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***OUTASITE MUSICAL COLLABORATION BAND SITES
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2003 8 BOLD
SOULS
*(as of 02/07/2003)
Ed Wilkerson (tenor, alto), Mwata Bowden (baritone, clarinet), Isisah
Jackson (trombone), Robert Griffin (trumpet, flugelhorn), Gerald Powell (tuba),
Naomi Millender (cello), Harrison Bankhead (bass), Dushun Mosley (drums)
1) Edward Wilkerson, Jr.
(tenor, alto saxophone, clarinet, alto clarinet)
Edward L. Wilkerson, Jr. is
an internationally recognized composer, arranger, musician, and educator based
in Chicago. As founder and director of the cutting edge octet, 8 Bold Souls and
the twenty-five-member performance ensemble, Shadow Vignettes, Edward has
toured festivals and concert halls throughout the United States, Europe, Japan,
and the Middle East. Defender, a large-scale piece for Shadow Vignettes, was
commissioned by the Lila Wallace/Reader's Digest Fund and featured in the 10th
Anniversary of New Music America, a presentation of Brooklyn Academy of Music's
Next Wave Festival. The 1998 Chicago Jazz Festival featured another
commissioned work by Wilkerson entitled Dark Star. Wilkerson's work may be
heard on fourteen recordings, including two film soundtracks.
Wilkerson
has received grants from the Illinois Arts Council, the National Endowment for
the Arts, Meet the Composer, and the Community Arts Assistance Program, and has
been cited in numerous music polls. A former member of the Ethnic Heritage
Ensemble, Wilkerson has also played with such artists and groups as the AACM
Big Band, Roscoe Mitchell, Douglas Ewart, The Temptations, Chico Freeman, Gerri
Allen, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Muhal Richard Abrams, Aretha Franklin,
George Lewis, and many others.
2) Mwata Bowden
(baritone, tenor
saxophone, clarinet)
Having picked up 'one of those
old, metal, silver clarinets' in church when he was twelve, Mwata soon found
himself in the junior high school band and a couple of years later, playing at
DuSable High School for one of the most revered figures in Chicago Black Music,
Captain Walter Dyett. This was the man who had inspired and trained no less
than Nat 'King' Cole, Johnny Griffin, Gene Ammons, Von Freeman, Richard Davis,
Fred Hopkins, and other South Side music giants too numerous to mention. The
rigorous musical training Mwata received at DuSable earned him a spot at the
American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. As he came close to completing his
music education degree, reality set in. On his teacher's advice, Bowden picked
up a baritone saxophone and started working the big bands and the R&B
outfits that were so popular in Chicago in the late 60's. No sooner had Mwata
graduated than he was touring the country with the Chi-Lites, Bobby
"Blue" Bland, Albert King and other R&B groups. And it was this
time on the road that inevitably led him to the AACM, back home in Chicago.
During the past several years, Bowden has gone beyond the stage of discovery
into genuine mastery. In addition to the obvious technical virtuosity he
commands on baritone saxophone and clarinet, he has been able to put together
ensembles that develop his ideas on a somewhat larger scale. In his Sound
Spectrum and Tri-Tone ensembles, for instance, he has presented long and
complex compositions that nevertheless prove accessible to the uninitiated
listener. Above all, though the AACM remains the constant in his musical life.
Bowden is a former Chairman of the AACM.
3) Isaiah S. Jackson
(trombone, percussion)
Isiah was born in a small
town called Charleston, Mississippi. He began music studies in 6th grade with
Professor James O. Micou of Kosziesko, Mississippi. Isaiah did his
undergraduate studies at Mississippi Valley State University with Professor
O'Neal Sanford and Dr. Russell Boone. He also studied with Dr. Alvin Baptiste
at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Professors Bunky Green, Willie Pickens,
Bill Russo, Dr. Richard Wang and Muhal Richard Abrams. Through the years, he
has performed throughout the Mid-south and the Mid-west with artists such as
Little Johnny Taylor, Jimmy Reed, Otis Clay, Garland Green, Little Mack
Simmons, The Dells, and Third World. Presently he performs with Shadow
Vignettes and 8 Bold Souls, both groups under the direction of Edward Wilkerson
Jr.
Isaiah Jackson's
discography: 1973, with the Mandells of Chicago on the June Bug record label;
1976, with Edwin Rivera and La Poderosa (Tipica 76) on the Lydia label; 1977,
on Sea Saint label with Uncle Reamus and Jerry Weaver; 1985 with Shadow
Vignettes on Birth of a Notion, 1988 Video with John Toles-Bey called Honky
Tonk Bud; 1988 8 Bold Souls (8BS) on Sessoms Records; 1992 Sideshow, (8BS) on
Arabesque Record label, 1994 AntFarm, (8BS) on Arabesque Record Label; 1997
Vandy Harris and The Front Burners on Katumbi Records.
