Streaming Premiere – Thursday, April 22, 2021, 7pm Jazzmeia Horn Jazzmeia Horn, vocals Keith Brown, piano Eric Wheeler, bass Anwar Marshall, drums Filmed exclusively for Cal Performances at Le Poisson Rouge, New York City, on February 28, 2021. The Cal Performances at Home Spring 2021 season is dedicated to Gail and Dan Rubinfeld, leading supporters of Cal Performances and the well-being of our artists for almost 30 years. Major support provided by The Bernard Osher Foundation. This performance is made possible, in part, by Patron Sponsor Beth DeAtley. Note: following its premiere, the video recording of this concert will be available on demand through July 21, 2021. 1 ABOUT THE ARTISTS lessed with a name perfect for her Dorothy, is a pianist who also plays various chosen path—it was the singer’s jazz- woodwind instruments. Bloving, piano-playing grandmother who Brown first learned to play songs of artists picked it—Jazzmeia Horn was born in Dallas like Stevie Wonder by ear and then started clas- in 1991; grew up in a tightly knit, church-going sical piano lessons at age eight. He began to family filled with musical talent; and began study jazz seriously after high school, and it was singing as a toddler. She attended Booker T. at this time that he began to be influenced by Washington High School for the Performing great Memphis pianists such as Phineas New - and Visual Arts—an institution famous for born Jr., James Williams, and Mulgrew Miller. launching the careers of such musical greats as By age 18, Brown was playing piano and bass Roy Hargrove, Norah Jones, and Erykah Badu— around Knoxville in a variety of jazz, R&B, and later the New School in New York City. funk, and country bands. Later, he would go on Horn’s education included steering herself to to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the mentors who would guide her passion for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. jazz—artists like Bobby McFerrin, Abbey Lin - Brown has performed and recorded with coln, and Betty Carter. Winner of the 2013 some remarkable musicians, both as a leader Sarah Vaughan Interna tional Jazz Competition and a sideman. He has shared the stage with and the 2015 The lonious Monk Institute Inter - great artists such as Jazzmeia Horn, Camille national Jazz Competition, Horn soon signed Thurman, Dezron Douglas, Sherman Irby, Steve with Concord Records, releasing her debut Stagle, Kenneth Whalum III, David Weiss, album, the Grammy-nominated A Social Call, and Bobby Watson, to name a few. “I always try to great critical acclaim. to write and perform in a way that is intellec- In the four years since Horn bowed with that tual but that has a strong sense of melody or album, she has been busy on the road, honing groove that can touch those who are open her vocal skills to a finely tuned level, writing enough to listen.” songs of personal relevance and social message, Currently Brown resides in New York City, and perfecting a fearless approach to improvi- where he continues to make a name for him- sation and performance. The convergence of self as a pianist and composer, both nationally this drive and development has resulted in and internationally. Horn’s second Grammy nomination, for Love and Liberation—an album filled with songs of Eric Wheeler is a Washington, DC native and daring musicality, emotional power, and mes- has been playing string bass for 20 years. sages of immediate relevancy. Encouraged by his mother, he began studying Jazzmeia chose the title because, “‘Love and classical music at the age of nine at the DC liber ation’ is a concept and mantra that I use Youth Orchestra Program. At age 13, Wheeler consistently in my everyday life. For me, the was accepted into the Duke Ellington School two go hand in hand and they both describe for the Arts, where he studied jazz music with where I am in my life and career right now. Carolyn Kellock, a master educator whose stu- An act of love is an act of liberation, and dents have included renowned bassists such as choosing to liberate—oneself or another—is Ameen Saleem, Ben Williams, and Corcoran an act of love.” Holt. During his four years at Ellington, Whee - ler also enjoyed the opportunity to travel inter- Keith Brown—pianist, composer, arranger, nationally with his school band, trips that and educator—was born and raised in Tennes - greatly influenced his decision to pursue a ca- see and began playing piano and bass at an reer in music. early age. His father, Donald, is a world- In the fall of 1998, Wheeler was accepted renowned jazz pianist/composer who has per- into the prestigious National Sym phony Youth formed with many greats, and his mother, Fellowship Program, where he studied with the 2 ABOUT THE ARTISTS NSO’s Jeff Weisner. In the fall of 2000, Wheeler Anwar Marshall is a native of Philadelphia and was accepted into the jazz studies program at was introduced to music early on by his mother Howard University. During