GroundUP Music Festival 2020 -- 4th Annual -- February 14-16, 2020 -- North Miami Beach, FL
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FROM: sean@abovo42.com
RE:
RE ALL:
FWD:Intro
I attended the inaugural GroundUP Music Festival in Miami 2017 (my first music festival EVER :-O):
http://www.seanfenlon.com/2017/groundup-music-festival-2017-video-compilation-and-long-blog-post/
I also attended the GroundUP Music Festival in 2018:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTIBC3fl55A
I also attended the GroundUP Music Festival in 2019:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqYYrEIsoJ0
Naturally, I will be attending the GroundUP Music Festival in February of 2020 as well:
https://GroundUpMusicFestival.com/
The lineup for the 2020 Festival was recently announced and includes…
Below is a quick reference guide to the artists listed in the lineup with notes and links to their most-viewed YouTube video
I did this sort of thing last year when the lineup was announced, but I added so pics and screenshots to the notes this year:
https://www.abovo.co/seanfenlon@gmail.com/56957
Snarky Puppy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_XJ_s5IsQc (>20MM views and GROWING :-)
Keynote performance each of the three nights of the Festival (same as 2017, 2018, & 2019)
Band Leader Michael League is also Head of GroundUP Music (the record label AND the festival)
Different band members swapped in and out of the lineup each night (same as 2017, 2018, & 2019)
They may be celebrating their THIRD Grammy Award for their most recent recording
Immigrance by GUMfest 2020 :-)
www.SnarkyPuppy.com – also I publish a fan site at
www.SnarkyPuppyMusic.com
Chris Potter – Artist-at-Large
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJxGmD7ePME
Chris Potter’s trio “Circuits” – featuring
James Francies on Piano and Nate Smith on Drums – performed at the 2019 GroundUP Music Festival – here are some clips of that amazing performance:
https://youtu.be/xqYYrEIsoJ0?t=2288
James Francies and Nate Smith toured with Pat Metheny on his “Side Eye” project later in 2019 (I was able to see them perform in April in Annapolis, MD)
Chris Potter also worked with Pat Metheny on two recordings and several tours – one of which I had the chance to meet him backstage (Wolf Trap, VA) for a requisite selfie :-)
I actually talked specifically about Snarky Puppy with Chris Potter on that day back in 2014. :-)
Chris Potter also participated in an improvisation workshop at the 2019 GUMfest – check out this hilarious clip of him addressing the audience and scatting an example, invoking a hilarious response from Richard Bona:
https://youtu.be/xqYYrEIsoJ0?t=289
Since the passing of Michael Brecker, Chris Potter is arguably the single greatest improvising sax player walking the planet today – his solos are like a force of nature:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx9NaCk_e1I
GroundUP Music Festival recently asked its social media audience who they wanted to see on the festival lineup for 2020 – I quickly responded with my aspirational list and
Chris Potter was #2 on the list (right behind Jacob Collier :-)
Previous Artists-at-Large at the GroundUP Music Festival = Esperanza Spalding (2017),
Lionel Loueke (2018), and
Lalah Hathaway (2019)
Lettuce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZaPW_L21WU
This will be the first GUMfest for Lettuce
I’ve never seen them live and don’t know much about them
What I do know is that my live-music-loving friend Rich Dent (the same guy that
introduced me to the music of Snarky Puppy in 2014) is a huge fan of Lettuce
Lettuce is a funk band that originated in Boston in 1992 – while they were all attending Berklee College of Music
Lila Downs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beuRgIqxTnY
This will be the first GUMfest for Lila Downs
Lila Downs is a Mexican folk-fusion singer-songwriter born September 9, 1968 (which makes her exactly 17-days older than me :-)
Her 2011 recording “Pecados y Milagros” won a Grammy Award, but her music career began back in 1994
I had never heard of Lila Downs before the festival lineup announcement
https://www.liladowns.com/language/en/
Michael McDonald
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-xetxYwyak
I have been listening-to and enjoying the incredible vocal stylings of Michael McDonald since I was a little kid
A lead singer of the Doobie Brothers
A backup singer and/or collaborator with Steely Dan, Kenny Loggins, Van Halen, Aretha Franklin, Toto, Patti Labelle, Joni Mitchell, and countless others
He has won FIVE Grammy awards :-O
The lineup banner lists “Michael McDonald Acoustic Quartet” but I can’t find any info online about him in that type of ensemble – perhaps Michael will perform vocals AND piano or piano alone
However, according to
Live for Live Music:
“Iconic singer-songwriter/keyboardist Michael McDonald from The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan will perform a special acoustic set with saxophone virtuoso Chris Potter, Snarky Puppy bassist/bandleader Michael League and award-winning jazz drummer/vocalist Jamison
Ross.”
