Emerson College UnCommon Corner

Beat Tape Matinee III
2024-06-23 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Join Hipstory for an afternoon of beats and beer on the Common!

Beat Tape Matinee is an event rooted in Hip Hop self-made roots. We look to highlight the bedroom producers, dj/producers, loopers and everything in between in our latest HipStory event series.

Featuring Najwa Aswad and Abstract Minor.

Abstract Minor from Massachusetts is a multi-genre music producer, DJ and artist. She is known for her signature sound, bending genres such as hip-hop, rnb, rock, and house. Instagram: @Abstract Minor http://www.linktree.com/abstractminor

Tolieth
2024-06-22 18:00 - 20:00, 2024-06-11 17:00 - 19:00
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/

UnCommon Stage Weather Announcement
2024-06-22 12:00 - 21:00
Due to weather, today’s performances have been rescheduled.

Weather permitting, the Harpoon Beer Garden will open at 4:00 PM, but check here before you go for the most current information.

Poetry and Music with Amanda Shea
2024-06-21 18:00 - 21:00
Amanda Shea

Amanda Shea is a two-time Boston Music Award-winning Spoken Word Artist. Shea is an artist, performer, educator, artivist, publicist, host, and curator. She co-founded and curated six iterations of Activating ARTivism, a community festival to amplify POC through art, activism, and resistance. Her work can be found in the Museum of Fine Arts, The Boston Globe, TEDX, TEDXRoxbury, Netflix, Prime Video, BBC News, GBH, and much more. Shea will be releasing her first book, “Pieces of Shea” in the Spring of 2024. Amanda’s work examines her personal life experiences, social justice issues, and healing through trauma utilizing art as the tool.

Join Amanda as she returns to the UnCommon Stage with Boston’s best poets, artists, and spoken wordsmiths alongside live music and DJ KNSZWRTH. This incredible lineup will include poetic luminaries Tim Hall, Najee Janey, and D. Ruff, as well as live music from Safari Hat King (saxophone), Kazi Did It (keys), and Hole Minor (guitar).

Social Media: @amandasheaallday

Website: https://www.amandashea.com/

Tim Hall is an award winning musician, poet, and producer. His poetry draws inspiration from his lived experiences – charting the nuances of blackness, masculinity, and the beauties of life. Writings of his have been published in: Proud Flesh – Afrikan Journal of Culture, Politics, & Consciousness; Mass Poetry – Hard Work of Hope; Vagabond Publishing; Indie Earth Publishing – Self Care Anthology; Whisper & Roar Publishing; and currently Tim’s poetry lives in City Hall as his work was selected to be part of Mayor Wu’s Poetry project. Tim is Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music, was honored as “Session Musician of the Year ” by the 2020 Boston Music Awards, and nominated for Spoken Word Artist of the year for 2022. He was also recognized by WBUR’s Artery 25 as 1 of 25 millennials of color impacting Arts and Culture in Boston. His spoken word can be experienced through his new project – Trust the Process EP, as well as Colors Of My Soul EP, and self-published book – Trust The Process.

D.Ruff is a 2022 Boston Music Award Spoken Word Artist Of The Year nominee. D is a Roxbury-bred artist, performer, educator, artivist, and host. He co-hosted “if you can Feel It, you can Speak It” Open Mic movement for fourteen years. “Feel it, Speak it” is the only monthly Non-elitist and non-pretentious open mic dedicated to providing a platform of expression to the queer communities, and invites EVERYONE to bless the mic, regardless of their identity and talent. His work can be found in the CBS News, Museum of Science, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, The Boston Globe, GBH and much more. He has also released his first book, Staying on 94: Tales from a Misguided Soul in the Fall of 2012 and is setting up for re-release in 2025. D.Ruff performs with inspiring passion in hopes that someone of color, will also want to find a way to express themselves, find that “tribe” and do it all, with the intention of leaving all the hurt, pain, and negativity, right where it was showcased.

Najee Janey, an emerging rapper-songwriter hailing from Roxbury, Boston, has been honing his music skills since his teenage years. With several projects under his belt, including “Blue Manifesto”, “The Purple Earth Theory”, and “As-Is”, he has carved out a unique niche in the rap and R&B landscape. His music has been recognized and streamed worldwide. In addition to his solo endeavors, Najee has lent his writing and production talents to artists like Sebastian Mikael and helloSIXX. His work has also graced TV screens and films, collaborating with renowned platforms such as HBO, BET, and Atlantic Records. At present, Najee is juggling multiple projects while planning a concert tour. His versatile sound that transcends genre boundaries is showcased in his latest release What’s Crackin and his contributions to Atlantic Records R&B artist Sebastian Mikael‘s albums. With a promising future ahead, Najee Janey remains committed to elevating his craft in his journey as a dedicated artist, songwriter, and creative entrepreneur.

