FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- NOVEMBER 2016/ OAKLAND/ SAN FRANCISCO
CALENDAR EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
Living Jazz, Inc.- 1728 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA, 94612
Media Contact: Page Hodel, 510-858-5313
WHAT: In The Name of Love, the 15th Annual Musical Tribute Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On?”
featuring Kenny Washington, Terrie Odabe, Will Russ, Jr., Destani Wolf and Luq Frank
w/ Tammy Hall, piano; Marcus Shelby, bass; Sly Randolph., drums; John Santos, Percussion; Teo Avery, Sax
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Terrance Kelly, Director
Living Jazz Children’s Project, Terrance Kelly, Director backed up by OSA students, Dave Ellis, Director
Dana King, Mistress of Ceremonies
*All proceeds will benefit the Living Jazz Children’s Project, a free music education program
for Title One Oakland public elementary schools
WHEN: Sunday, January 15, 2017, 7pm
WHERE: Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Dr., Oakland, CA, 94612
TICKETS: $25- $40; Children 12 and under- $8-$12
mlktribute.com
FOR MORE INFO: 510-858-5313 or visit www.mlktribute.com
PHOTOS: http://www.mlktribute.com/PressKit.htm
Scottish Rite Center is wheelchair accessible.
In the Name of Love, Oakland’s Annual Musical Tribute to Dr. King, is proud to present "Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On?" highlighting five outstanding vocalists including Kenny Washington, Terrie Odabe, Will Russ, Jr.,Destani Wolf, and Luq Frank with Tammy Hall on piano, Marcus Shelby on bass, Sly Randolph on drums, John Santos on percussion and Teo Avery on sax. The powerful 65-voice Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and the 300-voice Living Jazz Children’s Project will also perform.
The Oakland Citizen Humanitarian Award will be presented to an outstanding Oakland citizen.
Our 15th Annual Tribute, which will support the Living Jazz Children’s Project (a free music education project for Oakland public elementary schools) promises to be a profound celebration of civil rights and an amazing evening of music.
PRESS RELEASE
IN THE NAME OF LOVE, The 15th Annual Musical Tribute Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sunday, January 15, 2017, 7:00 pm
Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Dr., Oakland, CA 94612
Entitled
“Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On?”
featuring
Kenny Washington, Terrie Odabe, Will Russ, Jr., Destani Wolf and Luq Frank
w/ Tammy Hall, piano; Marcus Shelby, bass; Sly Randolph., drums; John Santos, Percussion; Teo Avery, Sax
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Terrance Kelly, Director
Living Jazz Children’s Project- Amikaeyla Gaston, Director
Backed up by Oaktown Jazz Workshops
Dana King, Mistress of Ceremonies
Presentation of the Oakland Citizen Humanitarian Award by Mayor Libby Schaaf
Living Jazz will present “In the Name of Love”, The 15th Annual Musical Tribute honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The theme of our 15th Annual Tribute is “Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On?”
Highlighting five outstanding vocalists Kenny Washington, Terrie Odabe, Will Russ, Jr., Destani Wolf and Luq Frank
along with an exciting backup band including Tammy Hall, piano; Marcus Shelby, bass; Sly Randolph., drums; John Santos, percussion; and Teo Avery, sax.
These outstanding musicians have each individually made a tremendous impact on the Bay Area cultural scene, and the 2017 program will bring them together onto the stage for the first time to honor the civil rights activist and outstanding artist Marvin Gaye.
Motown artist Marvin Gaye was an influential member of a pioneering group of artists who integrated social commentary into their work in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. Gaye was inspired by the 1965 Watts riots, the Black Panther Party’s non-violent work in the community, Kent State shootings and other events of the time. Discouraged by his agent from recording “protest music,” Gaye ignored this advice and his concept album What's Going On was cited as an album that "not only redefined soul music as a creative force but also expanded its impact as an agent for social change." (AllMusic)
The 2017 MLK Tribute will provide a platform for a one-time exciting collective, creative experience meant to inspire hope, celebrate Oakland’s cultural history and highlight the power of music to spur positive change.
The tribute will also include the 65-voice Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir; and the 300-voice Living Jazz Children’s Project backed up by OSA students under the direction of Dave Ellis. Archival footage of Dr. King’s will be interspersed throughout the evening, and the Oakland Citizen Humanitarian Award will be presented to an Oakland citizen working tirelessly to make a difference. All these elements help to make this one of Oakland's most significant events of the year.
All proceeds from the 15th Annual Tribute will support the Living Jazz Children’s Project a free music education program provided by Living Jazz for Oakland public elementary schools with little or no access to the arts. Living Jazz believes that access to music education is a profound and necessary component of every child’s education and development.
In the Name of Love remains Oakland’s only annual non-denominational musical tribute to Dr. King. It is an extremely significant civic and cultural event, bringing our diverse community together to pay tribute to Dr. King’s message of community, equality and inclusion and to highlight the power and significance of music and music education.
Tickets: $25- $40; children 12 and under- $8-$12
Tix: mlktribute.com
Additional information- 510-858-5313 or visit http://www.mlktribute.com
To arrange an interview with any of the performers,
please call Page Hodel, 510-858-5313,
“In the Name of Love” has been made possible through the generosity of
City of Oakland Cultural Funding Program; William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; California Arts Council; Alameda County Arts Commission; Clorox Company Foundation; Zellerbach Family Foundation; and See’s Candies.
Living Jazz, an Oakland based non-profit created in 1984, is dedicated to empowering children and adults, inspiring creative growth and uniting diverse communities. Living Jazz created Jazz Camp West in 1984; the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir in 1986; Jazz Camp Weekend and the Oakland Jazz Choir in 1992; "In the Name of Love" in 2002; the Living Jazz Children’s Project in 2005; Jam Camp West, a music camp for youth ages 10-15 in 2008; and Jazz Search West; the Bay Area’s Annual Jazz Talent Search in 2010.