His website details his recent studio recording – his first in 17-years
This will be Michael McDonald’s first time with GUMfest and my first time seeing him live
Pleasant surprise to the lineup :-)
Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qwv2f5m0xM
I was first exposed to American jazz drummer, composer, session musician, and singer-songwriter Brian Blade in the 2009 documentary “Icons Among Us” (the same way I first learned about Robert Glasper)
In 1998, Brian Blade formed his Fellowship Band and released their first recording – the most recent recording (Body and Soul) being released in 2017
He has also recorded and collaborated with countless jazz and rock legends, including Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Dylan
A newcomer to GUMfest, this will be the first time I get to attend a live Brian Blade performance :-)
https://www.facebook.com/BrianBlade/
MARO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A6UmO0CeM4
MARO is a Portuguese multi-instrumentalist and a vocalist with an absolutely enchanting angelic voice
I first learned about MARO when she was added to the Jacob Collier GROUP and is featured in his DJESSE world tour
I had the pleasure of meeting MARO after a Jacob Collier show at The Howard Theater in DC in May 2019
Jacob Collier performed at the first GUMfest in 2017, but GUMfest 2020 will be MARO’s first time participating
She’s also featured in the (already legendary) 2019 Jacob Collier NPR Tiny Desk performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPBirt1YhuM
It appears she is currently touring her solo work and is represented by Quincy Jones Productions
https://www.facebook.com/maro.mus/
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVJjmyFfuts
He is also known as Christian Scott
An American jazz trumpeter, composer and producer who has been nominated for two Grammy Awards
Christian Scott is a newcomer to GUMfest
I have never seen Christian Scott perform live before, but I feel somehow connected to him because his picture is displayed in the background of one of my personal favorite photos of all time – of me and LA Reid :-)
Christian Scott’s 2019 release “Ancestral Recall” was favorably
reviewed by the New York Times
Camila Meza
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4somwYjj7e8
Camila Meza is a Chilean jazz guitarist, singer, and songwriter who sings in English.
I had not heard of Camila Meza before her appearance on the GUMfest 2020 lineup – she’s a newcomer to the festival
Her website indicates that she’ll be performing at GUMfest 2020 along with her group, “The Nectar Orchestra” who were featured in Jazz Night in America:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEsdtJtgqrY
Cécile McLorin Salvant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G99FfalLFWQ
Once described as a “postmodern cabaret singer”
First prize winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2010
2019 Grammy Award winner for Best Jazz Vocal Album (also nominated in 2014)
Jazz Album of the Year, Female Vocalist, Rising Star–Jazz Artist, and Rising Star–Female Vocalist in 2014 Downbeat Readers Poll
Newcomer to GUMfest – I had never heard of Cécile prior to her name appears on the GUMfest 2020 lineup
Miami native
http://www.cecilemclorinsalvant.com/
Flor De Toloache
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rl26QKPHtE
Latin GRAMMY Winners Flor de Toloache is the first and only major All-Women Mariachi Group
Started in 2008
“Toloache” flower is used in Mexico as a love potion
Newcomers to GUMfest – I had never heard of Flor De Toloache prior to their name appears on the GUMfest 2020 lineup
I suspect these ladies will fit in perfectly to this Festival’s culture :-)
Krantz Carlock Lefebvre
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiF9jl2QHQ8
Legendary self-titled debut 2009 recording – no recordings since
Rock/Funk Power Trio --
Wayne Krantz (guitar), Keith Carlock (drums), and
Tim Lefebvre (bass)
Krantz and Carlock played with Steely Dan – Lefebvre is a member of the Tedeschi Trucks Band
Newcomers to GUMfest
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krantz_Carlock_Lefebvre
Banda Magda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFkRtjrrM5k
GroundUP artist Magda Giannikou and Banda Magda have been super-connected to Michael League and Snarky Puppy since their now-legendary
performance on Snarky Puppy Family Dinner vol. 1
Banda Magda performed at the inaugural 2017 GUMfest – video of that performance (one of my personal favorite performances of that year) are here:
https://youtu.be/ou0IwM1JavM?t=637
Banda Magda also performed at 2018 GUMfest, but not 2019 – although she did attend in 2019 and continue her “A capella by the sea” workshop tradition:
https://www.facebook.com/GroundUpFest/videos/1647465332225157/
Magda’s stage presence is amazing – this pic is from the front row of The Hamilton where Banda Magda opened for Mike League’s Bokante’
Members of Snarky Puppy seamless slide in and out Banda Magda
Hamilton de Holanda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV09kQlGxHU
Brazilian bandolinist known for his mixture of choro and contemporary jazz, and for his instrumental virtuosity
Winner of several Latin Grammy awards
Newcomers to GUMfest – I had never heard of Hamilton de Holanda prior to their name appears on the GUMfest 2020 lineup
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_de_Holanda
Alina Engibaryan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YhkLWj6Wi4
Russian-born Alina Engibaryan is a GroundUP Music artist:
https://groundupmusic.net/artists/alinaengibaryan
Michael League discovered her while touring the Netherlands when Engibaryan was studying jazz vocals at the Prince Claus Conservatory.