Albino Mbie
2024-06-21 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-06-14 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

Selkii
2024-06-16 16:00 - 18:00
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.

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.

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

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

Facebook

Instagram

DJ Cano Cangrejo
2024-06-15 13:00 - 15:00
Cano Cangrejo is a DJ from Santurce Puerto Rico specializing in Classic Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and African Diaspora music. From 1991 to 1994 Cano hosted an original show, Salsíbiri, on WERS Boston, playing salsa and Latin jazz.

Cano has been DJing parties and events in all kinds of venues in Puerto Rico where he lives, Boston (his second home), and throughout the United States for the last 25 years. Using a ‘selector style’ approach to DJing, Cano focuses on playing rare grooves, forgotten gems and straight-up classics to make folks dance and listen to “El Saoco”.

Children's Story Hour
2024-06-15 12:00 - 13:00
With More Than Words and Emerson College

Join us at the UnCommon Stage and Harpoon Beer Garden for a Children’s Story Hour, made possible by our friends at More Than Words. Our littlest guests can enjoy three stories read by local actors, bubbles, and a craft while caretakers enjoy a brew from Harpoon and delicious tacos from Rosa Mexicano.

This month, our books will celebrate the June holidays of Pride and Juneteenth. Books will be available for purchase from More Than Words onsite.

After our story hour, live Latin music curated by Ágora Cultural Architects will begin at 1 PM, with tunes the whole family can enjoy!

This event is free to enjoy (food and beverage is available for purchase).

Photo by Scott Schwendinger

Website: More Than Words

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

Catherine Bent and Ian Coury
2024-06-14 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-06-07 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

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.

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.

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.

Brooke Annibale
2024-06-09 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-06-04 17:00 - 19:00
This will be a solo performance by indie pop-folk singer-songwriter and guitarist, Brooke Annibale. Not confined by any one genre, Brooke’s expressive and beautifully thoughtful songwriting creates a dreamy, dark, and enticing sonic landscape. Her songs have been placed on many TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Pretty Little Liars, and One Tree Hill. Brooke has recently performed on SiriusXM The Coffee House, AudioTree Live, Paste and more. ​Brooke’s new album Better By Now is out now.

http://brookeannibale.com

http://instagram.com/brookeannibale

http://facebook.com/brookeannibale

Tweets by brookeannibale

tik tok @brookeannibale

UnCommon Stage Weather Announcement
2024-06-09 12:00 - 14:00
Due to weather, live performances from 12-2 PM have been rescheduled.

Weather permitting, we will resume live performances later this afternoon. Check back here for the most current information.

Fabiola Méndez
2024-06-08 18:00 - 20:00

Leo Blanco
2024-06-08 15:00 - 17:00
The music of pianist and composer Leo Blanco pulses with global rhythmic elements influenced equally by his South American roots and European classical traditions interwoven with improvisatory developments.

In 1997 Blanco became the first Latin American to win to the prestigious Boston Jazz Society Award. The next year, he received the Billboard Grant Award for his commitment, achievement and contribution to society through music. Currently, he is a faculty member at Berklee College of Music. Most recently, Leo was a 2021 recipient of the Mass Cultural Council Award.

https://www.leoblanco.com/home-english

Anibal Cruz
2024-06-08 13:00 - 15:00
Cuban Pianist, Composer, Arranger, and Bandleader Anibal Cruz is a Berklee graduate, skilled in Composition and Jazz performance. Since launching his career, he has achieved significant milestones including his first single, “La Raza,” released in 2021. Cruz has performed alongside notable artists such as Paquito de Rivera, Armando Manzanero, Egui Castrillo, Joe McCarthy, Ruben Rodrigez, Alain Perez, and Berta Rojas, in addition to being part of the cast of Ayodele Casel’s “Chasing Magic.”

His international tours span Europe, Latin America, and the United States, featuring performances with Ayodele Casel, David Rivera, DeJan, Los Adolescentes, Manolo Mairena, Cucu Diamantes, and Adonis Puentes since 2018. As a bandleader, he heads Clave & Blues, a Cuban & Latin Music Orchestra, and The Blue Island Project, a Latin Jazz quartet.

