Exhibit

Music Series

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The Second Friday of each month! 

The series celebrates the rich heritage of African American musicians with ties to Eastern North Carolina, with artistic director, Carroll V. Dashiell, Jr., a house band, and a special monthly guest artist. The music series is part of the African American Music Trails of Eastern North Carolina, a project of the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources and the counties of Edgecombe, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Nash, Pitt, Wayne, and Wilson. Find a guidebook and more information at www.AfricanAmericanMusicNC.com.

Cost: Free

Location: Emerge Gallery & Art Center

Next Concert Date: October 13, 2023

Schedule

  • October 13, 2023 - Vanessa Rubin (jazz vocalist), Allyn Johnson (pianist), Kobie Watkins (drums), and Carroll V. Dashiell, Jr. (bass)
  • November 10, 2023 - Rachel Howard, jazz vocalist

  •        

    VanessaRubin                       

    Vanessa rubin

    Revered as both a torchbearer and a storyteller, jazz vocalist Vanessa Rubin possesses a voice hailed for crystalline clarity, hearth-like warmth and playful lioness sass. The Cleveland native brings a wealth of diverse influences to her vocal performance from both the Trinidadian and Caribbean roots of her mother and traditional jazz by way of her Louisiana-born father. Rubin continues to be a favorite at jazz clubs and festivals here in the US and abroad. Her work as a producer and educator/clinician with youth in communities as well as in educational institutions worldwide is ongoing.


           

    Allyn Johnson                         

    ALLYN JOHNSON

    Allyn Johnson is a multi-talented musician, composer, arranger and producer whose trademark sound gives brilliance and fortitude to the art of jazz improvisation. In 2005, Allyn started an ensemble combining Gospel, Jazz and Classical music called Divine Order. He also has a group called Sonic Sanctuary which may be heard as his trio or small ensemble which ranges from acoustic straight ahead jazz to jazz fusion and funk. No matter what configuration Allyn may be heard in, you can best believe it will be just "good music for the soul".


           

    Kobie Watkins                         

    Kobie Watkins

    A native of Chicago, Kobie Watkins began as a small child listening and watching his father (Alious C. Watkins) playing drums in the church. Kobie started with pots and pans as a toddler. Yet over time he has developed a personal system of timely discipline and structure for music and life skill. He has progressed into who he is today, professional drummer, percussionist and music educator.


           

    Carroll Dashiell                                                                 

    ABOUT CARROLL V. DASHIELL, JR.

    The North Carolina Arts Council, Pitt County Arts Council, and the Greenville-Pitt Convention & Visitor's Bureau named Carroll V. Dashiell, Jr. Artistic Director of The African American Music Series in 2016. Carroll Dashiell is a native of Washington, DC. A graduate of Howard University, with citations in Who's Who in Music and Down Beat Magazine, Carroll has been recognized for excellence in the music industry as a bassist, musical director/conductor and also as a composer/arranger. Affectionately known as CVD, he has been involved in academia for more than three decades serving as professor of music at the Saint Mary's College of Maryland, University of the District of Columbia and East Carolina University in North Carolina. CVD is the producer and writer of A Tribute to Motown Records, (a stage show and concert that celebrates some of the African-American's cultural contributions to the music industry, staged in the tradition of the famous touring Motown Review) that is selling out theaters and venues nation-wide. In addition to composing, writing and arranging, CVD is continuing performance as jazz bassist and is very humbled to be the Founder and Director of the Dr. Billy Taylor Jazz Festival, named in honor of his mentor.

    Presented by
    First Flight Logo 2023  
    Sponsored by
    NCAC_png             CVB
    CFAC             CVD

             Christie Martin and Randall Martoccia

    Special Thanks to
    south arts NEA