Press Release
For Immediate Release – contact: Vermont Jazz Center Director, Eugene Uman: eugene@vtjazz.org or 802 258 8822. Website – www.vtjazz.org
Summary:
When: November 15th, 2014, 8:00 PM
Where: Vermont Jazz Center, 72 Cotton Mill Hill, #222, Brattleboro, VT, 05301
What: Emerging Artist Concert with vocalists Integriti Reeves and Sarah Elizabeth Charles
Who: Intergriti Reeves voice, Sarah Elizabeth Charles, voice. The S.E. Rhythm Section: Jesse Elder (piano), Rahsaan Carter (bass), Guilhem Flouzat (drums). Brazilian guitarist, Caio Afiune.
How: Tickets available online at www.vtjazz.org, or by calling 802 254 9088, ext. 1 or at In the Moment Records, Main St. Brattleboro
VJC Emerging Artist Series Celebrates Vocalists Sarah Elizabeth Charles and Integriti Reeves
The Vermont Jazz Center welcomes two treasured alumni to perform at the Vermont Jazz Center on November 15th at 8:00 PM as part of their Emerging Artist Series. After years of study and performance, vocalists Sarah Elizabeth Charles and Integriti Reeves have risen from dedicated students to seasoned professionals and in doing so have cultivated respect from peers and professionals throughout the national jazz scene. When Integriti and Sarah Elizabeth began their studies with Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton at the VJC’s summer jazz workshop about 10 years ago, the seeds of their commitment, self-discipline, diligent effort and abundant talent were already bearing fruit. Both have recently completed their academic training and are currently “in the trenches,” teaching, recording and confidently performing at some of jazz’s most prestigious venues. Their hard work has paid off and “now is the time” for them to develop recognition amongst a wider public.
Without a doubt, Sarah Elizabeth Charles and Integriti Reeves are well up to the task. In fact, you could say they’ve both been grooming for it their whole lives. They’ve both been nurtured by loving families who have encouraged their musical talents and facilitated their dreams. As young women, both participated in top-shelf music education programs, Integriti at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC (alumni include her friend, Ben Williams as well as Me’Shell Ndegéocello, Dave Chapell, Wallace Roney) and Sarah under the tutelage of Dr. Billy Taylor at Jazz in July and at the Springfield Community Musical School. Both studied with Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton at the VJC. Both were participants of the highly competitive Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead composition/performance residency. Sarah described her early musical experiences as having “…rooted [her] into a grounded artistic space that would serve to inform the remainder of her musical development in the most healthy, curious, creative, and responsible way [she] could have ever imagined.”
Sarah and Integriti will be performing jazz standards and original compositions at the VJC. They will be singing separately with Sarah’s working quartet comprised of pianist Jesse Elder, bassist, Rahsaan Carter and drummer Guilhem Flouzat. Integreti who has blossomed into a serious bossa nova singer, will also be joined by Brazilian guitarist, Caio Afiune. All of these young musicians are in their mid-twenties; they share a common love for the music as well as a focused drive to keep their vigorous momentum, they also share uncommon talent, a high level of expertise and a deep passion for music.
Sarah Elizabeth Charles is a vocalist and composer now based in New York City; she is a member of Manner Effect and The Enoch Smith Jr. Trio and also leads her own group, the S.E.Charles Quartet which performs and records her own compositions/arrangements. She maintains a busy schedule performing throughout New York City at such venues as the Apollo Theatre (with Geri Allen), Blue Note NYC, Dizzy’s Club Coca cola, The Iridium, Smalls Jazz Club, Zinc Bar NYC, and New York Couture Fashion Week. Performances outside of the city have taken her to the International Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland playing opposite Jack DeJohnette, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Gillette Stadium, and The Northampton Center for the Arts. Sarah graduated with a BFA from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and holds a BA from Eugene Lang College. Since beginning her journey as a jazz musician, she has studied (and often performed ) with her mentors Jimmy Owens, Geri Allen, Dr. Billy Taylor, Sheila Jordan, Cecil Bridgewater, Reggie Workman, George Cables, Junior Mance, Richard Harper, Janet Lawson, and Carmen Lundy. Following the 2012 release of her Quartet’s debut recording, ”Red”, Sarah’s music has continued to evolve – her repertoire includes uniquely crafted originals, contemporary arrangements of jazz standards and re-workings of Haitian folklore music. Sarah and the quartet are currently working on a new album, coproduced by Christian Scott.
Integriti Reeves’ “Modern Vintage” style exists at the crossroads of jazz music, embodying the past, present, and future of the genre. In 2013 Integriti served as an Artist-In-Residence at Strathmore hall arts center. In early 2014, Integriti participated in the Betty Carter’s Jazz ahead program at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In May of 2014, Integriti received the degree of Master of Music from Howard University. Her debut solo EP Stairway to the Stars features an eclectic mix of jazz standards, Brazilian rhythms and pop influences was released in March of 2014. Integriti has performed with many renowned contemporary jazz and pop artists including; Herbie Hancock, Ernie Andrews, Geri Allan, Esperanza Spaulding, Stevie Wonder, Bobby Mcferrin, Terri Lyne Carrington, Liz Wright, Patrice Rushen, Smokey Robinson. Integriti also performed as a featured soloist with The National Symphony Orchestra. Venues where she has performed include the newly restored Howard Theatre, the Hamilton, Bohemian Caverns, Kennedy Center, and Strathmore. Festival performances include the Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival, the DC Jazz Festival, the Blue Note Jazz Festival, Capital jazz Festival, Jacksonville Jazz Festival and Celebrate Brooklyn. Integriti is also known for her performances with Afro Blue, Howard University’s award-winning vocal ensemble, on the third season of NBC’s The Sing Off competition.
Both Integriti and Sarah Elizabeth will appear as special guests at the Diversity Day Program at Brattleboro Union High School.
The VJC’s Emerging Artist Series on Saturday, November 15th is made possible thanks to a generous donation from Gail Hunt Reeke, a pianist and dear friend of the VJC who has followed the careers of Sarah and Integriti from the vantage point of a fellow student at the summer jazz workshop. Special additional sponsors for this event include Klondike Sound (equipment), Rapt Creative (graphic design). The VJC is appreciative for ongoing support from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Hospitality for VJC artists is provided by the Hampton Inn of Brattleboro. VJC publicity is underwritten by the Brattleboro Reformer, WVPR, WVEW and WFCR.
Tickets for Emerging Artist concerts are subsidized, they are $10-$30 (sliding scale), youth tickets are $7.50 and are free for students involved in the music programs of BAMS, BUHS and Leland and Gray. Available at In the Moment in Brattleboro, or online at www.vtjazz.org. Tickets can also be reserved by calling the Vermont Jazz Center ticket line, 802-254-9088, ext. 1.
Sarah Elizabeth Charles Videos:
Integriti Reeves Videos