Medium: Vocals, Violin, Foot Percussion, Dance, and Theater duets
Location: MUNY, Bethesda Terrace
Email: thoth@skthoth.com
Phone: 917-826-8190
Website: www.skthoth.com, myspace, cdbaby, youtube, yahoo, facebook, twitter
Address: P.O. Box 670232 Flushing, NY 11367

Lila’Angelique bio:

Thoth Bio: For the most part, my ancestry is lost in the past because of slavery and other interruptive influences. However, I’ve been able to deduce a bit of what it is: African, Scottish/Irish, Carib Indian (Mayan) from my mother whose family comes from Barbados; and Russian, Rumanian, Roma (Gypsy), Hebrew (Jewish) from my father. In the end, or the beginning, depending on how you look at it, I have been able to trace myself back to all peoples. I have a part of everyone in me.

How did I start doing this? I got hit by lightning! No – I studied, practiced and dreamed while maintaining an unquenchable desire to become fully who I am despite all the illusory boundaries. Plus, timely synchronous assistance from many special teachers (most who didn’t even know they were teaching) who have come into my life at the perfect time.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Some people recognize aspects of ancient pre-Egyptian and Mayan in my costume, but the costume is from the country of my dreams – the Festad. Through experimentation, improvisation, and exploration of clothing, I was led to this costume. It is in the colors of my spirit: active red for the passion of my expression; neutral gold for spiritual and physical prosperity; and passive black for the resting of all colors. My chakras are circled and focused. I am in chains and yet free.

Click here to view the embedded video.

My namesake, Thoth, was a high priest of ancient Egypt and the diety of scribes, wisdom, communication and mathematics. I took the name because it symbolizes an important point in my spiritual development when I transited from Greece (Hermes) to Africa (Thoth).

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Medium: Beatboxing/Vocal Percussion/Bike Painting
Location: The Kitchen, 512 W 19th Street
Email: adam.matta@gmail.com
Websites: www.adammatta.com, myspace.com/adammatta, www.youtube.com/beatboxnyc, www.cdbaby.com/adammatta,
Bio: Read Nick Broad’s article/interview on Adam Matta here.

As much as I love beatboxing, I think if the five elements of hip hop were represented as the five boroughs of New York City, beatboxing would come up as Staten Island. Not that there’s anything wrong with “The Rock,” it’s currently coming up in popularity for young artists and entrepreneurs, but over the years, it’s been the “forgotten borough,” and people sometimes wonder if it’s actually a borough at all. This kind of invisibility is one that corresponds to my cultural background, being the son of a Coptic Egyptian father and Russian Jewish mother. My complexion and features often get me the comment, “What ARE you?” from strangers of all different backgrounds. I usually don’t take it too hard, but it’s evidence of an inner tension, and a tension between my inner character and the outside world, that erupts, literally, out of my mouth, in the form of beatboxing.

Read a fantastic interview with Adam Matta, here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Adam Matta is a beatboxer and vocal performance artist from New York City. His style weaves jazz, hip hop, drum n bass, middle eastern, funk and theatrics and has thrilled audiences at Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theater, Madison Square Garden, Southbank Centre (London, UK), Town Hall, Lincoln Center, BAMCafe, New Museum of Contemporary Art, Brooklyn Museum of Art and First Night Boston. Called “‚Ķbrilliant…sonic abstract expressionism‚Ķ” by Ithaca Times, “‚Ķbeatbox maestro‚Ķ” by Wired, and, “‚Ķa treat‚Ķ” by The New York Times, Matta is a full-time musician and artist working in the craft of vocal percussion. He backs up artists including Reg E Gaines, Akim Funk Buddha, Beatboxer Entertainment, Sxip Shirey, The Wiyos, Karsh Kale, Michael Leonhart, Stephanie Nilles, and Paul Brill, and creates solo shows at prestigious New York venues, enlisting top artists like Ned Rothenberg, Sparlha Swa, Briggan Krauss, Eyal Maoz, Noah Hoffeld, Nihan Deveciolgu, Kenny Muhammad and Zef Noise. He appeared with Bobby McFerrin at Zankel Hall in an improvised opera based on the story of the Tower of Babel. He appeared with his father in Storycorps/Soundportraits, NPR’s initiative to record living oral histories. He has performed on PBS’ “The Electric Company,” and Damon Wayan’s “The Underground.” His music appears on soundtracks to the “L Word: Season II,” and documentary, “Planet B-Boy.” He has appeared in Stride Gum’s online campaign, “Battle of the Factory Bands,” and in Youtube’s 2009 collaborative music project, “Youtube Symphony Mashup.” He collaborates with dancer/choreographers, including Tami Stronach, with whom he has been commissioned to collaborate on a piece to be presented in 2010 at Joe’s Pub. Having released three solo albums, Rage Against the Drum Machine, Only Child Syndrome, and Gyroscope, Matta conducts group and individual beatbox workshops, writes articles on the art form, and has samples of his sounds available for download at Puremagnetik.com.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Press
“Man, I can feel the 808 coming from your f@!!n chest!!!” – Henry Rollins
“‚Ķa wizard‚Ķ he went beyond beat-boxing. It was as if Girl Talk’s music lived inside him. At one point, he even busted out the f*cking Tom Tom Club!” – Detroit Metrotimes
“[Adam Matta was]..a treat‚Ķ” – New York Times
“Like a John Coltrane solo, Adam’s Beat Boxing creates narratives which mere words could never accomplish.” – Reg E Gaines, playwright, Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk
“…beatbox maestro…” – Wired
“…virtuoso…” – Flavorpill
“….brilliant…like sonic abstract expressionism…” – Ithaca Times
“…clever…” – The Star Tribune
“……his ability to remix his own voice is remarkable, at first singing over a synced beat and then slowing it down, speeding it up, dubbing, scratching, even using the layrngeal equivalent of a wah-wah pedal. He’s wonderful to watch in these moments, right hand on the mic, left hand flailing in time, drops of spit and sweat flying off him. He must get terribly dehydrated….” – Village Voice
“…Matta is the soul of ['Beatbox Bard'], and because his mic covers his face throughout, we only see his impassive almond eyes and his quiet, rhythmic physical presence — until the curtain call, when the mic drops and the person behind the performer breaks through. With throat, tongue, voice and breath he creates not just beatbox rhythms (an urban tradition already a quarter-century old), underscoring or counterpointing the play’s action, but an entire soundscape…” – Ithaca Journal
“…incredible…” – Art or Something Like It, CUNY TV
“His beats are unsurpassable, but what really makes this guy wail is the mind inside the body heretic.” – Lynn Book, professor, Sarah Lawrence College
“Matta is a focal point of any performance. His vocal-pyrotechnics include evocations of drum & bass and jazz combos to horn arrangements and hip-hop. While he defies categorization, he could be said to fit into the progressive realm of “crossover jazz”, a la performance art. You’ll find him blending a unique approach to live vocals with layered realtime, electronic wizardry. His collaborations are likely to resonate with fans of anyone from Bobby McFerrin (with whom he has worked) to DJ Logic.” – Mapcidy

