KNEEBODY

5 Musicians

"...spontaneous and exciting. The writing is fresh...." -Downbeat Magazine

"An update of the rugged, exploratory early fusion of Weather Report and Return to Forever." -New York Times

Kneebody represents the state of the art in genre-bending postmodern creative music. On stage, the band combines sophisticated instrumental compositions and virtuosic improvising, never failing to astonish even the most discerning ears.

Kneebody effortlessly blends seemingly limitless influences (from Hendrix and Aphex Twin to Reich and Ellington) into a cohesive voice at once singular and familiar. Their incomparable success at combining the depth of jazz with the swagger of hip hop and the conviction of rock has been winning over any fan of great music from the U.S. and Europe for five years strong. As one devotee put it, "If you're a Kneebody fan, you're a fanatic."

In 2005 Kneebody released their debut studio album to widespread critical acclaim. It was the premier release on Dave Douglas' label Greenleaf music. Kneebody will release their much-anticipated follow-up album, "Low Electrical Worker" in January 2007 on the Los Angeles-based Colortone Media label.

THE EVERGREEN CLUB Contemporary Gamelan

8 musicians

Evergreen Club is an ensemble of eight highly skilled Canadian musicians who perform and record using an assortment of bronze and wooden instruments from Indonesia. Collectively these instruments are known as a gamelan - a traditional instrument ensemble that plays an important role in the Indonesian culture.

Formed in 1983 and based in Toronto, Evergreen Club is a unique performing ensemble dedicated to the development and expansion of its repertoire through the commissioning of new works from Canadian and International composers, and interpreting traditional and contemporary Indonesian pieces. The contemporary works written for Evergreen Club highlight both gamelan and gamelan-plus - extended to include guest soloists, guest ensembles, solo and ensemble dance, or auxiliary media (live accompaniment to film, works for tape...). The resulting repertoire reflects an intermingling of cultural sensibilities within a global perspective. Evergreen Club has presented world premieres for gamelan and gamelan-plus by leading composers such as; John Cage, James Tenney, Gilles Tremblay, Walter Boudreau, Lou Harrison, Jon Siddall, John Wyre among many others. Evergreen Club's numerous concert appearances have delighted audiences within Canada, the United States, Western Europe, Japan and Indonesia.

ON ENSEMBLE

4-12 artists

With the powerful rhythms of ensemble taiko music at its foundation, the On Ensemble (pronounced "ohn") combines the musical and dance talents of its four members into unique and provocative performances.The On Ensemble's four young musicians have studied and performed with renowned masters of traditional and contemporary music and dance in the United States and Japan. With musical experience ranging from centuries-old Noh and Kabuki, to contemporary, experimental composition, the On Ensemble has crafted a repertoire of ground-breaking taiko music. The On Ensemble utilize Japanese drums hand-made by Miyamoto Unosuke Shouten instrument maker to thzither), and Tuvan overtone singing. After a successful debut concert in northern Japan and its first western-US tour in the spring of 2002, the group received the Duane Ebata Memorial Fund Award in support and recognition of emerging artists of promise who are furthering the development of Asian Pacific American performing arts, at Los Angeles' Japan America Theater.

"On Ensemble ... has made its mark in both the U.S. and Japan with its one-of-a-kind blend of taiko with non-traditional styles including jazz, rock, and electronic." Los Angeles Times

CALLE SUR

Panamanian-Colombian duo, trio optional

Iowa Arts Council and Heartland Arts Fund Touring Rosters, and Northwest on Tour Roster

Part of the Artes Latinas collective, Calle Sur is a charismatic Panamanian-Colombian duo using numerous ethnic Latin American and Western instruments in its concerts to transmit to its audiences the vast cultural diversity which characterizes Latin America.

"Taking in a performance of Calle Sur is having a positive jolt of energy bounce into your soul. It is, admittedly, partly visual. Edgar (East) the male vocalist from Panama, infuses his richly colored expressions with a relaxed repertoire of comic and romantic counterpoints to Karin (Stein), a freckled Colombian blonde, more diminutive-and-emotive-and-intelligent than a model. The duo are highly charged the way comic or dramatic performances radiate, like a happy ending you don't want to end." - The Newton Daily

GOIN' SOUTH BAND

5 musicians

The Goin' South Band is one of the most dynamic and respected ensembles performing traditional American music on the west coast. The band members perform a variety of southeastern American musical styles including Cajun music of Louisiana, Appalachian Mountain music, old Delta Blues, early Country, Hawaiian slack-key, Kentucky Bluegrass and even Cherokee flute music. The 'Boys of Goin' South' will amaze and inspire listeners of all ages with show-stopping performances on the banjo, fiddle, guitars, dobro, mandolin, diddley-bow, jaw harp, stro violin and string bass. Touches of good-hearted humor and old time kindness lace this performance that takes you on a walk back in time to rediscover our early musical roots in America, led by Director and fiddle player John Zeretzke. The members of The Goin' South Band perform southern American music with a deep expertise and understanding of the people and their history that represents a slice our diverse American musical traditions.

