COMMON CULTURE: ACROSS THE WATER A S U M M E R C O N C E R T /// S U N 9 . 1 8 . 1 6
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COURTESY OF ERIC COLEMAN
WELCOME THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. Three years ago, a few of us sat down and said, “Wouldn’t it be cool to have a concert at the Ford?” We could bring the artists we love to a bigger stage. We could grow our audience and involve more people in the work that we do. We could create a project that held a space for all of the things we care about: Family, Culture, Community, Art, Music. After many lessons and a lot of hard work, here we are! What a fantastic experience to bring a daydream into real time and then watch it come to life alongside all of you. This evening, we sit together under the stars in a Hollywood theatre that holds nearly 100 years of history within its walls. We invite you to tap into your own daydreams tonight and let them drift up into the ether.
Andrea Miller Director Mama Earth
THE TEAM
SPECIAL T H A N K S T O:
Jaime Kailani Bayot Mama Earth Founder
Liz Phillips Stage Manager
Andrea Miller Common Culture Producer & Director
Simon Knowles Asst Stage Manager
Aria Gannon Advisory Board
Brian Longhofer Lighting Designer
Jonathan Kim Publicity
Alberto Lopez Production Supervisor
Anisa J. Berry Development Yalanda Shorter-Oglesby Outreach
Emeka Simmons Co-Creator Production Coordinator
Nailah Holliday Alberto Lopez Nery Madrid Jaimie Milner Ilaan Mazzini Eric Potma Selah Potma Jeremy Soule Parkwood Entertainment Peter Thea Dustin Warren Valerie Zaks + the myriad of helpful people along the way.
Special thanks to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for their continuing support of the John Anson Ford Theatres, a program of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in a County Regional Park.
PRESENTED WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
C O M M O N C U L T U R E : A C R O S S T H E W A T E R A CELEBRATION OF ISLAND CULTURE, O U R E L D E R S A N D T H E A N C E S T O R S. WATER NONOSINA BRIT MANOR
with C A P T A I N P L A N E T :: I N T E R L U D E ::
LAZARO GALARRAGA with A L B E R T O L O P E Z + EVAN CRISTO GREER + KAHLIL CUMMINGS
KATI HERNANDEZ FIRE JUNGLE FIRE with A F R O D Y E T E + JAMIE ALLENSWORTH :: I N T E R M I S S I O N ::
EARTH NONOSINA MARK DE CLIVE–LOWE with N I A A N D R E W S +KAHLIL CUMMINGS
KIMBERLY MIGUEL MULLEN AIR CHLOE X HALLE
MAMA EARTH
WHO WE ARE. MAMA EARTH is a Los Angeles-based organization that uses the power of ART, MUSIC and NATURE to make a change for the better. OUR MISSION is to encourage Arts Enrichment, Cultural Diversity, Civic Engagement and Environmental Stewardship. We encourage CREATIVITY and INSPIRE others to give back. Our events provide people with simple yet profound ways to serve their local and global communities. WE BUILD COMMUNITY. Our events and programs build bridges between schools, philanthropic initiatives and socially-responsible businesses. WE PROMOTE ARTS ENRICHMENT. We support and create much-needed Arts Programming for people of all ages, backgrounds and income levels.
LAZARO GALARRAGA
THE ELDER Lazaro has dedicated his life to the love of AfroCuban music, culture and folklore. That love has transformed him into a teacher, performing artist, actor, writer, choreographer and mentor. A native of Havana, Cuba, Maestro was an original member of the distinguished Conjunto Folkloric Nacional de Cuba.
PHOTO COURTESY OFDONNA KAYE WILLIAMS
L A Z A R O D A N C I N G “A R A R A” C I R C A 1 9 7 5
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ISMAEL LAZARO GALARRAGA
Maestro has recorded and performed with masters such as Chucho Valdes, Paquito D'Rivera, Herbie Hancock, Al McKibbon and Placid Domingo among others. El Maestro received his Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Music Theory, History of Art and in Cuban Folklore from the Escuela Nacional de Arte for his vision and influence on AfroCuban music. We are humbled to honor El Maestro.
