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Rhonda Benin- Vocals
Rhonda began her career as a member of the Los Angeles based jazz trio "Sound of Soul". Rhonda went on to
make a career as background vocalist having appeared on over 100 recordings. In 1989 after working with
singer Maria Mauldar, Rhonda moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where she branched into theatre with ACT's
production of GOSPEL AT COLONUS and, The Oakland Ensemble Theatre's MLK WE ARE THE DREAM. She also collaborated
with South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela on Dimensions Dance Theatre's production of PEOPLE OF THE ZOZO'S.
Rhonda is a founding member of Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir (CHC). Rhonda has shared the stage
with noted musical artists including Patti Austin, Janis Ian, The Holmes Brothers, Jackson Brown, Sweet Honey
In The Rock, and international superstars, Baba Maal, James Keelaghan, Habib Koite, and Rokia Traore. In 1995 Rhonda
formed her own band called Soulful Strut. In addition Rhonda is a sought after vocalist and can also be heard on
recordings by Mickey Hart, Carlos Santana, Maria Mauldar, Holly Near, and Eric Bibb. In November 2005 Rhonda's,
vocals found a permanent home in the new Museum of The African Diaspora in San Francisco.
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Destani Wolf- Vocals
Destani Wolf's voice is a thing of wonder: a big, bold, beautiful voice. "Again and Again..." her first venture as a solo artist,
reveals a powerful, determined woman spreading her words of strength. Destani has infused her vocals and arrangements internationally with Bay Area urban latin hip-hop band, AguaLibre, Crown City Rockers,
SLAMMIN all body band, A cappella band, SoVoSo (Bobby Mcferrin's offshoot), The Pharcyde and more. As a music educator, Destani has done
workshops around the Globe teaching voice, a cappella and improv, and contributes to programs such as Rock the Classroom and One World Music.
Her vocals and compositions have also been featured in television, on the Theme song and music package of the NBC prime time show "Sing-Off"
and films such as Sundance Film Festival winner My Flesh and Blood, PBS documentary A Summer in the Cage and most recently Tribeca Film Festival
feature P-Star Rising.
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Kyle Blase- Vocals
Kyle received his B.A. in Music from San Francisco State University in 1998. He has been involved in many bands over the years including, reggae, funk hip-hop,
rock, jazz and latin. He is an accomplished musician studying and performing on flute, guitar and voice. Currently he is a member of the Oakland Jazz Choir
a professional gigging vocal jazz ensemble. He was director of the Optimist Youth Jazz Band in San Diego a no profit organization for middle and high school students. He has taught all ages from pre-school to high-school in over a ten year span. He lived abroad for a year in
France touring and recording with a Gypsy Acid Jazz Band "Buzart". He has worked with an impressive list of musicians including but not limited too Benny
Green, Victoria Theodore, Omar Sosa, Geoff Brennan, Carlton Manning, Jeff Marrs, Walter Bankovitch, Danya Stevens, Gillian Harwin, Destani Wolf, Tim Bulkley, Scott Thompson and Balboa Becker.
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Anthony Michael Peterson AKA Tru- Instrumental Ensemble
Anthony Michael Peterson AKA Tru, at thirteen, received a classical guitar scholarship to the St. Louis Conservatory of Music, where he studied with
classical guitar teachers Michael Cedric Smith and Rodney Stuckey and Aaron Shearer. At fourteen, he began teaching privately. He attended the Berklee
College of Music and became one of the youngest faculty members of the college. He later worked with Peter Gabriel, Marcus Miller, Joan Baez, Cassandra
Wilson, and saxophonist Oliver Lake and recorded his solo debut CD, "The Book of Days" for Gazelle Records. Anthony also became a member of The Black Rock
Coalition, which resulted in his long standing association with Living Color band leader and guitarist Vernon Reid. After touring with Cassandra Wilson,
Anthony moved to The Bay Area and began playing various venues and festivals. He developed his own production company, "Lone Warrior Music", created his
own recording studio, and produced his first solo project as singer-song writer Tru, "I'm Not Through Dreaming". Anthony is also passionately interested
in developing musical learning techniques for students of all levels of ability. He has developed an intuitional band concept for children called "I Dare
You to Make Music!" In this concept, students learn songs they choose by ear.
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Josiah Woodson- Instrumental Ensemble
Josiah Woodson started playing trumpet at the age of 12. As a member of the Oaktown Jazz Workshop, he continued his
craft in the fall of 1995 under the private instruction of Khalil Shaheed. In 1999, Josiah was accepted into the
Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin Ohio where he was a member of several ensembles, including the Oberlin Jazz
Septet and studied under Marcus Belgrave. Woodson was given a substantial scholarship to attend the New England Conservatory.
Since Graduating with academic honors (MM) in 2006, Josiah continues to perform with "The Makanda Project" with Oliver Lake,
Yoron Isreal and John Lockwood. Woodson has also had the opportunity to perform an original piece entitled "The Third Day" with
conductor Michael Morgan and the Oakland East Bay Symphony.
