Just Announced: Joy of Motion Dance Studio

Photo courtesy of Joy of Motion

We're very pleased to announce a late addition to our entertainment lineup: Joyful Motion Dance. They'll be performing in front of the Community Center at 3pm, and we can't wait!

Joyful Motion Dance is a studio located in Greenbelt dedicated to serving the community by making the art form of dance accessible in an family friendly environment that focuses on whole child development. Through increasing the impact of arts education by serving hundreds of students, JMDG enables educators who are passionate about youth and passionate about dance to develop thriving careers. JMDG serves the community by providing an affordable alternative to arts education and nurture dancers in a caring environment that fosters whole child development.

Get the whole entertainment lineup on our website, and get ready for a great Cheverly Day 2016!

Entertainment at Cheverly Day: 8 Ohms Band

We round out our performance feature this week with the final band of the Cheverly Day 2015 lineup: 8 Ohms Band.

The 8 Ohms Band is a powerhouse of sound bringing horn heavy funk and the sweet vocals of Kristin Anzures. They're an Annapolis-based band drawing from diverse musical backgrounds, and the 8 Ohms play an eclectic mix of hard grooves, funk, soul and go-go to keep the dance floor moving. The 8 Ohms Band has been honing their style since 2007 playing festivals, clubs and events throughout the east coast.

Enjoy this great performance of 8 Ohms playing Super Heavy, then catch them live on May 16,  7:30pm on our Cheverly Day stage.

Entertainment at Cheverly Day 2015: Proverbs

We're over half way through the work week, and over half way through our excellent entertainment lineup for Cheverly Day 2015!  

We are so happy to welcome back a favorite band from Cheverly Day 2010: Proverbs. Proverbs is a positive, unique, rootz reggae band utilizing strong lyrical content and musical expressions to uplift Rasta livity. Proverbs is the only reggae band DC Metropolitan area to maintain the authentic sound of Rasta Roots Reggae Music. Specializing in socially conscious roots, the band promotes Ancient Wisdom through the art of music, thereby spreading the spiritual message of JAH RASTAFARI through word power and sound. The band’s strength is the diversity of its members; each bringing a unique gift and experience, making Proverbs an eclectic, spiritually, and socially conscious reggae band with a profound cultural base and deep rooted sound. Proverbs has shared stages with numerous international artists including Half Pint, Freddie McGregor, Chuck Brown, Collie Bud, Wyclef, Luciano, Dean Frazier, Mikey General, Leroy Sybils, Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus, Buju Banton, Tanya Stephens, and Gramps Morgan. 

Enjoy Proverbs performing Bob Marley's classic  "Keep on Moving" at the old Crossroads Club, and catch this great band live on stage at on May 16 at 6:15pm.

Entertainment at Cheverly Day 2015: Elikeh

All week long, we're featuring the musical artists that join us on May 16 for Cheverly Day 2015. Today, we're sharing Elikeh, a great roots afropop group from Washington, DC.

 Elikeh uses elements traditional African music as a foundation for exploration into American-influenced funk, soul and jazz to produce captivating tunes that are as listenable as they are danceable. Based in indigenous traditions, Elikeh’s music has no borders, exploring global themes and personal odysseys. Elikeh recently released a new album, Between 2 Worlds featuring the Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Toure, and John Kadlecik, lead guitarist of Furthur. Elikeh has performed with Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, The Wailers, and Vieux Farka Toure.

Watch Elikeh perform "Adja" at Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, then catch the band live onstage at Cheverly Day, 5pm.  

Entertainment at Cheverly Day 2015: Interstellar Soul

Throughout the week, we're featuring the great performers who will join us onstage at Cheverly Day 2015. Today, we're happy to present Interstellar Soul, a power trio hailing from the suburbs of Baltimore. The group brings their alternative soul  sound to the Baltimore music scene. It's psychedelic soul using their love of soul, blues, rock, alternative, trance, and anything else that inspires them to push the envelope. 

The band got its start in Ellicott City, where Guitarist/Songwriter Ernest Douglas met bassist Gregg Gaither. The two jammed on and off again for a number of years before meeting and joining forces with percussionists Rodney Moore. The trio have made their way around Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia, gaining the respect of their peers as well as the love of the crowd. After a few months of rehearsals, the group headed to Wright Way Studios in Baltimore to start work on their debut album "Soul Brothers" with Engineer Drew Lamond, which was released in June of 2014. The group brought in drummer Cheech Barry after Moore relocated with his family to the west coast. Interstellar Soul now focuses on expanding their reach and style by touring in the summer and working with members of the philly soul scene. Interstellar Soul has appeared at The Baltimore Soundstage, The Ottobar, The Mad Tea Party Jam, Pink Moon 6, and The Main Street Music Fest.

Watch Interstellar Soul perform a cover of "Misunderstood", and make sure to catch them live onstage, 3:45pm, this Cheverly Day!

