JAZZ AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESENTS LEGENDARY VOCALIST NNENNA FREELON IN CONCERT FREELON WILL PERFORM ALONGSIDE STUDENTS IN PRINCETON UNIVERSITY’S JAZZ VOCAL COLLECTIVE

JAZZ AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESENTS LEGENDARY VOCALIST NNENNA FREELON IN CONCERT

FREELON WILL PERFORM ALONGSIDE STUDENTS IN

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY’S JAZZ VOCAL COLLECTIVE

“Nnenna Freelon possesses that rarest of qualities…she makes (standards) sound freshly minted…her phrasing is original…she mines the (melodies) for new and hidden meaning…imaginative spirit that reaches out and bubbles over.” – Robert L. Daniels, Variety

“Be sure to check out Nnenna Freelon…very hip music.” – Aretha Franklin

Jazz at Princeton University, helmed by acclaimed saxophonist/composer Rudresh Mahanthappa, continues its dynamic and compelling 2018-2019 Season with a concert featuring world-renowned jazz singer, composer, producer, arranger, and six-time Grammy nominee Nnenna Freelon on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 8 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall.  Freelon will perform with Princeton University students in the Jazz Vocal Collective, Princeton’s elite small jazz student ensemble directed by Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin. Tickets $15 General/$5 Students. For information and tickets call 609-258-9220 or visit music.princeton.edu

ABOUT NNENNA FREELON

Six-time Grammy nominee Nnenna Freelon has earned a well-deserved reputation as a compelling and captivating live performer. In 2014 she starred in the critically acclaimed show “Georgia on My Mind: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles” in Las Vegas. Freelon toured with Charles, as well as other great artists including Ellis Marsalis, Al Jarreau, and George Benson. She is the writer, composer, and producer of the original theatrical presentation of “The Clothesline Muse,” a devised theatrical work of dance, music, spoken word, vibrant art and projections. It premiered in Philadelphia in 2013 with a national tour following in 2015. Freelon has always had a passion for education, and in November 2011 was asked by The White House to headline the Asia Pacific Economic Summit for 300 Presidents, Premiers, and Heads of State from around the world. Freelon performed in Laura Karpman’s undertaking of Langston Hughes’ “Ask Your Mama” at the Apollo Theater and at a Hollywood Bowl concert with Jessye Norman and The Roots. She has also performed at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, on In Performance at the White House, and had a featured song in the hit TV show “Mad Men.” Awards include the Billie Holiday Award from Academie du Jazz, Eubie Blake Award from NYC’s Cultural Crossroads Center, and two nominations for Lady of Soul by Soul Train Awards.

ABOUT DR. TRINEICE ROBINSON-MARTIN

Internationally recognized as one of the leading pedagogues in gospel and soul voice training and vocal technique, Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin is a force within the academic, religious, and performance communities. Her pioneering scholarship on gospel vocal techniques and performance practices can be found in Journal of Singing, Teaching in the 21st Century ed. by Harrison and O’Brian; and So You Want to Sing Gospel and Voice Training for the Gospel Soloist. Creator of Soul Ingredients™, Dr. Trineice holds doctoral and master’s degrees from Teachers College Columbia University in music education with an emphasis in contemporary commercial music vocal pedagogy, and a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from Indiana University-Bloomington. Her performance experience spans a variety of musical styles, venues and settings: the intimacy of private parties and local clubs, the grand stages of musical arts centers and large music festivals, and international stages. Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin is the Executive Director of the African American Jazz Caucus, Inc.; serves on the national faculty of Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc.; and is a certified instructor in Somatic VoiceworkTM the LoVetri Method.

ABOUT JAZZ AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

Jazz at Princeton University, under the direction of Rudresh Mahanthappa, serves to promote this uniquely American music as a contemporary and relevant art form.  The program’s goals are to convey the vast musical and social history of jazz, establish a strong theoretical and stylistic foundation with regard to improvisation and composition, and emphasize the development of individual expression and creativity. Offerings of this program include academic coursework, performing ensembles, master classes, private study, and independent projects. Students also have the opportunity to participate in academic courses from the music department curriculum that encourage the study of the historical, social, theoretical, stylistic, and creative issues that pertain to the jazz idiom.

Jazz at Princeton’s six major student ensembles include the Creative Large Ensemble directed by Darcy James Argue, Small Groups I and A directed by Mahanthappa, Small Group X directed by Matthew Parrish, the Jazz Vocal Collective directed by Trineice Robinson-Martin, and the Vocal Improvisation Ensemble directed by Jay Clayton.

This year’s exciting programming also features guest artists including world renowned vocalist Terri Lyne Carrington (May 11, 2019), and the first ever outdoor jazz festival. “With the contribution of so many of jazz’s most articulate voices – both as guest artists and ensemble leaders – we are thrilled to offer performances that will engage, inspire and entertain students, educators and the community at large,” says Mahanthappa.