I actually met him a few years ago here in New York City. Quincy Jones is legendary and a huge inspiration to me.
I read different books for different reasons, but these three, given my focus, are consistently on my top list- Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones, The Big Sea by Langston Hughes, and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. What are some of your favorite books and who are your favorite authors? They provide instant access to some of the greatest minds, artists, writers, speakers, and content creators on a regular basis. New York City’s three public library systems, as a unit, continue to wow me. Dan is a unique individual in that he has been able to bring together people from diverse backgrounds to create and share, in community, their gifts and passions.
My favorite things about Queens Library are the people, the community, and the Culture Connection programming that Dan Zaleski has curated. This is your fourth time joining us at Queens Library, and we’re glad to have you back! What are your favorite things about performing here? With that said, in my writing process each word, even an article, holds importance. I find now that, in my case, there are some things that I am able to express more deeply with a chord or a melody than with a word alone. Writing poetry was an important part of the process, though. Honestly, now I think writing songs is much easier than writing poetry. Which do you think is easier? And do you still write poetry? Speaking of your writing process, you wrote your own poetry before you began songwriting. And it's something I relate to with my writing process. Her combination of classical music with soulfully rich texture and heartfelt lyricism inspires me in my craft. Most recently, Laura Mvula's album The Dreaming Room has deeply touched me and has been part of my life's soundtrack. I would have to say The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill definitely had a profound impact on me from a philosophical and spiritual relationship to music. That's such a challenging question to answer. Which performers and albums have inspired your career as a musician? We happen to both be from Georgia and went to high school only miles apart. What can our customers expect at your upcoming event here at Queens Library? Are you excited to work with Joaquina Kalukango?Įveryone should come and see this show! Joaquina is a force, an immense talent, and her voice is simply stunning. Throughout my education, the library has always represented and been a place of aspiration, knowledge, and access. In elementary school, they represented the place for me to explore my creativity, imagination, and relationship with language. Libraries have been central in my life from an early age. What role have libraries played in your life? He has produced and released four EPs and is currently working on his first album.Ĭharles was kind enough to answer some questions for us before his upcoming event. As a socially conscious artist, Charles has curated performing arts concerts raising thousands of dollars for the New York Civil Liberties Union and for arts education.
He has performed in the Off-Broadway hit musical Sleep No More and for the NYCLU’s Broadway Stands Up For Freedom. As a pianist, he has been regularly engaged at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Robert Restaurant at Columbus Circle. His arrangements have been performed on MSNBC. He has performed at Lincoln Center and held residencies throughout Manhattan. His work fuses jazz, soul, pop, and classical elements with engaging lyrical imagery. Joaquina’s evening of songs and music will be directed by Charles Duke, a talented performer who has entertained us several times at the Library.Ĭharles Duke is an award-winning songwriter, music director, classically trained pianist, arranger, singer, and composer residing in Harlem. We hope you’ll join us for our Culture Connection event A Spring Evening with Color Purple Broadway Star Joaquina Kalukango, on Thursday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m.
0 kommentar(er)
