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Grammy-winning Joe Lovano performs Dec 1 in Queens The holiday season is upon New York City, and Flushing Town Hall has one-of-a-kind, musical experiences on offer for locals and tourists looking to enjoy an only-in-New-York experience this December. In homage to Queens’ status as “the world’s borough, ” Flushing Town Hall presents a celebration of world music. On Sunday, December 1, audiences can enjoy what Flushing Town Hall has dubbed a “Mini Global Mashup”— a concert pairing two solo artists from different cultures and traditions together on one stage. Grammy-winning, jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano will jam with the internationally acclaimed, award-winning DoYeon Kim, a virtuoso on the gayageum (a traditional Korean string instrument) and accompanied by percussionist Satoshi Takeishi. On Saturday, December 7, audiences can hit the Flushing Town Hall dance floor for a grand “Global Mashup” featuring two large and lively ensembles in collaboration: Taktouka Band, best described as Futuristic Arabic Folk with global dance grooves, and Spanglish Fly, which describes itself as “part band, part celebration, ” bringing the party energy with their revival of the Latin Boogaloo style. Audiences are invited to arrive an hour before the concert for introductory dance lessons ahead of the show. “We are excited to present these top level talents on our stage and invite audiences to discover new sounds and musical pairings they’ve surely never heard before, ” says Ellen Kodadek, Flushing Town Hall’s Executive & Artistic Director. “New Yorkers celebrate many different holidays and diverse customs, but one thing is for sure, we all value the season as a time for togetherness and joy. I can think of no better way to enjoy one another in community this December than through the experience of live music. Come celebrate with us in Queens!” ABOUT THE PERFORMERS: Joe Lovano: Grammy-winning saxophonist, composer, and producer Joe Lovano is known for his fearless approach to jazz. In addition to his Grammy win and 14 nominations, he has earned numerous other awards from DownBeat, JazzTimes, and the Jazz Journalists Association. Born in Cleveland in 1952, Lovano attended Berklee College of Music, later receiving an Honorary Doctorate. He has held the Gary Burton Chair in Jazz Performance since 2001 and is a founding member of Berklee's Global Jazz Institute. From 1991 to 2016, Lovano released 25 records with Blue Note Records, including the acclaimed Joe Lovano Quartet: Classic! Live at Newport. His ECM debut, Trio Tapestry, was followed by ROMA, Arctic Riff, and Garden of Expression. Lovano also released Other Worlds with his quintet, Sound Prints, and collaborated on Once Around the Room with Jakob Bro. His recent work includes Our Daily Bread with Trio Tapestry. Composer Mark Anthony Turnage and Maestro Michael Abene have also created works for him, including Symphonica, nominated for a Grammy. Lovano has performed with jazz greats like Woody Herman, Abbey Lincoln, and Herbie Hancock. Through his many ensembles, he continues to push the boundaries of jazz as a soloist, bandleader, and composer. DoYeon Kim: DoYeon Kim is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning virtuoso of the gayageum (a traditional Korean string instrument). In addition to traditional Korean music, DoYeon specializes in free jazz, jazz, and improvisation. She regularly performs solo and group concerts worldwide in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. As a graduate of the New England Conservatory and protégé of the world’s leading gayageum master Yi Jiyoung, DoYeon has performed alongside many distinguished improvisors, including Joe Morris, Agusti Fernandez, Tony Malaby and Tyshawn Sorey. Her 2017 album Gapi was nominated for a Korean Grammy award, and her latest album Macrocosm, with Joe Morris, received international critical acclaim, and Grammy.com recognized her as one of 7 Musicians Pushing Ancient Asian Instruments Into The Future (2021). DoYeon’s approach to playing the gayageum, as well as improvised music, is a singularly unique experience. Taktouka Band: The Taktouka Band features Alia Hajuon on vocals, Bashar Farranon on bass, Daro Behroozion on woodwinds and synth, Clementine on keys and synth, and Jesse Chevan on drums. All are New Yorkers but with wildly different musical backgrounds. The band brings Arabic folk music together with electronics and western instruments, creating a mix of old and new that reflects the rich cultural tapestry of New York City. The sounds of jazz improvisation, global dance grooves, and Arabic melodies enrich and transform each other, bridging cultures, genres, ideas, and communities. Their debut EP “Bassara” was completed thanks to support from NYC Women’s fund and the NYFA in 2022. Spanglish Fly: Spanglish Fly is part band, part celebration: 12 musicians igniting a party that quickly spreads to the audience. They have been hailed as the premier band of the Latin boogaloo revival, "single-handedly reviving sixties bugalú in NYC" (NBC New York). Boogaloo! That mix of Latin and soul/R&B that emerged from the clubs, the street corners, the transistor radios and the pool halls of 1960s Spanish Harlem, "El Barrio." Inspired by Latin boogaloo, or bugalú, Spanglish Fly plays irresistible grooves that blend Afro-Caribbean rhythms with the fervor, the feeling, and the harmonics of 60s soul. Spanglish Fly "roars through covers, originals, and transformations of previously untouched soul hits" (Village Voice), paying homage to the boogaloo genre while refreshing it for a new generation. Current roster: Mariella Price, vocals/ Paloma Muñoz, vocals/ Jessenia Cuesta, vocals/Rafael Gomez, bass/Matt Thomas, tenor sax/Manuel Garcia Orozco, guitar, bass, vocals/Arei Sekiguchi, timbales/Dylan Blanchard, congas/Kenny Bruno, keyboard, piano/Teddy Acosta, percussion/Edwin “Machuco” Estremera, percussion, vocals/Stefan Zeniuk, bari sax/Paula Winter, percussion/Rich Robles, bass/Ric Becker, trombone/Jonathan Goldman, leader, trumpet |
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