Bakithi Kumalo’s Music Masters play The Stephen Talkhouse

East End Arts Music Masters with Bakithi Kumalo Tour The East End Arts Music Masters students and Bakithi Kumalo are on tour this summer performing at various exciting venues including House of Brews, Hotel Indigo, The Jazzloft in Stonybrook, 89 North in Patchogue and Stephen’s Talkhouse!

The East End Arts Music Master Mentorship Program this past winter was with international celebrity musician Bakithi Kumalo, longtime bassist for Paul Simon. