Emerson College UnCommon Corner

Tolieth
2024-06-11 17:00 - 19:00, 2024-06-22 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Tolieth is a contemporary soul singer fusing elements of reggae, Afrobeats, and pop into an upbeat live performance. Good vibes and smooth grooves are guaranteed with Tolieth on the mic.

https://tolieth.com/

Samuel Batista
2024-06-12 18:00 - 20:00
Panamanian saxophonist, composer, and educator Samuel Batista mixes Panamanian folkloric and urban music with jazz. His latest album, Panama United, featuring Anthony Fung (drums), Eunjeong Hwong (piano) and James Dale (bass) covers traditional Panamanian rhythms within his original compositions, aiming to preserve Panamanian folklore while documenting his firsts travels in the United States.

In 2012, he was admitted with a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music, where he earned a double degree in Performance and Jazz Composition. During these years of study, Batista had the honor of learning from some of the world’s most notable musicians such as Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Ben Street, Joe Lovano and Marco Pignataro.

While completing his studies at Berklee, Samuel worked as coordinator of international auditions at the Panama Jazz Festival, and collaborated in educational activities as musical director, arranger and orchestrator for American vibraphonist Stefon Harris and Spanish singer Miguel Bosé. Similarly, he experienced his first international exhibitions in places such as Carnegie Hall, Small Jazz Club, Outside The Box Music Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and the Kriol Jazz Festival, together with artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Zahili Gonzales Zamora, Ron Savage, Neal Smith and Antonio Hart.

While working with bassist Oscar Stagnaro and pianist and producer Alain Mallet, and drummer Mark Walker, Batista was appointed to teach at The New England Conservatory for The Preparatory Jazz School and the Continuing Education Program. His 2018 debut album, Panama United, was produced by Alain Mallet and premiered during the 19th edition of the Panama Jazz Festival along with his “Panamanian Sextet”.

In 2018, Batista returned to Panama and toured with Panamanian singer Ruben Blades while working as an educator at the Danilo Perez Foundation. After four years as a piano teacher for children ages three to five, Batista was granted a full scholarship for the graduate program at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute.

Batista currently lives in Boston, where he is working on his upcoming album Rising to Love.

Ciara Moser
2024-06-13 13:00 - 15:00
Ciara Moser, originally from Dublin but raised in Austria, currently calls Boston her home base. As a blind bassist of Austrian-Irish descent, she showcases her versatility across various musical styles and genres, seamlessly blending into band, orchestra, film, and ensemble projects, both in live performances and studio sessions.

She earned her Master’s in jazz performance from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA under the guidance of esteemed mentors like John Patitucci, Danilo Perez, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Joe Lovano. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in music pedagogy from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.

Since collaborating with Danilo Perez in January 2022, Ciara has graced stages with him worldwide, from the Chile Jazz Festival in Santiago, the Paradiso Jazz Festival in Italy, and the Hay Festival in the UK to the Cultural Summit in Abu Dhabi. Alongside other international performances in the UK, Panama, Ecuador, Canada, Austria, and Germany, she has shared the spotlight with renowned artists such as Braxton Cook, and Victor Wooten.

In October 2023, Ciara released her debut album, “Blind. So What?” The jazz/fusion album, exploring themes of music and blindness, received praise and major articles from publications like Premier Guitar Magazine, Bass Musician Magazine and Jazzwise Magazine. Notably, one of its tracks was honored with the “Young Jazz Composers Award 2023” by the ASCAP Foundation.

Following a successful and souled out release tour in Austria through established jazz venues such as Porgy & Bess Vienna and Jazzit Salzburg Ciara’s album gained exposure on national television and radio channels such as ORF3 and Ö1. She headlined the 20-year celebration of the Institute for Popular Music at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, showcasing a big band version of her composition “The Call to See Beyond”.

Ciara’s talent and dedication have earned her various awards such as the “next jazz legacy award”, winning the “2024new generation jazz lab competition”, the “Ascap Young Jazz composers Award” securing a spot in the Jazz Ahead Program (led by Jason Moran) and Woodshed Network Residency (led by Dee Dee Bridgewater), earning the “Matt Marvuglio Student of the Year” award in 2021, becoming a finalist in the Lee Ritenour Six String Theory Competition, receiving the Tara Life Goes On Award, receiving the “Johann Ratzenböck”-scholarship and winning the first price at the well-known austrian classical competition “Prima La Musica”.

Ciara had appearances on multiple TV shows like the austrian talk show series “Barbara Karlich” and “Vera.” Since March 2019, she has hosted her own podcast, “Blind. So What?” shedding light on life as a blind individual.

Currently, Ciara thrives as a performer and recording artist in the Boston/New York scene, alongside her role as a faculty member and staff accompanist at Berklee College of Music.

BAMS Fest - Toki Wright x The Coulibaly Trio
2024-06-13 16:00 - 20:00
BAMS Fest takes over unCommon bringing Live Music and Beats to the stage.

The Coulibaly Trio is a group of longtime friends who are striving to fuse our influences of hip hop and jazz together and create music that inspires others.

Catherine Bent and Ian Coury
2024-06-14 14:00 - 16:00
Local multi-style cellist Catherine Bent and Brazilian mandolin prodigy Ian Coury dazzle and charm listeners with their unique take on Brazilian instrumental music. The duo will play a set before inviting other musicians to join for a “roda de choro”. Audiences may find themselves on a journey into the rootsy dance rhythms of forró, or lifting their voices in a cathartic samba. Choro musicians, bring your instruments!

Catherine Bent, an alumna of Cirque du Soleil, has performed and recorded with Joe Jackson, Lee Konitz, Donna Summer, and many others. She is regarded in Brazil as the leading cellist in choro. Ian Coury is an award-winning 10-string bandolim player and composer from Brazil who has shared stages with Brazilian legends like Toninho Horta and Hamilton de Holanda.

The two have a musical connection that transcends their backgrounds and crystallizes around their passion for Brazilian choro music. Choro (pronounced “shoh-roh”) is an instrumental music that has its origins in late 1800s Rio de Janeiro. It’s been likened to New Orleans jazz, and shares that tradition’s improvisation, soulfulness, and often irrepressible joyfulness.

https://linktr.ee/catherinebentmusic

Albino Mbie
2024-06-14 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-06-21 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-06-28 16:00 - 18:00
Boston-based multi-award-winning guitarist, singer, composer, and producer Albino Mbie, originally from Mozambique, shares his own original music.

www.instagram.com/albinombie/

www.youtube.com/albinombie

albinombie.com

Sarah Bernadette
2024-06-14 18:00 - 20:00
Sarah Bernadette is a New Jersey-born singer-songwriter whose music fuses pop, jazz, and R&B influences to create a unique sound. She has her master’s degree from New England Conservatory in Contemporary Improvisation (’21) and her Bachelor of Music in Songwriting and Voice Performance from Berklee College of Music (’18).

Her music is deeply personal; through her writing and her performances, she hopes to form meaningful connections with her audience and listeners. She is an expressive performer and improviser with a love for jazz voice.

Sarah has worked with Kathleen Flynn, Dominique Eade, Cristi Catt, and more recently Grammy-winner Cecile McLorin Salvant, whom she considers one of her biggest musical inspirations.

You can find Sarah Bernadette’s music on all streaming services, including her most recent releases: “sad poems on my phone” and her debut album, “New Leaves”.

sarahbernadettemusic.com

Instagram: @sarah.bernadette

FB: facebook.com/sarahbernadettemusic

Fabiola Méndez Trio
2024-06-15 15:00 - 17:00
Fabiola Méndez is a Puerto Rican cuatro player, singer, educator, and Emmy-nominated composer that has taken part in a musical movement, crossing over the lines of genres such as Folk, Afro-Caribbean & Jazz. Recognized as the Latin Artist of the Year 2023 by the Boston Music Awards, her artistic vision and original music focus on the exploration of culture, ancestry, and identity, inviting the listener to embrace how the power of music and storytelling can unify us. After becoming the first graduate from Berklee College of Music to play the Puerto Rican cuatro as a principal instrument (2018), Fabiola focuses on performing and composing, traveling with her trio to national and international festivals. She has received numerous awards, including the Quincy Jones Award, the Brother Thomas Fellowship, ASCAP Lucille and Jack Yellen Award 2022 and a Children’s and Family Emmy nomination for Outstanding Interactive Media in 2023.