Alina Engibaryan also has worked closely with Snarky Puppy’s Mike “Maz” Maher, who has helped her write lyrics to her songs/compositions
Her most recent recording includes includes Snarky Puppy all-stars such as Michael League, Zach Brock, Larnell Lewis, Chris McQueen and Chris Potter
Alina performed selections from her first/debut recording at GUMfest 2018
https://alinaengibaryanmusic.com/
Edmar Castañeda & Grégroire Maret
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htkqTdVu_hc
Edmar Castañeda is a jazz harpist from Colombia born in 1978
He performs his own compositions as well as tapping into native music of Colombia and Venezuela
His
Wikiepedia page makes no reference to collaborating with Gregoire Maret, but they appear to have a duet recording together – “Harp vs Harp”
I had never heard of Edmar before seeing his name on the lineup:
https://www.edmarcastaneda.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8LnolQuJdM
I have known Swiss harmonica master Grégroire Maret since 2004 when he was a member of the Pat Metheny Group on the recording The Way Up
The Way Up changed my life and I have listened to Grégroire Maret countless times (including at least 3-4 live performances on that tour), but only on that recording
Grégroire Maret’s slow-building harmonica solo leading up to the climax in Part II of The Way Up is legendary
This will be the first time for me hearing Grégroire outside of the Pat Metheny context
Grégroire represents the THIRD former Pat Metheny bandmate to take park in GUMfest, after Chris Potter and Richard Bona – interesting zero tenure overlap among those three
I’m super-excited to hear this unique combination of international musician and unconventional jazz instruments
https://www.gregoiremaret.com/
Becca Stevens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2G_PquyIco
Becca Stevens has been a GroundUP artist from the beginning:
https://groundupmusic.net/artists/beccastevens
I first met Becca Stevens when I was in the audience for
Snarky Puppy Family Dinner v2
The most-recent time I met Becca Stevens was after a
Jacob Collier concert at The Howard Theater this past May
I captured the requisite selfie with Becca AND her sister – another member of the
Tune Mammals :-)
I believe Becca and Jacob Collier met at that same Family Dinner recording – nowadays they’re BFF :-)
Here’s Jacob Collier and Becca Stevens “In a Bathtub” together years later:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv5u0MfoCkE ;-)
Forq
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHRk5iKUFHQ
Forq was co-founded by keyboardist Henry Hey and Snarky Puppy member, bassist Michael League
Snarky Puppy guitarist is also a member of the group
Michael League is no longer an active member of Forq
Forq (WITH Michael League) performed at GUMfest2017 – video clips here:
https://youtu.be/ou0IwM1JavM?t=925
Breastfist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs0c3EgKduk
Breastfist is a GroundUP Music artist:
https://groundupmusic.net/artists/breastfist
They performed at GUMfest 2018 -- video clips here:
https://youtu.be/bTIBC3fl55A?t=2054
These guys are as crazy on stage (antics, costumes, etc.) as their music and lyrics are brilliant. :-)
I believe that this group is one of Michael League’s personal favorite bands.
https://www.facebook.com/Breastfist/
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RE: GroundUP Music Festival 2020 -- 4th Annual -- February 14-16, 2020 -- North Miami Beach, FL
I’ll append Mike League’s intros to this thread as I see them posted. :-)
SPF
GroundUp Music Festival
Since the point of our GroundUP Music Festival is exposing a music-loving audience to artists they may not be familiar with, I thought it would be a good idea to give a little introduction to each one of our guests leading up to February. So! Here we go.
GroundUP Music Festival 2020 Artist Spotlight: Wayne Krantz / Keith Carlock / Tim Lefebvre. One of the most innovative guitar trios ever, Wayne Krantz (Steely Dan, Michael Brecker), Tim Lefebvre (David Bowie, Sting), and Keith Carlock (Steely Dan, John Mayer) bring their incredibly unique approach to composition and improvisation to the beach for the first time. Though Wayne has used many different rhythm sections over the course of his solo career, this one is widely thought of as the trio that shaped the sound. - Michael League
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaThxemdcOk
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RE: GroundUP Music Festival 2020 -- 4th Annual -- February 14-16, 2020 -- North Miami Beach, FL
GroundUP Music Festival 2020 Artist Spotlight: Cecile McLorin Salvant Music. Originally from Miami (but the child of Haitian and French parents), 3-time Grammy Award winner Cecile McLorin Salvant comes home in an intimate duo setting with pianist Sullivan Fortner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkmGue2WQyg
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RE: GroundUP Music Festival 2020 -- 4th Annual -- February 14-16, 2020 -- North Miami Beach, FL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riLZclJvN4c
#GUMFest2020 Artist Spotlight: Flor de Toloache.
