What is an immigrant? hosted by Movers and Shakers & Island Stream
WELCOME WEDNESDAY – What is an immigrant? Exploring immigration through the lens of Caribbean creative practitioners
Hosted by Movers and Shakers & Island Stream
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
6-9PM
Movers & Shakers NYC is collaborating with Island Stream, a Caribbean mobile streaming platform, to visually and rhythmically convey the power of truth to reclaim and reframe narratives. From public spaces to museums to media outlets, the stories of people of color have traditionally been defined by the oppressors. During this event, attendees will partake on a journey through the feeling of being an undocumented artist in New York City through immersive projections scored by a live quartet. The composer and band leader, Adriel Vincent-Brown, is himself an immigrant from Trinidad & Tobago.
Join us as we vibe with a live quartet, hear from spoken word artists, experience immersive projections, and see augmented reality art for social change. Together we will explore contemporary issues about immigration and representation as we continue to push the meter forward.
Movers & Shakers is a coalition that executes direct action and advocacy campaigns for marginalized communities using virtual reality, augmented reality and the creative arts.
Island Stream is mobile streaming platform that will provide the most comprehensive curation of Caribbean digital media.
MediaVZN is an AV production company that focuses on projection mapping and video.
Adriel-Vincent Brown (drums)
Adriel Shane Vincent-Brown is a Trinidadian musician in living in New York. Brown has managed to establish himself as a worthy contender and is already beginning to make a name for himself and his country. Growing up in Trinidad, his love for music began as a child watching his father Kenneth Vincent-Brown play the drums in church, the instrument that would eventually claim him. After secondary school, Vincent-Brown moved to New York to attend the New School College of Performing Arts to further hone and develop his skills. The New School is well known for producing top-class musicians such as Grammy Award-winning singer, pianist and producer Robert Glasper. According to Vincent-Brown, the Caribbean has preserved African culture in a very unique way, especially through the drums, and has managed to create a sound unlike any other African-influenced genre in the world. “It’s in the rhythmic core of our music and it’s something that no one else has.” Despite his age, Vincent-Brown has a promising career as a musician and is prepared to continue growing and exploring all avenues that his career may take him. As for his plans for the future, he wants to get his own music and band up and running, as well as producing.
Morgan Guerin (bass, ewy, synthesizer)
Growing up in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Morgan was given his first pair of drumsticks at the age of six months…followed shortly thereafter by a drum set. By six, Morgan had his first saxophone and his instrumental repertoire expanded to many more instruments. Having grown up in a musical household, Morgan had the good fortune of being exposed to jazz from the Marsalis family, Donald Harrison, Christian Scott, among many others. He has shared the stage with such notables as Nicholas Payton, Ellis Marsalis, Herlin Riley, Esperanza Spalding, Jimmy Cobb, Terri Lyne Carrington, Christian Scott, Allen Toussaint, Freddy Cole, Robert Glasper, Russell Gunn, Amina Figarova, Wallace Roney, and Buster Williams. In April 2016, Morgan released his first record, “The Saga” and followed with, “The Saga II” in 2017. Morgan is currently studying at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. Since 2017, Morgan has been performing with Terri Lyne Carrington’s band, “Social Science”, Amina Figarova’s Sextet, and since 2018, Morgan has been touring with Esperanza Spalding’s, “12 Little Spells.”
Kareem Thompson (steel pan)
A steel pan virtuoso from Brooklyn, NY, Kareem got started with his family band “K.I.T Caribbean Connection” in the mid 90’s. He has performed with the likes of Ludacris, Mighty Sparrow, Brian Simpson, Jessy J and is currently touring with jazz saxophonist Elan Trotman & jazz trumpeter Etienne Charles. Kareem is also a well educated graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. He has performed at a wide range of jazz festivities and events including Tobago Jazz Fest, Springfield Jazz Fest, Pittsburgh Jazz Fest, MTV VMA Awards, Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center & many many more. His debut album “PAN ROOTS CULTURE” is available now via CDBaby, iTunes, Amazon Music & the “MUSIC” menu above.
Mark Is Black (piano)
Markis is a talented young musician born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. It all began as an infant at his father’s piano 21 years ago. Markis began formal piano training at age seven. After showing promise , he advanced his training at Lavilla Middle School of the Arts and is a graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, considered one of the nation’s top performing arts high schools. Markis was heavily involved in his home town music scene often playing at worship services, receptions, and clubs. He participated in the annual Jacksonville Jazz Festival’s Generation Next Youth Competition where his talents as a vocalist were discovered. He regularly accompanied the house band at the historic Ritz Theater. He had the honor of playing with music legend Roy Ayers at the Ritz theater and The Blue Note NYC. After graduating high school, Markis was accepted to Berklee College of Music but decided pursue a degree in Jazz Studies and Commercial Music at Jacksonville University. During the time at JU he played regularly at Palencia Golf Club in St. Augustine and Amelia island plantation. In 2014 Markis traveled to New York to visit friend and fellow musician. Markis soon discovered that New York was where he belonged. Markis is now a senior at The New School’s School of Jazz and Contemporary Music.
