jazz concert
February 5, 2013
By: Carol Banks Weber
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“As an independent artist-producer, I also want to show youth that they can create their own opportunities, rather than wait for someone else to create them. That is what I have done with Twist since its inception in 2007.” –Lua Hadar
Not a lot of jazz artists are trying to do what Bay Area vocalist Lua Hadar already does on a regular basis. She and her band Twist go global wherever they gig, taking world-wide influences to heart in jazzy, dishy remixes. Not just for the far out music either, but for a mind-broadening, communal, loving world altogether.
A 70-minute, live studio concert CD/DVD, “Like A Bridge” showcases the United Nations in Hadar/Twist’s own particular brand of jazz, with the vocalist singing in seven languages, including Malagasy, Japanese, and Italian – a loving, welcoming force in music.
Officially released back in November, “Like A Bridge” enjoyed a wider audience of music listeners and music critics who appreciated Hadar’s call to unity, from as far off as Germany and the Netherlands, to Great Britain and Brazil. “Our new DVD encourages people to be like a bridge to each other in promoting understanding of differing languages, cultures, and ideas,” Hadar described.
Through the universal language of music, enriched by jazz and touched by inspiration from all over, Lua Hadar and her five-piece global jazz band Twist come together with special guest star, 14-year-old singer/songwriter Josh Reinier, for a special Celebrating Women Musicians Concert Series.
Hadar’s band Twist is made up of music director/pianist Jason Martineau, bassist Dan Feiszli, drummer Celso Alberti, global percussionist Ian Dogole, and reedist Larry De La Cruz. They can’t wait to play it straight, with swinging standards , as well as bring some cosmopolitan flavor to their music, while hopefully bringing everyone in the audience together with the universal language of love.
“We’re honored to perform in this series, which was created to inspire musical excellence through positive role models,” Hadar explained. “As a teaching artist, I know that what we directly teach our youth is just as potent as what models we show them. I felt this would be a perfect opportunity to present young Josh Reinier, with whom I had the pleasure of working at the San Francisco Opera. As an independent artist-producer, I also want to show youth that they can create their own opportunities, rather than wait for someone else to create them. That is what I have done with Twist since its inception in 2007.”
Open to the entire family, Hadar/Twist’s cosmopolitan jazz concert starts at 8 p.m., February 16, at Oakland’s non-profit Musically Minded Academy on 5776 Broadway in the Rockridge area. Tickets are $15 in advance/$20 at the door, $8 for students, seniors, and children/$12 at the door. Info: (510) 601-5700.
The Rockridge area music school fosters a love of music in the community, often for those who cannot afford it. Music lovers can go there for concerts, educational programs, and mentorship. The Musically Minded Academy hosts the Celebrating Women Musicians Concert Series as a way to reinforce positive musical role models out there for today’s youth especially.