https://www.fabiolamendezmusic.com

Facebook – www.facebook.com/FabiolaMendezMusic

IG – @fabiolamendezmusic

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Instagram

Maz
2024-06-15 18:00 - 20:00
Maz is the bridge that links Alternative Hip Hop and the music he grew up on in São Paulo, Brazil. As a son of a DJ, much of that influence bleeds through his music today through neck-snapping production and an out-worldly harness of energy in his lyrics. Whether he is experimenting with the sounds of Alternative Rock or staying true to his roots with Brazilian Funk, his music nowadays breathes a sense of self-awareness and maturity that invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences and backgrounds. From performing at Gov Ball 2024 alongside Kidd Revel to intimate art gallery performances in Boston, his ethos of unwavering energy is constantly evolving as his creative approach is just as much about self-understanding as it is about the expression of the process itself.

@maztypebeat everywhere

Wamptronica
2024-06-16 12:00 - 14:00
WAMPTRONICA, a creative dance music collective of Wampanoag artists, is gaining attention with their fusion of House Music, Rare Groove, Afrobeats, and Breakbeats. Established in 2021, their origins lie in dance parties at the Native Arts Gallery in Mashpee. Their sound merges traditional DJing with live instruments and vocals. They are the resident collective for The THUMP & SOUL SESSION, a monthly dance party at Gallery X in New Bedford.

The collective is led by The ZYG 808, a multi-talented artist and founder of Soul Poets Records. He is joined by Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor, a versatile composer and musician. Asa Peters, a musician rooted in various musical traditions, and Casey Figueroa, a visual artist and EDM producer, also contribute to the collective’s sound and visuals.

Their debut album, The Session, set to release on Poly-Groove Records, pays homage to New York-style House Music. WAMPTRONICA has a line-up of events this summer, including street dance parties, guest appearances, and remixes for Eightball Records.

Visit their Linktree page for updates.

Selkii
2024-06-16 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-06-27 13:00 - 15:00
With a Loop Station, South African born Selkii creates sonic backdrops for her powerful vocals. (7th place on South African Idol TV Show , Team Blake NBC The Voice Finalist.) She ‘loops’ live-performed percussion, soulful backing vocals & guitar – & can even mash up real-time song requests on the fly!

Selkii has headlined fairs and festivals nationwide. She was the soloist in the adult lounge on Disney Cruise Lines Flagship for 3 years & has performed over 100 virtual concerts for virtual and digital events from her home studio in Boston MA. She travels nationally and internationally as a one woman band with uplifting original compositions as well as a ‘covers’ repertoire of over 1600 songs : Abba – Zeppelin.

Daniel Sturgis
2024-06-23 16:00 - 18:00
Daniel Sturgis is a talented musician hailing from the vibrant music scene of Cape Cod. With a musical style that seamlessly blends alternative, funk, pop, and rock, Sturgis has created a captivating sound that is uniquely his own. Influenced by legendary artists such as Jimmy Hendrix, B.B. King, and The Beatles, Sturgis draws inspiration from the rich history of music while also pushing boundaries and experimenting with new sonic landscapes.

Having honed his craft at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Sturgis is a true master of his instrument. His impressive guitar skills, combined with his soulful vocals and dynamic stage presence, make for a captivating live performance that leaves audiences in awe. Sturgis’ talents have not gone unnoticed, as he emerged victorious in the Cape Cod Battle of the Bands in 2011. This accomplishment solidified his place among the region’s most promising musicians and propelled him to new heights in his career.

