Meet Akua Dixon, Jazz Cellist, Composer, Educator

Enjoy Jazz Cellist Akua Dixon!

Today we'll enjoy listening to the works of native New Yorker, Akua Dixon.

As a teen, Akua Dixon attended the infamous High School of Performing Arts and studied cello with Benar Heifetz. It wasn't easy for a young woman of color in the world of where the European classical tradition reigned, but Akua Dixon made a way for herself. 

 

  “I’ve been composing things, in a sense, all my life... As an African American musician growing up studying classical music, I feel that I can offer a specific view that not many people have thought about.” 

Cellist-Composer-Conductor-Educator, AkuaDixon has been at the forefront of improvising string players since 1973. NPR's Jazz Night In America  reported on Akua Dixon's performance at the Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival that took place recently. In addition to the string ensemble featured on her latest album, Dixon was also joined by her two children: vocalist Andromeda Turre and drummer Orion Turre. 

 

 

Over the years, Akua  has toured the world performing with her Grammy Award-winning string quartet, Quartette Indigo, ”jazz’s leading string quartet” (Boston Globe). Akua’s string arrangements can be heard on the five-time Grammy Award-winning album, THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL and Aretha Franklin’s Grammy nominated, A ROSE IS STILL A ROSE. She has performed with Duke Ellington, Max Roach, Ray Charles and other greats.

Though her message at this performance is geared to teens, adults are more than welcome!

 

 

 

 

Join us for an evenining of music, and learn more about her fascinating story.

 

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NOTE: Registration is strongly encouraged - but not required! Drop ins are welcome!