Lionel Loueke
Lionel Loueke picked up the guitar at age 17. After his initial to exposure to jazz in
Benin, he left to attend the Ivory Coast's National Institute of Art. In 1994, he continued
his jazz studies at the American School of Modern Music in Paris and then came to the US on
a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music. After graduating, Loueke was accepted
to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, where he was able to study with his most
significant mentors: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Terence Blanchard. Praised by
Hancock as "a musical painter," Loueke combines harmonic complexity, soaring melody, a deep
knowledge of African folk forms, and conventional and extended guitar techniques to create
a warm and evocative sound of his own. His Blue Note debut, Karibu (2008),
featured guest appearances from Hancock and Shorter. Mwaliko (2010) offered a
series of intimate duets with Angélique Kidjo, Richard Bona, Esperanza Spalding, and Marcus
Gilmore. Heritage (2012) was co-produced by label mate Robert Glasper, and found
Loueke exploring a more electric sound with Derrick Hodge on electric bass and Mark
Guiliana on drums. His latest release, GAÏA, was recorded live in the studio with
bassist Massimo Biolcati and drummer Ferenc Nemeth, produced by Don Was. In addition to
albums with his collective trio Gilfema (with Biolcati and Nemeth), Loueke has appeared on
recordings by Blanchard, Jack DeJohnette, Charlie Haden, Kenny Barron, Gonzalo Rubalcaba,
and Joe Lovano, Gretchen Parlato, Kendrick Scott, and others. He continues to tour the
world with his own trio as well as with Hancock, and is a member of Blue Note Record's Our
Point of View with Glasper, Hodge, Scott, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Marcus
Strickland.
Jason Lindner
Keyboardist, composer, and electronic musician Jason Lindner is best known as leader of
the alternative electro-hybrid trio Now Vs Now, and for his keys and synth work on David
Bowie's Grammy-winning final album, Blackstar, for which producer Tony Visconti
called Lindner a "godsend." Before Now Vs Now, the New York native led, composed for, and
played in a large ensemble whose debut album was presented by Chick Corea, who proclaimed
Lindner to be a "musical universe." He now tours extensively with Now Vs Now and Donny
McCaslin, and has collaborated with many other luminaries, including Meshell Ndegeocello
and Mulatu Astatke. The New York Times wrote, "Rhythm provides more than a
heartbeat for Jason Lindner. It also seems to fuel his respiratory functions and digestive
activity, and maybe his neurons ... What matters to him is groove, however it
comes."
Nona Hendryx
From Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles to Labelle and on to a stunning solo career, Nona
Hendryx has always been on the cutting edge of music. Her collaborations range from Talking
Heads, Material, Prince, and Peter Gabriel to Rahzel, Dead Prez's M1, and Res's producers
Doc and Khaliyl. She's written music for Blue, Charles Randolph-Wright's play with
music, and scored and contributed 14 new songs to the film Preaching to the Choir.
Hendryx has performed at summer festivals across Europe with the Daughters of Soul (Sandra
St. Victor, Indira Khan, Lisa Simone, Lalah Hathaway, and Joyce Kennedy), and taught music
seminars in New York and Amsterdam. She collaborated on lyrics and vocals with Paul
Haslinger (Tangerine Dream) on the Golden Globe-winning Showtime series Sleeper
Cell. Hendryx has performed her show Untethered at London's Somerset House,
the GE Theatre at Proctors, the opening of the Michael Werner Gallery in London, and the VW
Gallery in Berlin; in the program, she wears audio clothing created by Benoît Maubrey,
including an "audio tutu" that merges music and multimedia technology with the environment
and art. Hendryx is passionate about everything she does--specifically the new artists she
is introducing through HopeStock's UnFiltered Music Series in New York City.
Ki Ki Hawkins
Keyontia "Ki Ki" Hawkins attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, where she expanded
vocally from gospel, R&B, jazz, and rock, into classical music. She went on to continue
her education at The Juilliard School. Hawkins began her touring career with notable
artists such as Amel Larrieux, Kelis, Angélique Kidjo, Nona Hendryx, Patti LaBelle,
Labelle, and Maiysha. As an established writer, Hawkins has written and performed lead and
backing vocals on dance singles "You Don't Tell Me Anymore," "Get Up," "Thank You," "Keep
It Movin," and "Give You What You Need" for Wakko Records. Her voice can also be heard on
Raheem DeVaughn's The Love Experience, Q-Tip's single "Work it Out" and album
Kamaal the Abstract, Labelle's Back to Now, Nona Hendryx's Mutatis
Mutandis, and the 2009 EP release of The Ki Ki Experience LIVE.
The Antibalas Horns
The Antibalas Horns is among the most versatile, soulful, and idiosyncratic horn sections
in show business today. Outside of their work as the melodic engine of Antibalas, the
performers and their arrangements have been featured at Carnegie Hall during tributes to
Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers, Paul Simon, David Byrne, and Talking Heads. Onstage and on
record, they've collaborated with Angélique Kidjo, The Roots, Steven Bernstein, Medeski
Martin & Wood, Davido, TV on the Radio, Mark Ronson, Jovanotti, Santigold, and scores
of other artists across the musical spectrum. Outside of The Antibalas Horns, the musicians
can be found currently touring with Lukas Graham, Bonobo, Valerie June, the FELA!
musical, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
Brandon "Taz" Niederauer
Thirteen-year-old guitarist Brandon "Taz" Niederauer is living proof that dreams really do
come true. Having played in the most legendary rooms in America with some of the most
prominent musicians of our time, the young guitarist-singer-songwriter has built quite the
reputation. Four years after seeing School of Rock, Niederauer was cast as
guitarist Zack Mooneyham in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony-nominated Broadway adaptation of the
movie. Since moving to New York City, Niederauer has performed with members of The Allman
Brothers Band (Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks, Warren Haynes, and Oteil Burbridge), as well as
other notable musicians, including Buddy Guy, Stevie Nicks, George Clinton and Parliament
Funkadelic, Dr. John, Gary Clark Jr., Eric Krasno, George Porter Jr., Robert Randolph, and
Karl Denson. He has also played with Umphrey's McGee, Scorpians, Dumpstaphunk, The
Revivalists, Galactic, and countless others. Since performing on The Ellen DeGeneres
Show at the age of 10, Niederauer has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen
Colbert, Good Morning America, and The View.
Kuumunity Collaborations Choir
Kuumunity Collaborations is a collective of artists of all types. Its mission is to
provide a supportive space through workshops, mentorship, and concerts for original works
to be created, produced, performed, recorded, and published, while also providing resources
like the bands and singers needed to make the music come to life. Working with established
artists like Angélique Kidjo is a great opportunity to more widely showcase the work of
this organization. For more information, visit kuumunity.org.