Currently, Daniel Sturgis is focused on his ongoing musical projects, constantly pushing himself to create fresh and innovative music. Whether he’s writing thought-provoking lyrics or crafting infectious melodies, Sturgis consistently delivers music that resonates with listeners on a profound level. With a diverse range of influences and a dedication to his craft, Daniel Sturgis is an artist to watch. With each new endeavor, he continues to captivate audiences and push the boundaries of his musical style. As he navigates the ever-evolving music industry, Sturgis remains poised to make a lasting impact with his unique sound and unbridled passion for music.

Facebook.com/Danielsturgisband

Instagram: @danielsturgis

Zahili Gonzalez Zamora Trio
2024-06-26 18:00 - 20:00
Zahili Gonzalez Zamora is a Cuban pianist, composer, bandleader, arranger, and educator. She feels most defined by her Cuban heritage and her status as an immigrant. Her passion for music has taken her to Canada, to South East Asia and, now, to the United States. Her rich musical background, career experience and extraordinary improvisation skills render her a leader in the modern Latin jazz idiom and an influential, emulated musician.

​In 2018, her Afro-Cuban jazz Trio, MIXCLA, released its self-titled album, which features her original tunes and arrangements. It has received critical acclaim and earned the attention of major agents locally and internationally. The album has thus far advanced in the world of jazz, adding to her accolades two nominations from the Boston Music Awards (2018 & 2019).

https://www.zahilizamora.com

https://www.instagram.com/zahiligz/

BAMS Fest - Toki Wright x Safiya
2024-06-27 16:00 - 20:00
BAMS Fest takes over UnCommon bringing Live Music and Beats to the stage.

Toki Wright is a two-time Emmy Award-winning MC, poet, producer, and cultural diplomat. He has received two CLIO Award for advertising with General Mills for the number one worldwide Twitter trending project “Watch the Stove” which was also nominated for a Cannes Lion Award. Wright is currently the chair of the Professional Music Department at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Before relocating he was the Department Head of the United States’ first fully accredited Hip-Hop Studies program at McNally Smith College of Music. The program was awarded the “Best Transformative Higher Learning Model” from the Hip-Hop Education Center at NYU. Toki also facilitated seven Twin Cities Celebration of Hip-Hop Festivals and helped establish “Hip-Hop at H.E.A.L.S,” a program for former child soldiers in Gulu, Northern Uganda.

Safiya is a rising star in the jazz and neo-soul scene, known for her electrifying performances and visionary ventures. Infusing her Afro-Caribbean roots with jazz influences, Safiya captivates audiences worldwide with her innovative sound. A graduate of Berklee College of Music and a nominee for New England Music Award Jazz Act of the Year (2024), Safiya is on a mission to inspire cultural exploration and foster connections through her groundbreaking project, Travel Through Music. With accolades including recognition as one of Boston’s Extraordinary Women in 2023, Safiya continues to push boundaries and redefine the music industry.

Gregory Groover Jr
2024-06-28 14:00 - 16:00
Raised with devotion for music, Gregory George Groover Jr is a twenty-nine year old tenor saxophonist and educator from Roxbury, Massachusetts. His love and pursuit of music directed him to the Boston Arts Academy where he graduated in 2011 as both the Elma Lewis Graduate with distinction and the Louis Armstrong Jazz award. His effort and dedication to music led him to earn a full tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music where he received both his Bachelors and Masters in Music Performance Studies through the Global Jazz Institute, headed by world-renowned artistic director, pianist, and UNESCO Artist for Peace Danilo Perez.

As a performer, Gregory has had the honor to share the stage with prestigious musicians such as Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind, and Fire), Patrice Rushen, Terri Lyne Carrington, Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade, and Esperanza Spalding. As a bandleader and a sideman, he has performed in music festivals in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Africa.

As an educator, Gregory has served as the co-chair of music at his alma mater, the Boston Arts Academy where he provided instruction in Jazz studies to the next generation of artists and scholars. Gregory currently serves as the Assistant Chair of Ensemble at the world renowned, Berklee College of Music. In addition to teaching, Gregory continues to perform regularly with his working bands and is celebrating the release of his second album: the Negro Spiritual Songbook Volume II – “The Message”.

https://www.gregorygrooverjr.com

https://www.instagram.com/gregorygrooverjr/

Rory & the Blues Hounds
2024-06-28 18:00 - 20:00
Since 1995, Rory and the Blues Hounds have been electrifying audiences with their dynamic performances. Hailing from Providence, RI, this versatile band draws its inspiration from the blues, weaving in classic rock, Motown, country, and covering varied artists like Steely Dan and Amy Winehouse.

