Description

I got Deux, babe

Presented by ACT4Music Curator Eric Wortham II.

Concert curated by Eric Wortham II, featuring Cyrille Aimee, Justin Gilbert, Julius Rodriguez and Melo Gía.
Shot and Edited by Tirzah Vogels

Eric Wortham II

Eric Wortham II is a jazz and classically trained accomplished pianist, composer, songwriter and producer. He is best known for captivating audiences with his soulful rhythmic feel, innovative hand technique and precise hand speed. Eric has toured with grammy award winning artists such as Jill Scott and Adele and collaborated with Vivian Green, Aloe Blacc, Kindred The Family Soul, Music SoulChild, and Jeff Bradshaw.

Eric’s reputation as gifted pianist beckoned him to Shanghai, China, where he was invited to the House of Blues for a three month residency entitled Jazz in Shanghai. He has graced the stages of the Grammy Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, the Marian Anderson Awards and performed on The View, Good Morning America, Live! with Kelly and Michael, The Ellen Show, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Saturday Night Live,

Eric’s work with Jill Scott include co-writer, producer, keyboards and main personnel for several songs on “The Original Jill Scott from the Vault, Vol. 1” and “The Light of the Sun”. He performed on Adele’s live version of “When We Were Young (Live at The Church Studios)”, and appeared with Adele on her NBC televised special, “Adele Live in New York City”. Eric will be accompanying Adele on her global tour through 2017. Eric is a Yamaha endorsed artist.

Cyrille Aimée

Improvisation is not just a technique for Grammy nominated artist Cyrille Aimée, it’s a way of life. The acclaimed vocalist ventured from singing on street corners in Europe to dazzling audiences at the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals; from sneaking out to sing in gypsy encampments in her native France to acting on Broadway; from braving the notoriously tough audiences at New York’s Apollo Theatre to being called a “rising star in the galaxy of jazz singers” by The New York Times. Among countless accolades, Aimée won the Montreux Jazz Festival Vocal Competition and the Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition. As an actress, Aimée co-starred with Bernadette Peters in a Stephen Sondheim tribute at New York’s City Center which inspired her to dig deeper into Sondheim’s repertoire, resulting in her fourth and most recent album, Move On: A Sondheim Adventure. She’s shared her story via master classes, a TEDx talk, and a few addresses at the Conference on World Affairs.

Melo Gía

Melo Gía (Patricia Lewis Román) is a profesional singer and songwriter born and raised in the island of Puerto Rico on August 31st 1987. Melo Gía began her musical journey playing violin and singing in a children’s choir for the Puerto Rico Music Conservatory from the age of 7 until she was 17. Even though she loved classical music, the contemporary music culture called to strongly, driving her to win a scholarship and study in the very prestigious music school, Berklee College of Music in Boston. It wasn’t until she finished Berklee and moved back to Puerto Rico, that she picked up the guitar in 2010 and began practicing 6 hours a day. Her skills as a violinist gave her the ability to quickly pick up on the guitar and begin to compose. Daughter to Puerto Rican mother and African-American father from Philadelphia, Melo Gía has set off on a Journey of putting together a musical style that best describes who she is down to her latin and African-American Roots. “Bohemian Soul” is a fresh new sound painted in a canvas with all the colors of her Latin and African-American musical influences. A perfect mix of soul, jazz, reggae,  bossa Nova and latin pop and bohemian balads. The list goes on and on. Without leaving aside the fact that “Melo Gía” has always been first and foremost a vocalist before she ever became a composer. Her clean, melodic voice, broad vocal register and the ability to translate emotion into song through heartfelt stories, leaves no doubt as to why people call her “Melo Gía” (Melody).

Justin Gilbert

Keyboardist, Percussionist, Producer, Composer

CREATIVELY COMMUNICATES TO THE MASSES WITH EVERY KEY HE TOUCHES

Justin C. Gilbert, an Atlanta native, has captivated the hearts, souls, and ears of all that have witnessed his unparalleled musical stylings. A self-described “church boy”, Gilbert started his musical journey playing the drums at his family church at age 2 and at age 6 he began taking piano lessons, at his mother’s insistance. Although he was familiar with several instruments, he had an undeniable affinity towards the piano. He began honing his skills at his family church, where his father pastors.

