Emerson College UnCommon Corner

Bear Garden (Feat. KNSZWRTH)
2024-07-30 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
The Emerson UnCommon Stage and Harpoon Beer Garden are thrilled to welcome Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and Percy the Bear! We are honored to have another Boston institution, CSC, activate this special corner of the Common. Tuesdays in July beginning at on July 16th, patrons are welcome to enjoy a drink from Harpoon, delicious food from Rosa Mexicano, and music from the UnCommon Stage as they snap a photo with Percy and enter the chance to win tickets to “The Winter’s Tale,” this season’s CSC show! Head to the UnCommon Stage and Harpoon Beer Garden at 6:00 pm for a “beary good time” and then join the audience at The Parkman Bandstand for an unforgettable evening of food, drink, music, theater… and bears!

Originally from Haiti, KNSZWRTH (pronouns: he/him) first arrived in Boston for college in 2004. Kenny then cut his teeth at mission-driven organizations like the West End House Boys and Girls Club, Cambridge Youth Programs, the Cambridge Public Library and more recently, Now + There, before joining the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture as Chief of Staff. As a DJ, therapeutic mentor, film photographer, board certified basketball referee, and plant dad, Kenny is passionate about connecting with communities and individuals that share a passion and excitement around conversations and experiences that open minds and help co-create spaces to celebrate the creative diversity of Boston’s dynamic and ever-changing cultural fabric.

Anabel Gil Diaz
2024-07-31 18:00 - 20:00
Award-winning, multi-instrumentalist and composer, Anabel Gil Diaz was born on 1994 in Havana, Cuba where she graduated from the Superior Institute of Art. She has developed professionally as a flutist, professor and producer with the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra under the conduction of Orbert Davis, since November 2014 to date. Her presentations as both classical and jazz, include performances at renowned venues in the US such as Millenium Park, Auditorium Theatre, Navy Pier Concert Hall, Chicago State University Concert Hall , Amarnick-Goldstein Concert Hall, Berklee Performance Center. And in Europe, at the Auditorium “Paco de Lucía”, the Auditorium of Alicante (ADDA), Auditorium of Torrevieja, Spanish Institute of Radio and Television, Jazz Club Square, Galileo Galilei, AC Jazz Recoletos, Berlin Café, National Auditorium of Madrid.

She has received positive critiques by Splash Magazine, Chicago Tribune, El País and El Diario. She received Masterclasses from international artists such as James Galway, Maxance Larrieu, Sibel Pensel, Paquito de Rivera, Sarpay Ozcagatay, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Edmar Colon, Dave Santoro, Marquis Hill, Chris Bullock, Orlando Valle (Maraca), among others. Some of the scholarships she has been granted are the full scholarship from the University of Lynn in Miami; Presidential Scholarship from The Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts; The Artists Society (AIE) scholarship in Madrid, Spain. She participated in the recording for the “New Jazz Standards Vol. 1” album by Terri Lyne Carrington, released on September 2022; and is current flutist of the Film Music Orchestra (SSP) at Berklee College of Music. Most recently, she has been accepted to the Film Scoring Academy of Europe’s Master in Fine Arts program in 2023.

Roella
2024-08-01 13:00 - 15:00
Roella is a British multi-instrumentalist, performer and composer of Nigerian and Jamaican heritage. As of June 2024, she is a recent graduate of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Masters Programme; in 2023 she was a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Berklee College of Music’s undergraduate programme. In spring 2023 Roella performed with her piano trio at the NAMM show in California and Capitol Turnaround in Washington as a featured artist of the SHEROCKS showcase. Pianistically, she represented Berklee’s Jazz and Gender Justice Institute at the Reno Jazz Festival, the Detroit Jazz Festival Collegiate competition and headlined with NEA Jazz Master and grammy-award winner Terri-Lyne Carrington’s band for BAMSfest.

In May 2022, she won the ISJAC prize for Emerging Black Composers; travelling to Austin, Texas to accept the award and perform with their jazz orchestra. In November 2022, Roella booked a London Mini-tour for her trio during the London Jazz Festival. Three of five show dates; the Royal Albert Hall, Ronnie Scott’s and Pizza Express Soho were sold out. The tour coincided with the release of her first EP ,”Sentient Sounds.”

Instagram: @roellaoloromusic

Twitter: @Rella_xo

Facebook: Roella Jazzisrealmusic Oloro

BAMS Presents: S.O.U.L.STICE - Toki Wright x Tricia Reed
2024-08-01 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.

