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Singing Nina - Festival & Conference Honoring Nina Simone

Singing Nina

NEWS FLASH!!!

 

They Are BACK For More!!!

 

"Dear Nina: a sonic love letter to Nina Simone"
with Drea d'Nur & Strings by Rootstock Republic

 

Sunday, September 29, 2019 - 4:00 PM & 8:00 PM

 

Milo - The Meeting House

7165 Germantown Ave.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19119

 

FOR TICKETS

 

Just in case, you missed out on Singing Nina: a cultural festival and conference a couple months ago, this revetting performance is making a return to Philadelphia. If you love great music, if you love great artistry, if you are ready to be blown away, then DO NOT MISS THIS!!

 

Drea d'Nur (Vocalist/Pianist) accompanied by a 6-piece string ensemble, courtesy of Rootstock Republic: present this uniquely intimate and newly orchestrated songbook of Nina Simone's Love Songs, Blues and Protest Music.

 

Nina Simone A1

 

"Dear Nina: a sonic love letter to Nina Simone"
with Drea d'Nur & Strings by Rootstock Republic

 

Sunday, September 29, 2019 - 4:00 PM & 8:00 PM

 

Milo - The Meeting House

7165 Germantown Ave.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19119

 

FOR TICKETS

 

Rootstock Republic Poster

 

ORIGINAL POST:

 

Singing Nina - Festival & Conference Honoring Nina Simone

Sunday, May 19th, 2019

Germantown, Philadelphia, PA

For Details: CLICK HERE

 

Singing Nina: a cultural festival and conference,” is a one day, multi-location event being held in the Germantown section of Philadelphia on Sunday, May 19th, 2019. Presented by Germantown Arts, the mission is to celebrate the life and music of the cultural icon, Nina Simone.

 

EVENT SCHEDULE:

 

1 - 2:30pm - Screening of the documentary, "What Happened, Miss Simone"

                     People's Sanctuary | 5507 Germantown Ave., Phila., PA 19144

 

2:45 - 3:45pm - Panel Discussion of Nina Simone's Life and Work

                         People's Sanctuary | 5507 Germantown Ave., Phila., PA 19144

 

4 - 6:30pm - VIP Event & Reception with Food & Drink / Music by M’Balia Singley

                    Germantown Historical Society | 5501 Germantown Ave., Phila., PA 19144

 

4 - 6:30pm - Garden Party with DJ Rich Medina

                    Food & Drink Available For Purchase

                    Wyck House | 6026 Germantown Ave., Phila., PA 19144

 

7:00pm - "Dear Nina"  A Sonic Love Letter To Nina Simone

                 Drea D'Nur & Strings By Rootstock Republic

                 Rittenhouse Filmworks | 219 W. Rittenhouse St., Phila., PA 19144

 

Nina Simone 1

The event's organizers are David Rose, Brendan McGeehan, and Jim Hamilton. David Rose is principal curator at Sally Blagg, a Germantown-based creativity agency with a focus on connecting conglomerates to the communities that they serve for maximum growth and impact. Jim Hamilton is a Germantown-based musician, sound engineer, record producer, entrepreneur and owner of Rittenhouse Soundworks & Filmworks. Brendan McGeehan is a recording engineer, educator, record producer, arranger and session musician who produces concerts and teaches sound design.

 

PJP spoke with the Singing Nina festival co-organizers by David Rose, Brendan McGeehan, and Jim Hamilton about the collaboration and what's coming up.

 

PJP: Can you briefly describe your musical direction?

 

David Rose: The overarching idea is to shed light on the arch of inspiration for Ms. Simone; the deepest intent is to breathe life into the artists inspiration that stemmed from classical composition on the piano. In artistry, as in life, we tend to attempt to place people in boxes but jazz is unboxed. In that spirit we have taken what began as a conversation about Ms. Simone's rooted inspiration in the classics (Bach, Brahms, Beethoven) and placed it at the center of our vision board. Everything else closed from that central point.

