Cultural Odyssey

ARTISTIC BEING

Click to view poster

click to view Artistic Being press

The California Arts Council’s DOJ Presenting award supported a California tour of “Artistic Being”, which featured Idris Ackamoor on alto saxophone, tap dance, mbiras, a variety of percussions, and invented instruments.  As well, Frederick Harris was the principle accompanist on drums and piano. There were also several engagements when other musical guests joined the duet.

Renting a cargo van, Ackamoor and Harris hit the road to perform at a variety of rural venues and arts councils including the Lassen County Arts Council in

Susanville, Sierra County Arts Council (performing in Sierraville at a school auditorium and in Downieville at the Yuba Theatre), El Dorado Arts Council in Placerville, Healdsburg Jazz Festival in Healdsburg, Mammoth Lakes Arts Council (performing at Rafters Club & Restaurant and the Mammoth Elementary School), Miners Foundry Cultural Center in Nevada City, and for the Antioch Music Foundation (performing at the Delta Performing Arts Academy in Antioch).  In addition, to kick off the tour Artistic Being performed in San Francisco at the DeYoung Museum and the African American Art & Culture Complex.

The CAC DOJ Presenting grant was a life-changing project! As a jazz artist it was incredibly moving and inspirational. Through the assistance of the CAC Cultural Odyssey received an email list of arts councils around California.  Cultural Odyssey then prepared an e-marketing piece seeking presenters who would like to book a free performance of Artistic Being that would also be free admission for the their constituencies.  The response Cultural Odyssey received from the e-marketing piece was amazing!  Within a 72-hour period the tour was booked for a solid three weeks!!