ROBBI’S BACK IN TOWN! ROBBI K & FRIENDS RETURN TO MANHATTAN FOR A HIGH ENERGY "SHOW OF MANY CULTURES" 92YTRIBECA - MARCH 2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Elizabeth Waldman Frazier
415-334-2787 or waldmania@comcast.net
ROBBI’S BACK IN TOWN!
ROBBI K & FRIENDS RETURN TO MANHATTAN
FOR A HIGH ENERGY “SHOW OF MANY CULTURES”
92YTRIBECA - MARCH 29
“Songs That Rock, and Are Kid Friendly, Too” – The New York Times
“A unique voice in children’s music.” – Disney’s FamilyFun Magazine
“Robbi has sung backup for artists ranging from Jewel to Aretha Franklin, and she deserves praise for the cultural aspects and delightful depth of her performances ... The overall effort is so rewarding and well performed that parents should just groove out." – Time Out NY Kids
“Robbi and I go way back, both professionally and personally. It gives me great joy to hear the feeling she puts into these songs for our youngest listeners. Robbi gives them a chance to tap into a whole line of soul from Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Billie, and Ella right up to what’s happening today.” – Chaka Khan
NEW YORK, NY – Parents’ Choice Award-winning children’s musician Robbi K invites kids and families to join Robbi K & Friends in a rousing musical journey through many cultures and musical traditions on Sunday, March 29 at 11:00 a.m. at 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson St., NYC. This program is part of the 92YTribeca’s B.Y.O.K. (Bring Your Own Kid) Series.
Robbi K’s enthusiasm for using children’s musical theatre to learn about our world jumps into action when Robbi K & Friends tear into their interactive show overflowing with call-and-response, group singing, and general all-ages fun. Songs in multiple languages are backed by vibraphone, bass, and drums, with Robbi K herself on piano, in a global expedition of music, song, and storytelling that digs into blues and world grooves, along with plenty of folk, jazz, and calypso, in addition to everyone’s childhood favorites and some original Robbi K compositions.
Robbi K & Friends will circumnavigate the globe chanting in Swahili, humming Zulu folk songs like “Mbube,” and dancing to the Latin clave rhythm. Sharing stories of her worldwide travels as a musician, Robbi K emphasizes that people all over the world are connected by music, history, and daily interaction. Robbi’s shows foster love, tolerance, understanding, and an appreciation of other cultures from around the world, while also inspiring audiences to surrender to the sheer joy of music.
Kids’ music guru Bill Childs (Parenting magazine; Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child) raved about Robbi K in a recent column, “Her music takes bits from all around the world, but she never sounds out of her element, whether evoking traditional American folk music, Zulu rhythms, or reggae. It all adds up to pure joy. We just saw her live, and in just one song, the entire room – filled with people who have seen a lot of music – was transported.”
Robbi K is one of the few African American women who have achieved national recognition in the field of children’s music. Unlike many of today’s children's musicians, Robbi's background is not in rock, but rather is in jazz, pop, and world beat. She has long maintained an active schedule as a back-up singer with such artists as Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Jewel, Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, and Harry Belafonte, among others. Her TV appearances with these artists include Oprah, 60 Minutes, Rosie, Regis & Kathie Lee, The View, VH-1, The Today Show, and Late Night with David Letterman. Robbi is married to Grammy-winning bassist Bakithi Kumalo, whose longstanding association with Paul Simon is a story unto itself.
Robbi’s heart, however, is in performing for children, and she devotes a significant part of her career to children’s music, receiving tremendous accolades for her multi-cultural live performances, and educational outreach. Robbi is renowned across the U.S. for her work in schools as a trained Lincoln Center for Aesthetic Education Teaching Artist.
Robbi K has released three children’s recordings. Her debut children’s album, Set it Free, combines world grooves, childhood favorites, and original compositions to celebrate musical and cultural diversity. Robbi’s second album, the Parents’ Choice Award-winning CD, Keep the Beat, is an African folk tale about ancient drums and clever animals. The most recent (2007) Robbi K CD, Music Makes Me Happy, explores a very different jazz and pop repertoire. Music Makes Me Happy is a Parents’ Choice Silver Award-winner.
Robbi K credits Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ as a source of inspiration, saying, “’Graceland’ rocked my world. It made me so aware of life, politics, music, and people other than myself. I want to make music for families that inspires and excites, just like ‘Graceland’ did for me. I make my concerts joyous, with exhilarating music and a reminder that – with intention and effort – we can make the world a better place.”
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WHAT: Robbi K & Friends in Concert
WHERE: 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson St., NYC
WHEN: Sunday, March 29, 11:00 A.M.
TICKETS: $15. Phone Y-Charge operator at 212.415.5500.
INFO: http://92YTribeca.org
For more information on ROBBI K or to schedule an interview, please contact Elizabeth Waldman Frazier at Waldmania! 415.334.2787 or waldmania@comcast.net. Check out ROBBI’s website at www.HiRobbi.com .
