A World Premiere
with Marcus Miller and Herbie Hancock,
The Juilliard Orchestra conducted by Damon Gupton,
and the 100-Voice Avanti Choir
Produced by
Voza Rivers/New Heritage Theatre Group,
Les Artistes Entertainment and Kathryn C. Chenault
Friday, November 4, 2005 at 8:00 p.m.
Frederick P. Rose Hall
Home of Jazz @ Lincoln Center
Internationally renowned tenor, artistic director and vocal coach to the stars, Kenn Hicks, will introduce a groundbreaking musical style to New York audiences on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 8:00 p.m. in the Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz @ Lincoln Center (Broadway at 60thStreet, NYC). This new music is called Avanti. Avanti, an Italian word that means “straight ahead” or “forward,” fuses Opera, Jazz, and Spirituals in a symphonic setting creating a delectable palate for the listening audience.
“Avanti is a style that embraces musical history mixed with a vision that spans infinity,” Hicks said.
Kenn Hicks Sings Avanti is a dazzling artistic collaboration between Hicks and Grammy Award winning jazz bassist Marcus Miller. Hicks and Miller will transform popular tenor arias and American Spirituals, with the assistance of the legendary pianist Herbie Hancock, in a landmark concert that will feature the life-long musical passions of Hicks, an artist described as “Pavarotti with the soul of Marvin Gaye.” The Juilliard Jazz Ensemble Orchestra, conducted by Damon Gupton, and the 100-voice Avanti Choir, featuring some of the best singers from outstanding New York City church choirs, will round out an evening that will launch the Kenn Hicks Sings Avanti CD.
Hicks’ legendary career spans the entire music industry from his debut performance in the Broadway production of Scott Joplin’s opera “Treemonisha,” to international stages in Europe, as well as vocal coach to stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Sting, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Spice Girls, and John Legend. He was also the dynamic vocal coach and artistic director as part of the makeover dream team for Oprah Winfrey’s Pop Star Challenge.
Kenn Hicks Sings Avanti is being presented by a team of producers with extraordinary vision. Veteran Broadway and Off-Broadway producer Voza Rivers, executive producer of New Heritage Theatre Group, Les Artistes Entertainment, Hicks’ production company now celebrating its 10th anniversary, and corporate attorney Kathryn C. Chenault have joined forces to bring Avanti to the musical forefront. The Jazz @ Lincoln Center debut of the project is just the first stop in plans that also include an international tour.
“Working with Kenn Hicks and the Avanti project is synonymous with working with the best that America and the world have to offer,“ Rivers said. “Avanti is a language that does not have any limitations.“
" Kenn Hicks' performances are mesmerizing,” Chenault said. “He combines various types of music in a special, unique way that only he can achieve.”
Tickets for Kenn Hicks Sings Avanti are $75 and $40. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Jazz @ Lincoln Center Box, by calling Center Charge at 212-721-6500 or visiting
www.jalc.org or
www.kennhicks.com. Golden Circle tickets, which will include special VIP seating and a post performance reception with the artists, are $250 per person. For Golden Circle tickets call 212-926-2550 or visit
www.newheritagetheatre.org.
Kenn Hicks Sings Avanti concert is dedicated to the Hurricane Katrina Survivors. A portion of the concert proceeds will go to the NAACP Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.
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