Led by the masterful guitar work of Rory Malloy, the band features a lineup of stellar musicians. Lisa Kay, renowned for creating The Winehouse Project, delivers powerful lead vocals. Marc Trachtenberg, who has toured with Postmodern Jukebox, adds depth on piano and vocals. Jonathan Leeper, a distinguished member of the Navy band, holds down the rhythm on bass, while Michael Coffey, a veteran of Roomful of Blues, drives the band on drums.

Join Rory and the Blues Hounds for an unforgettable evening of music, playing choice selections from 6:00 to 8:00 on the corner of Boylston and Tremont.

Jonathan Suazo Quartet
2024-06-29 13:00 - 17:00
Jonathan Suazo is an award-winning saxophonist / composer / cultural advocate and educator who also leads his own project entitled RICANO, a unique afro Caribbean Jazz concept that blends the sounds of Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. Jonathan was named one of the top ten emerging jazz artists of 2023 by the GRAMMYS and his debut album “Ricano” (Ropeadope Records) was listed at #6 in the best Jazz albums of 2023 by The New York Times. A Berklee Global Jazz Institute graduate, Jonathan has also received many honors including the South Arts Jazz Road Tours Grant, the New Music USA Creator Fund Grant, A full tuition Scholarship to attend the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Masters Program, The Project Support Grant for Alumni by the Fundacion Banco Popular for his Ricano album and the Berklee urban Service Award for using the arts to support humanitarianism. Catalina Maria Johnson of Downbeat Jazz Magazine describes his music as “a soundscape propelled by lyrical sax playing” and Giovanni Russonello from The NY Times describes his music as “richly built, written from the heart and packed with complexity, always seeking the next level of altitude.” Suazo has collaborated / performed with artists like Miguel Zenón, Terri Lyne Carrington, David Sánchez, Charlie Sepúlveda, Eric Figueroa, Gonzalo Grau, Alex Alvear, Ricky Rodriguez, Ileana Cabra (iLÉ), Calma Carmona, Rakalam Bob Moses, Joe Lovano, Paoli Mejias, Humberto Ramirez, David Rivera, Tito Matos, Ricardo Pons, William Cepeda, Jon Secada, Pedro Capó, Obie Bermudez, Hans Glawischnig, Humberto Ramirez, Silverio Perez, Tony Escapa; and he’s led his band at venues like The Keystone Korner, Jazz Showcase Chicago, the Santo Domingo Jazz Festival, Springfield Jazzfest, Sala Sinfónica Pablo Casals PR, Teatro Francisco Arriví (Puerto Rico), Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Fest (Anfiteatro Tito Puente), Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Elephant Room Austin TX, SXSW 2023, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, The MFA Boston, and many more.

Maz & Bencils
2024-06-29 18:00 - 20:00
Maz is the bridge that links Alternative Hip Hop and the music he grew up on in São Paulo, Brazil. As a son of a DJ, much of that influence bleeds through his music today through neck-snapping production and an out-worldly harness of energy in his lyrics. Whether he is experimenting with the sounds of Alternative Rock or staying true to his roots with Brazilian Funk, his music nowadays breathes a sense of self-awareness and maturity that invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences and backgrounds. From performing at Gov Ball 2024 alongside Kidd Revel to intimate art gallery performances in Boston, his ethos of unwavering energy is constantly evolving as his creative approach is just as much about self-understanding as it is about the expression of the process itself.

