FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Contact:
Karin Venegas, karin@anatgerstein.com, 347-361-7049
Sandra Tharas, sandra@anatgerstein.com, 347-361-7068
With “Mini-Global Mashups,” Flushing Town Hall Puts New Twist on an Old Favorite
Haitian singer Emeline Michel to perform with Israeli guitarist Dan Nadel in first mashup of the series
(photo credits: Gregg Richards; Clever Sangalaza)
(Flushing, N.Y.)—Flushing Town Hall is launching an all-new series this fall. Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups will feature solo musicians of different practices and cultural identities performing in collaboration.
The series has been curated by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Frank London of The Klezmatics, who has himself performed in Flushing Town Hall’s original, large-scale Global Mashups series that is such a hit among Flushing Town Hall’s devoted global music fans.
“The artists in this series all represent the beautiful diversity that makes New York City such a vibrant place. It’s no accident that these concerts are taking place in Flushing, Queens - one of the most culturally & linguistically diverse locations on the planet,” says series curator Frank London. “Audiences can look forward to enjoying phenomenal, world class performers whose music is tied to their traditions but simultaneously modernized and fused with other musical elements that expand their borders.”
“This new, intimate configuration of one of our most beloved programs is so exciting. Frank London has put together an incredible lineup for these intimate Mini-Global Mashups” says Flushing Town Hall Executive & Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek. “We look forward to this celebration of global music and to continue welcoming back the audiences we have so deeply missed.”
This fall, Flushing Town Hall is increasing its in-person audience capacity to 50% and adhering to the city’s vaccine mandate for performance venues, while simultaneously continuing to livestream for audiences at home.
The Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups series kicks off in September with Haiti Meets Middle East on Sunday, September 12 at 1:00 PM ET, featuring Emeline Michel and Dan Nadel. Each artist will perform their own 20-minute set and then collaborate for a third. This concert is also accompanied by jazz pianist and composer, Yayoi Ikawa.
Haitian songstress Emeline Michel is internationally acclaimed for fusing pop, jazz, and blues with Haitian compas and rara music to create joyful and deeply moving, musical experiences. Michel sings in Creole, French, and English. Hailed by The New York Times for “a voice serene and warm like the breeze,” she is an accomplished performer whose previous appearances include Carnegie Hall and the New Orleans Jazz Fest and performances across the globe—from the stages of Montreal and Milan to Tasmania to Zimbabwe. Michel’s musical life began in a church gospel choir in Haiti before studying at the Detroit Jazz Center. She is now based in New York City, where she runs her own production company, Production Cheval de Feu. She is a Red Cross Ambassador.
Israeli-born and New York City-based guitarist Dan Nadel combines flamenco, jazz, and Middle Eastern influences. He is a solo performer, as well as a bandleader and collaborator with the multinational, neo-Balkan group Tavche Gravche. He is a graduate of The New School’s BFA jazz program and a former guitarist with the IDF Air Force Band. Nadel has performed with many world-renowned artists, among them Chico Freeman, Dave Liebman, Yael Naim, Gabrielle Stravelli, and Audrey Majzlin.
The series will continue throughout the fall, with a new Mini-Global Mashup each month: On Sunday, October 10, Balkan Romani Meets Ukraine with Eva Salina & Peter Stan and Zhenya Lopatnik. On Sunday, November 21, Yiddish Meets Argentina with Lorin Sklamberg and Sofia Rei with accompanist JC Maillard. On Sunday, December 12, US-Africa Meets China with Newman Baker and Fei Fei Yang with accompanist Zhihua Hu.
Each month’s Mini-Global Mashup performance will be followed by a Q+A conversation between the artists and audience hosted by Frank London or other special guest moderators.
For the series’ full schedule and to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/mini-global-mashups
COVID Policy:
In adherence with Mayor De Blasio’s Covid policy for performance venues, Flushing Town Hall will require all visitors, performers, and staff to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 with matching identification. Additionally, masks will be required at all times. For more details on Flushing Town Hall’s Covid-safety measures and vaccine requirements, please visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/covid-safety.
FOR CALENDAR LISTINGS:
SUN, SEPT 12, 1 PM ET
Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashup #1 - Haiti Meets Middle East
GLOBAL MUSIC | IN-PERSON | VIRTUAL
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/common-ground-mini-global-mashup-1
Common Ground features artists seemingly different in discipline, practice, or cultural identity who explore global connections, celebrating distinctions that make cultures unique. Our NEW series Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups are curated by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Frank London (The Klezmatics) bringing together two amazing global music artists along with accompanists for an afternoon of music, conversation and exploration. Post-show Q&A. Called “The Joni Mitchell of Haiti,” songstress Emeline Michel is internationally acclaimed for merging native Haitian compas and rara music with jazz, pop, bossa nova, and samba into deeply moving, joyful music. Bandleader and solo artist Dan Nadel's style combines flamenco, jazz, and Middle Eastern influences. He also collaborates with Gypsy/Neo-Balkan, Macedonian band Tavche Gravche. This concert is accompanied by jazz pianist and composer, Yayoi Ikawa.
