Honestly, it’s something you just have to experience.

Very nice article and interview with myself on Splice Today written by the incredible Andrew Klein. Read it here: http://www.splicetoday.com/music/improvised-materials

Unfortunately, Kiernan’s van broke down in North Carolina. Ahh, the life of a traveling musician. Stay tuned for the reschedule date.

Terrence Cunningham

Terrence Cunningham is far from timid in the company of a piano, and a microphone. A Maryland native, and a descendent of a long line of musicians, including his great aunt, the late blues legend Etta Baker, Terrence Cunningham’s music can best be described as alternative soul. Steeped in the natural velvet of black music, the pain and drama from the sweaty pulpit is peppered with heavy guitar, and slow buildups to swelling musical climaxes. Think Coldplay if Chris Martin was raised in the black church, or U2, if Bono was a child of the delta.

Besides being a staple on the Washington DC music scene, Terrence has performed in several other cities, including New York and Kansas City, Missouri. He has shared the stage with vocal dynamo, Ledisi, as well as singer/songwriter Emily King. One of his most memorable accomplishments was performing a tribute song for the legendary comedian/activist Dick Gregory, with Gregory’s daughter, singer Ayanna Gregory. He’s performed on local radio shows, and has been featured in several local newspapers like, Washington City Paper.

Terrence Cunningham is of a different breed. He chooses to push the envelope in search of new musical interpretations. His songs pull from life in a vulnerably honest way, and his overtly distinct voice compliments the sincerity of his work. He is a trained musician, and though rooted in theory, creates and performs mostly from instinct and sheer musical chops. And to think, it all began at the age of three when he mimicked his father and tapped out Prince’s, “Little Red Corvette” on the piano. Who knew that moment would be the cornerstone of a life devoted to music, and the early makings of a mold-breaker.

Jabari Exum

Jabari “AuraGin” Exum, percussionist, emcee, poet, actor, director, and entrepreneur, is an electrifying performing artist born and raised in Washington, DC. He is a skilled percussionist in the West African and Latin Tradition and is a tremendous writer and producer in the Hip-Hop Genre. Since 1997 Jabari has also become a pioneering actor in a movement called “Hip-Hop Theater”.   Needless to say, Jabari’s approach to everything that he touches is unconventional since he is able to pull from so many different styles of expression. He has been acting, drumming, and rapping since he was five and has been blessed with the opportunities to receive guidance from the some of the greats in each of these artistic styles, from Mamady Keita and Djimo Kouyate, to Sonya Sanchez and Glen Turner.

Jabari Exum is presently a member of the Hip-Hop duo Hueman Prophets and is also a member of Farafina Kan (West African Percussion Orchestra). He is a full time teacher of West African drumming and Creative Writing, and is also a freelance percussionist with a number of renowned artists—Raheem Devaughn, Ayanna Gregory, Fred Yonnet to name a few.  Jabari’s most recent project is the creation of a mobile vending system called, Congo Square—designed to increase the accessibility of positive, independent artist from all corners of the world.  Jabari is a product of both the Howard University music program and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Literary Media program.  He is currently teaching, performing and promoting his 2 most recent recording projects with Hueman Prophets and Farafina Kan entitled, “The Old Souls Mix Album,” and “Nakama,” respectfully.

Visit: huemanprophets.com /or/ farafinakan.com…. to witness Jabari Exum in action.

Gary Prince

Guitarist Gary Prince is an active performer and educator in the Washington, DC area, specializing in improvised music across genres.  As a resident fellow at Bloombars, Gary both runs and organizes Guitars Not Guns (Sundays 3:00-4:00), and leads the meditation group (Sundays 4:30-5:30); besides appearing regularly at Seed the Sound and other events.

In December of 2009 Gary completed and self-released his first full-length CD of all improvised music with saxophonist Kate Olson, Improvised Duets.  All of the music on the album was created without any predetermined music qualities, moods, or goals.  This album speaks to the heights of expression and creativity possible when two master musicians and close friends improvise without boundaries.  The CD is available both at Bloombars and online through www.myspace.com/freeimprovisation.

