LiveConnections Celebrates Black History Month With Innovative Partnerships

LiveConnections, Philadelphia's collaborative music-making nonprofit in residence at World Café Live, is hosting a series of unique and innovative programs throughout the month of February that celebrate Black History Month through education programs, live performance, and more.

Our signature interactive educational programs, called Bridge Sessions, will serve nearly 900 Philadelphia public school students in February 2017. These sessions blend live performances with hands-on activities, introducing students to diverse musical cultures and building skills in listening, expressing ideas, and synthesizing new information.

On Thursday, February 23, the acclaimed Harlem Quartet teams up with Arturo Stable for two Bridge Sessions at 10AM and 11:30AM. Committed to advancing diversity in classical music, Harlem Quartet partners with Latin jazz percussionist Stable for a session combining the sounds of Stable's native Cuba with the Quartet's wide-ranging repertoire.

On Monday, February 27 and Tuesday, February 28 at 9:30AM and 11:15AM, Allen Pinkney, Luke Carlos O'Reilly, and Kwasi Burgee will team up to present a Bridge Session titled African-American Spirituals: Roots and Reverberations. From the sounds of West Africa to the potent music and messages of spirituals to the styles of gospel, blues and hip-hop, this session traces a proud and rich American musical tradition.

In addition, our critically-acclaimed Concert Series will present Harlem Quartet and Arturo Stable on Friday, February 24 at 7:30PM. Mozart will meet Latin jazz as LiveConnections presents this dynamic concert, featuring newly-commissioned music based on the rhythms and sounds of Stable's native Cuba. The program also features works by Mozart and Cuban composer Guido Gavilán.

DETAILS:

Harlem Quartet and Arturo Stable Bridge Sessions

Thursday, February 23

10AM and 11:30AM

World Café Live, 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

To inquire about availability, contact program coordinator Ladonna at ladonna@liveconnections.org, or via phone at 267-295-2946.

African-American Spirituals: Roots and Reverberations Bridge Sessions

Monday, February 27 and Tuesday, February 28

9:30AM and 11:15AM

World Café Live, 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

To inquire about availability, contact program coordinator Ladonna at ladonna@liveconnections.org, or via phone at 267-295-2946.

Harlem Quartet and Arturo Stable In Concert

Friday, February 24

7:30PM

World Café Live, 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Tickets $25

Available at www.liveconnections.org

BIOS:

HARLEM QUARTET, praised for its "panache" by The New York Times, is "bringing a new attitude to classical music, one that is fresh, bracing and intelligent," according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The quartet's mission is to advance diversity in classical music, engaging young and new audiences through the discovery and presentation of varied repertoire that includes works by minority composers. Since its public debut in 2006 at Carnegie Hall, the New York-based ensemble has performed throughout the U.S., including a 2009 performance for President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House, and has appeared in France, the U.K., Belgium, Panama, Canada, and South Africa. In addition to performing on chamber-music series around the world, Harlem Quartet has collaborated with such distinguished performers as Itzhak Perlman, Ida Kavafian, Carter Brey, Paquito D'Rivera, and Misha Dichter (with whom the quartet made its Kennedy Center debut in February 2013). Harlem Quartet has also worked closely with jazz legends Chick Corea and Gary Burton, partnering with them in a 25-city "Hot House" tour and CD project. The Quartet was featured on Corea's "Hot House" album, which won Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Album and Best Instrumental Composition. Harlem Quartet is managed by the New York City-based firm Sciolino Artist Management. Quartet members include Ilmar Gavilán, violin; Melissa White, violin; Jaime Amador, viola; and Felix Umansky, cello. Learn more at http://harlemquartet.com.

ARTURO STABLE. "Versatility, good taste, sense of the right volume, timing, and compositional skills are rare attributes to most contemporary percussionists. Arturo Stable has got those and much more," says legendary saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera. In the vanguard of Latin jazz's most talented young exponents is Arturo Stable, an energetic, resourceful and innovative free spirit whose broad range of talents defies easy categorization. Stable was born in Santiago de Cuba, the cradle of the island nation's most important center of culture and home of such elemental music styles as the Guajira and Son. He later relocated to Puebla, Mexico, where he polished his skills as a percussionist working as a sideman, performing everything from Latin jazz to rock and traditional Latin styles. Stable received a scholarship to study at the Berklee College of Music, where he earned a degree in contemporary writing and production; he also holds a master's degree from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Stable was part of the 2013 Grammy-winning album "Money Jungle" (Best Jazz Album) by drummer extraordinaire Terri Lyne Carrington. He has performed and recorded with such illustrious leaders as Esperanza Spalding, Paquito D' Rivera, Miguel Zenon, Dave Samuels, Jane Bunnett, David Sanchez, Victor Mendoza, Lionel Loueke, Lincoln Goines, Giovanni Hidalgo, as well as with the Caribbean Jazz Project and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. Stable has been granted with several writing commissions, among them: "Suite Ominira" by the Puebla State Symphony Orchestra (Mexico 2007)," A Weatfield on a Summer's Afternoon" by the Philadelphia Museum of Art (String Quartet & Jazz Quartet 2011), "Suite Busqueda" for Big Band by the University of the Arts Kerber's Big Band (2013), and Saxophone Quartet #1 by the New Jersey Saxophone Quartet (NJ 2014). Arturo is currently endorsed by Meinl Percussion and is the Chair of the Hand Percussion Department at the University of The Arts in Philadelphia. Learn more at http://arturostable.com.

LIVECONNECTIONS creates unique programs that inspire learning and build community through collaborative music-making. In 2008, a team of artists, educators and entrepreneurs founded LiveConnections to address declining music education in Philly schools and tap into the people-connecting power of music. We are a nonprofit organization in residence at World Cafe Live. ??Each year, LiveConnections brings more than 5,000 students from city schools to World Cafe Live for our signature Bridge Sessions. These interactive educational programs blend live performances with hands-on activities, introducing students to diverse musical cultures and building skills in listening, expressing ideas and synthesizing new information. We also offer a number of in-school and after-school residencies at partner schools, providing sustained, in-depth music-making experiences for young people. ??LiveConnections prioritizes accessibility for people with disabilities who face barriers to participation in the arts. We present several Bridge Sessions annually targeted for youth and adults with cognitive and physical disabilities, and our interactive, adaptive approach means individuals may fully engage at their own ability levels. Live webcasts of select sessions allow people unable to travel to the venue to participate. ??In addition, in the spirit of innovation and community-building that drives our organization, LiveConnections curates six concerts each year designed for adventurous music-lovers. Our LiveConnections Presents concert series puts together Grammy winners, local talent and rising stars in unique, genre-crossing collaborations, and we frequently commission new music blending a variety of musical styles.