Imani Winds
Encyclopedia
Imani Winds is an American wind quintet
based in New York
. The group was founded in 1997 and is known for its adventurous programming, which includes newly composed works, as well as compositions featuring African, Latin America
n, and American influences. They have presented premieres by composers including Paquito D'Rivera
, Mohammed Fairouz
, Wayne Shorter
, Richard Wernick
, Fred Ho
, Kenji Bunch, and Bruce Adolphe
.
The group has released four CDs. Their first CD on a major label, The Classical Underground (Koch Entertainment
), was released in January 2005 and was nominated for a Grammy award
in 2006.
Imani Winds have toured throughout the United States and Canada, and participated in Chamber Music Society Two, a professional residency program of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
. In addition, Imani has toured internationally and recorded with saxophonist Steve Coleman
, performed with pop recording artists and opened for Cassandra Wilson
and Wynton Marsalis
. They have appeared on radio programs including Saint Paul Sunday
, Performance Today
, News & Notes
, The Bob Edwards Show
, and The World
.
The group's members are of African American
and Latin American ancestry, and the name Imani means "faith" in the Swahili
language.
In 2001 they won a scholarship with the Concert Artists Guild
.
Valerie Coleman recently composed the music for the symphonic winds or Roma High School named "Gypsy Run" dedicated to the students of Roma High School, Texas. She composed it in the summer of 2009 and the recording was available to the Audience in spring of 2010.
With Steve Coleman
Wind quintet
A wind quintet, also sometimes known as a woodwind quintet, is a group of five wind players . The term also applies to a composition for such a group....
based in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The group was founded in 1997 and is known for its adventurous programming, which includes newly composed works, as well as compositions featuring African, Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n, and American influences. They have presented premieres by composers including Paquito D'Rivera
Paquito D'Rivera
Paquito D'Rivera is a Cuban alto saxophonist, clarinetist and soprano saxophonist. The winner of multiple Grammys and other awards, D'Rivera has lived in the United States since the early 1980s. He has worked in a variety of contexts, but is perhaps best known for playing Latin...
, Mohammed Fairouz
Mohammed Fairouz
Mohammed Fairouz is an Arab American composer.Having fulfilling many commissions and created a substantial body of frequently performed works, he is considered one of the most sought after composers of the young generation. Fairouz began composing at an early age and studied at the New England...
, Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter is an American jazz saxophonist and composer.He is generally acknowledged to be jazz's greatest living composer, and many of his compositions have become standards...
, Richard Wernick
Richard Wernick
Richard Wernick in Boston, Massachusetts is a US composer. He is best known for his composition "Visions of Terror and Wonder," which won the 1977 Pulitzer Prize for Music.-Career:...
, Fred Ho
Fred Ho
Fred Ho is an American jazz baritone saxophonist, composer, bandleader, playwright, writer, and social activist....
, Kenji Bunch, and Bruce Adolphe
Bruce Adolphe
Bruce Adolphe is a U.S. composer and music scholar, the author of several books on music, and pianist. His current positions include Resident Lecturer and Director of Family Concerts of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and founder and creative director of The Learning Maestros,...
.
The group has released four CDs. Their first CD on a major label, The Classical Underground (Koch Entertainment
Koch Entertainment
Koch Entertainment was a music, film and television distribution company. It was purchased by E1 Entertainment in 2005 and now operates under the name E1 Entertainment.-History:The company began in 1975 as Koch International...
), was released in January 2005 and was nominated for a Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 2006.
Imani Winds have toured throughout the United States and Canada, and participated in Chamber Music Society Two, a professional residency program of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center is an American organization dedicated to the performance and promotion of chamber music. Its website states that it is "the nation’s premier repertory company for chamber music."...
. In addition, Imani has toured internationally and recorded with saxophonist Steve Coleman
Steve Coleman
Steve Coleman, born , is an African American saxophone player, spontaneous composer, composer and band leader. His music and concepts have been a heavy influence on contemporary jazz.-Chicago:...