$15/$12 Members; Virtual: $7/$5 Members
This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
SUN, OCT 10, 1 PM ET
Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashup #2 - Balkan Romani Meets Ukraine
GLOBAL MUSIC | IN-PERSON | VIRTUAL
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/common-ground-mini-global-mashup-2
Common Ground features artists seemingly different in discipline, practices, or cultural identity who explore global connections, celebrating distinctions that make cultures unique. Our NEW series Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups are curated by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Frank London (The Klezmatics) bringing together two amazing global music artists along with accompanists for an afternoon of music, conversation and exploration. Post-show Q&A. California-grown, Brooklyn-based Eva Salina is a groundbreaking interpreter of Balkan Romani (gypsy) songs joined by her duo partner, accordionist Peter Stan. In their collaboration, Eva & Peter pick up the threads of an interrupted legacy of empowered female voices in Balkan Romani music. Seeking to amplify and celebrate voices of past generations of Romani women musicians, they employ tenderness, grace, and friendship in keeping these songs alive and evolving, while tending to living traditions and sharing with new generations. Zhenya Lopatnik speaks five languages, and uses this vast cultural knowledge to perform bold, meaningful music that combines American, Russian, Hebrew, and Ukrainian culture.
$15/$12 Members; Virtual: $7/$5 Members
This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
SUN, NOV 21, 1 PM ET
Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashup #3 - Yiddish Meets Argentina
GLOBAL MUSIC | IN-PERSON | VIRTUAL
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/common-ground-mini-global-mashup-3
Common Ground features artists seemingly different in discipline, practices, or cultural identity who explore global connections, celebrating distinctions that make cultures unique. Our NEW series Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups are curated by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Frank London (The Klezmatics) bringing together two amazing global music artists along with accompanists for an afternoon of music, conversation and exploration. Post-show Q&A. Lead Singer of the Grammy Award winning Klezmatics, Lorin Sklamberg’s Jewish and Yiddish roots influence his "transcendent" voice and musicality. Sofia Rei is an Argentinian vocalist and songwriter influenced by South American folk styles, jazz, pop, new classical and electronic music. This concert is accompanied by Caribbean born multi-instrumentalist JC Maillard.
$15/$12 Members; Virtual: $7/$5 Members
This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
SUN, DEC 12, 1 PM ET
Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashup #4 – US-Africa Meets China
GLOBAL MUSIC | IN-PERSON | VIRTUAL
https://www.flushingtownhall.org/common-ground-mini-global-mashup-4
Common Ground features artists seemingly different in discipline, practices, or cultural identity who explore global connections, celebrating distinctions that make cultures unique. Our NEW series Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashups are curated by acclaimed trumpeter and composer Frank London (The Klezmatics) bringing together two amazing global music artists along with accompanists for an afternoon of music, conversation and exploration. Post-show Q&A. Newman Taylor Baker/WashboardXT is a jazz drummer and washboard player whose music has brought him to over 45 countries, and who proudly researches and celebrates his African-American Heritage. Feifei Yang is a Chinese musician and singer specializing in Erhu and Banhu performance, who has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and more! This concert is accompanied by NYC-based pianist and composer, Zhihua Hu.
$15/$12 Members; Virtual: $7/$5 Members
This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Support Flushing Town Hall this season!
Flushing Town Hall recently launched its new membership program, Flushing Town Hall’s Circle of Friends, with memberships starting at gifts of $50 or more. With the loss of nearly all earned income, Flushing Town Hall is in dire need of support and is currently raising funds under its Lemon-AID the Arts Campaign. Donations in any amount are appreciated to support the artists and the nonprofit cultural organization as they continue to provide programming and entertainment across New York and the world.
Flushing Town Hall is a not for profit organization that receives major support from the National Endowment for the Arts; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; New York State Assembly Member Ron Kim; The City of New York, Major Bill de Blasio; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Commissioner Gonzalo Casals; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; The New York City Council, Speaker Corey Johnson; Council Members Costa Constantanides, Daniel Dromm, Barry Grodenchik, Peter Koo, Karen Koslowitz, Paul A. Vallone, Jimmy Van Bramer; Howard Gilman Foundation, Booth Ferris Foundation, Guru Krupa Foundation, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.
To view our current donor lists, please visit www.flushingtownhall.org/donor-listings
About Flushing Town Hall
Flushing Town Hall (FTH), a Smithsonian affiliate, presents multi-disciplinary global arts that engage and educate the global communities of Queens and New York City, in order to foster mutual appreciation. As advocates of arts equity since 1979, we support local, immigrant, national, and international artists, developing partnerships and collaborations that enhance our efforts. As a member of New York City’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), we serve to restore, manage and program the historic 1862 landmark on behalf of the City of New York. FTH celebrates the history of Queens as the home of Jazz, by presenting the finest in Jazz performance. We are committed to arts education and hands-on learning, for the arts-curious, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists. We serve one of the most diverse communities in the world and strive to uphold the legacy of inclusiveness that has defined our community since the Flushing Remonstrance of 1657.
Land Acknowledgement:
Flushing Town Hall acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Matinecock People, one of the original tribes of New York, and the first people of Flushing, Queens. The Matinecock continue to live and work on this land to this day. Flushing Town Hall honors their elders who have stewarded this land throughout generations.
For more information:
www.flushingtownhall.org
(718) 463-7700 x222
137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing, NY 11354