C.A.T.

C.A.T. is a fantastic combination of original compositions, re-arranged covers and energetic improvisation. Three great musicians teaming up to make awesome music.

Tia Imani Hanna, vocalist, violinist, composer, is an old friend to WITA and we're excited to have her perform for us again...and this time she has put together a special presentation for us with her new improv fusion trio. Born in Detroit, she is nurtured by a family of musicians.  Tia moved to New York City in 1998 and returned to Michigan in 2009. While in New York, Ms. Hanna has performed in various clubs as a violinist with a number of different groups. She has performed with notable musicians, including: Paul West, Eddie Locke, Richard Wyands, Alisdair MacRae-Birch, Mark Johnson, Earl McIntyre, Naima Shambourguer, Marion Hayden, Gaylin McKinney, Renee Manning, Jerome Harris, Ron Jackson, Miles Griffith, and Pam Wise. Tia was the host of the popular weekly radio show, Take the "A" Train and the featured violinist for the Fourth American Jazz String Summit, presented at the New School Jazz department, where Hanna premiered her composition "Brazil the First Time." Hanna was the musical force behind the independent film, Inside, an original dance and music project composed by Ms. Hanna with video-choreographer, Andrea E. Woods. It has become a permanent part of the Jerome Robbins Dance collection at the New York City Public Library. She toured with The Souloworks Dance Company and worked with Gesel Mason in the Washington D.C. area. Ms. Hanna's debut CD, The Book of Tia: Chapter One is available at her website www.tiaimanihanna.com.  Hanna also produced and directed a concert of all of her published songs and compositions entitled Everything I Hear, presented at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music in 2005. This concert was partially funded by a Brooklyn Arts Council grant. She is currently working on her second CD.  About her current direction, Tia says, “I am learning to sing through my instrument, ...to let my soul flow through it.” Ms. Hanna has an incredible ability to weave atmospheres with storytelling melodies and harmonies oozing rich textures of soul and raw emotion. Tia Imani Hanna was a top ten winner in the world music category on the fan select site, OurStage.com in February 2008, for her song, "Fiona's Cousin."
She’s hoarding a talent overload…wordless notes emerge from her mouth in a jaunty, jazzy way. -Lansing State Journal

Carolyn Koebel has been performing regionally and nationally with such groups as Fonn Mor, Blue Dahlia, An Dro, Rhonda Larson & Ventus, the Battle Creek Symphony and countless others for the past 15 years.  Never much one for the drum-set within a conventional approach, she has continued to develop a multi-percussion set-up that defies easy stylistic categorization. Influences include world folk drumming traditions from across the globe, having studied in West Africa, Latin & South America, Turkey, and higher learning institutions on American soil.  Her approach is both highly accessible and endlessly kinesthetic.  She is an avid proponent of rhythm-based music therapy, offering workshops locally and across the country, and maintains an active practice as a hospice music therapist.  Visit www.carolynkoebel.com to learn more.  

Arlene McDaniel is an experienced pianist in the field of jazz, working in the Mid-Michigan area and beyond for over 28 years.  She performs a wide variety of musical engagements from clubs and festivals, playing as a solo artist as well as in small groups, big bands, and wedding combos.   Arlene has worked with notable performers in Michigan, including award-winning vocalist Sheila Landis, bassists: Gene Rebeck, Marion Hayden, Ed Fedewa, Paul Keller, and Nick Calandro; drummer Randy Gelespie, and trumpeter Rob Smith.  From 1996-2000 Arlene was involved in a mentoring program intended to guide young women interested in jazz, and working in the field – “Sisters in Jazz”.  Sponsored by the IAJE(International Association for Jazz Education), this international program was launched in part by Sunny Wilkinson, a well-known jazz vocalist.  Experienced women players and singers paired with young up and coming women artists. The intention was offering guidance and mentoring, rather than actual teaching. Arlene holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Theory/Composition from MSU (1984).  Also an experienced educator, Ms. McDaniel has taught traditional piano lessons as well as jazz piano since 1984, concentrating mainly on jazz. Arlene is currently employed at the Michigan State University Community Music School, where she teaches jazz piano. http://pws.cablespeed.com/arlenemcdaniel

Allie Merrick

Speaker, poet, designer, explorer and photographer, Allie Merrick is self-educated and diversely experienced. She aims to create a connection between the concept and the crowd. Addressing the audience in an artistic fashion, a memorable impression is made.

With original poetry consisting of the spoken word and sung refrains, Allie's words are not just heard, they are felt.

Visit Allie Merrick's Official Website

Pamela Means

Pamela Means "one of the fiercest guitar players and politically-rooted songwriters in the music industry today," (Curve Magazine) is a Brooklyn-based, internationally-touring singer-songwriter and jazz musician.

Pamela Means, with her "mad guitar-and-vocal skills," (Time Out New York) is spending 2010 on the road, with a new acoustic album, "Precedent," an anticipated follow-up to both "Pamela Means Jazz Project, Vol. 1," named "Top 10 Album of 2007" (muruch.com), wherein, "Means takes her rightful place among contemporary superstar jazz vocalists such as Cassandra Wilson and Norah Jones," (Curve Magazine) and the preceding politically-provocative Pamela Means release, "Single Bullet Theory," in which "...Means fires off what is easily one of the best musical summations of our current political situation.." (Bay Area Reporter, San Francisco, CA) Pamela Means's fifth independent release, "Single Bullet Theory," was also named 2004 "Outmusic Outstanding New Recording."

Pamela has shared the stage with artists including Ani DiFranco, Joan Baez, Neil Young, Shawn Colvin, Richie Havens, Patty Larkin, Melissa Ferrick, Violent Femmes, Pete Seeger, Janis Ian, Holly Near and many others.

Quoting her inspiration, Warrior Poet Audre Lorde, Pamela asks "I am myself- a Black woman warrior poet doing my work- come to ask you, are you doing yours?" With Truth as ammunition, a Pamela Means performance brings the fight for social justice and human dignity to the forefront of a new generation.

Visit Pamela's Official Website.

Sometimes Y

Cindy Lehmkuhle, Stephanie Hasley and Lisa Sarno make up Lansing’s own women’s folk-rock band, gracefully infused with honesty, heart, and a generous slathering of home made hot pepper jelly.

Visit Sometimes Y on Facebook.

Two Butches and a Broad

Two Butches and a Broad are Susan Harris, Lee Sayles and Tari Muniz. Each an accomplished spoken word artist in her own right, they delight in performing together.  Two Butches and a Broad produce women's erotic reading events twice a year in Lansing. Susan is the author of "The Substance of Things (Hoped For)" and Lee's published poetry is "Year of the Phoenix".  Tari's work has been published in numerous periodicals throughout the years.

Day Stage Schedule.

Lesbian Oral History Noon - 12:50 Cindy Mc Elroy 1pm - 1:45 Guitarist, singer, songwriter Dee Freeman 1:45 - 2:00 Poet, and Author Rhea Van Atta 2:00 - 2:30 Guitarist, singer, songwriter

Collette Cullen 2:30 - 2:50 Poet, Literary Educator, and Actor from Dearborn. Rachel Alexander 3:00 - 3:30 singer, songwriter keyboard, cello Barb Barton 3:45 - 4:15 Guitarist, singer, songwriter