2012 BAM Rhythm & Blues Festival at MetroTech kicks off a free summer of live soul, funk, reggae, Latin jazz, African, blues, and hip-hop artists Thursdays, 12noon—2pm, June 7—Auugust 9, at MetroTech Commons June 7: Larry Graham and Graham Central Station June 14: Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra June 21: Ky-Mani Marley June 28: Fishbone July 5: Van Hunt July 12: Shemekia Copeland / NRBQ July 19: Orchestre Poly-Rythmo July 26: Pedrito Martinez Group August 2: Blitz the Ambassador August 9: Aloe Blacc First New York Partners Management is the presenting sponsor of the BAM Rhythm & Blues Festival at MetroTech Brooklyn, NY/April 25, 2012—BAM announces the 2012 BAM Rhythm & Blues Festival at MetroTech. Now in its 18th year, the festival continues to feature R&B legends alongside vibrant and groundbreaking newcomers—headlining 10 free outdoor concerts every Thursday at 12noon, from June 7 through August 9. “By the end of this year's 18th annual BAM R&B Festival, the series will have presented 190 different artists,” says event producer Danny Kapilian. “This year's line-up opens with the Larry Graham, the legendary bassist for Sly and the Family Stone (and later Prince) who invented the ‘slap’ playing style that influenced generations of musicians. Two different ambassadors of funk will perform—speed-funk virtuosos Fishbone and neo-soul star turned psychedelic funk guitarist Van Hunt. Ky-Mani Marley, Bob Marley’s youngest son, will bring the family reggae legend up to meet the hip-hop nation in June. Two greats of Latin music–-Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, and salsa percussionist Pedrito Martinez and his band—connect R&B to its Latino influences. From Benin in West Africa comes longtime big band great from the 1970's, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo. Swinging pop legends NRBQ join blues queen Shemekia Copeland for a double-bill in July. And we close with new hip-hop from Blitz the Ambassador and classic soul from riising star Aloe Blacc. Downtown Brooklyn remains the place to get down, get on the good foot, and get funkified like nowhere else.” These free lunchtime performances will be held at MetroTech Commons, located at the corner of Flatbush and Myrtle Avenues, rain or shine. For more information, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100 or visit BAM.org. For press information, contact Lauren Morrow at 718.636.4129 x 1 or [email protected]. BAM Rhythm & Blues Festival at MetroTech Thursdays, 12noon—2 pm, June 7—August 9 Free admission, MetroTech Commons at MetroTech Center Produced by Danny Kapilian About the artists: Larry Graham and Graham Central Station Thu, Jun 7, 12noon—2pm Graham Central Station is a funk-cum-soul band led by Larry Graham, formerly of Sly and the Family Stone. Graham is said to be the originator of the electric slap-bass style, which influenced many musical genres, from funk to disco. Graham Central Station has released nine studio albums and opened for Prince on his “Welcome 2 America” tour in 2011. Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Thu, Jun 14, 12noon—2pm The son of big band leader Chico O'Farrill, Arturo O'Farrill developed his skills as a solo performer with a wide spectrum of artists including Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Turre, Papo Vazquez, the Fort Apache Band, Lester Bowie, and Harry Belafonte. He took over direction of his father’s 18-piece Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, which has been in residence at New York City's Birdland nightclub since the late 90s and has performed at the finest festivals and performing arts centers throughout the world. Ky-Mani Marley Thu, Jun 21, 12noon—2pm The youngest of Bob Marley’s sons, Ky-Mani Marley is a singer, actor, author, and humanitarian. He followed the pop-reggae sound for which his family is known before recording 2007’s Radio, a hip-hop album which debuted at the top of the reggae charts. Marley has released six albums and has worked with R&B, reggae, and hip-hop artists including Mya, Beenie Man, and Young Buck. Fishbone Thu, Jun 28, 12noon—2pm One of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative-rock bands of the late 80s, Fishbone combines equal parts funk, high-energy punk, and ska. Through sharp social commentary and humor, the group gained a sizable following and earned a reputation as one of the great pioneers in black pop music. A documentary feature film about the band, Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone, was released in 2011 to critical acclaim. Van Hunt Thu, Jul 5, 12noon—2pm R&B musician Van Hunt established himself as a powerful neo-soul singer with his self- titled 2004 debut album, which featured the Grammy-nominated track “Dust.” Later, he won a Grammy Award for his 2007 collaboration with John Legend and Joss Stone, “Family Affair.” His latest independently released album What Were You Hoping For? employs a spare but dizzyingly