, performed with pop recording artists and opened for Cassandra Wilson
Cassandra Wilson
Cassandra Wilson is an American jazz musician, vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Jackson, Mississippi. Described by critic Gary Giddins as "a singer blessed with an unmistakable timbre and attack [who has] expanded the playing field" by incorporating country, blues and folk music into her...
and Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
. They have appeared on radio programs including Saint Paul Sunday
Saint Paul Sunday
Saint Paul Sunday is a Peabody Award-winning weekly classical music radio program, hosted by Bill McGlaughlin. It is America's most widely listened to weekly classical music program produced by public radio, and airs on approximately 200 stations nationwide. Programs since 1997 are also available...
, Performance Today
Performance Today
Performance Today is a Peabody Award-winning classical music radio show, currently hosted by Fred Child. It is the most listened-to daily classical music radio program in the United States, with 1.2 million listeners on 237 stations...
, News & Notes
News & Notes
News & Notes was a National Public Radio program focusing on issues affecting African-Americans and African diaspora communities. The listernership was multiracial and international. The program aired for one hour each weekday and was hosted by Farai Chideya until January 16, 2009, and then by Tony...
, The Bob Edwards Show
The Bob Edwards Show
The Bob Edwards Show is an American radio program presented by Sirius XM Satellite Radio every weekday morning at 8 a.m. Eastern, with repeats at 8 a.m. Central, 7 a.m. Pacific, 6 p.m. Mountain, and the next morning at 7 a.m. Eastern...
, and The World
The World (radio program)
PRI's The World is a global news radio, audio and multi-platform program created by Public Radio International based on the program's congruence with PRI's mission, and in order to fulfill the critical need for more original global news created for and provided to Americans. This was partly a...
.
The group's members are of African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and Latin American ancestry, and the name Imani means "faith" in the Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
language.
In 2001 they won a scholarship with the Concert Artists Guild
Concert Artists Guild
The Concert Artists Guild is an American musical institution, based in New York City and established in 1951. It is dedicated to discovering and nurturing musical talent and helping musicians start careers...
.
Grammy
- Career Wins:
- Career Nominations: 1
| Imani Winds Grammy Awards History | |||||
| Year | Category | Genre | Title | Label | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Best Classical Crossover Album | Classical | The Classical Underground | Koch Int'l Classics | Nominated |
Honors
- American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers: 2007 ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards
- ASCAP "Adventurous Programming" Award - Self-Presenting Chamber Ensembles - Mixed Repertory in 2005
- 2001 Concert Artists GuildConcert Artists GuildThe Concert Artists Guild is an American musical institution, based in New York City and established in 1951. It is dedicated to discovering and nurturing musical talent and helping musicians start careers...
award
Valerie Coleman recently composed the music for the symphonic winds or Roma High School named "Gypsy Run" dedicated to the students of Roma High School, Texas. She composed it in the summer of 2009 and the recording was available to the Audience in spring of 2010.
Discography
| Year | Title | Genre | Label | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Josephine Baker: A Life of Le Jazz Hot! | Cabaret tunes | Koch Int'l Classics | ||
| 2006 | Imani Winds | Jazz | Koch Int'l Classics | ||
| 2005 | The Classical Underground | Classical | Koch Int'l Classics | ||
| 2002 | Umoja | Classical | Self-Produced | featured original works by flutist Valerie Coleman |
With Steve Coleman
Steve Coleman
Steve Coleman, born , is an African American saxophone player, spontaneous composer, composer and band leader. His music and concepts have been a heavy influence on contemporary jazz.-Chicago:...
- 1999 - The Ascension to Light
External links
- Imani Winds official site
- Imani Winds page at Jay K. Hoffman & Associates, Inc. site
- Imani Winds page from Alliance Artist Management site
- Valerie Coleman Website of Flutist and founder of Imani Winds
Listening
- Imani Winds on All Things Considered radio program, June 8, 2005
- Imani Winds on Performance Today radio program, February 22, 2006
- Imani Winds on News & Notes radio program, May 23, 2006
- Imani Winds on All Things Considered radio program, June 11, 2007