ANCIENT GROOVES

5 International Musicians (visas not required)

Ancient Grooves is a uniquely versatile ensemble of master musicians performing on musical instruments from around the world. The magic of the ensemble comes from the dazzling expertise and knowledge of its world acclaimed musicians. Each member brings to the ensemble an amazing array of skills, rare and exotic instruments, historic knowledge, musicianship and their personal stories and love of indigenous music to the concert stage.

Driving rhythms of drums from West Africa, a quartet of Brazilian berimbau's (struck bows with gourd resonators), exotic gourd water drums of the ancient tribes of Mexico, bagpipes of Eastern Europe that look like animals, rare drums of many continents and a collection of exotic ancient bowed stringed fiddles and ancient fiddles, all create a sound and music that levitates the audience to other worlds.

LOS LLANEROS

Heartland Arts Fund Touring Roster

Iowa Arts Council Roster

Trio, quartet optional

Part of the Artes Latinas collective, Los Llaneros offer a mix of energetic and haunting melodies of the Colombian/Venezuelan plains. The Llanos are a culturally and geographically unique and little known area of Latin America, and its music evolved from the contact between nomadic Indians and Jesuit settlers 500 years ago. The ensemble plays intricate syncopations of the "Llanero" folk harp, the "cuatro," and the maracas!

"Soaring vocals, intricate harp melodies, and exotic percussion highlighted the performance before a large and enthusiastic audience as Los Llaneros presented a program of music from South America... [La Negra Karin's] lovely voice is perfectly suited to this ethnic style, handling a wide vocal range, including the sudden flights into the upper register (her characteristic falsetto)...[Her] vocal presentation is so expressive that she communicates the emotional essence of her songs even to those who couldn't understand the Spanish of the lyrics...Benavides, who performed with remarkable skill of the folk harp, also demonstrated great vocal expressiveness..." --The Waterloo Courier

PERLA BATALLA

World class vocalist

Perla plus 1-5 musicians

"...Perla Batalla possesses one of the finest singing voices on planet Earth..." Latino Los Angeles

“Batalla’s Bird on the Wire brings the house down.” Guardian Unlimited, England

World-class vocalist, Perla Batalla is a full-throated songstress who has worked with Leonard Cohen, k.d.lang, Nick Cave and Laurie Anderson, Perla inhabits her music completely, and is"...an astonishingly rich contralto capable of stratospheric arches of unadulterated emotion."  Songtalk Magazine

"No comparison to other singers seems to work, you just have to hear her to become a believer...Singers like Perla Batalla come along once in a great while and the landslide of thousands of musical acts can be overlooked. Seek her out and hear the voice." Los Cerritos Community News

KATE MacLEOD

Vocals, acoustic guitar, hollowbody electric guitar, violin

Musicians: 1-3 (2-3 includes harmony vocals, acoustic bass, or percussion)

Kate MacLeod's original songs are striking renderings of the human experience. Her music ranges from traditional-sounding balladry to her more abstract songs that are easily transferable to a variety of performance styles. She is influenced by traditional music of North America, the British Isles, and Bluegrass, but her art also parallels contemporary popular music. Her songs can be heard sung by others on recordings and festival stages, but the best place to hear her music is from Kate herself.

Kate MacLeod was named among the "Ten Acts to Watch" by the editors of the MusicHound Folk Essential Album Guide.

"Kate's music is honest and she delivers her message true and clear. This is out of the ordinary folk music." Roots Music Report

BRAD RICHTER

Solo Guitar
Duo with cello (Viktor Uzur)
Trio with cello and voice
Collaborations with Sternworks (dance)
Outreach

"Music can hardly be refined to a higher standardÖfive, no: six stars for a master." (Akustik Gitarre, Germany ñ on a scale of 5 stars)

Brad Richterís music artfully straddles the line between contemporary classical music and American fingerstyle acoustic guitar. He is both a highly decorated graduate of Londonís Royal College of Music and a winner of the National Finger-picking Championship, accomplishments which have helped him reinvigorate the guitar repertoire with a freshness and unaffectedness that transcend preconceived genres. Close your eyes, listen, and you wonít believe what you are hearing can come from a single, live acoustic guitar.