vibrant meld of day-glo psychedelic soul laced with glammed-up riffs and acerbic punk energy. Shemekia Copeland / NRBQ Thu, Jul 12, 12noon—2pm The daughter of renowned Texas blues guitarist Johnny Copeland, Shemekia Copeland made a name for herself as a powerful soul singer in the tradition of Koko Taylor and Etta James. She has performed at major festivals around the world and has released six albums. Copeland shares the bill with NRBQ, an eclectic, stylistically innovative, and creatively ambitious band. The group combines R&B, pop, rockabilly, exploratory jazz, and more with a stomp-down, danceable rhythm. NRBQ has earned a passionate cult following that includes Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney, and Bonnie Raitt, among countless others. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo Thu, Jul 19, 12noon—2pm Funk legends Orchestre Poly-Rythmo hail from the Republic of Benin, Africa and perform a varied repertoire of Afrobeat songs based on voudou rituals, Latin music, and funk. Called one “of the world’s greatest funk bands” by The New York Times, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo formed in 1968 and has performed alongside music greats including Miriam Makeba, Angélique Kidjo, and Fela Kuti. Pedrito Martinez Group Thu, Jul 26, 12noon—2pm Havana-bred and New York City-based percussionist and singer Pedrito Martinez has collaborated with artists including Yerba Buena, Me’shell Ndegeocello, Arturo O’Farrill, and Taj Mahal, and has opened for Dave Matthews Band, Ray Charles, and Willie Nelson, among others. Martinez has toured the world, and this summer he brings his fierce Latin rhythms to Brooklyn. Blitz the Ambassador Thu, Aug 2, 12noon—2pm Born in Ghana, Blitz the Ambassador is a hip-hop force whose black consciousness is reminiscent of artists like Public Enemy, X Clan, and KRS-One. His critically acclaimed 2009 release, Stereotype, thrust him into the limelight with performances at Central Park SummerStage, Celebrate Brooklyn, and the Afro-Latino Music Festival, as well as appearances on MTV2, MTVU, and BET. He calls his latest album, 2011’s Native Sun, "a journey backwards through hip-hop, the Caribbean soundsystem culture that preceded it, back to its African roots, with the final kora.” Aloe Blacc Thu, Aug 9, 12noon—2pm Born in Los Angeles to Panamanian parents, Aloe Blacc rose to fame with his sophomore release, Good Things. The album features the hit song “I Need a Dollar,” which is the opening theme for the HBO series How to Make it in America. Blacc’s music offers social commentary reminiscent of Bill Withers, alongside solid horns and soulful melodies. For press information, contact Lauren Morrow at 718.636.4129 x1 or [email protected]. Credits First New York Partners Management is the presenting sponsor of the BAM Rhythm & Blues Festival at MetroTech. Winter/Spring Season supporters: Bank of America; The Brooklyn Community Foundation; Chase; Con Edison; The Howard Gilman Foundation; The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation; mcgarrybowen; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Donald R. Mullen Jr.; Stavros Niarchos Foundation; New York State Council on the Arts; The Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation; Mikhail Prokhorov Fund; The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc.; The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation; The SHS Foundation; The Shubert Foundation, Inc.; The Skirball Foundation; The Starr Foundation; Target; The Wall Street Journal; Time Warner Inc.; Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund; Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Foundation; Steve Tisch Foundation; The Winston Foundation, Inc.; Friends of BAM and BAM Cinema Club. Sovereign Bank is the BAM Marquee sponsor. Yamaha is the official piano for BAM. R/GA is the BAM.org sponsor. New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge is the official hotel for BAM. Directions MetroTech Center is situated in the Civic Center / Borough Hall area of Downtown Brooklyn. The BAM Rhythm & Blues Festival at MetroTech concert stage is located on the lawn at MetroTech Commons. By Subway: 2, 3 to Hoyt Street and walk two blocks north on Bridge Street 2, 3, 4, 5 to Borough Hall station and walk five blocks east R to Lawrence Street Station A, C, F to Jay Street/MetroTech, exit at Myrtle Promenade. By Bus: The B25, B26, B38, B41, B45, B51, B52, B54, B61, B63, B67, and B75 all stop within a three- block radius of MetroTech Center. By Car: Public parking is available at One and Two MetroTech Center. The entrance to Parking Lot P is on Lawrence and Bridge Streets between Willoughby Street and the Myrtle Promenade or at The Gallery at MetroTech. The entrance to the Parking Lot is at the intersection of Flatbush, Willoughby, and Gold Streets. Please call 718.636.4100 or visit www.BAM.org for more information about the BAM Rhythm & Blues Festival at MetroTech.