Click here to view the embedded video.

Medium: Korean Drum
Location: MUNY
Email: vong@koreandrum.org
Phone: 718-434-4057
Website: www.koreandrum.org
Bio: Vongku Pak is a performing/teaching artist. He has been solidly trained in Korean traditional folk arts such as poongmul, samulnori and elements of traditional dance. He studied with National Human Treasure Hyungsoon Kim and Kibock Kim. He also uses his Western drama training from Brooklyn College, City University of New York, where he earned his Backelor of Arts in Theatre, to bring new facets into his art. Integrating visual and theatrical elements, like narrative and dramatic structure, he enhances the traditions that he studied in Korea.

In 1998, Mr. Pak moved to New York City and began his career on the corners and streets of New York as a street performer. Now he is a member of Music Under New York (MUNY), which is a public arts program run by Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City. He was also auditioned by a panel for MUNY in 2007. Mr. Pak’s focus is to fuse his traditional arts elements with other art forms such as classical music, electronic music, pop, hip-hop, experimental performances, theatre, and film.

As a performing artist, Mr. Pak has been featured at CID-UNESCO in Istanbul (2009), Days of the Dead at Brooklyn Academy of Music (2009), Music From East to West at Miller Theatre (May, 2008), 2 Sky Trio at The Poietis Theater (2007), Peace Concert for Unification of Korea at Carnegie Hall (2007), Cibao Expo in Dominican Republic (2006), international tours in 15 European countries (2005), Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival (2001). Mr. Pak was featured on FOX TV’s Good Day New York, and appears on music recordings by Xtatika (Zardick) and Ishle Yi Park. He can also be seen performing at numerous NYC venues e.g. Tonic, Roulette, Bowery Poetry Club, etc.

As a teacher, Mr. Pak has been instructing at several non-profit organizations and public and private schools in New York including: Horace Mann School, Korean School of Staten Island, Stillman Elementary School, Columbia University, New York University, and Yale University to name a few.

In 2005, Mr. Pak founded VP Stage NY (www.VPstageNY.com) in Brooklyn, NY which handles consulting, management and producing for performing arts.

Medium: Classical, Latin American and jazz Guitar
Location: MUNY
Email: dwitterjr@aol.com
Phone: 718-855-8604
Website: donsguitarsite.com, donsguitarblog.blogspot.com

Eu So Quero Um Xodo

Jobim Medley

Bio: Don Witter could probably be called a guitar nut, and I don’t think he’d mind. In fact, his subheader on his blog basically states it: “I am the most passionate guitar man out there. I eat, drink, sleep, looooove everything about the guitar. Have guitar – will travel. I will report, review and give my 2 cents on this my guitar blog for everybody who is interested. ENJOY.”

Black Orpheus Medley

Escadoo – Laurinda Almeida

It’s hard not to enjoy Witter’s stuff. His technique is crisp, clean, and spot-on. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and pretty-much every other venue in the city. He has also been a part of MUNY for a decade. He also lists about two dozen guitar teachers on his bio, “and many more,” he says. So he’s done his homework.

Baden Powell Medley: Sad Samba, Waltz, Fim de Linha, Song of the Jet, Canto de Ossahna

Girl from Ipanema – A.C. Jobim

These audio tracks aren’t some guy strumming a guitar. They show years of devoted perfectionism and an inspired spirit. Mr Witter Jr. should changing how you see subway guitarists. Nice.

Milonga – Jorge Cardoso