HELD SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2008
Imagine that FOUR HURRICANES the strength of KATRINA struck New Orleans in less than a month. That’s what just happened in Haiti. I know if feels like there is nothing more important then the election less than 30 days away, but this humanitarian crisis demands our attention. Hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike have wiped out most of Haiti’s food crops and damaged irrigation systems and pumping stations, raising the specter of acute hunger for millions in the impoverished country. The United Nations has raised less than 2 percent of a critical $108 million fundraising appeal.
Coming out of a brief hiatus, Bloombars is back with renewed energy to build community, be a bridge for the artist and social justice communities, and champion causes that need immediate attention. The Fourth Bloom of Bloom will feature a variety of local and global artists from Washington, DC, San Francisco, Nigeria, and Guinea Bissau-Mozambique, including Asheru, Terrence Cunningham, Jason Jasper, Kuku, Wayna, and Zimm.
We have selected the Greater Washington DC Haiti Relief Fund Committee (GWHRF) (www.ame-sada.org/GWHRF.html) to receive the funds we raise. We are suggesting a $10 donation. (The following food items will also be accepted: Dried beans, course yellow corn meal, rice, flour, pasta, sugar, and salt.) Please come enjoy a wonderful evening of music and entertainment for a critical cause.
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ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
ASHERU
(http://www.asheru.com)
Asheru (pronounced “Ash-er-roo”) is an award winning, Black American Hip hop artist, educator, and youth activist. He is most 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, both as a solo artist as well as with the group Unspoken Heard, has gone on to 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, Wordsmith and The Roots, while collaborating and being featured on projects with Hip Hop greats such as Pete Rock and Jazzy Jeff. His lyrics are categorized by reflection upon the state of affairs of the current-day Black American. Through his music, he demonstrates a desire to improve the attitude of Black people towards liberation through education and self-empowerment. He currently travels with a live band, The ELs, made up of a three (sometimes four)-piece band of accomplished veteran musicians and producers, namely Aquaman, Mr. Hu, and Zo!.
TERRENCE CUNNINGHAM
(http://www.myspace.com/terrencecunningham)
Terrence has been playing the piano and singing for almost as long as he’s been alive. He has made a living for himself playing for churches, directing high school choirs, and independent events such as weddings, banquets, etc. He has even been a background singer for several artists. Finally, Terrence has decided its his turn to step into the forefront. Frustrated with the music of today, Terrence has made an effort to be a source of revitalization of today’s tunes. His unique blend of jazz, soul, and alternative, along with his distinct light, velvet, crooning voice creates a sound so familiar, yet never quite heard. Arguably one of few true musicians left, he’s willing to stand with integrity, though almost alone, to show the world that music is truly the answer.
JASON “JSUN” JASPER
(www.jasonjasper.com)
Drawing comparisons to classic vocalists such as Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder, Bay Area-based recording artist Jason “JSUN” Jasper is poised to move to the top of every soul purist’s playlist. But Jason won’t stop there – his versatility is gaining respect among R&B, rock, blues, and neo-soul enthusiasts. And with hair-raising vocals that inspire reflection on our humanity and power to bring change, Jason may eventually carve out a new genre for his soul conscious music – He calls it “abstract soul.” His die-hard Bay Area and MySpace fans call it “What the music world has been waiting for.” Jason’s debut album “More” was independently released in 2008.
KUKU
(www.kukulive.com)
KUKU moved to the US from Nigeria in 1993. In 2002 he found Bar Nun, a weekly open mic in Washington, DC’s U Street. It was there that he picked up a guitar for the first time, taught himself to play and began building a following singing in the U Street music/poetry open mic scene. As his reputation grew, he rapidly worked his way into the club, schools and café scene releasing his 2005 EP, “Love Sessions,” and his first LP “Unexpected Pleasures” in 2006. He has labeled his minimalist acoustic guitar driven sound “The Afro-soul Acoustic Experience.” Dubbed “The African Music Medicine Man,” this Yoruba, DC-based troubadour has been touring extensively since the release of his debut. In October 2007, South African guitar maestro Mongezi Ntaka (former and original guitarist for the late Lucky Dube band) joined him as he launched “The Absence of Cool” at KUKU’s third Kennedy Center appearance. The album concept asks listeners to stop enslaving themselves to the concept of “cool,” – with cool being the absence of emotion – and instead join him on a musical journey to the raw emotions deep in their souls. Happily independent, KUKU enjoys the artistic freedom that most major labels often deprive, but his biggest challenge is still getting his music heard by millions of eclectic listeners across the world without a machine. What he lacks with the backing of a machine, he makes up for as a tireless worker with a good heart. And with the digital age in full-effect, his music is reaching far more places than he has yet to visit.
LOIDE
(http://www.myspace.com/loidej)
Washington DC-based jazz vocalist Loide has roots in Mozambique and Guineau Bissau though born in Ambilly, France and raised California. Serving up a mix of contemporary jazz and warm afro-lusophone rhythms, Loide’s music is reflective of her own eclectic roots. An immigration attorney by day, she has spent the last 7 years honing her musical craft in some of the East Coast’s hippest speakeasies and jazz clubs by night. Loide cites Sarah Vaughn, Cesaria Evora and Miriam Makeba as some her greatest musical influences, but believes it is her African heritage that has provided her with a fresh musical perspective, a unique sound, and her native tongue, Portuguese.
WAYNA
(http://www.wayna.net)
It has been said that Ethiopian-born, singer/songwriter Wayna possesses a voice that is as sweet and pure as it is honest and passionate. This young talent’s love for music started as a child, when she starred in theater productions like “Annie,” and “Damn Yankees” and toured with a children’s musical review company. Wayna went on to hone her vocal talents as a young adult by absorbing the works of her favorite artists, including Minnie Riperton, Billie Holiday, Stevie Wonder, and Donny Hathaway.
While in college, Wayna was crowned Miss Black Unity of the University of Maryland in 1995, earning a one year tuision scholarship and special honors for “Best Talent” and “Best Response to Question” at the 17th annual pageant. The following year, she founded a gospel quartet and performed with the group at the World Famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY, where they placed as finalists in the Amateur Night competition. She traveled with the critically acclaimed University of Maryland Gospel Choir and regularly performed at churches and gospel showcases throughout the East coast.
After earning a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in English and Speech Communication from the University of Maryland, Wayna began her professional career as a Writer in the White House for the Clinton administration. But soon, the pull to realize her dream as a recording artist would prove too great. She left to concentrate on her music full-time. Since then, Wayna has collaborated with legendary studio icon/producer Bill Laswell, with critically and comercially hailed producer Eran Tabib, Jive Records producer, Veit Renn, and former Touch of Jazz standout, Kev Brown. She is a featured vocalist/co-writer on on the Sly and Robbie album, Version Born released by Palm Pictures and also featuring contributions from Killah Priest, Black Thought, and N’dea Davenport. She’s also served as a featured vocalist and writer on a number of independent projects for artists, including W. Ellington Felton, Kenn Starr, Kev Brown, Cy Young, and Tamara Wellons.
Wayna has recently opened for a number of internationally recognized artists on the DC leg of their respective tours, including Fantasia, Amerie, Common, Bobby Valentino, Jaguar Wright, Kindred, and Chuck Brown. She’s performed and headlined at renown venues such as the White House (DC), the Temple Bar (CA), the Apollo Theater (NY), the Lincoln Theater (DC), Joe’s Pub (NY), Dream Nightclub (DC), the Black Cat (DC), the 9:30 club (DC), Bohemian Caverns (DC), Takoma Station (DC), the Ashford and Simpson Sugar Bar (NY), and the Georgia Dome (GA).
