Women in Eclectic Music 2006 December 15, 2006

Join us for an evening of exceptional singer-songwriters as part of Women in Eclectic Music 2006.

Our purpose is to promote women musicians and artists who create original and non-genre specific music and poetry. We wish to give eclectic music its space and appreciation - Highlight solo artists and bands that are women-led and that do not neatly fit into music industry categories. We've produced shows in Philadelphia and in Chicago.

Performers:


Aguafuego
Instrumentation: Singer/flute, lead jazz guitar, cuatro, jarana, quinto, upright and electric bass, drums/percussion.

Aguafuego, the brainchild of JBeatz, is an evolving coming together of unique combinations of musicians to interpret her music. This songwriter/lyricist/singer /instrumentalist is dedicated to developing a new sound, rooted not only in her South-American heritage (Peru-Ecuador), but also encompassing her background in classical, reggae, rock, jazz, world, hip hop, latin and folk music. With original songs in Spanish and in English, Aguafuego brings a global mix of sounds that create a soulful blend, a tapestry for the timely lyrics and alluring melodies of JBeatz. Her voice has been compared to Cassandra Wilson, Sade and Natalie Merchant. As a vocalist and wind player for various groups, she has performed at numerous festivals, museums, universities and music venues since 1984 including the Turk's Head Music and Arts Festival, Make It A Night Wednesday Series at The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Penn's Landing, Make It A Night in Wilmington Delaware and The Philadelphia Fringe Festival. She has performed internationally at Festival de Verano in Cantabria Spain and most recently with an international group of Italian and North American musicians forming The Delicious Life Orchestra in Bologna, Italy. While in Bologna, she performed at The Container Club and at LINK. JBeatz created "Women in Eclectic Music"series in 2003 and has since produced shows in Philadelphia and Chicago. Past performances included opening with Tree of Life (West Chester, PA) for Yellowman and with Upper Dubland (Philadelphia, PA), opening for Black Uhuru. JBeatz has also shared the stage, worked with: Animus, Elliot Levin, Chuck Treece, Philly Gumbo, Disciples of Discipline and many other local Philly musicians. JBeatz has produced and created multimedia/music shows in Philadelphia and has performed these special shows at Highwire Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Tri-Tone, Philadelphia, PA. Other art gallery shows include: Reset art, Philadelphia.

http://www.myspace.com/aguafuego

Jeanne T. Arrigo
Instrumentation: Acoustic guitar, vocals.



The title of Jeanne's self-produced debut album, "The Journey's about to begin..." reflects both exhiliarated self-realization, and excited promise for the road ahead. Though this is Jeanne's debut CD, she is not at all new to music or performing; she began singing, playing piano, and acting as a young girl in Missouri and has been acting professionally in Chicago for a number of years now. She recently completed shooting an independent network pilot on the East coast. However, her passion for singing/songwriting has become her focus in the last couple of years, and her time spent with her guitar now definitely outweighs her time learning lines!

Since obtaining her M.Ed. in School Psychology from Loyola University, ‘91, Jeanne has worked as a school psychologist. She continues to work contractually for two suburban Chicago school districts while spending most of her free time focusing on that which she is most passionate about - songwriting and performing. Three years ago, she won the first open mic competition in which she performed some original pop-folk tunes and this propelled her to continue writing, performing, and eventually, recording. Her five-song EP, completed in the fall of ‘04, garnered her some nice local and national reviews. She has now completed her full-length CD - 15 lyrical little stories about life, love, laughter, and loss. These songs range from quietly acoustic, to a completely orchestrated full-band. It’s folk-infused singer/songwriter stylings blended with soulful pop.

Jeanne performs solo acoustic showcases and gigs in and around Chicago and regionally, as well as working with other local singer/songwriters, backing each other up and fleshing out each other's tunes. She continues to receive rave reviews from live audiences and fellow songwriters. Her songs tend toward slice-of-life stories, often set in open or alternate tunings. Folks often characterize her sound and style as reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, Jonatha Brooke, Shawn Colvin, and The Indigo Girls - all major influences, along with female artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Melissa Etheridge and Ani DiFranco. Jeanne is a natural performer, relishing every opportunity to share her intimate, organic style with listeners.

Listeners have said: "Her songs are like a love letter I'd like to receive;"

"She creates whole stories in which her characters live."

http://www.jeannetarrigo.com

Nikki Capra
Instrumentation: Singer, piano, drums, bass, violin



Nikki Capra is a Chicago-based singer, songwriter and poet who stands for new possibilities in the relationship between music, lyrics and poetry. The classically trained pianist’s debut EP, The Astronaut, announces the arrival of an artist synthesizing modern and classical sensibilities in an effort to go beyond conventional songwriting. The EP is as eclectic as many of her influences, such as James Joyce, Tori Amos, Nick Cave and Oscar Wilde.

The Astronaut is both lush and elegant, mixing Nikki’s classical and rock influences, as well as featuring an ethereal ambient tone, which creates the unique sonic and emotional perspective imbued in the songs. Nikki’s grand piano leads the quartet with its swirling lines and is supported by violinist Erin Hillert, bassist Dan Huber and drummer Dan Kuemmel.

Lyrically, the songs are Nikki’s perspective on our place in the world – spiritual, philosophical and sensual. She uses the type of unique imagery and metaphor (rocket ships, battered butterflies, astronauts) that befits her background as a published poet while providing her own poignant perspective. And it is in Nikki’s vocals that the meanings of these songs become unmistakable. Vulnerable yet strong and passionate, her voice has the rare ability of conveying exactly what she’s singing about.

In February 2006, the judges at the international Song of the Year songwriting contest selected Nikki as one of five finalists in the pop category for "Snow Angels." That recognition solidifies that The Astronaut is a courageous first release by an artist who is willing to work beyond her fears to share a unique perspective on life, love, language and who we are being.

http://www.nikkicapra.com

Laura Glyda


Explosive vocals and rich guitar sounds aren’t the only things that catch your attention when Laura Glyda performs. Her deep and direct lyrics keep you listening while her confidence in the spotlight keeps you watching. Above all, her songs ring out with truth, and the poetry you can find within that truth. Her music shines with integrity and wit, inviting the audience to connect with its sincerity. The soul of her songwriting seems to be much older than her 25 years, and it makes you wonder where all that emotion comes from.

Laura has been a musician all her life, singing and playing the piano since she can remember. She started writing songs when she was merely 8 years old and has grown into a powerful lyricist, driven mostly by her own experiences in life and love. At 14, she taught herself to play the guitar with only her mother’s Lotus acoustic and a book of chords. New songs and inspiration followed swiftly after learning the guitar, and it became her primary instrument for songwriting and performance.

Laura found her place in the in Boston music scene during her attendance at Northeastern University, where she officially began her career as a solo artist. A little over 2 years into her performing in Massachusetts, she joined Joe Sullivan, Christopher Porter, and David Traver to form the Laura Glyda Band. For three and a half years, the Laura Glyda Band played shows throughout New England, including the former House of Blues in Cambridge, the Paradise Lounge, the Middle East, and New York City’s Lion’s Den and Kenny’s Castaways. Laura has also had the privilege to share the stage with musicians Colin Hay of Men at Work, Flynn, Amy Fairchild and Mieka Pauley. The Laura Glyda Band split up just one year after the release of their first independent album, A Little Truth.

Now back in her home town of Chicago, Laura has once again embraced her career as a solo artist. Her music has traveled and grown with her, and she is sure to make her mark on the Midwest music scene.

http://www.myspace.com/lauraglyda

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$7.00 Cover

Official Website: http://eleven12.com/wem.htm