WATER
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEBI DEL GRANDE
B R I T M A N O R
is a homegrown Los Angeles soul chanteuse and actress who grew up wailing in churches and performing in show choirs. “She has a knack for bringing the joy and the pain with her alternative jazz soul sound. Think Lalah Hathaway by way of Annie Lennox.” Formerly known as Brit Laurén (she sings on “Get You Some,” which was featured in Orange is the New Black), she unleashes her personal experiences in clever ways that can put you in your feelings, but is also very cathartic and freeing. She’s spent lots of time touring and collaborating with Nick Waterhouse and also participated in the prestigous Red Bull Music Academy in 2015. Her latest project, Only Child, produced with Captain Planet, is an amazing mini-album informed by her childhood experiences.
FIRE
PHOTO COURTESY OF FARAH SOSA
J U N G L E F I R E is a unique blend of deep funk, West African dance music and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. A favorite of well known DJs and taste makers worldwide, including the likes of Gilles Peterson (BBC), Cut Chemist and NPR. Consisting of musicians who have played, recorded and/or toured with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Ozomatli, Celia Cruz, LCD Soundsystem, U2 and Kelis among many others, their sound is a direct reflection of the musical and cultural landscape of the city they call home. "Few bands live up to their name in the way JUNGLE FIRE do; fusing Cumbia, Afrobeat and traditional funk, each JUNGLE FIRE jam blazes the floor with real power." - Juno Records (UK)Â
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1. K A T I H E R N A N D E Z is a native of Havana, Cuba. As a performer and choreographer, Kati is truly an illustrative vision of her heritage in an endless high-energy celebration of Cuban dance and music. 2. K A H L I L C U M M I N G S is an acclaimed drummer, as well as an exceptional performer, composer, and educator. He has played with many reputable groups including Ballet Folclรณrico Do Brasil and Viver Brazil. 3. J A M I E A L L E N S W O R T H pays tribute to the soul tradition of the likes of James Brown, Otis Redding, and Curtis Mayfield, with his own flavor, all the while staying true to his unique craft of songwriting. 4. C A P T A I N P L A N E T has remixed for artists like Alice Russell, Little Dragon + Erykah Badu. He bridges gaps between worldwide music diasporas as well as music sub-genres like house, dubstep and breaks.
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5. A F R O D Y E T E is a singer, songwriter best known for her 16 years as 5 vocalist with the world famous Breakestra. She’s toured the world but after overcoming some major health challenges, this marks her return to the stage! 6. K I M B E R L Y M I G U E L M U L L E N, M.A. is an internationally acclaimed choreographer and dancer who offers spirited and educational dance classes, workshops, retreats and cultural immersion programs worldwide. 7. N O N O S I N A is a music & dance company born in 1965. Currently led by Tiana Nonosina Liufau, Nonosina is a family-community and school of Polynesian dance that strives to give respect to the motherland of this art. 8. N O V E N A C A R M E L Musician, Singer, DJ, Dancer + daughter of Sly Stone + keytar player in the ridiculously fun Pop/Rap band, Wallpaper. Novena recently traveled to Cuba to study dance & culture.
E A R T H
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN TAYLOR
M A R K D E C L I V E – L O W E is an artist, producer, composer, pianist, performer, DJ, and selecta. He’s known for his impromptu studio production created on stage from scratch, using drum machines, keyboards and effects. The end result: live remixes birthed on stages all over the globe from NZ to the US, UK, Europe, Asia, Cuba and South Africa.
N I A A N D R E W S is a Los Angeles-born singer/songwriter with an emotive voice that lilts with her jazz and soul roots. She has written for, recorded, toured and/or performed with artists including Common, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Big Boi and Marie Daulne (Zap Mama).
A I R
PHOTO BY DELPHINE DIALLO FOR PARKWOOD ENTERTAINMENT
CHLOE x HALLE
are the wildly talented teenage sisters who are signed to Beyonce's Parkwood Entertainment and spent the summer opening for the European leg of the Formation World Tour. The duo combines operatic, haunting verses with strong harmonies and lyrics over booming bass. Chloe x Halle are featured in Michelle Obama's all-star charity single for girl's education and have performed at the White House, the Roots Picnic, BET Awards, to name a few. "Chloe x Halle present themselves as a breath of fresh air in a game that is increasingly becoming formulaic. As writers and producers of their own music, these two teenagers are leading the charge by the new generation to evolve the music we know and love." -Okayplayer.
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