BRIDGEPORT This Is Us! A Celebration of African-American Musicians

275 Fairfield Ave,Bridgeport CT 06605

04 February, 2022

Description

BRIDGEPORT This Is Us! A Celebration of African-American Musicians Presented by WPKN in Celebration of Black History Month ALL AGES MASKS MUST BE WORN AT THIS EVENT An all-star group of Bridgeport musicians come together in a celebration of Black History Month with music covering many styles and generations. The group features leading musicians who have performed and resided in Bridgeport for generations but who have also travelled, toured and performed throughout the world. The musicians perform in a variety of styles ranging from the original African kalimba (finger piano), to jazz, funk, R & B, hip-hop and soul music. The musicians salute some of the great masters of the music including, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Al Jarreau and a number of Motown groups. The Program James Moss, African Kalima Darian Dunning, virtuoso solo guitar Fatty & Crew (Mark Matthews), hip-hop Steve Clark Trio, Jazz & Original Music MDIII, Michael Dunham Group featuring vocalist Janice Dempsey Bridgeport Musicians Jam Concert organizer and vocalist Michael Dunham has performed at some of the biggest stages in this area, the casinos, the Klein Memorial, Madison Square Garden, the Apollo, Palace Theatre Stamford, the Bijou, and of course and many others in the immediate six-state region. He is also a respected visual artist, a published journalist, and a radio programmer at WPKN with a show aptly named, ‘Real Music Real Talk’. Dunham will lead his quartet featuring vocalist Janice Dempsey. Included in the program is bassist/composer Steve Clarke who was born and raided in Bridgeport but has an extended career touring throughout Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania as well as throughout the USA with various groups. He has appeared on over 60 CD releases as well as performing with Adam Hawley, Tom Browne, Paula Atherton, Althea Rene, Jeanette Harris, Marion Meadows, Carol Albert, Sean Uliasz, Sherry Winston, Vincent Ingala, Phillip Denny, Estaban, Victor Fields, The Five Satins, Ben E. King, The Drifters, Sam & Dave and the Coasters. Bass Player Magazine has written, “Clarke's free-flowing compositions showcase plenty of fusion chops, but his rich tone and spaced-filled lines steal the show" Vocalist Janice Dempsey will appear on the program and includes credits of working with some of the legends of black music including Freddie Jackson, Chakha Khan, Daryl Hall, Smokey Robinson and Najee. As a solo artist, Janice has written and recorded three albums for Geffen Records, Epic Records, and JDP Media. JD's songwriting has garnered her a dozen gold and platinum awards for artists like Chaka, SWV, and Freddie Jackson. As a background vocalist, Janice's signature style can be heard on dozens of albums, effortlessly covering Gospel, R&B, Pop and Jazz, as well as television and film Additional performers will include virtuoso guitarist Darian Cunning and African-American hip-hop artist Mark Matthew who has opened up for the likes of Goodie Mob, Juelz Santana and was featured on the mixtape DJ Envy. Opening the program will be long-time Bridgeport music maker, educator and instrument maker James Moss. James has a long career in the research, building and performing African music with a range of performers from West Africa and the Caribbean as well as various jazz stars.