"[Brad Richter] is one of the most creative voices of his generation. His music is entirely unaffected, sensuous and vital while being full of virtuosity in its execution and compositionÖ. Richterís music carries the audience away into a world of magical sounds. He captures typical American themes and transforms them into imaginative original music" (Concertino 1/2004)

"He has effectively reinvented the way classical guitar is written for and performed, producing an array of new sounds and tone colors ñ executed with expressiveness and sparkling virtuosity - that beautifully express the stories and images which inspired his music. However, it may be his stage presence that connected with my audience the most. His stories about the music, humor and interaction with the crowd left everyone smiling." (Wes Brustad; President, New Jersey State Theatre)

ORCHID ENSEMBLE

3 musicians

Road to Kashgar concert presentation
Multimedia presentation
Triaspora dance presentation
Outreach (k-12, Silk Road presentation,
post secondary residencies)

The Orchid Ensemble blends ancient musical instruments and traditions from China and beyond, creating a beautiful new sound that is both creative and distinct. The ensemble has embraced a variety of musical styles to its repertoire, ranging from the traditional and contemporary music of China, World Music, New Music to Jazz and Creative Improvisation. The energetic yet endearing performance style of the ensemble consistently intrigues and delights its audiences, consistently receiving standing ovations. Acclaimed as 'One of the brightest blossoms on the world music scene' (Georgia Straight), the Orchid Ensemble has been tirelessly developing an innovative musical genre based on the cultural exchange between Western and Asian musicians.

"Orchid Ensemble is truly captivating, gently leading the listener to its contemporary compositions and sounds, subtly colored by Middle Eastern and Indiansensibilities or Ashkenazi lyricism. Unique and superb." (Ici Weekly)

"This flawless bridge between Eastern and Western traditions, a musical adventure on the Silk Road, left me enchanted and deeply content that all is well with the world" (Oliver Chronicle)

RUDOLF BUDGINAS

Cutting Edge Classics
Solo Piano
Piano, Bass, Drums, Percussion

Accessible, groove-based classical music and non-stop entertainment. With his cutting edge group and stellar guest musicians, piano virtuoso Rudolf brilliantly balances pop, jazz and well-known classical works. Heís classy, engaging and so entertaining! Bring the family.

"At last year's sold-out concert, 'Rudolf and Friends', the audience was captivated by Rudolf's unique blend of humor and music. The audience roared as he demonstrated the direct connection between Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody" and Johnny Cash's "Walk the Line". We immediately booked him for 2007." - Peter Keith, Exec. VP, Clark Center Association for the Performing Arts

"Keeping aloft the spirit of Beethoven, Rudolf Budginas offered soulfulness." - Los Angeles Times

"Sometime last summer, I heard rumors of a young Lithuanian piano virtuoso who was said to be tall, good-looking, and a fiercely gifted. Last Sunday at the Christopher Cohan Center, the local listeners finally heard the evidence. The rumors are true: We have a real star-quality pianist in our midst, and his name is Rudolf Budginas." - James Cushing, San Luis Obispo Tribune

SALAAM ENSEMBLE

5-6 International musicians, visas not required

The ensemble performs Persian, Arabic, Turkish and Armenian music of the Near and Middle East and features some of the most dazzling and world renown musicians representing a variety of diverse countries. Exotic and rare instruments are introduced in the concert style program and information about the cultural and traditional musical styles performed. The musicians also share some of their own personal experiences as learners, teachers, composers and master musicians.

The ensemble was formed my World Music composer and performer John Zeretzke after Music Center Education Division Director Barbara Leonard suggested in 2004 that Zeretzke take on the challenge of creating the new ensemble. Salaams strong vision and commitment is not only to educational programming in the schools, but breaking into community based performances and family programming. Advisor to the ensemble is the renown music scholar, composer and famous Egyptian nai (cane flute) player, Dr. A. J. Racy.

CITYSOUND: NOTES FROM THE EDGE

Kathy Fisher, Vocals
Mark Governor, Arranger, Piano, Guitar
String Quartet led by Peggy Baldwin, Cellist

"Notes from the Edge" is a classical-pop crossover concert of arrangements for string quartet and vocals of songs by such artists as Radiohead, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell, The Killers, and many more.Ý With stunning arrangements, world-class musicianship and the haunting and sultry vocals of songstress Kathy Fisher, ìNotes from the Edgeî explores the relationship between pop and serious music performance and emboldens audiences to expand their knowledge of styles of music and ensembles through a captivating and exhilarating concert experience.Ý With soul, style and wit, Citysound takes audiences on a journey through the wilds of pop, alternative and new concert music reinterpreting songs in ways unexpected and sublime.

Citysound also works with community youth and amateur ensembles to develop deeper understanding and enthusiasm for contemporary classical music ensembles.Ý ìNotess from the Edgeî is a collaboration between acclaimed film composer / songwriter Mark Governor, vocalist Kathy Fisher and cellist Peggy Baldwin leading an all-star string quartet.Ý ìNotes from the Edgeî makes its official premiere at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood, CA on June 15, 2008