In 2005, he attended Omnitech Institute in Decatur, Ga broadening his knowledge of Production and Audio Engineering.

Justin, also known as “Bishop”, is now living what was once a dream. He continues to touch the lives of many with his gift while touring and performing alongside renowned artists such as Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Eminem, Aretha Franklin, Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott, and Tyler Perry, to name a few. His credits encompass film and television, as well being an active member of Justin Timberlake & The Tennessee Kids and The BBE All-star band. He is featured in the Netflix documentary, entitled, “Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids” (2016). Justin is also a mainstay on BET, VH1 and several other television networks as both a house band member and music contributor. You can catch him this summer in the house band on BET’s Sunday Best.

Gilbert is now preparing to come back to the forefront with his junior release , “Questophonic”. The first single from this record, “What’s in a Name”, was released in January of 2019. Gilbert describes this soulful, heartfelt number as “an ode to legacy and family pride”. He continues, “This song touches me in such a special way. I was blessed to be able to feature both of my parents and my son, Justin II, on the track.” Gilbert will be releasing the second single, “All Night”, on April 12th. He exclaims that “It’s simply a feel good, summer, party record for the nations!”

In 2016, Justin released his 2nd album, “The Holiday Sessions”. A holiday album he describes those as “…a fresh approach to the nostalgic melodies of yesteryear, with hints of soul, jazz, gospel, pop, and world music. Gilbert’s first album, “Aligned”, garnered considerable attention, debuting at number 11 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts. Justin is certainly setting musical trends for the generation.

When asked about his most memorable musical experience, Justin stated, “Performing at the 2013 Grammy’s with Justin Timberlake.” He recalls, “the energy inside the Staples Center was electric! I knew from the first down beat that this experience would be one for the books.” Justin Timberlake and The Tennessee Kids, gave a stellar performance.

Justin C. Gilbert has become internationally recognized as a prominent performer and accompanist. With over 15 years of professional experience, one would wonder how Justin remains humble, faithful, and steadfast. As it relates to music, he states, “If it’s not honest, it doesn’t matter. If I don’t feel it, I won’t be able to deliver it with the proper sensitivity.” He takes great pride in making music not only a sound but a feeling for the listener, as he believes that:

“Music is life. There is a sound for every emotion. Every song should be an experience. Music is the ultimate form of communication. Music is life. Music is my life.”

Justin is a registered writer and publisher with BMI and is the CEO of Niche Publishing, LLC. For more information, visit www.justingilbertnow.com

Julius Rodriguez

“Possessed of a lissome sensitivity and grace”
— The New York Times

“A revelation”
— San Francisco Classical Voice

Multi-instrumentalist and composer Julius Rodriguez bonds a deep sense of history with an appetite for the unknown. At 21, the Westchester native has garnered critical praise from JAZZIZ magazine, The New York Times, Paste and Vanity Fair, and earned performance opportunities alongside Wynton Marsalis, Keyon Harrold, Ben Williams, Jazzmeia Horn, A$AP Rocky, Meshell Ndegeocello, Braxton Cook and the late Roy Hargrove. Julius’ contributions on piano, drums, synthesizer and electric bass appear on releases from Kassa Overall, Carmen Lundy, Brasstracks, Morgan Guerin, J. D. Walter and Damien Sneed.

Since attending Juilliard and MSM, Julius has performed at notable New York venues, including Dizzy’s, Smalls Jazz Club, Smoke Jazz and Supper Club and The Jazz Gallery, as well as The Black Cat in San Francisco. He has appeared at clubs and festivals across the country and throughout the world, including The Blue Note, SFJazz, The Kennedy Center, Ronnie Scotts, and Monterey and North Sea Jazz Festivals. An emerging leader and highly sought collaborator, Julius looks forward to issuing his debut release in 2020.