Entertainment at Cheverly Day 2015: Imani

Throughout the week, we'll feature the great performers that will join us on Cheverly Day 2015. Today, we are excited to present Imani...

Jazz Times called Imani "An espresso - voiced song-weaver of rich, earthy texture and stunning vibrancy". As a vocalist, you could not ask for a more world class virtuoso. 

Imani has been on numerous recordings and there is no question that the music she conjures follows the same route. Her illustrious talents have graced many albums and soundtracks, including the National Geographic Television’s Explorer Series, most notably the Emmy-nominated film, the Jane Goodall Biography. She has also graced the stages of many festivals and venues, such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Curaçao Jazz Festival, San Antonio Jazz Festival and the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

IMANI the group, is a warm, energetic unit that reaches out for one reason, to connect with you. Their spirited sound is a captivating, infectious and undeniable musical synergy that will become a part of you! IMANI is Imani, Jon Ozment on piano, Pepe González on bass, and Greg Holloway on drums.

Enjoy this performance of Iris, and see Imani perform live at Cheverly Day, 2:30pm.

Entertainment at Cheverly Day

Every year, Cheverly Day committee chair David Thorpe gathers some of the best entertainment acts in the area for Cheverly Day. We're fortunate to host artists who play nationally and internationally in our own backyard, and this year is no exception...and we still have a few surprises up our collective sleeves!

We're very excited to offer this slate of performers this year, and we'll be highlighting their music all the way through Cheverly Day. Learn more about them by clicking the Entertainment link on our website, and visit this blog every week for videos of the bands you'll be hearing live on May 16!

A living legend in our midst.

photo via nasarabadey.com

Nasar Abadey. You may know him as a Cheverly neighbor, but did you know that Nasar is a legendary jazz artist? Cheverly Day is thrilled to welcome longtime favorite Nasar Abadey + SUPERNOVA to the stage again on May 31.

In his own words Abadey says, "I feel most comfortable at the cutting edge of the music. It is there that I play past what I know so that my creativity is inspired from a higher source."

Abadey has received awards for performance, merit and composition, by the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities (1978), the D.C. Commission for the Arts (1991), Creative Arts Performance Services (CAPS, 1977), Rites and Reason, Brown University (1978), the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation (1995), and the Prince George's Arts Council (2000), and served as Artist-in-Residence for Dreamlab, a multicultural project sponsored by America Honda and administered by Young Audiences, Inc. (2003), respectively. In addition, he has served as music panelist for the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (1994), the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities (1995), and the D.C. Commission for the Arts (1995,96,97) and is a serving board member of the Washington Area Lawyers Association (WALA, 2001-2003).

photo via nasarabadey.com

Since 1972, he has performed with Amiri Baraka, Gary Bartz, Keter Betts, Andy Bey, Birthright, Brother Ah (AKA Robert Northern), Oscar Brown, Jr., Jean Carne, Stanley Cowl, Cyprus Chestnut, Sonny Fortune, Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan, Joe Ford, Frank Foster, Charles Galye, Dizzy Gillespie, Vincent Herring, John Hicks, Buck Hill, Paul Horn, Bobby Hutcherson, Carter Jefferson, Hank Jones, Kenny Kirkland, Eartha Kitt, Lee Konitz, Carmen Lundy, Frank Morgan, Jimmy Owens, Valeri Panomorov, Sun Ra, Charlie Rouse, David Sanchez, Pharoah Sanders, Bud Shank, Rey Scott, Stephen Scott, Lonnie Smith, Grady Tate, Gary Thomas, Malachi Thompson, Stanley Turrentine, Bobby Watson, Buster Williams and others. Additionally, he has appeared in various festivals including, San Remo (Italy), Montreal (Canada), Cap City (DC), Virgin Island (Carribean), JVC (NYC), Morocco (Africa), Chicago Jazz Festival, Iowa City Jazz Festival, D.C. Loft Jazz Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Mellon Bank Jazz Festival, (Philadelphia), The East Coast Jazz Festival, the Free World Jazz Festival (DC), International Children’s Festival (Seattle), Guatemala City Jazz Festival, among others. 

photo via nasarabadey.com

Prior to forming SUPERNOVA® he was co-founder/leader, along with Joe Ford and Paul Gresham, of BIRTHRIGHT, and co-producer of two (2) albums, Free Spirits and Breath of Life. Abadey formed SUPERNOVA® to explore his compositional concepts through the many facets of African American classical music, i.e. Jazz. Moreover, he plays a music, which he describes as MULTI-D, which is multi-dimensional and multi-directional. These many directions and dimensions, are fields of realities that change according to density and vibration. Working within this paradigm, SUPERNOVA® exercises its artistic license to perform and explore this African American Classical Music, that includes, but is not limited to: traditional African rhythms, R&B, reggae, world, bebop, fusion, afro-Cuban, Brazilian, new age, free form, etc. These terms are mere labels representing polarities of one energy. Abadey has been awarded grants for performance, merit and composition, by the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, the D.C. Commission for the Arts, Creative Arts Performance Services (CAPS), the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, and the Prince George's Arts Council, respectively. In addition, he has served as music panelist for the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, and the D.C. Commission for the Arts, and is a serving board member of the Washington Area Lawyers Association (WALA). 