2016 Featured Performers
Key Artists
Kenny Washington
Kenny grew up singing and performing gospel in church in his native New Orleans and studied jazz, classical, rhythm and blues and pop at Xavier University. He performed and toured throughout the U.S., Asia, Russia, and Australia as a member of the honorary U.S. Navy Band, before locating to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he performed in various jazz clubs with other well-known artists. Kenny appeared in Roy Nathanson's off-Broadway production Fire at Keaton's Bar and Grill with Elvis Costello and Deborah Harry in London and NYC, and was the featured vocalist at San Francisco's world famous “Top of the Mark” for eight years. Kenny is the featured vocalist on saxman Michael O'Neill's CDs The Long and the Short of It and Still Dancin, recorded on Jazzmo records. Kenny is also one of the featured vocalists on the Slammin' All Body Band CD, with Keith Terry. Most recently, he has performed alongside the Joe Locke Quintet and Wynton Marsallis at Jazz at Lincoln Center. http://www.kennywashingtonvocalist.com/
Terrie Odabi
A native of Oakland, Terrie Odabi is an award-winning blues singer who has performed at the Monterey Blues Festival, Concord Pavilion and Fillmore Jazz Festival to name a few, and opened for Average White Band or Lenny Williams. She won both the 2014 and 2015 Bay Area Regional Finals International Blues Challenge and the 2015 Black Music Award for Best Female Blues Artist. She was also a Semi Finalist of the Memphis International Blues Challenge in both 2015 and 2014. She performs original stirring blues straight from the soul and her arrangements create a contemporary sound that set off her witty lyrics and powerful voice. http://artistecard.com/Terrie
Will Russ, Jr.
Born, bred and raised in Detroit, Will Russ, Jr. is known for his smooth, soulful interpretations and brilliant vocal arrangements. Will has performed with or opened for Mavis Staples, Ray Charles, Brian McKnight, Mariah Carey, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Huey Lewis, The Temptations, Darius Rucker, Clay Walker, Overtone (a cappella/vocal band originating in Johannesburg, South Africa), Sista Monica Parker, Jody Watley and Dale Ockerman of the Doobie Brothers and many more. He has toured around the world and throughout the US and performed for luminaries, including San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Clint Eastwood. http://www.williamrussjr.com/
Destani Wolf
Destani Wolf is a singer-songwriter who was raised next door to Oakland in Berkeley, California. Her emotionally powerful and melodic vocals are nuanced with an exploration of Blues. Blues guitarist/composer Johnny Tolbert (Sam Cooke, Etta James, T. Bone Walker, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland) is her mentor, influencing her organic, retro and nu soul sound. She has performed with UK’s Alice Russell on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and at Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, Yoshi’s, Bimbos, and the UCLA Jazz Reggae Fest and has recordings on two Grammy-nominated Latin Jazz LPs (John Santos ‘S.F. BAY’ and Jose Rizo’s ‘MONGORAMA’). She has lent her voice to projects with Seu Jorge, Zap Mama, Quantic, the Bobby McFerrin offshoot SoVosó. Her solo debut LP ‘AGAIN and AGAIN’ is an underground classic of edgy soul. http://www.destaniwolf.com/
Luq Frank (Luqman)
One half of the Oakland based songwriting team “Franc Wyte,” Luq is a singer- songwriter steeped in the traditions of Hip Hop, Jazz and Rock. His work references both current and classic music, counting Donny Hathaway, Al Jarreau, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder and Prince as his top influences. A member of Faye Carol’s “Gliteratti,” Luq was featured on Santana trumpeter Bill Ortiz’s album “Winter in America.” He was recently featured on Victoria Theodore’s debut album “Grateful” in the duet “Beautiful.” He shared the stage and/or contributed to projects with Pete Escovedo, Mike Blankenship, Kevin Choice, Howard Wiley, Paisley Hinton, The Hogan Brothers, Pep Love, Mykal Rose, Earl Zero, Destani Wolf, Zoe Ellis, Martin Luther, Omega, Dynamic, Quincy Griffin, Dub Nation and many others. Frank currently performs locally with the Oakland group Soul Mechanix, blending groove-based Soul improv and progressive Funk.
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir was originally founded by Living Jazz in 1986. In 1990, OIGC splintered off to form an independent corporation and has been, since that time, performing, touring and recording. The 70-voice Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir is a six-time winner of the Gospel Academy Award for Best Community Choir of the Year, and recipient of the Gold Award at the International Music Festival in Sydney, Australia, a California Music Award of Special Recognition for Excellence, and a City of Oakland Key to Creativity. Directed by Terrance Kelly, OIGC has performed with Pharaoh Sanders, Stan Getz, Joan Baez, and Blind Boys of Alabama. The Choir recently returned from its debut performances at Montreux Jazz Festival and Molde International Jazz Festival, where all of its performances were sold out.
http://www.oigc.org
Living Jazz Children’s Project
The Living Jazz Children’s Project is a music education program provided free of charge by Living Jazz to 3 Title One Oakland elementary schools with little or no access to the arts. This season, we are proud to serve over 300
1st-4th graders from Glenview, Lafayette and Cleveland elementary schools. Schools are selected because of the diversity of the population and the lack of funding for cultural programming. The MLK Tribute event will showcase the culmination of the children’s work under the musical direction of Amikaeyla Gaston and accompanist Ben Heveroh. LJCP provides a number of important services for underserved children: access to a high quality music fundamental program, exposure to the teachings of Dr. King, and an exciting opportunity to showcase their accomplishments by performing at a high profile public event alongside professional artists.
http://www.livingjazz.org/oakland-childrens-community-project/