Connecting through art | Kenyatta Hughes | TEDxSingSing 2014
Kenyatta Hughes is a gifted composer, lyricist, actor and activist. He holds a Master's degree in Professional Studies from New York Theological Seminary. He is active in various programs including Musical Connections with Carnegie Hall, Rehabilitation Through the Arts, and Voices From Within - a comprehensive multimedia and education initiative that uniquely addresses the epidemic of gun violence directly through the voices of inmates living with the consequences of their choices. His talk, "Connecting Through Art", focuses on music and its ability to transcend superficiality and allowing people to connect at the purest level.
Composing community | Carnegie Hall at Sing Sing | TEDxSingSing 2014
“Music has definitely been the main discipline for me now. I wouldn’t be anywhere without music.” - Carnegie Hall workshop participant at Sing Sing. Five years ago, Carnegie Hall started a music program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. A workshop group of talented and highly committed men have collaborated with many different Carnegie Hall artists to create their own musical compositions and perform concerts for the prison population and staff. Together, they have shaped a community of learners and creative thinkers that come together with the aim of making great music. This performance communicates what the human and musical connections formed mean to prison participants, as well to the professional musicians involved, and features Sing Sing musician Pedro Collazo (composer) with Sing Sing collaborators from the workshop, alongside Carnegie Hall musicians, Emily Eagen (voice), Brad Balliett (bassoon), Meena Bhasin (viola), Claire Bryant (cello), Paul Won Jin Cho (clarinet), Anna Elashvili (violin), Kris Saebo (upright bass), and Laura Weiner (horn).
Al's rig | The New Blacktop Ramblers | TEDxMarionCorrectionalSalon 2014
Newgrass music originals from TEDxMarionCorrectional.The New Blacktop Ramblers started when they were asked if they would like to play some Newgrass music. Two weeks later with some positive feedback from passersby, the boys found that they had made something new and old at the same time. The guy on the mandolin was exposed to Newgrass growing up and his musical interests have stayed there. He is proud to hear that the new Bluegrass music is still in keeping with the old traditions. The guy on the guitar has been playing different genres of music for as long as he can remember. In this band everything ‘clicks’, which makes all that practice worth it. The guy on the bass says Newgrass music is a new endeavor for him, different from his usual HEAVY metal. This type of music is challenging and pure fun to play. What’s not to love?!?! After TEDxMarionCorrectional the band will continue ramblin’ on down that road.
Olentangy | The New Blacktop Ramblers | TEDxMarionCorrectionalSalon 2014
Newgrass originals from TEDxMarionCorrectional. The New Blacktop Ramblers started when they were asked if they would like to play some Newgrass music.Two weeks later with some positive feedback from passersby, the boys found that they had made something new and old at the same time.The guy on the mandolin was exposed to Newgrass growing up and his musical interests have stayed there. He is proud to hear that the new Bluegrass music is still in keeping with the old traditions.The guy on the guitar has been playing different genres of music for as long as he can remember. In this band everything ‘clicks’, which makes all that practice worth it. The guy on the bass says Newgrass music is a new endeavor for him, different from his usual heavy metal. This type of music is challenging and pure fun to play. What’s not to love?!?! After TEDxMarionCorrectional the band will continue ramblin’ on down that road.
Wrong side of the road/freedom | B.L. Shirelle | TEDxMuncyStatePrison 2014
“Wrong Side of the Road/ Freedom” by B.L. Shirelle. Members of the group include Monique Mull, guitarist, who also wrote the music and lyrics, Demetrius Patterson, rapper, Emily Smith, guitarist, and Kelly Klunk, lead vocals. Ms. Mull says that the two songs are representative of the mistakes made in their lives that led them to prison. While there may be a number of causes that led them to criminal behavior, Ms. Mull says, they all know that they always had a choice to do otherwise. Members of the group include Monique Mull, guitarist, who also wrote the music and lyrics, Demetrius Patterson, rapper, Emily Smith, guitarist, and Kelly Klunk, lead vocals. Inmates at Muncy State Prison.
Don’t follow me | 5 Man Mega-Band | TEDxMarionCorrectional 2014
Watch The Mega-Band; Kurtis Dewitt, Steve Hickman, Ben Hudach, Kyle Kelly and Christopher Williams as they use music to express change, growth and the pitfalls of human frailty. six.word.bio: 5 man mega-band doing acoustical jam.
Higher consciousness | Jamson Evolving | TEDxMarionCorrectional 2013
The band Jamson Evolving was started outside of prison by Nick Lombardi and in its present form includes bassist Chris Williams and drummer Lee Andrews. Guitarist/singer-songwriter Nick Lombardi has been playing music for 20 years. He considers his musical style to be in the jam-band genre (Grateful Dead, Phish, etc.) He's also pursuing a career in 3D animation and hopes to apply that to music; similar to the work of Disney, Looney Tunes, & Pink Floyd's The Wall Tour. Lee Andrews has been a musician for 20 years. He plays drums in heavy metal/rock bands. He is also a gifted and up-and-coming singer/song-writer as well as guitarist in country music. Chris Williams has been playing music for 35 years. He is an exceptionally talented guitar player and also plays bass. He likes to focus on rock music. Check out Jamson Evolving on Facebook.