Though his travels have taken him to Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and throughout the USA, he still finds time to teach privately and perform workshops in the Washington, DC and the surrounding area public schools for Young Audiences, the Prince George's Arts Council, and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. 

Join us in front of the stage on May 31 at 4:30, and watch a living, breathing legend make some remarkable music.

Biographical information gleaned from Peabody Institute of Music, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Jazz.com.

Get your weekend started with one of our great bands!

It's a beautiful, sunny, spring day...a perfect way to start the first weekend of May. Let's get this Friday started with a sample of some of the great music you'll hear live at Cheverly Day on May 31!

Pan Masters Steel Orchestra joins us on stage from 6:30 to 7:30 for some amazing island-inspired music. Here's a little taste to begin your weekend:

And remember, information on all the great performers joining us for Cheverly Day 2014 is available on our website!

May is here...and Cheverly Day is just 31 days away!

We have reason to celebrate today...it's the first of May and the rain has finally cleared out. And the sun puts us in the mood for celebrating and that leads us to CHEVERLY DAY! 

And what would Cheverly day be without great music? This year, we have a great blend of old favorites and new discoveries -- truly something for everyone. 

4:30-5:30pm   Nasar Abadey & Supernova (Jazz)5:30-6:30   The Alfredo Mojica Quintet (Salsa)6:30-7:30   Pan Masters (Steel Orchestra)7:30-8:30   In Da' Cut (Jazz, Funk, Soul)8:30 Speeches and Mayor's Awards, National Anthem performed by Renee Johnson9:00 FIREWORKS!

Nasar Abadey + Supernova Cheverly Day is pleased to welcome a favorite performer of many Cheverly Days: Nasar Abadey.

Internationally renowned drummer and Composer Nasar Abadey is the founder, leader and driving force of SUPERNOVA®. Based in Washington, DC, Abadey has also built a solid reputation as a sideman with several groups, and has recorded and/or performed with many national artists throughout his career. Abadey has performed with many of the greats in the jazz world.

SUPERNOVA includes Joe Ford, Saxophones;James King,Bass; Allyn Johnson, Piano;  They perform music from the threshold of Jazz to beyond space and time, while having an artistic license to express their compositions through traditional African rhythms, bebop, fusion, Afro-Cuban, Afro Brazilian, and free form. The quartet’s musical inspirations include John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, and Duke Ellington among others.

The Alfredo Mojica Quintet Alfredo Mojica, who sang at Bossa for years with the group Sin Miedo, unites salsa, jazz and Latin American balladry.

His vocals can be heard as he sings and plays salsa, ballads and jazz. Alfredo is equally at home with R&B, Blues, Latin, Caribbean, Brazilian, Classical, Funk, Rock and Pop styles of music. He has performed in Japan, Canada, El Salvador, Europe, West Africa and Mexico to name a few. Locally, he has performed at Blues Alley, the Kennedy Center, Constitution Hall, the Warner Theater and many other area venues. Alfredo has also performed on several albums by upcoming jazz and salsa artists including Dave Matthew, Mesa, Alejandra Guzman, Ricky Loza and many others. Alfredo has also toured internationally and nationally with tour with Michelle N’Degociello. Wammie Award winner Alfredo Mojica is recognized as one of the D.C area’s top music talents. 

Pan Masters Steel Orchestra Formed in 1985, the Pan Masters Steel Orchestra is highly regarded throughout our region, and participates in many competitions and events – including the inaugurations of President Bill Clinton and Mayor Marion Barry, as well as community outreach performances at local schools, nursing homes, hospitals and churches throughout the year. Cheverly Day is very pleased to welcome this group to the stage for the first time.

Pan Masters is well-known in the area for the high quality of its music ranging from calypso and reggae to jazz, pop, Latin and classical. Pan Masters has produced four recordings, the latest of which was released in 2005 ("On De Road"). 2005 also marked the 20th Anniversary of Pan Masters. 

In Da’ Cut We are pleased to have In Da’ Cut with us again this year. The R&B, Neo Soul, Jazz Band last performed on the Cheverly Day stage in 2012.

Renee Johnson Renée Johnson launched her professional music career as a member of the gospel group, Sisters in Harmony, who released their debut CD in 2002. Throughout the years she has performed in churches and concerts throughout the DC/Baltimore Metropolitan area. Her recent release, JUST AS I AM, is her debut solo project.

Of course, make sure to stick around for the Mayor's Awards and THE FIREWORKS! It's all coming your way this month!