4) Robert Griffin, Jr.
(trumpet,
flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet)
Trumpeter Robert Griffin, Jr. grew up in Chicago in a family where expression
was a part of life. A father who played saxophone and a mother who was a dancer
naturally led Robert to experience life through the complex prism of music and
entertainment. He recalls family outings to the Tivolli and Regal Theaters
where he, on an average day, might see the Count Basie Orchestra, Art Farmer,
or Miles Davis, in addition to a movie and cartoon. An early dream was realized
when Robert played under the direction of Red Sanders in the Regal Theater
house band. This position along with jobbing around town allowed him to perform
with Nancy Wilson and Red/Holt Unlimited. It was in the early seventies that
Robert began performing with members of the AACM and began developing his
unique voice in creative music. Robert has been a member of Vandy Harris'
group, The Front Burners, The AACM Large Ensemble and 8 Bold Souls. Through the
years, he has also shared the stage with Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton,
Lester Bowie, Kahil El'Zabar, and many others.
5) Gerald Deon Powell
(tuba)
Gerald's love for music
started at the age of six, while singing in the children's choir at his church.
Little did his parents know that by the third grade, when he saw the Harvey Grade
School Band perform at his school, that Gerald would feel that he just had to
be a part of the band. By the fourth grade, Gerald's love for the low brass
began when his first band and music teacher assigned him to the trombone.
Several years later, the tuba became the instrument in which he could best
express his love for music. In 1995, he graduated from Morehouse College.
Upon the completion of college, Gerald began his teaching career. In 1996, fate crossed his path with Edward Wilkerson and he embarked upon the fruitful journey with the 8 Bold Souls. Currently, he enjoys a very rewarding teaching career at the Recovering the Gifted Child Academy, a Chicago public school, where he teaches choral music and band. At the age of 27, Gerald believes that there is so much left to accomplish. In addition to his professional aspirations, Gerald Powell is also a dedicated husband and father.
6)
Naomi Millender
(cello)
Naomi attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. Later in college
in Terre Haute, Indiana she was the first chair in the university's symphony
orchestra for three years. It was after college, in Chicago, that she started
playing and managing small chamber and community classical orchestras. She is a
founding member of The Gary Civic Orchestra and the string quartet, Heart
Strings. She currently performs with both groups. One day, in 1980, she
attended a concert at a college in Chicago and heard, for the first time the
AACM in. She approached Edward Wilkerson, Jr. and told him that she played the
cello. About five years later, Edward called her. She performed once with him,
and told Edward how much she enjoyed the experience, and to please call again.
Edward called within a few days. He was putting together a new group... 8 Bold
Souls.
7) Harrison Bankhead
(contrabass)
One of the distinguishing
characteristics of 8 Bold Souls has always been the preponderance of low
sounding instruments. Pinning down the root of these fundamental sonorities is
the contra bass where Harrison Bankhead holds court. Harrison is a native of
the city of Waukegan just north of Chicago. His musical development was
comprised of a variety of situations including studies at The Sherwood School of
Music and Northeastern University. Currently, Harrison studies with Roger Cline
of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Harrison is known as a musician who
appreciates a musical challenge. He has never shunned an opportunity to
participate in new and exciting ensembles and concerts where creativity
abounds. From flamenco, to classical, to gospel, to soul, Harrison has lent his
unique bass styling to enhance whatever ensemble is fortunate enough to have
his participation. Luckily he expends much of his musical energies with the
'Souls'. Additionally he has performed with Oliver Lake, Joshua Redman, Fred
Anderson, Von Freeman, The Waukegan Symphony, Roscoe Mitchell, Billy Pierce,
Billy Harper and many others.
8)Dushun Moseley
(trap drums,
percussion)
Dushun, percussionist, is a
performer, bandleader. Based in Chicago, he is the bandleader for the Vizitors
and the Signature Group, a member of the 8 Bold Souls, Frontburners, Chicago
3D, Shadow Vignettes and the AACM Big Band. Dushun has toured extensively as a
soloist, in duets, trios and big bands. He has been called upon to do numerous
engagements in social clubs, music halls and festivals in cities throughout the
United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and Japan. These
performances have contributed to his distinguished reputation as a forerunner
in this generation of innovators. His style combines traditional musics in a
combo band setting, but feels equally at home pushing big bands and orchestras
to their limit. He produced his first CD with the Vizitors which was released
in Fall of 1998.
He has performed with numerous entertainers such as Sasha Dolton, Roscoe Mitchell, Steve Colson, Douglas Ewart, Henry Threadgill, Anthony Davis, Don Moye, Don Cherry, Richard Muhal Abrams, Jodie Christian and others.
03/14/2003 HOTHOUSE
8 Bold Souls & The Don Byron Quintet
Friday, March 14
9pm, $20, $15 students, seniors & HH members free (21 & Over)