During the week, Gary is on the guitar faculty of the Levine School of Music, where he teaches contemporary electric and acoustic guitar styles in private lesson, class, and workshop formats. As a performer in the DC area, Gary plays regularly 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.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Gary holds degrees in both Jazz & Contemplative Studies and Psychology. As a member of the Creative Arts Orchestra at the University of Michigan, he played with artists including Pauline Oliveros, Oliver Lake, Steve Coleman, Henry Grimes, Arthur Blythe, and Nichole Mitchell.  An active member of the International Society for Improvising Musicians (ISIM), Gary has been a performer at the 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 ISIM conferences, leading his own ensembles at both the 2008 and 2009 events. A native to the Washington, DC metro area, Gary has been living in the city since September, 2008.

Music links:
www.myspace.com/freeimporvisation
www.myspace.com/improvisersanonymous
www.myspace.com/garyprince

Gabriel “Asheru” Benn

Asheru, born Gabriel Benn, is a hip hop artist, educator, and youth activist. He is widely known for performing the opening and closing themes for the popular TV series, The Boondocks, as well as his pioneering and innovative efforts to forward the Hip Hop Education movement. Asheru collaborated with Aaron McGruder to write and perform several songs for the hit TV series, The Boondocks, including the show’s theme song. In 2006, Asheru earned a prestigious Peabody Award for Journalism in 2006—the first rapper (emcee) to win such an award—for his writing of the controversial “Return of the King” episode. Asheru has travel extensively throughout Europe, Canada, the US and Japan, performing alongside artists and groups like Common, Mos Def, Jill Scott, Bilal, Ludacris, Edo G, J-Live, Wordsworth, and The Roots, while collaborating and being featured on projects with Hip Hop greats such as Pete Rock, Talib Kweli and Jazzy Jeff.  In 2005, Asheru co-founded Educational Lyrics, LLC, an independent publishing company that creates culturally relevant cross-curricular teaching materials, the first of which being [H.E.L.P., or the Hip Hop Educational Literacy Program'.][1]. In an effort to bridge the gap between Asheru’s two passions — music and education, H.E.L.P. is a series of supplemental reading workbooks designed to HELP students of all reading levels through the innovative usage of Hip Hop lyrics for critical analysis, multicultural relevance, and effective literacy instruction.

Carolyn Malachi

Hailing from the Washington, DC / Baltimore region, vocalist, producer and über smart chick Carolyn Malachi’s introduces music lovers to “Revenge of the Smart Chicks II: Ambitious Gods.” , She calls her brand of music “haute eclectic soular blues.” Malachi, who is the great-granddaughter of jazz pianist John Malachi, has created her own modern infectious gumbo of jazz, hip hop, and spoken word. ROTSC II is the stirring and genre bending follow-up to her 2008 debut “Revenge of the Smart Chicks.” The first project spawned a movement, blog and the non-profit Smart Chicks Inc. The organization is dedicated to developing visibility and leadership opportunities for women in the arts.

About the Artist in Bloom Residency Program

At the center of our broad mission at BloomBars, is a core belief that art and artists have the power to
transform people, communities, and the world. The Artist in Bloom Residency Program is designed to
identify and cultivate artists who will represent and advance this belief in their local communities, and—
as they travel—communities across the globe.

While our current crop of Artist in Bloom Residents happen to be musicians, we hope to invite artists
across a variety of disciplines, and from a diversity of backgrounds.

The program works to support growth of these talented artists—as professionals, community activists,
educators, entrepreneurs, and human beings.  It also seeks to build relationships between artists,
community‐based organizations, and the surrounding community. Social entrepreneurship is a core
focus as we want artists to not only sustain a healthy livelihood, but develop skills that will empower
them to create and lead organizations and businesses that benefit the community.
Artists are selected based on range of criteria, including, community service, accomplishments, and
potential to impact audiences on a much larger stage.

Some of the program’s benefits include professional mentorship and life coaching, workshops on
financial literacy, community organizing, contracts & negotiation, rehearsal space, studio photo session,
and opportunities to develop programming and perform at BloomBars on a regular schedule.
On this web site, we will tell their stories and chronicle their journeys.

If you would like to nominate someone (or yourself), please tell us why in 500 words or less, and send in
an e‐mail to info@bloombars.com.

Note: BloomBars also hosts Visiting Residents from other countries and communities across the globe.
In addition to multiple performances, housing is provided, along with opportunities to advance personal
causes, and promote non‐profit organizations in the community.