2016 GRAND PERFORMANCES SEASON DESCRIPTIONS

Media contact: Andy Perez E: [email protected] T: 323.717.1635 Editor’s note: High-resolution photos and video available Updated: June 10, 2016

Featuring high-quality music, dance, theater, and more from around the world, the 30th anniversary season of Grand Performances runs from June 10 through August 21, 2016. Adjacent to downtown attractions such as The Broad, MOCA, Angels Flight, Grand Central Market, and Pershing Square, the free and open to the public concerts are presented on a stage built into the fountain at Plaza, 350 S. Grand Avenue. For more information on seating, amenities, public transportation, parking, and more, visit www.grandperformances.org or call 213-687-2190.

DATE / TIME EVENT LEGEND Friday, June 10 Prejudice and Pride • EVOLUCIÓN L.A.TINO explores 8:00PM Latino and Chicano culture, The transformation of “Chicano” identity through power, influence, and experiences activism in the 60s and 70s is documented via a from a local and global screening of Prejudice and Pride, episode 5 of the perspective through music, PBS series, Latino Americans: 500 Years of History. theater, film, culinary arts, and The screening will be followed by a scholar led expert panels/lectures. Supported in part by the National discussion. Endowment for the Arts and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Latino Americans: 500 Years of History has been made possible through a grant from the National Endowment • Our MUSIC, MOVEMENT, for the Humanities and the American Library Association. MEANING post-show discussions are a great opportunity to reflect upon what you just experienced. Everyone is welcome to participate! Saturday, June 11 Hear. Poetry. Now. 7:00PM Written word is brought to life through an evening of poetry featuring the City of Los Angeles (C.O.L.A.) Individual Artist Fellows and L.A.’s legendary Writ Large Press artists.

Supported by the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and the California Arts Council.

Sunday, June 12 Cinderella by Sock Puppet Sitcom Theater • FAMILY PROGRAMMING 3:00PM & Dress in your favorite fairytale garb and join the especially of interest to our young fans! Activities begin 1/2 hour 4:30PM magically and musically reimagined telling of before performance. Cinderella in the style of a television situation comedy...with sock puppets.

Friday, June 17 Mashrou' Leila 8:00PM Led by courageously queer and outrageously handsome Hamed Sinno, this Lebanese band's melodic hooks and head-nodding rhythms create magnetic magic.

Saturday, June 18 Soy Africano • EVOLUCIÓN L.A.TINO explores 8:00PM Latino and Chicano culture, Transportive, complex rhythms and lilting guitars — power, influence, and experiences all West African trademarks —meld with familiar from a local and global Latin sounds to bring you a spirited evening perspective through music, exploring new territory in diasporic connections. theater, film, culinary arts, and expert panels/lectures. Supported in part by the National Soy Africano highlights the overlooked history and Endowment for the Arts and Sony widespread influence of latin music in West Africa by Pictures Entertainment. showcasing the ways in which clave-based Cuban music and New York Salsa were embraced by Africans, and led to thriving “latin afro” scenes in countries like Senegal, Benin, Guinea and the Congo.

Featured vocalists include Afrisa International's Wawali, Congolese-Angolan singer Ricardo Lemvo, Chicano Batman's Bardo Martinez, Brazilian songstress Thalma de Freitas and the legendary Lazaro Gallaraga among other surprise guests.

Produced for Grand Performances by Radio Afrique and Dexter Story (Music Director/Conductor).

Supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts

Sunday, June 19 Flutes Across the World • FAMILY PROGRAMMING 3:00PM especially of interest to our young From a flute-making workshop to an all-out, fans! Activities begin 1/2 hour interactive jam session for kids (and parents, too) before performance. with five LA area world music masters, we celebrate music of the world’s indigenous cultures.

Especially of note to our young fans! Activities begin 1/2 hour before performance.

Featuring Martin Espino, Vik Momjian, Pete Korela, M.B. Gordy, John Zeretzke and special guest, Hasan Minawi.

Friday, June 24 Chicana Moratorium: Su Voz, Su Canto • EVOLUCIÓN L.A.TINO explores 8:00PM Latino and Chicano culture, power, influence, and experiences www.grandperformances.org/season - Page 2 of 8 The poetic and musical voices of Latina power light from a local and global up the night with original songs, spoken word, and perspective through music, theater, film, culinary arts, and more led by Martha Gonzalez of the East L.A. band expert panels/lectures. Supported Quetzal. in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and Sony The Amazing line-up includes: Pictures Entertainment. Vaneza Calderon • Our MUSIC, MOVEMENT, Mary Alfaro MEANING post-show discussions Rosalie Rodriguez are a great opportunity to reflect Marisa Martinez upon what you Marlene Beltran just experienced. Everyone is Irene Diaz & Carolyn Cardoza welcome to participate! Eddika Organista Marisa Ronstadt Maya Jupiter Alice Bag Lysa Flores Theresa Covarrubias Toni Santoyo Matt Amper

Inspired from a series of Story Circles and discussion groups presented by Grand Performances and the Los Angeles Public Library this past spring. Supported by the American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities. This performance honors the legacy of C. Bernard Jackson.