In his growing discography, Cruz has contributed to several albums including “Ricano” by Jonathan Suazo, “Illegal Grooves” by Nacho Gonzalez, “Ká Berto” by Jaasiel Sança, “Coffee Gold Sugar Cane” by Flavio Lira, “De todo un poco” by Manolo Mairena, and “Desde Lejos” by Juan Ruiz. His involvement in these diverse projects showcases his versatility and commitment to his musical career.

Dwayne Haggins
2024-06-07 18:00 - 20:00, 2024-06-04 13:00 - 15:00
He’s been described as “the love child of Otis Redding and Doc Watson.” “The John Legend of rockabilly.” And recently, “a ‘what-took-you-so-long’ fusion of Elvis and Marvin Gaye.” But he is Dwayne Haggins, and his voice is his own. Whether on the stage of a metropolitan concert hall or the makeshift bandstand of a neighborhood dive, you will find him exploring uncharted musical territories, listening for new ways to stir his influences into this night’s expression of his unique sound – strangely familiar, naturally mysterious, unmistakably his own.

Notably, Haggins has shared the stage with acts such as Joe Bonamassa, Keb Mo, Jimmy Vivino, Chris Lane, Suzanne Santo, and Fitz and the Tantrums. Haggins was signed in November of 2021 and his Verdict debut LP was released in June of 2022 titled “Call Me Boston”.

dwaynehaggins.com

Instagram & FB: @hagginsmusic

Trio Novo Brasil
2024-06-07 16:00 - 18:00
Catherine Bent (London, UK), Mauro Correa (Rio de Janeiro) and Lucas Casacio (São Paulo) combine their technical and musicological powers with a passion for the music of Brazil, interpreted on cello, 7-string acoustic guitar, drum set and percussion.

Audiences will be delighted by this fresh angle on bossa nova, samba, MPB (Música Popular Brasileiro), as well as choro, forró, frevo. The trio play music of great Brazilian artists including Djavan, Dominguinhos, João Bosco and Pixinguinha, as well as their own compositions.

UnCommon Stage Weather Announcement
2024-06-06 12:00 - 21:00
Due to weather, today’s performances from Roella and BAMS Fest have been rescheduled.

Weather permitting, the Harpoon Beer Garden will open at 4:30 PM, but check before you go for the most current information.

Jesse Taitt
2024-06-05 18:00 - 20:00
Jesse Taitt is a multifaceted pianist, composer, arranger, and educator with a rich musical journey. He holds a dual degree in Jazz Composition and Professional Music from Berklee College of Music, where he refined his sensitivity and technical prowess. Starting at the Boston Arts Academy, Jesse cultivated his musicality studying Classical music with Boston Conservatory Professor Harriet Lundberg and Jazz under Hey Rim Jeon through the Berklee City Music Program.

Throughout his academic journey at the Arts Academy and Berklee, Jesse engaged with luminaries such as Phillip Bailey, Seymour Bernstein, Dr. Billy Taylor, Regina Carter, George Duke, Walter Beasley, Doug Johnson, Laszlo Gardony, Joanne Brackeen, En Vogue, Patrice Rushen, Geri Allen, Gavin Degraw, Mark Gross, Lou Cash, Boston Pops, Hugh Masakela, Bill Charlap, Vincent Herring, and Cecil Bridgewater.

As an active participant in the Boston music scene, he directed Boston-based group Jazz Urbane, was the driving force behind the Jesse Taitt Trio, and earned recognition as a dedicated AmeriCorp Community Leader and Public Allies Leader.

Jesse’s impact extended beyond his performances, as he also contributed as an Artist-Educator in the Boston Arts Academy’s Alumni Creative Core program. Notably, he achieved international recognition as an International Guest Artist in Rwanda during the summer of 2013. There, he led master classes and headlined the Kigali UP Festival, collaborating with esteemed artists like Joey Blake and sharing his artistry on projects alongside the likes of George Duke, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Christian Scott.

A pursuit of excellence led Jesse to complete his Masters in Music with a focus on Jazz Arranging and Composition at William Paterson University in 2017. Today, Jesse is Assistant Professor in the Harmony and Jazz Composition Department and Lecturer of Jazz Piano at Dartmouth College.

As a skilled pianist, composer, and educator, Jesse continually ventures into new musical and philanthropic realms. With his diverse experiences, including his time as a sideman on various projects, his impact resonates across New York, Boston, and New Jersey. Keep an eye out for Jesse’s forthcoming projects that promise fresh artistic perspectives and innovative collaborations.
