About this Event
Newport Live and the Norman Bird Sanctuary Outdoor Summer series will present South African jazz artist Naledi Masilo, for a performance with her group, as Newport Live Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of South African Independence with performances by 4 unique, award-winning jazz artists from South Africa. The show will be at on Friday, August 9th at 7:00 PM at the Norman Bird Sanctuary, 583 Thrid Beach Road, Middletown, RI . Call Newport Live at (401)400-2774.
These shows commemorate the April 1994 elections that brought Nelson Mandela to power.
Naledi and her group invite you and yours to join us for an intimate eve of South African Jazz brought to us straight from the Motherland.
Night four of our Spring and Summer celebrating South African Freedom Day showcases a sublime performance featuring South African vocalist NALEDI. Embark on a musical odyssey with NALEDI, South African vocalist, educator, and storyteller, currently based in New York City. Her soulful melodies echo the vibrant tales of her African heritage, weaving through the jazz tradition, storytelling, and a boundless artistic curiosity.
A luminary in her early career, NALEDI earned degrees in International Relations, Sociology, and Jazz Performance from the University of Cape Town and The New England Conservatory of Music. This catapulted her into the spotlight as a standout talent, with accolades including being selected as part of the premier South African Standard Bank National Youth Band and winning the top three positions in the International Ella Fitzgerald Vocal Competition and National Dolo Coker Jazz Competition. She also secured the Glenn Miller Scholarship Competition.
Mentored by luminaries such as Dominique Eade, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Jason Moran, NALEDI's artistic prowess blossomed. Artistic residencies at the Presidential Kennedy Center and Banff International Jazz and Creative Music workshop underscore her global impact, while her performances at iconic venues like Jazz @ Lincoln Center, The Orbit, Artscape Theater, Grandwest Arena, Jordan Hall, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Trustees Theater, and Museum of African American Art resonate with audiences worldwide.
A force in the Boston jazz scene, NALEDI's collaboration with the Makhanda Big Band and Bill Lowe's Signifyin' Natives attests to her versatility. Her musical theater debut in Somi Kakoma's Dreaming Zenzile, exploring Miriam Makeba's life, garnered acclaim at renowned theaters across the United States, including The Repertory Theater of St Louis, McCarter Theater, Paramount Center, and New York Theater Workshop - earning her her first global nomination as "Best featured actress" in the Audelco Awards.
NALEDI's belief in music as a catalyst for change extends to her role as an educator. With a focus on South African jazz, choral and traditional music, she has enriched the lives of over 15,000 students through workshops and masterclasses, collaborating with Carnegie Hall and the Savannah Music Festival to design curriculum on Township Jazz for schools in Savannah and Chatham County K-2 students.
Her advocacy for women and girls shines through the "Trailblazers" program at the Savannah Music Festival and her foundation, "The Dreaming Girls Arts Foundation."
As the visionary behind a band that unites young virtuosic artists worldwide, NALEDI promises a sonic journey like no other. Anticipation builds for her debut EP "BATHO," set to release under La Reserve Records in the Summer of '24. NALEDI's music transcends borders, inviting you to join her on a captivating expedition through the tapestry of sound and culture she intricately weaves.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Norman Bird Sanctuary, 583 3rd Beach Road, Middletown, United States
USD 35.00