Saturday, June 25 Classical Remix • Our MUSIC, MOVEMENT, 8:00PM MEANING post-show discussions Classical music is reinterpreted with a Latin, gypsy are a great opportunity to reflect and straight-up jazz tip for a hot night of cool upon what you melodies. Colburn School Alumni and local jazz just experienced. Everyone is luminaries break it down for all the hip cats. welcome to participate!

Trio Dinicu with Jazz cats: Todd Simon - Trumpet (Music Director) Juliane Gralle - Tuba Justo Almario - woodwinds Ndugu Chancler - Drums Phil Ranelin - Trombone Marcel Camargo - Guitar

Supported by The Colburn Foundation

Sunday, June 26 José-Luis Orozco ¡Come Bien! Eat Right! • FAMILY PROGRAMMING 3:00PM especially of interest to our young The beloved children’s entertainer leads an fans! Activities begin 1/2 hour interactive musical feast of rhythm, rhyme, and before performance.

www.grandperformances.org/season - Page 3 of 8 culture blended with a bilingual message to eat right and live life to the fullest.

Sunday, June 26 The Three Louies • EVOLUCIÓN L.A.TINO explores 7:00PM Latino and Chicano culture, An East-LA riff on the joys and absurdities of life with power, influence, and experiences Louie Perez of Los Lobos, LA Poet Laureate Luis J. from a local and global Rodriguez, and journalist Luís Torres. Part perspective through music, performance art, part “sitdown” comedy, and part theater, film, culinary arts, and social satire chisme. expert panels/lectures. Supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

• Our MUSIC, MOVEMENT, MEANING post-show discussions are a great opportunity to reflect upon what you just experienced. Everyone is welcome to participate!

Thursday, June 30 Making Escabeche with Ernie Miller • EVOLUCIÓN L.A.TINO explores 7:00PM Latino and Chicano culture, A hands-on demonstration of making the pickled power, influence, and experiences carrot, jalapeño, vegetable medley served on Latin from a local and global tables by LA’s master food preserver. Participants perspective through music, will take home a jar of their creation. Please bring a theater, film, culinary arts, and 16oz water bottle and RSVP: expert panels/lectures. Supported in part by the National [email protected] Endowment for the Arts and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Friday, July 1 Troker 8:00PM From Guadalajara to GP – this crew merges powerhouse funk, blistering horns, hard-hitting drums, and virtuoso turntablism into potent rock- jazz.

Kneedelus - A Live Collaboration between + The collaboration between the instrumental quintet Kneebody and electronic musician Daedelus had its initial roots planted as far back as high school for old friends, saxophonist and Alfred Darlington. The pair’s early musical kinship in southern California seeded a connection that grew through numerous collaborations, recordings and live performances over the years coming to fruition in an improvised performance in 2009 at “Jazz A Vienne” between their two primary music vehicles – Kneebody and Daedelus. When Wendel was

www.grandperformances.org/season - Page 4 of 8 awarded a composition grant through Chamber Music America it became a catalyst to write a series of pieces that would bridge the gap between the oft indescribable world of Kneebody and the unique aesthetic of Daedelus. When the quintet entered the studio with Darlington, the other members brought more compositions to the fore and the result is a 9- song set of original music that sits inside the rich pantheon of instrumental music, but with a modern sheen that takes the shape of a multi-headed beast straddling rock, jazz, and .

Artist travel provided by United Airlines

Saturday, July 2 1 To 3 8:00PM Boundary pushing, entertaining, experimental, and elevated chamber jazz from revered Armenian virtuosos Arto Tunçboyacıyan (Armenian Navy Band), pianist Vardan Ovsepian, and cellist Artyom Manukyan.

Sunday, July 3 Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band • FAMILY PROGRAMMING 3:00PM especially of interest to our young Known as the face of kindie music, these Latin fans! Activities begin 1/2 hour Grammy winners and Emmy nominees bring smart, before performance. bilingual, crafty lyrics with irresistibly fresh pop beats.

Thursday, July 7 HAPPY HOURS 4:30PM Swing Electrique with DJ Derek Rath Le Jazz Hot meets EDM uptown with sonic stops along the way.

Friday, July 8 SuperEverything* • RE:ARRANGED—MUSLIM 8:00PM UK audio-visual artists, The Light Surgeons, CULTURES ILLUMINATED showcases Southeast and Central collaborate with a group of Malaysian artists for a Asian Muslim artists through lush, live cinema, and music experience that explores immersive and educational identity, ritual, and place in Malaysia’s past, present, exchanges with L.A. musicians, and future. students and community members. Supported in part by

the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

Saturday, July 9 Mexrrissey 8:00PM Morrissey is reimagined in a south of the border international love letter that speaks to the outsider inside us all.

www.grandperformances.org/season - Page 5 of 8 Thursday, July 14 HAPPY HOURS 4:30PM The Town I Live In with DJ Rudy Bleu y Carlos Morales All-vinyl set of Boleros, Cumbias, Romanticas, Latin soul y más.