Mixing mariachi tradition with a contemporary perspective, Flor De Toloache is equally comfortable in the world of rancheros and corridos as it is reimagining the music of Kurt Cobain. They are Latin Grammy nominees and have been on a collaborative roll lately, sharing the stage and studio with artists such as Miguel, John Legend, and Las Migas, among others.
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RE: GroundUP Music Festival 2020 -- 4th Annual -- February 14-16, 2020 -- North Miami Beach, FL
GroundUP Music Festival 2020 Artist Spotlight: Maro. Portuguese singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Maro is, for the moment, known primarily for her role in Jacob Collier's newest band as the do-it-all musician on stage left. But her own repertoire is deep and rich, and she'll be bringing it to Miami with her own 5-piece band for the first time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OvB01s-IUc
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Artist Spotlight: Hamilton de Holanda
GroundUP Music Festival 2020 Artist Spotlight: Hamilton de Holanda. Brazilian Multi-Latin Grammy Award-winner Hamilton De Holanda plays a custom 10-string bandolim, an instrument with Portuguese roots that he has taken out of the world of Brazilian choro and into new, previously-unexplored contexts. He is equally comfortable with jazz greats as pop stars like Dave Matthews Band, but his mastery of the choro tradition permeates everything he does.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKaJn_MmTps
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GroundUP Music: GUMFest is almost here: Daily Schedule, Workshops, VIP Performances & More!
Begin forwarded message:
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Artist Spotlight: Lila Downs
GroundUP Music Festival 2020 Artist Spotlight: Lila Downs Though a superstar in her native Mexico, singer/composer/multi-instrumentalist/actress Lila Downs brings her mix of folkloric and contemporary music to our cozy little festival in February. She speaks and sings in Spanish and English, as well as the indigenous Zapotec, Mixtec, and Nahuatl, and has championed indigenous rights on and off stage for as long as she has been a public figure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU3P6dlNaB4&t=191s
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Artist Spotlight: Alina Engibaryan
GroundUP Music Festival 2020 Artist Spotlight: Alina Engibaryan. Alina Engibaryan is a half-Armenian, half-Russian vocalist, pianist, and composer from Rostov, Russia. She released her GroundUP debut, We Are, in 2018 and currently lives in New York City, where she performs regularly with musicians like Alex Sipiagin, Eric Harland, Chris Potter, and many more. Here's a clip from a session she did in Brooklyn with Kendrick Scott, Chris Potter, and Michael League. This song, "I'll Be Around," is from We Are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YhkLWj6Wi4
#miamitemptations
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Artist Spotlight: Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band
GroundUP Music Festival 2020 Artist Spotlight: Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band. One of the most influential and emotional drummers of our age, Brian Blade brings his incredible ensemble to the beach for the very first time. This is going to be a special one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qwv2f5m0xM&t=943s
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Artist Spotlight: Camila Meza
GroundUP Music Festival 2020 Artist Spotlight: Camila Meza + Strings. Hailing from Chile but now living in New York, Camila Meza is a guitarist and composer who sings in three languages and winner of two Independent Music Awards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEsdtJtgqrY&t=925s
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Artist Spotlight: @Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
GroundUP Music Festival 2020 Artist Spotlight: @Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah. Hailing from New Orleans and steeped deep in its musical traditions (his grandfather was a Big Chief of four Mardi Gras Indian groups), Christian Scott has always been fearless in seamlessly weaving contemporary influences into the music he makes, which is unapologetically emotional, provocative, and often, political.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO33UAFbwtw
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Artist Spotlight: Banda Magda
GroundUP Music Festival 2020 Artist Spotlight: Banda Magda. A force of nature from Athens, Greece, Magda Giannikou does pretty much everything. Composer, arranger, producer, orchestrator, singer, multi-instrumentalist, video director... the list goes on. Magda has released two albums on GroundUP Music: Yerakina and Tigre. She returns to GroundUP Music Festival with a set from her own band as well as her annual "Acapella By The Sea" series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcFVDf-FlSA
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Artist Spotlight: Breastfist
GroundUP Music Festival 2020 Artist Spotlight: Breastfist. The weirdest band on GroundUP Music, and possibly, on earth. You've seen many of these musicians on stage with people like Andrew Bird, Robert Glasper, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Pat Martino... but not like this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59kOya0aI7k
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Rainy/Windy Saturday
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