Jazz Concert, REFLECTING THE LIGHT Art Exhibit, Closing Celebration and More Continue AfroSolo Arts Festival 20

AfroSolo Arts Festival 20 will present a Free Outdoor Jazz Concert in Yerba Buena Gardens on Saturday, August 3, 1-3 pm. The Yerba Buena Gardens are located at Mission Street between 3rd and 4th St. Admission: Free and open to the public. No pets (certified service or companion animals excepted).

In collaboration with Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, AfroSolo Arts Festival presents its eleventh free jazz concert in Yerba Buena Garden s. Bring a lunch, a blanket and en joy a wonderful afternoon of jazz. Featuring: E. W. Wainwright, African Roots of Jazz and The Denise Perrier Quintet.

EW Wainwright - EW Wainwright (EW [E. W. Wainwright] W) has performed in AfroSolo several times as a sideman. We are excited to have him this year as a lead artist. He is an award winning internationally acclaimed jazz drumme r, performing arts consultant, and producer. EWW has had an impressive 40 year career, represented by his command performance for the U.S. State Department, performances at Carnegie Hall and with Nelson Mandela's USA tour in 1990.

On February 19th 2012, EWW returned to Carnegie Hall under the baton of Dr. J. Hairston and 300 voices with the New England symphony orchestra. He has worked locally with such notables as Bobby Hutcherson, John Handy, Joe Henderson, to name a few.

In the mid-1970s, Wainwright lived in New York, where he performed and toured with McCoy Tyner, Pharaoh Sanders, Albert Daily, Buster Williams, Azar Lawrence, and Eddie Palmierie; during that time he also performed at Carnegie Hall with Rahsaan Roland Kirk and McCoy Tyner. Accompanying him at AfroSolo's August 3rd Jazz concert will be FrEd Harris on piano, Richard Howell on saxophone and Destiny Muhammad on Harp.

Denise Perrier - The ever [Denise Perrier] popular Denise Perrier has spent most of her thirty-year career performing in the San Francisco Bay Area and touring Europe, Latin America and Asia. She is known as "the voice with a heart." Ms. Perrier has performed with Louis Armstrong. Blessed with a rich contralto voice and the ability to sing ballads and blues with equal artistry, Denise has performed in the theatrical revue "In the House of the Blues," portraying Bessie Smith; and the vaudeville "One Mo' Time." She was featured on the Grammy-nominated CD, "Color Me Blue," with Brother Jack McDuff. She has also released four CD's of her own: "The Second Time Around" (2008), "I Wanna Be Loved" (1997), with Houston Person, and "East Meets West" (2001) which includes sides performed in Russia. In 2004, she came out with "Live at Yoshi's; Blue Monday Party," which received critical acclaim and reached high on the jazz charts. Perrier also devotes much of her time performing for non-profit organizations with the mission of supporting others in need. Her band members includes Ron Belcher on bass, Darrelll Green on drums, Calvin Keys on guitar and Glen Pearson on piano.

AfroSolo Arts Festival 20 will also present the VISUAL ARTS EXHIBIT, Reflecting the Light: Works Inspired by Black Masters, curated by Michael Ross, running August 15 - October 15 at the San Francisco Main Public Library (100 Larkin Street at Grove). Admission Street: Free and open to the public. ** Artists Reception: September 15, 2013, 1:30 pm to 4 pm (panel discussion at 2 pm).

In collaboration with San Francisco's Main Public Library we will present a visual arts show entitled: "Reflecting the Light: Works Inspired by Ancestral Art Masters." This mixed media show will pay homage to many of the master Black artists; some of whom are frequently mentioned in the narratives of art and history, and some whose names rarely surface.

The featured artists include: Edythe Boone, Candi Farlice, Ron Saunders, April Martin Chartrand, IdRis Hassan, Virginia Jourdan, Ramekon O'Arwisters, William Rhodes, Michael Ross, Karen Seneferu, Malik Seneferu and Wanda Whitaker.

Curator by Michael Ross - Michael Ross was born in Laurel, Mississippi. He earned a B.F.A. degree in painting at The University of Mississippi and an M.A. degree in drawing at Northern Illinois University. He has lived and worked in San Francisco since 1988.

Michael's work has been collected in the Bay Area and throughout the United States. He has participated in group exhibitions as well as solo exhibitions around the Bay Area. He has also partnered with authors for the use of his work as illustrations and/or cover designs for published books and his work has been utilized in theatrical productions as projected set designs.

Artwork by: Michael Ross, Virgina Jourdan and William Rhodes

On Monday, August 26, 2012, the AFROSOLO ALUMNI REUNION GALA PARTY, HARVEST OF FUN is set for the African American Art and Culture Complex (762 Fulton Street). Tickets: $25 - $100.

To mark our 20th season, we will host a Gala Alumni Reunion "All Star" cel [2009 Black Voices - Lance McGee] ebration of distinguished artists from past festivals. Performances will include theater, dance, music, comedy and more. We will also have an [Artwork by Justice Renaissance] auction of visual arts works from our extraordinary visual artists. The funds raised from this event will go towards the development of new visual and performance works. Artists TBA.

On Saturday, September 21, 2013, the festival will present Climbing Every Mountain: In Honor of Black Men
African American Art and Culture Complex (762 Fulton Street). Tickets: $25 - $50

Climbing Every Mountain: In Honor of Black Men will pay tribute to the tremendous contributions [Bryan Caston] Black men make to our culture. We will include performances by four noted San Francisco Bay Area artists who will use theater, dance, poetry and music to entertain and inform the public. In addition, we will present five community service awards to unsung Black men to celebrate their successes and the contributions they have made to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Although we will be presenting several notable performer and presenting awards to a select number of me, our goal is to celebrate the life, spirit, success and accomplishments of Black men in general who have been challenged and tested but triumphantly kept their eyes on the prize of uplifting and inspiring the human race.

Performer and awardees TBA.

On October 23rd, 7 pm - 11 pm will be the Festival Gala Closing and Birthday Party for All at the African American Art and Culture Complex (762 Fulton Street). Tickets ($2 5* and $50).

AfroSolo Arts Festival 20 will close out its season with a Gala Party in [cake] [cake] recognition that the AfroSolo began as a birthday party given by Thomas Simpson to celebrate his 39th birthday over 20 years ago. And Thomas and AfroSolo are still going strong! To add to this joyous occasion we invite everyone to come celebrate their birthday with us, no matter what the date. Artist TBA.