Saturday, July 16 daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra 8:00PM It’s been 15 years since Geoff “Double G” Gallegos’ enormous, OG orchestra first graced our stage. Let’s celebrate as the strings, beats, rhymes, braids and melodies fly, float and lift our spirits ever higher.

Thursday, July 21 HAPPY HOURS 4:30PM Congo Mashup with DJ Garth Trinidad Africa’s most stylish, modern music, and its foundations.

Friday, July 22 Ginkgoa 8:00PM Welcome to hot club cabaret where vintage Paris sophistication meets New York cool in swinging electro-gypsy jazz beats. Ooh-la-la!

Supported by FLAX - French Los Angeles Exchange Saturday, July 23 Our Nation Awakens 8:00PM An all-star ensemble celebrates the soundtrack that has fueled social and political movements through the decades and around the world.

Supported in part by Liberty Hill Foundation in celebration of its 40th Anniversary

Thursday, July 28 HAPPY HOURS 4:30PM International Disco and Funk with DJs Joel Quizon & Rani de Leon Funk and Disco will never die for it is loved around the world.

Saturday, July 30 Se Mueve: Aquí/Here: It Moves • EVOLUCIÓN L.A.TINO explores 8:00PM Latino and Chicano culture, LA artists Rafa Esparza, Maria Garcia, Yesika Salgado, power, influence, and experiences and Yosimar Reyes delve into the depths of Brown from a local and global creativity/identity through spoken word, movement, perspective through music, and site-specific performance art. theater, film, culinary arts, and expert panels/lectures. Supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

www.grandperformances.org/season - Page 6 of 8 • Our MUSIC, MOVEMENT, MEANING post-show discussions are a great opportunity to reflect upon what you just experienced. Everyone is welcome to participate!

Saturday, Mbongwana Star August 6 Worldwide phenom and Rolling Stone’s Coachella 8:00PM 2016 must-see pick is a testament to the human spirit. Dance to psycho-electronic grooves that enhance the roots of Congolese dance music with dubby synths and powerful vocals.

Artist travel provided by United Airlines

Sunday, August 7 Sanubar Tursun • RE:ARRANGED—MUSLIM CULTURES ILLUMINATED 7:00PM U.S. debut - The Diva of West China’s Uyghurs showcases Southeast and Central introduces her classical culture to LA. Her sensuous Asian Muslim artists through voice, accompanied by long-necked lutes and frame immersive and educational drums, is a one-of-a-kind experience. exchanges with L.A. musicians, students and community members. Supported in part by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

Friday, August 12 Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre • Our MUSIC, MOVEMENT, 8:00PM MEANING post-show discussions FishEyes are a great opportunity to reflect The world premiere of an adventurous, upon what you multidisciplinary project exploring water and just experienced. Everyone is drought with site-specific choreography around a welcome to participate! giant stainless steel fish installation. Water you waiting for?

Supported by The James A. Doolittle Foundation

Saturday, Disco Manila August 13 Put on your boogie shoes and embrace the 8:00PM resurgence of disco from the Manila Sound era, the next wave of global groove music. Manila Sound was a catch all moniker during the 70's describing Philippine popular music that embraced its American soul/folk/pop/jazz influences, combined it with Filipino modern aesthetics and polished it off with the musical proficiency of the vibrant Manila scene that somehow flourished during the Marcos-era Martial Law.

Live Performances of classic Disco dance floor fillers www.grandperformances.org/season - Page 7 of 8 by the original purveyors of the sound and those who lived it.

With members of VST & Co., Music & Magic, The New Minstrels and more. Featuring Mark Redito (FKA Spazzkid).

Produced by Joel Quizon and Co-Produced by Rani de Leon in collaboration with Creative Concepts International.

Friday, August 19 The Women Who Score: Soundtracks Live 8:00PM This landmark event showcases extraordinary female composers of film, television and video games. The concert will celebrate powerful music, promote greater visibility for women artists and take audiences on a musical adventure.

Saturday, Kiosk with special guest Ardeshir Farah August 20 One of the most influential underground rock bands 8:00PM to emerge since the Iranian Revolution is joined by the Grammy-winning guitarist for an evening of stinging political satire hidden within a blues and folksy sound.

Sunday, Fuzon & Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad • RE:ARRANGED—MUSLIM August 21 Qawwal CULTURES ILLUMINATED 7:00PM showcases Southeast and Central Pakistani Sufi rock pairs with Qawwali legends of Asian Muslim artists through traditional devotional music in a transcendent immersive and educational evening of South Asian vibrations. exchanges with L.A. musicians, students and community members. Supported in part by Supported by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, the Doris Duke Foundation for Consulate General of Pakistan and members of USC Islamic Art. Pacific Asia Museum’s Pakistan Arts Council celebrating 25 years.

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