How did a romantic trip to Montego Bay lead to the release of a Bob Marley tribute album 40 years after his passing? Join Acute Inflections, New York’s sultry duo, as they perform jazzy versions of Marley’s hits and tell the story of how they re-discovered his music and message.
This event will be presented on Aug. 11 as part of the Mayo Performing Arts Center’s free Arts in the Community series.
“A velvety mix of Erykah Badu and Billie Holiday paired with the cool grooves of her 007 on bass” is how one reviewer described Elasea Douglas and Sadiki Pierre of Acute Inflections. They have shared the stage with Jennifer Hudson, Keith Urban, and other notable artists at some of these events. Their albums are always favorites on the jazz charts, and their shows are both fun and enchanting.
Douglas performed in several Off-Broadway shows, including Dreamgirls and a one-woman show called A Role Once Played. She made her Broadway debut as part of the original cast of the Tony Award winning show, FELA! She began working with producers and writing and recording her own music. She’s performed jazzy and soul stirring originals at numerous venues, including The Knitting Factory, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Cafe Wha?, Iridium Jazz Club, and Groove Cafe.
Pierre is an upright bass player who is uniquely capable of playing and fusing almost any style of music including classical, jazz, Latin, reggae and R&B. He has performed with various community orchestras and string ensembles such as the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. He also trained with a few esteemed double bass teachers including a member of the New York Philharmonic. His focus on classical music created a longing for musical freedom that drove him to study and master jazz. Since then, he’s performed at numerous jazz clubs throughout New York City, the Hudson Valley, Boston, and New England.