 

Singing Nina 3

PJP: What is the Nina Simone Conference about?

 

David Rose: At core, this conference is about the community that already exists around Ms. Simone. Think of it as a family reunion; our team is just on the guys and gals on the grill. 

 

Brendan McGeehan: It’s important to us to try and shed light on Miss Simone as an artist and as a person. Her influence goes beyond any one genre, and beyond music into culture and politics. That’s why we plan to show the edifying documentary, “What Happened, Miss Simone,” followed up by a panel discussion about her life and music. Then, attendees will stroll down Germantown Avenue to the historic Wyck House for a garden party, with a DJ spinning tunes that sample Ms Simone’s music. The festival ends with “Dear Nina,” a program of Miss Simon’s music arranged for string orchestra and voice.

 

PJP: Who is taking part in it?

 

Our confirmed sponsors and partners to date include:

Sally Blagg, LLC

Historic Germantown

Curtis Institute of Music

Rittenhouse Soundworks and Filmworks

The Wyck House & Garden

Uncle Bobbies Books & Coffee

Germantown Espresso Bar

 

Projected Performers include:

DJ Rich Medina

Rootstock Republic

 

Rootstock Republic

 

DJ Rich Medina

PJP: Why is this theme/concept so important? Can you explain your process and the steps that led to this festival?   

 

Jim Hamilton: Brendan and David were talking over coffee and said “what if”. Then, they asked me and the three of us said let’s do it. One of the things that got us excited in the planning stage was using the event as a way of bringing our Northwest community together. It’s only through shared cultural experiences that we can truly bring our community together. 

 

PJP: When listening or participating in the festival what advice would you give the audience to assist with greater understanding and enjoyment?

 

David Rose: Be present in mind body and spirit!

 

Brendan McGeehan: We want this event to be nourishing to the mind and soul, and we hope our events reflect that. We wish for the audience to be welcome and open to the experience.

 

PJP: We at PJP know how difficult taking on this important work can be. There's always something else to do. What kinds of support can the community give to help with the effort and its ongoing success?

 

Jim Hamilton: Provide funding

 

Brendan McGeehan: We’d love for people to get involved with our Kickstarter campaign, or to grab Pre-Sale Tickets to the event.

 

Nina Simone 2

 

PJP: Why Jazz? When you could be doing anything else, why Jazz?

 

Jim Hamilton: I guess the question means any other kind of music other than jazz. Jazz is not a kind of music it’s more like a language. Nina Simone is put into a jazz category because there’s nowhere else to put her. We’re just trying to honor her artistry and her memory specifically because she has such a strong Philadelphia connection. We also feel that it’s very important for Philadelphia to claim it’s own history and celebrate it. 

 

Singing Nina - Festival & Conference Honoring Nina Simone

Sunday, May 19th, 2019

Germantown, Philadelphia, PA

For Details: CLICK HERE

 

Nina Simone in action!!!

 

 

Dear Nina: A Sonic Love Letter to Nina Simone

 

 

DJ Rich Medina

 

 

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Philadelphia Jazz Project is a sponsored project of the Culture Trust | Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Philadelphia Foundation.

 

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Tags : NinaSimone SingingNina DearNina Germantown Philadelphia Festival Conference Celebration Screening GardenParty Concert GermantownArts WhatHappenedMissSimone? Milo TheMeetingHouse GermantownHistoricalSociety WyckHouse RootstockRepublic DJRichMedina CurtisInstituteofMusic DavidRose BrendanMcGeehan JimHamilton SallyBlagg HistoricGermantown RittenhouseSoundworks UncleBobbiesBooks&Coffee GermantownEspressoBar SocialActivism ProtestMusic BlackClassicalMusic MasterPianist

 

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Philadelphia Jazz Project is a sponsored project of the Culture Trust | Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Philadelphia Foundation.