FREE Leimert Park Village African
Art & Music Festival
See below for the line-up.
LABOR DAY WEEKEND
SAT., SUN., & MON.
September 5th, 6th & 7th - 2009
10am - 7pm
Call 323.319.5800 for more info. or 323.319.5819.
Where:
Leimert Park Plaza & Leimert Park Village
Between Crenshaw Blvd, Leimert Blvd & 43rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Saturday, Sept. 5th - Wali Ali, Renaissance, Afri-K, Haywood Sisters, Art in Motion I (Fashion Show), Axiom, Mekeba, and more.
Sunday, Sept. 6th -
Medusa, Michael Sessions, Wadada, GaKnew & Thea Moree Roxwell, Haniyyah Dance, On Time Band, Art in Motion II (Fashion Show), Lady Dread, Aaron Eric, Divine Hands, Anaya Bell and more.
Monday, Sept. 7th - LTD, Douye,
Dwight Trible, Funkalicious, Sunday Scott & The Serious Back-up Band, Rory Shelton Band, Kenny Williams Steel Fusion Musik, Kizzan, Nail Muhammad and more.
Organizers expect
an attendance of over 10,000 people over 3-days!
For Dance & Music Lovers
Don’t miss the jazz, blues, reggae and spoken word or the innovative and energetic spirit of local contemporary and African dance troupes!
For Fashionista’s
Models will strut the runway in the most unique and gorgeous fashions including designs by designers Karimu Designs 4U! and Queen Aminah Fashions. Three different fashions shows will be presented each day showcasing fashions for the whole family. Come see Leimert Park Villages' next top models and designers. Deveaux is the fashion commentator and all three shows are being produced by Queen Aminah (
www.culturalclothing.org) and Karimu Ali.
Dwight Trible, Vocalist
Dwight Trible is a singer who combines the best of vocal virtuosity with musicianship and improvisational skills to the delight of audiences and musicians alike. In addition to performing with his own group, The Dwight Trible Ensemble, Dwight is the Vocalist with Pharoah Sanders Quartet; he is also the vocal director for the Horace Tapscott Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra.
Azar Lawrence, Saxophonist
Native Los Angeleno Azar Lawrence grew up during an era of Jazz history that will forever transcend time. Whether Coltranesque or Milestone, having composed, produced, and playing with Jazz legends, such as McCoy Tyner for over 5 years, and Elvin Jones for several years; Azar went to Jazz Master’s School at an early age. Azar was honored in his late teens to be thrust upon the jazz scene in a major way, producing and performing for decades with musicians on the cusp of the vanguard, whether it was the late great Frank Zappa or wailing on the sax in a rap video with Busta Rhymes. His performance with Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall where Dark Magus was recorded live is hailed to this day and noted in Mile’s autobiography.
Phil Ranelin, Trombonist
Ranelin has studied and played with some of the most highly respected Jazz and classical educators in the business, including professors David N. Baker, Larry Ridley, Nathan Davis, Bunky Green, Dr. Louis Smith and Donald Byrd with whom in 1976 he received the key to the city of Detroit. Ranelin’s Jazz performance credits include: Norman Connors, Ella Fitzgerald, Art Pepper, Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wilson, Vi Redd, Freddie Redd, Marcus Belgrave, Wendell Harrison, Harold McKinney, Ray Appleton, Roy Brooks, Sarah Vaughan, Larry Gales, Tootie Heath, James Spaulding, the all-star Luckman Jazz Orchestra at the Disney Concert Hall, and Freddie Hubbard with whom in 1981 he appeared on MISTRAL, Japan’s #1 Jazz record of the year. Ranelin has shared the bill with Stanley Clarke, Christian McBride, Les McCann, Sonny Rollins, Pharoah Sanders, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Smith, O.C. Smith, Leon Thomas and McCoy Tyner.
Elaine Stepter, Vocalist
Los Angeles born and bred, Elaine Stepter first came to the attention of U.K. soul fans via her single, 'The Sweetness Of Your Love', released on the, Miami based, Never Stop Productions label in 1990. Elaine, also, contributed to the movie soundtrack to the film 'Meteor Man' in 1993, weighing in with the excellent 'Good Love'.
A second album followed in 2001, entitled, 'Soulfully Inspired' for the The Eee Project Records imprint. In 2003, Elaine is working on a new album entitled 'The Woman I Am'. She was the former lead singer for the group Rose Royce.
Wali Ali, Guitarist
Wali Ali is no stranger to the music world. He helped as a lead Guitarist for The Temptations, Eddie Kendricks, Teena Marie, Rick James & Patrice Rushen just to name a few. Wali Ali has toured as guitarist with Marvin Gaye, The Jacksons. Aretha Franklin, and the Undisputed Truth. During his tenure as musical director of the world famous "Cotton Club", Wali was dubbed the "Minister of Music".
For more information on Wali click here.
Mychal Andrews, Pianist
Mychal Andrews is an accomplished musician and has performed with various high-level Artists over the last 30 years. He started out as a trumpet player in high school and continued his musical journey into adulthood as an accomplished musician on the horn He began his recording career at the tender age of sixteen with Mary Wells. Mike was seasoned by his association with great musicians such as the great Mr. Billy Higgins where opportunities to share the stage with artist like trumpeter Nicholas Payton, pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Andy Simpkin, and trumpeter Marcus Printup. His career as a trumpet player gave way to his passion for the piano, which allows him to express music differently. He found that his ability to arrange, and compose was a little more intimate. Mychal has been seriously working on mastering the piano for the last fifteen years like a “Mad Hatter” possessed. He credits his diligence and his love for the great masters in both genres Classical, and Jazz for his success. A quote from Mike sums it all up “I am just getting started”. Mychal performs with the World Stage Sextet live on …
Medusa, Rapper
Watching Medusa won't turn audiences to stone, but she is a stone-cold rapper — and one of L.A.'s best-kept secrets. With a fierce look and a sharp way with words, she embodies fearlessness. She possesses a certain confidence that comes only after years in the game. Medusa ruled South Central's storied Good Life Cafe, the '90s open-mike night that nurtured the careers of influential L.A. hip-hop artists like Freestyle Fellowship and Jurassic 5 and spawned a documentary.
Co-Sponsored by:
The 8th District, Councilmember Bernard C. Parks
Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs
Community Build.
Official Radio Sponsor is Radio Free KJLH 102.3 FM. KJLH is the voice of our community.
A special thanks to the Festival Committee: Sika (Sika's Fine Jewelry), Aziz Diagne (Artwork by Aziz), Muriel Shabaz (Shabazz Restaurant), Jackie Ryan (Zambezi Bazaar), Karimu Ali (Kwanzaa Heritage Foundation), Julien Dothand (Julien's Artwork), Aminah Muhamed (Queen Aminah's Clothing), Shaq Hunter (Hunter's Pointe), Tori Bailey (lovehealsthecommunity.blogspot.com), Yevette Nelson, and Amaechina (thejazzgypsy.blogspot.com).