BloomBars Presents Gary Prince “Leaves”

Guitarist Gary Prince is an active performer and educator in the Washington, DC area specializing in Jazz and Improvised music across genres. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Gary holds degrees in both Jazz & Contemplative Studies and Psychology. Both a performer and an educator, Gary currently holds faculty positions at the Levine School of Music, the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, and the Sheridan School, where he teaches contemporary electric and acoustic guitar styles in private lesson, class, and workshop formats. As a performer, Gary has played with groups and on recordings in styles ranging from electric blues to acoustic folk to free improvisation, and is an active composer of original material for solo guitar and small ensemble. As a member of the Creative Arts Orchestra at the University of Michigan, Gary has played with artists including Pauline Oliveros, Oliver Lake, Steve Coleman, Henry Grimes, Arthur Blythe, Nichole Mitchell, and others. An active member of the International Society for Improvising Musicians (ISIM), Gary has been a performer at the 2006, 2007, and 2008 ISIM conferences, leading his own ensemble, the KGMC Quartet, at the 2008 conference in Denver. Currently Gary can be heard in DC playing with groups including the Yamomanem Jazz Band, and the Sarah Fridrich Band. A native to the Washington, DC metro area, Gary has been living in the city since September, 2008.

Most recently, Gary has planted a seed at BloomBars and an Artist in Bloom Resident Fellow. Visit: www.myspace.com/garyprince

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8GkkPhl9U4

BloomBars Presents Jabari Exum & Amadou Kouate

Jabari Exum
huemanprophets@gmail.com

Steeped in the dynamism and social consciousness of hip-hops golden age and his own familys African-centered spiritual and cultural perspectives, Jabari Exum realized his mission of bringing forth balance and understanding to the lives of others through music and poetry at an early age. Jabari is a drummer, rapper, producer, poet, keyboardist, percussionist and dancer. He is also a founding member of the duo – Hueman Prophets, a Washington, DC-based hip-hop duo known for their dynamic and inspiring live performances. Jabari is a born performer and thinker.

Amadou Kouyate
soulsrcher@hotmail.com

Amadou is the first Diali born in the Americas. As heir to the Kouyate legacy, Amadous life revolves around the oral tradition of transmitting and safeguarding the history of his clan through music and the arts. He continues to travel around the world performing with various groups dazzling audiences with his speed, grace and power. He is an avid and professional Kora player and is also proficient in all types of other traditional West African instruments such as Kutiro, Sabar, Djembe, Balafon, Krin and Tama. He is a student at Howard University and teaches Djembe at several other universities in the DC area. Amadou is an official dedicated aficionado of all music.

BloomBars Presents Sitali Siyolwe

Sitali Siyolwe: The singer, songwriter, and guitarist spent his childhood crisscrossing the globe with stops in Egypt, Russia and England. At the age of 13, Sitali had his first recording session with veteran producer Glynn Johns (of Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones fame). After stints in New York and Seattle, Sitali settled in Washington DC, where he formed the band christened with his name in 2005. Their latest release Aluta Continua is now available on iTunes. Please support this talented brother and his rockin band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzZbQLWOMJ0

BloomBars Presents Nila Kay “Run Away”

Getting outside herself by going deeper within, Nila Kay sometimes flirts with jazz, sometimes jazzes up funk, and sometimes strips down pretty pop to its quintessential bare acoustic soul. But she always keeps the electricity arcing inward where the mood is simultaneously raw and tender, vulnerable and bold. Hers is the soulful collaboration of a streetwise mother and a visionary child. You can experience her “live” at BloomBars on April 26th.

BloomBars Presents Robert Lighthouse “Greyhound”

Robert Lighthouse, a native of Sweden, first came to the United States at the age of 18, determined to learn more about the music he loves — Mississippi Delta Blues. For eight years he traveled around the country visiting blues Meccas like Chicago’s famed Maxwell Street and New Orleans, the cradle of the blues. He settled in Washington, DC in 1988 and established a cult following as a street musician.He toured Belgium and Holland with the Charlie Sayles Band and then landed his own steady gig at City Blues Cafe in D.C.

Robert has represented the DC area at the Blues Foundation IBC’s twice, once with his band and once as a solo. His critically acclaimed debut CD, “Drive-Thru Love”, was released in 1998. His long awaited follow up Deep Down in the Mud was released in the summer of 2007 and also has received much critical acclaim.

Robert’s simultaneous work on guitar and harmonica on has received rave reviews in major blues publications throughout the United States, Europe and Australia. He has been called the second coming of the late Dr. Ross.

BloomBars Presents Courtney Dowe “Stone Into Water”

If its true the world is awakening to a new consciousness reflected in an underground movement of grassroots artists and musicians committed to social change, then Courtney Dowe is certainly one of its torchbearers. As she completes her debut album (scheduled for release this summer), and embarks on a cross-country tour this spring, look for Courtney to push her blend of musician/activist into the mainstream. And when she returns, she will pick up nursing the seed she planted at BloomBars as an Artist in Bloom resident fellow.

BloomBars Presents Jake Phillips ”No Rest Here for the Righteous Human Ego”

Brooklyn based singer songwriter Jake Phillips brings a new conscience and urgency to the continuing tradition of the American troubadour. To experience Phillips’ timeless melodies, driving guitar rhythms, and rich and soulful baritone, is to understand why expectations are so high for this rising star. It’s also why we’re excited to welcome him into the BloomBars family.

BloomBars Presents Courtney Dowe “On the Rise”

If its true the world is awakening to a new consciousness reflected in an underground movement of grassroots artists and musicians committed to social change, then Courtney Dowe is certainly one of its torchbearers. As she completes her debut album (scheduled for release this summer), and embarks on a cross-country tour this spring, look for Courtney to push her blend of musician/activist into the mainstream. And when she returns, she will pick up nursing the seed she planted at BloomBars as an Artist in Bloom resident fellow.

BloomBars Presents Jake Phillips “Not Alone”

Brooklyn based singer songwriter Jake Phillips brings a new conscience and urgency to the continuing tradition of the American troubadour. To experience Phillips timeless melodies, driving guitar rhythms, and rich and soulful baritone, is to understand why expectations are so high for this rising star. It’s also why we’re excited to welcome him into the BloomBars family.

BloomBars was named one of the city’s “Best Open Mic” locations by the staff of Washington City Paper. Here’s what they had to say:

“Don’t let the name fool you-if you’re looking for beer, conventional “service,” or consistent hours of operation, then BloomBars is not the spot for you. But sign up for its mailing list and wander over to this barely established establishment on an evening when it’s holding a showcase, and you’ll discover one of D.C.’s best-kept secrets. Sure, the lineup may look similar every week-the choir singing for the benefit of the choir, if you will-but it’s always earnest. And when you stumble in from Wonderland during the wee hours to find two women singing the loveliest, most heartbreaking rendition of “A Change Is Gonna Come,” or whispering an African lullaby to a spellbound audience of six, you’ll realize that there’s no place in town quite on the same wavelength.”  VISIT SITE

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/bestof/2009/artsandentertainment/staffpicks/best-open-mic