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Carla Service - Dance
Carla Service, hip-hop dancer, has been performing, teaching and choreographing over the past 25 years. Her company, “Dance-A-Vision” is a training institute that is dedicated to assisting and stimulating youth to develop a positive self-image and to generate confidence and responsibility to empower students to reach their potential. She has been in business over 25 years serving the city and the community as a choreographer, performer and dance educator. Her choreography is sought after not only here in the Bay Area but also around the world, such as recent trips to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Japan, and New Orleans. She always returns to her work here in the Bay Area, hoping to train youth in order to make dance their first or second career.
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Molly Levy - Dance
Molly Levy was born and raised in the Bay Area. She has performed,
choreographed for, and directed En Pointe Youth Dance Company II. She
graduated from San Francisco School of the Arts in 2011 where she
studied ballet and contemporary dance with Elvia Marta, Lynn
Brilhante, and Gregory Dawson. In addition she received professional
classical ballet training from Elizabeth Godfrey and Alexis Drabek at
Berkeley City Ballet. She is thrilled to be the jazz dance teacher at
Jam Camp West 2011. |
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Mark Rosenthal-Steeldrum
Mark has been teaching steel drum classes in the Bay Area since 1996. He is now co-director of Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp, where he also teaches. After earning his BA in Music Performance at Humboldt State University in 1992, Mark traveled to Trinidad and performed with Phase 2 Pan Groove during the 1994 annual Panorama competition. He is also currently teaching at East Bay School of Science and Art, Head-Royce School, Joaquin Miller Elementary, and the annual summer jazz program Jazz Camp West.
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Chris Brague- Percussion
Chris Brague has been teaching and performing drumset and percussion in the bay area since 1995, playing styles ranging from West Africa to Cuba,
Haiti, and Brazil to the United States. He has performed with Ze Manel, Souroon Diabate, Dialy Kounda Kouyate, among many others, and was a member
of C.K. Ladzekpo's West African Music and Dance Ensemble for over 8 years. As an educator, Chris was in charge of the percussion program at Berkeley
Arts Magnet Elementary School from 2001 to 2003, and has taught throughout the San Francisco bay area through organizations such as The East Bay Center
for the Performing Arts, Young Performers International, and Alameda Healthy Start.
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Joshua Boronky- Mulit-Instrumentalist
Joshua Boronky is a multi-instrumentalist playing bass, guitar, and percussion. He started playing bass in a blues band in eighth grade and eventually
shifted over to guitar. After playing blues guitar for many years he decided to pursue an education in music. Joshua attended Humboldt State Universities
Music program where he received a BA in Music. While in Humboldt he fell in love with Cuban music. Joshua now lives in Alameda where he teaches fundamentals
of music to preschoolers and private lessons on bass, guitar and congas.
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Joshua Woodson - Turntable
Joshua Woodson started working with a digital recording workstation at Age 14. With only a Midi interface and an old Macintosh he was
able to produce several original recording that were never released. After a brief stint in the United States Navy, Joshua headed off
to San Diego City College. He also put together a small Digital Audio Workstation in his studio apartment and began familiarizing himself
with pro tools and Fruity loops. In 2006 he started Djing with two pro scratch digital turn tables. In 2007 He graduated with an associate's
Degree in digital Music. In 2008 Joshua Built another D.A.W. and is beginning to finish some of his earlier work to be made available on iTunes.
He is also working with world renowned Josiah Woodson on releasing his first anticipated album entitled Pipe dreamer.
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Tommy Shepherd AKA Soulati - Beatbox/Percussion
Tommy Shepherd, aka Soulati, is one of the co-founders of the live hip hop band, Felonious: onelovehiphop, which plays throughout the world and creates original,
theatrical productions. Felonious' latest album "Live City" coincided with a local
tour, and the launch of the band's new website www.feloniouslive.com.
Tommy has spent the past several years performing and touring internationally with Marc Bamuthi Joseph. Shepherd stays active working with a variety of collaborators, groups, and artists from a wide variety styles and mediums. Other credits include: creating
the score for Donald Lacy's touring show Color Struck, which has performed in
and out of theatres, including at the National Black Theatre Festival and for the
National Black Congress leading up to President Obama's election. |
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Maya Kronfeld - Accompanist
Maya Kronfeld is a rhythmically driven piano player and keyboardist. Born in Berkeley, CA to Israeli parents, she has performed in venues ranging
from Lincoln Center (NY) to the Viper Room (LA). In addition to her work as a leader of the Maya Kronfeld Trio (an original jazz project featured
recently on KCSM), Maya can be heard playing jazz and soul music alongside the Bay Area's finest artists, including Dave Ellis, Valerie Troutt and
Destani Wolf. Maya is currently the touring keyboardist for Grammy Award-winning artist Van Hunt. She recently performed with the Peninsula
Symphony as the keyboardist for Taylor Eigsti's band "Free Agency."
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