Common Ground: Mini-Global Mashup #5 - Southern It
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.
Alessandra Belloni is a singer, percussionist, dancer, and actress. She is the only woman in the U.S. and in Italy who specializes in traditional Southern Italian folk dances and percussion combined with singing that she learned in Southern Italy. Belloni was born in Rome, Italy and is committed to preserving the strong and rich traditions of her culture.
Alioune Faye works with greats including Youssou N’dour, Stevie Wonder and Peter Gabriel. He plays sabar, tama and djembe. Currently based in New York, he is the leader of the group Yakar Rhythms. Faye comes from an extensive line of griots and drummers in Senegal. (Griots are historians who deliver teachings as wandering musicians, poets and singers.) He’s also performed with Sing Sing Rhythm – Senegal’s premier sabar ensemble.
This concert is accompanied by Frank London on Trumpet. Sir Frank London is a Grammy-award winning trumpeter-composer and co-founder of the Klezmatics, and leads Glass House Orchestra, Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars, Shekhina Big Band, Sharabi with Deep Singh, Ahava Raba with Yanky Lemmer. London has worked with John Zorn, Karen O, Itzhak Perlman, Pink Floyd, LL Cool J, Mel Tormé, Lester Bowie, LaMonte Young, They Might Be Giants, David Byrne, Jane Siberry, Ben Folds 5; is on over 500 CDs; and was featured on Sex And The City.
Alejandro Arroyo owns the newest (and cleanest) lounge in New York City’s Lower East Side. His sister, Molly, has a nasty habit of writing graffiti on the back wall of the local police precinct. Officer Derek is a recent NYC transplant with something to prove. Lelly Santiago is a socially awkward college student who may have discovered that the Arroyo siblings’ late mother was one of the founders of hip-hop music. Two DJs/narrators spin the story in this hilariously heartfelt piece.
Rated PG-13. This play contains adult language and themes.
WRITTEN BY Kristoffer Diaz
DIRECTED BY Anna Skidis Vargas