@maztypebeat everywhere, @madebybencils everywhere

Bill Banfield's Imagine Orchestra
2024-06-30 12:00 - 14:00
Jazz Urbane will bring Bill Banfield’s iconic Imagine Orchestra to the UnCommon Stage and Harpoon Beer Garden. Join us on Sunday, June 30th, and experience the ten+ piece jazz chamber orchestra, which includes a string trio, rhythm trio and percussion, and winds and brass. It is an eclectic approach to a creative composing/performing ensemble where the music is both fully orchestrated and improvised, and represents how creative artists come to collaborate and “imagine” what the music whispers to musicians to reach for…

Grab a drink from Harpoon’s wide selection of beer, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages, snag delicious food from Rosa Mexicano, and enjoy a “Jazz Brunch” like no other.

The Femmes
2024-06-30 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-07-04 18:00 - 20:00
The Femmes are an all-woman and non-binary wedding band specializing in songs by female and non-binary artists. When you’re at a Femmes show, you’re at a high energy concert experience. Epic sing-alongs, expertly crafted harmonies, and musicians who absolutely LOVE to interact with the audience, the Femmes are Boston’s go-to women’s party band! Our roster includes Berklee alumni, touring artists, veteran wedding band performers, and pit band musicians with over 10 years of professional experience.

Social Media: @thefemmesband

Website: thefemmesband.com

The Russ Gershon Trio Plus Special Guest John Mulkerin of Defunkt
2024-07-02 17:00 - 19:00
After a well-received show at the UnCommon stage last summer, the Russ Gershon Trio plus special guest John Mulkerin return.

Saxophonist Gershon has been a pillar of the Boston jazz, rock and Latin music scenes since the 1980’s, and went international with the Grammy-nominated Either/Orchestra. The E/O toured the US and the world and has been instrumental in bringing Ethiopian music to wider audiences.

Trumpeter Mulkerin and Gershon started playing together as teenagers in Connecticut. When Russ headed east to Boston, John headed west to New York and became a player on the downtown avant jazz-funk scene. He has been a member of Joseph Bowie’s Defunkt for decades, touring Europe regularly.

They are joined by Either/Orchestra bassist Rick McLaughlin, who teaches harmony and the music of Stevie Wonder at Berklee, and drummer Brook Sofferman, a bandleader and composer in his own right.

The Trio plus One will play music by Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Freddie Hubbard, Arthur Blythe, the Monkees (!), Duke Ellington and more.

Zahili Gonzalez Zamora
2024-07-03 18:00 - 20:00

Dan DeCristofaro
2024-07-04 12:00 - 14:00
Dan DeCristofaro is a soulful singer, songwriter, producer and arranger based in Massachusetts. He is a founding member of Blue Light Bandits, an award winning, 4-piece independent groove rock band from Worcester, MA that has amassed over 3 million streams on Spotify over the course of 3 full length albums, 2 EP’s, and an array of singles. In 2022 he formed quiet thrill, a singer / songwriter super duo along with long time friend and collaborator Joel Ansett and Dan DeCristofaro. They released their debut self-titled album in July ‘22 and are currently on a nationwide house tour, directly engaging with their fans in an intimate setting. Whether he is performing with a band or as a solo artist, Dan has been a staple of the New England music scene for 10 years.

Lee Fish and Friends
2024-07-05 14:00 - 16:00
Lee Fish will be presenting his exciting new group featuring longtime collaborator and vocalist, Nadia Washington, along with pianist, Jiri Nedoma, and bassist, Devon Gates. Together they will explore Fish’s original music which can best be described as a blend of all his favorite styles – ranging from jazz, soul/r&b to folk and film music. Groove, melody, and communication are the core elements that bring their unique sound to life. Keep an eye out for their future tour dates and more upcoming performances in Boston and NYC.

Timba Messengers
2024-07-05 16:00 - 18:00
The Timba Messengers is a Latin Jazz/Salsa Band that has generated a compelling musical style that inspires all to shed their daily troubles and revel in the joy of dance. Their live performances are infused with vibrant energy, radiating positivity and good cheer to all in attendance.

Combining the rich musical heritage of Latin America with elements of Jazz and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, the band’s sound is a melting pot of diverse cultural influences, expertly blended to produce a truly unique listening experience. The distinctive flavor of each member’s nationality adds an additional layer of spice to their music, resulting in a dynamic and captivating sonic tapestry.

https://www.thetimbamessengers.com
