“ JazzTimes @Estoril Jazz Festival
…one act slightly beneath the radar and marquee in the Estoril lineup was the inventive contemporary group KIMISTRY, led by singer songwriter Kim Kalesti and featured trombonist Kuumba Frank Lacy. . The band played one night in the vast casino in Estoril and two nights at the Hot Clube. They got a stronger handle and a more fluid grasp on Kalesti's intricate original material, set by set. by Josef Woodard
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Josef Woodard, JazzTimes
“The evening turned out to be all I had hoped. Ms. Kalesti possesses a warm, resonant voice rivaled only by the warmth of her soul. She performed such timeless classic's, as well as self-penned originals with great fluidity and boundless musicality. Her all-female band was a dream team of musical prowess—Helen Sung piano, Kim Clarke, bass, Lucianna Padmore drums, Sharrell Cassity saxophone, and Rifka Rebecca, back-up vocals. Ms.Kalesti’s immediate rapport with the audience infused the evening with candor and humor. Her repartee ranged from such topics as politics to lost love.
Hilda Cabrera, Arts Administrator
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Hilda Cabrera, Arts Administrator, Town Hall New York
“Mr. C…All you've got to do is bebop gracefully". sings Kim Kalesti to Marion Cowings, and that just about sums up their rather tidy act: bebop-inflected vocal duets sung with considerable poise, their consistently in-tune voices often blending, occasionally playing off one another the way two instrumental jazz soloists might. The modern jazz accents pervade the set ( nice licks from saxist Jr Cook are a plus too). The act, which went over well at the Blue Note has a highly refined feel to it. Kim Kalesti may be better known to some as Kim Shaw, the name she formerly used professionally. ”
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Chip Deffaa 1990 , New York Post
“Kim Kalesti packages her three bright octaves around an often vibrant, often haunting, repertoire. She's a straight-ahead singer who needn't and doesn't, over-embellish her delivery with pretentious drama. No show and tell animation, just the succinct storytelling ability of a fine phrased. Accompanying her is pianist Mulgrew Miller, a player with considerable taste and invention.”
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Stuart Troupe , New York Newsday 1986
“I just want to thank you for the fine performances you gave at Isaac E. Young School. You are true professionals who actively engaged the students in a fine collage of musical styles. You presented, what could have been a rather boring historical approach to music, in a most entertaining way. From the reactions of the students, they, as well as I, enjoyed having you ! Your easy-going manner, humor and dramatization served you well. Please thank your talented musicians, Bob Albanese, Sean Smith and Bruce Cox. ”
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D. Domenic Guastaferro, City School District of New Rochelle
“I want to thank you for taking the time to come to Brooklyn Friends School and put on your show. The feedback from the concert has been just short of overwhelming. Some say that educating is a gift. If this is true than you are some sort of Santa Claus. The students will never forget your performance and I will always be grateful to you for making our day a success. ”
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Dan schuchat, Brooklyn Friends School
“Our school has very limited resources, Ms Kalesti was able to creatively overcome these obstacles. She was organized and deliberate in her instructional plan so that our students would have a rich and enjoyable musical experience. Ms, Kalesti is an asset to any program or school community that she participates. Enthusiastic, organized, purposeful dedicated and resourceful professional. ”
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Ms Forde The Freedom Academy High School, Teaching Recommendation and Support of Kim Kalesti
“We always welcome the opportunity to work with Kim Kalesti and Group, who have been featured and very popular artists in Lincoln Center's Visitors Services Meet-the-Artist School Series over the last few seasons. In their programs, they invariably come through with original, energetic and informative programs that give our student audiences an exciting live musical performances experience. Though their presentations are delightful and lighthearted, they are based on a deep knowledge and experience with the material at hand, and serious consideration and research is put into the creation of each program. They have a way of really connecting with an audience and igniting them with their energy and love for the music they perform so well.”
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Alina Bloomgarden, Lincoln Center for The Performing Arts
“I really enjoyed hearing you in Ottawa. the band was really cooking with some inspired playing and singing. Your repertoire was just wonderful.
"Voices in the Night", in the National Arts Centre, is a very important prestigious series for the festival. I am convinced that your presence contributed greatly to the success of the series and that of the festivals as a whole.
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Jacques Emond - Progamming Manager, Ottawa International Jazz Festival
Start rabbit hole mode on I Was Totally Destroying It's profile page and we'll play one of their songs.
When that song finishes we might play a song by Hammer No More The Fingers, an artist I Was Totally Destroying It has recommended.
When that song finished we might play a song by Organos, an artist Hammer No More The Fingers is about to play a show with.
Stay in Rabbit Hole mode and see how far down it goes. We'll keep playing music based off the previous song.
Song Plays
1,986
+9
Comments
The trombone and vocals are workin'! Looking forward to hearing more... 1000 Blessings Peace Steve Kelly A. Goude www.orangeroadrecords.com
Mar 5