Many ingredients go into a soup. And many ‘ingredients’ reflecting Southern California’s diverse cultures go into a Clazzical Notes production, as the title of the nonprofit organization’s inaugural performance – Gumbo Y Sopa, There and Back Again/Ida y Vuelta – reflects perfectly. This eclectic program of Latin American and African American music will take place on Sunday, March 12 at 4:00 p.m. at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena.
Gumbo Y Sopa will feature the Munyungo Jackson Ensemble, with guest vocalist Kudisan Kai, and the Luis Villegas Trio, with guest vocalist José García. Radio personality/producer Bubba Jackson, whose Jazz program on KLON was hailed by the LA Times as “one of the best things about drive-time in LA,” will appear as host.
Percussionist Munyungo Jackson has over 400 instruments in his collection and has appeared with artists ranging from The Supremes to Miles Davis Grammy award winning guitarist Luis Villegas is currently recording his fifth CD, entitled “Eastside,” which pays homage to the music of East LA.
Vocalist Kudisan Kai is a classically trained singer – and winner of Downbeat magazine’s “Best New Jazz Vocalist” award – who went on to perform with such artists as Sting, Elton John, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, and Mary J. Blige, among many others.
Described by All About Jazz as “a gifted singer with remarkable skills on guitar,” José García has perfected a repertoire that encompasses World Music, Pop, Latin Jazz, and crooning in both English and Spanish. Latin style performances range from Flamenco to Boleros and Bossa Nova.
“Through music and discussion, we’ll show how seemingly dissimilar ethnic groups share a common humanity,” explains Jerri Price-Gaines, founder and producer of Clazzical Notes. “As Ziggy Marley said, ‘Music is a unifying force.’ Those of us at Clazzical Notes are committed to becoming a strong part of that force.”
Tickets for Gumbo Y Sopa, There and Back Again/Ida y Vuelta are available for $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Children age twelve and under can attend for free. Tickets may be purchased online by visiting www.clazzicalnotes.com.
For more information about Clazzical Notes, visit www.clazzicalnotes.com or call (626) 529-5133. Metropolitan Baptist Church is located at 2283 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Altadena.
The mission of Clazzical Notes is to foster the understanding of diverse cultures and the common humanity through the unifying language of music and spoken word.
