PORT WASHINGTON, NY -- 05/30/07 --
Koch International Classics is pleased to
announce the release of "Josephine Baker: A Life of Le Jazz Hot!," the
much-anticipated third recording from Grammy-nominated woodwind quintet
Imani Winds. The group will kick-off this very special release with a
tribute concert for Ms. Baker at New York's Apollo Theater on June 3rd to
commemorate the 101st anniversary of her birth. This history-making
multimedia event will showcase all of the music on this new CD which
celebrates the many facets of Josephine Baker's rich life and legacy.
In honor of Baker's centennial, Imani Winds has created "Josephine Baker: A
Life of Le Jazz Hot!," a musical biography that celebrates the remarkable
spirit of this internationally renowned entertainer and the enduring mark
she made as a performer and as a public figure. Ms. Baker's works, which
flourished in Paris during the European period of expressionism -- and the
height of America's jazz era -- are particularly a source of inspiration
for Imani Winds, whose overall mission is to discover the links between
African and European music and their omnipresence in American culture.
For this new recording, Imani composers Valerie Coleman and Jeff Scott have
created a chronological introspection inspired by the various aspects of
Baker's life. Coleman's five-movement suite "Portraits of Josephine" is a
musical memoir that depicts a behind-the-scenes look at Baker's personal
life: from her poor humble childhood in the racially oppressed St. Louis of
the early 1900s, to her rise to stardom in Paris as a dancer and singer,
her work as a human rights activist and member of the underground French
Resistance during World War II, her "Rainbow Tribe" family of adopted
multi-racial children, and the turbulent times leading up to her successful
comeback just before her death in 1975.
Jeff Scott's song arrangements and original incidental music were inspired
from Baker's films and represent the on-stage personae: the embodiment of
jazz. Scott composed "La Belle Sirène Comme le Comédien" to accompany
selected scenes from her films. The songs in this program (set by Scott
and performed by jazz vocalist René Marie) are snapshots of Baker's dual
on-stage role of provocateur and comedienne. "Donnez moi le main" (Give me
your hand), about a fortune-teller, and "Je Voudrias" (I would like) are
seductive songs during which she would often walk throughout the audience
and flirt, while "Don't Touch My Tomatoes" is pure fun, suggestive yet
comedic, and a prime example of the goofy sexiness Josephine perfected.
Until her death, Baker continued to perform, raise her family, and fight
for equality, tolerance, and education. On April 8, 1975 she performed a
farewell concert in Paris , which is represented in "Farewell Concert," the
first part of the fifth movement of Coleman's suite, "Paris 1975." Her
performance was energetic and masterful, as if she barely aged since she
had premiered in Paris 50 years before. She died in her sleep just a few
days later. Baker had gone out as she had arrived: a smash.
The final part of Coleman's work, "Thank you, Josephine (J'ai Deux
Amours)," is the denouement to this aural biography. An arrangement of
Josephine's most famous song, "J'ai Deux Amours" (I have two loves), it
represents her amazing, generous spirit. She often said that she had two
loves, her country and Paris, but she had two lives as well: enthusiastic
performer and dedicated human being.
About Imani Winds
Comprised of five talented musicians -- Valerie Coleman (flute), Toyin
Spellman-Diaz (oboe), Mariam Adam (clarinet), Jeff Scott (French horn) and
Monica Ellis (bassoon), Imani Winds banded together in 1997 to develop and
enhance the concept of the wind quintet. Exploring the connection between
European, African and American musical traditions, Imani Winds' music is a
soulful blend of classical, world, Latin and jazz music. The award-winning
ensemble is the first classically-based woodwind quintet comprised
exclusively of young African-American and Latino performers. At the 2001
Concert Artists Guild International Competition, Imani Winds was selected
as the first-ever Educational Residency Ensemble, in recognition of their
significant educational mission, tremendous musical abilities and
innovative programming. Imani Winds' past performance highlights included
their New York debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall as winners of
the Artists International Annual Prize, concerts with the Chicago Symphony
Musicians Residency Program, St. Louis Premiere Performances, Chamber Music
America's Rural Residency Program and the Fischoff Chamber Music
Association. In 2004, Imani Winds released their first major label
recording, "The Classical Underground" on KOCH International Classics,
which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2005. Their second album on Koch,
"Imani Winds," was released in January 2006. Their debut album, Umoja,
released in 2002 received a CMA/WQXR award.
For more information please contact James Scileppi at (516) 484-1000 Ext.
243 or email james.scileppi@kochent.com.
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Contact:
James Scileppi
(516) 484-1000 Ext. 243
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