Toki’s worked with the US State Department, delivered a TED Talk, and ran the youth-led nonprofit YO! The Movement, helping to build community through the arts. Toki is a freelance writer, radio host and has been a judge for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, and a community organizer. He’s released albums and film through his media company Soul Tools Entertainment that have charted top 50 on MTV, iTunes, and more. Wright has performed at events like Coachella, Rock The Bells and more while sharing stages with the likes of Lizzo, Terri Lyne Carrington, Atmosphere, the late Sean Price, and J-Live. Toki has released recordings with Talib Kweli, BJ The Chicago Kid, and G Yamazawa to name a few.

Arkansas native, Tricia Reed always saw music as a tool for healing. With musical talent running through her families blood, Reed was destiny to follow a path that centered her craft. Growing up singing in multiple church and gospel bands shaped Reeds voice into a vessel that is reminiscent of classic gospel and R&B singers. Taking great pride in her multifaceted talents such as hair styling, costume design, movement through dance, and beauty her understanding of what it means to work with what you create sets her a part from most. Tricia’s currently working on releasing a new ep.Instagram

Zahili Gonzalez Zamora
2024-08-02 14:00 - 16:00
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/

WeAreLoFi
2024-08-02 16:00 - 18:00
Introducing WeAreLoFi, a multi-Grammy-nominated, Golden Globe Award and NAACP image award winning duo who captivates listeners with their signature blend of soulful melodies and laid-back beats. With a passion for creating atmospheric and nostalgic soundscapes, WeAreLofi effortlessly combines elements of jazz, hip-hop, ambient music and MANY more genres to craft a truly unique sonic experience. The group consists of Charles Haynes and Mitch Henry, whose attention to detail and meticulous production techniques result in tracks that transport listeners to a world of tranquility and introspection. With a growing fan base and ever-expanding catalog of mesmerizing compositions, WeAreLofi is making waves in the lo-fi scene. Whether you’re seeking relaxation or a transcendent musical journey, WeAreLofi’s music is the perfect soundtrack for those moments of reflection and escape.

Dwayne Haggins
2024-08-02 19:00 - 21:00
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

Eduardo Betancourt
2024-08-03 13:00 - 15:00
Considered “one of the iconic harpists of this new age,” ​Eduardo Betancourt​ is a Grammy-award winning Venezuelan musician, producer, arranger, composer, instructor, and multi-instrumentalist with 30 years of experience in traditional and fusion Venezuelan music. In 2010, Betancourt won a Latin Grammy Award for his participation on the album ​“​Tesoros de la música Venezolana” by Ilan Chester​, and in 2016, he was nominated on the ​album ​”​Pa’ Tío Simón” with Rafael “Pollo” Brito​.​ At the 2016 Pepsi Music Awards in Venezuela, Betancourt’s personal album, ​AD LIBITUM​, was nominated three times for “Best Artist,” “Best Song,” and “Best Album.” His many accomplishments include more than 100 recordings, and performances with renowned international artists such as: Simon Diaz, Oscar D León, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Danny Rivera, Luis Salinas, Jorge Celedón, and artists from Venezuela.

David Lemuel Rivera
2024-08-03 15:00 - 17:00
David Rivera is a Puerto Rican artist with over 15 years of experience spanning composing, arranging, teaching, podcasting, and performing various music styles including Jazz, Latin, Gospel, Rock, and Pop. His band, David Rivera y La Bámbula, blends his relatable lyrics with folkloric urban sounds from the Caribbean, creating innovative rhythms that fuse jazz and robust horn sections. This unique sound appeals to a wide range of music audiences, from pop listeners to jazz aficionados. The group has been selected to perform at the Ecuador Jazz Fest and serves as the house band at the Fairmont San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico. In March 2023, they were featured in “Sesiones desde la Loma,” attracting over 60,000 views on YouTube.

Rivera has participated in numerous live concerts and studio sessions alongside legends such as Miguel Zenón, Pedro Capo, Obie Bermudez, Luis Enrique, Jerry Medina, William Cepeda, and Gonzalo Grau. He first gained recognition as the creator and host of the podcast “Akulkul,” where he explores the creative processes of each guest artist.

Brooke Annibale Band
2024-08-03 18:00 - 20:00
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
2024-08-04 12:00 - 18:00
Due to weather, live performances will be cancelled today.

Harpoon and Rosa Mexicano will be open for normal operating hours, 12:00PM-9:00PM.

Check back here for the most current updates!
