoel Shapiro and Ellen PhelanWallace ShawnJeremy SmithChristina Sterner and Steve PosesKeith StubblefieldRosalie SwedlinJennifer TiptonRosanna and John TroianoIgor TsukanovRobert Warshaw and Debbie SchmidtMary R. WatersSuzanne WeilCarolyn F. WienerWorld Wide-Holdings Fund in

The New York Community Trust, in honor of Victor Elmaleh

Yelena Yoffe and Serge Troyanovsky

As of September 22, 2016

Affirmation Arts FundAmerican Chai TrustAnonymous (2) Rose M. Badgeley Residuary Charitable

TrustBay and Paul FoundationsBlavatnik Family FoundationCapezio-Ballet Makers Dance

FoundationThe Gladys Krieble Delmas FoundationThe Enoch FoundationFerriday Fund Charitable TrustAnne and Chris Flowers Foundation Ford FoundationMarshall Frankel FoundationHoward Gilman FoundationHarkness Foundation for DanceIrving Harris FoundationFrancena T. Harrison Foundation TrustThe Jim Henson FoundationDanny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye

FoundationKent-Lucas FoundationKiwi PartnersGeorge Lucas Family Foundation

The Luce Della Vite Estate in Montalcino, Italy

The Lupin FoundationThe Andrew W. Mellon FoundationMertz Gilmore FoundationNew England Foundation for the Arts/

National Dance Project Rudolf Nureyev Dance FoundationPrincess Grace Foundation-USArag & boneThe Reed FoundationRenova USAThe Jerome Robbins FoundationBlanchette Hooker Rockefeller FundFan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels

FoundationThe Shubert FoundationThe Seth Sprague Educational and

Charitable FoundationSt. JohnThe Thompson Family FoundationTrust for Mutual UnderstandingUNIX GalleryWalter Family Foundation

Institutional

Lead support of dance programming at Baryshnikov Arts Center is provided by the Rudolf Nureyev Endowment.

Baryshnikov Arts Center is also grateful for support provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Funding is also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Yamaha is the official piano of the Baryshnikov Arts Center

Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) is the realization of a long-held vision by artistic director Mikhail Baryshnikov to build an arts center in Manhattan that would serve as a gathering place for artists from all disciplines. BAC’s opening in 2005 heralded the launch of this mission, establishing a thriving creative laboratory and performance space for artists from around the world. BAC’s activities encompass a robust residency program augmented by a range of professional services, including commissions of new work, as well as the presentation of performances by artists at varying stages of their careers. In tandem with its commitment to supporting artists, BAC is dedicated to building audiences for the arts by presenting contemporary, innovative work at affordable ticket prices. For more information, please visit www.bacnyc.org.

Board of Directors

Staff

Mikhail Baryshnikov, Artistic Director Georgiana Pickett, Executive Director

Audrée Anid, Development Intern; Steven Battaglia, Operations Manager; Courtney Drasner, Operations Associate; Erin Duffee, Program Fellow; Juliana Gorman, Box Office Manager and Administrative Assistant; Katie Gorum, Technical Director; Alex Hurst, Assistant Technical Director; Kristen Miles, Director of Marketing and Communications; Kirsten Munro, Director of Development; Pedja Muzijevic, Artistic Administrator; Pamela Rapp, Production Manager; Vernon Scott, Special Events Manager and Executive Assistant to the Artistic Director; Eleanor Wallace, Artistic Associate

Special thanks to our production crew, front-of-house staff, and volunteers.

How to Support BAC

Please visit www.bacnyc.org and click “donate now” to make a valuable contribution to help sustain artist-centered programming at BAC.

For more information please contact Kirsten Munro, Director of Development, at kmunro@bacnyc.org.

Frank CordascoRichard DeSchererDiana DiMennaSteven DupreJames H. DuffySandra Foschi

Aidan MooneySteven PesnerNatasha SchlesingerSuzanne Weil

Slavka B. Glaser, ChairmanR. Jarrett Lilien, TreasurerMikhail Baryshnikov, Chairman Emeritus

450 West 37th Street, Suite 501, New York, NY 10018 | 646 731 3200 | www.bacnyc.org