Using lullabies of Ghana to the be-bop music of Duke Ellington, vocalist Imani entertained local families as she traced the roots of jazz music in a program held at the West County Library this week. The program was in celebration of Black History Month.

Imani has performed traditional African music for the Smithsonian Institute Folklife Festival and the World Music Institute. She is a Resident Artist with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and a workshop presenter with the Kennedy Center Partners-In-Education National Touring Program. She is also a Roster Artist with the Louisiana Division of the Arts and South Carolina Arts Commission.
 
Imani’s diverse vocal talents have led to collaborations with many notable musicians and ensembles, as well as a variety of film and television projects. Since 1989, she continues to be the first and only American to perform and tour with the genuinely traditional Ghanaian ensemble Yacub Addy, and she most recently performed, toured, and recorded with jazz great Wynton Marsalis. Imani’s voice was featured on the musical soundtrack of the Emmy nominated film The Jane Goodall Biography, and on many of the National Geographic Television’s Explorer series soundtracks.

A native of South Carolina, Imani has lived in the Washington, DC, area for more than 20 years.
Her vocal training includes the New England Conservatory, Berklee School of Music and Howard University.

Beginning with the soft sounds of lullaby "Ta Ta Te," Imani taught her young visitors through call and response techniques the song that was for mothers to wish on their children a good mind, heart, and health.

“Next, we come to the songs that Africans sang while working in the fields after coming to America,” she revealed to her audience. “The song is called Moaning because those who sang it were working so hard every day.”

The  favorite spiritual “This Little Light” was up next, allowing little ones to sing and dance to a familiar tune.

When she introduced the concept of be-bop vocalizing, it didn’t take long for young James Wallace IV to impress the crowd with his talents. “This boy needs to be in show business!” Imani exclaimed.

To view a photo, click on the thumbnail. All photos by Laura Tayman for Suburban Scene.



Captions

Row 1
a) Imani gets some help from a young vocalist when singing "This Little Light."
b) It was time to dance and sing during Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing."
c) Little Joyelle rocks to the music.
d) Audience members enjoyed the call and response songs.

Row 2
a) Mom Tamara Moore snaps to Duke Ellington as baby CJ looks on.
b) Antonio Hyatt dances to the music under the eye of his big sister.
c) James L Wallace IV helps Imani lead the be-bop part of the program.
d) The kids really get into the "Moaning" song as they imagine doing their chores all day.