those years, he and father, both accomplished musicians and worked professionally in the DC area as a jazz music educators. As a boy, he received a drum and classical musician, playing at venues such set as a Christmas gift, moving on to study per- as Bohemian Caverns, Blues Alley, and the cussion in the Phila delphia public school sys- Kennedy Center. Wheeler received both his tem with Carl Mottola. Marshall attended the bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Howard High School for Creative and Performing Arts University. and received his bachelor’s degree from the In 2013, Wheeler moved to New York City Uni versity of the Arts, where he studied with in hopes of furthering his musical career. Since Erik Johnson and Joe Nero. He was also men- then, he has toured the world, recording and tored by Byron Land ham, Mike Boone, Sid performing with notable jazz and pop artists Sim mons, and many other Philadelphia area including Seal, Jennifer Holiday, Dee Dee musicians. Bridge water, Delfeayo Marsalis, and Pharaoh Marshall has enjoyed collaborating with mu- Sanders. Wheeler can be heard on Theo Cro - sicians including Orrin Evans, the Captain ker’s Grammy-nominated Star People Nation. Black Big Band, Ed Cherry, Tim Warfield, Dave Today, he resides on Long Island, New York, Douglas, Christian McBride, Pat Metheny, and works as a full time musician. Robert Glasper, Adam Blackstone, Somi, and John Swana. He is also co-leader of a 10-piece ensemble, the Fresh Cut Orchestra, with trum- peter Josh Lawrence and bassist Jason Fraticelli. CREDITS For Cal Performances at Home ADMINISTRATION Tiffani Snow, Producer Andy Kraus, Director of Strategy and Jeremy Little, Technical Director Administration Jeremy Robins, Executive Video Producer Calvin Eng, Chief Financial Officer Ras Dia, Operations Coordinator Rafael Soto, Finance Specialist Marilyn Stanley, Finance Specialist For Ibis Productions, Inc. Gawain Lavers, Applications Programmer Jeremy Robins, Director Ingrid Williams, IT Support Analyst Hugo Faraco, Camera Operator Sean Nittner, Systems Administrator Nara Garber, Camera Operator Kharon Benson, Camera Operator ARTISTIC PLANNING Francis Adjei, Camera Operator Katy Tucker, Director of Artistic Planning Emily Buffman, Site Producer Robin Pomerance, Artistic Administrator Colin Gee, Editor DEVELOPMENT For Future Tense Media Taun Miller Wright, Chief Development Officer Jesse Yang, Creative Director Elizabeth Meyer, Director of Institutional Giving Jennifer Sime, Associate Director of For Cal Performances Development, Individual Giving EXECUTIVE OFFICE Jamie McClave, Individual Giving Jeremy Geffen, Executive and Artistic Director and Special Events Officer Kelly Brown, Executive Assistant to the Director Jocelyn Aptowitz, Major Gifts Associate 3 CREDITS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS Jorg Peter “Winter” Sichelschmidt, Rica Anderson, Interim Director, Artistic Literacy Senior Scene Technician Joseph Swails, Senior Scene Technician HUMAN RESOURCES Mark Mensch, Senior Scene Technician Judy Hatch, Human Resources Director Mathison Ott, Senior Scene Technician Shan Whitney, Human Resources Generalist Mike Bragg, Senior Scene Technician Ricky Artis, Senior Scene Technician MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Robert Haycock, Senior Scene Technician Jenny Reik, Director of Marketing and Communications STUDENT MUSICAL ACTIVITIES Ron Foster-Smith, Associate Director Mark Sumner, Director, UC Choral Ensembles of Marketing Bill Ganz, Associate Director, Mark Van Oss, Communications Editor UC Choral Ensembles Louisa Spier, Public Relations Manager Matthew Sadowski, Director of Bands/ Cheryl Games, Web and Digital Marketing Interim Department Manager Manager Ted Moore, Director, UC Jazz Ensembles Jeanette Peach, Public Relations Senior Associate Brittney Nguyen, SMA Coordinator Elise Chen, Email Production Associate Lynn Zummo, New Technology Coordinator TICKET OFFICE Terri Washington, Social Media and Digital Liz Baqir, Ticket Services Manager Content Specialist Gordon Young, Assistant Ticket Office Manager Sherice Jones, Assistant Ticket Office Manager OPERATIONS Jeffrey Mason, Patron Services Associate Jeremy Little, Production Manager Alan Herro, Production Admin Manager Kevin Riggall, Head Carpenter Opening fanfare used by permission from Jordi Matt Norman, Head Electrician Savall from his 2015 recording of Monteverdi’s Tom Craft, Audio/Video Department Head L’ O r f e o on Alia Vox. Jo Parks, Video Engineer Tiffani Snow, Event Manager Major support for the Cal Performances Ginarose Perino, Rental Business Manager Digital Classroom is provided by Wells Fargo. Rob Bean, Event Operations Manager Major support for Beyond the Stage is provided STAGE CREW by Bank of America. Charles Clear, Senior Scene Technician calperformances.org David Ambrose, Senior Scene Technician Jacob Heule, Senior Scene Technician © 2021 Regents of the University of California 4.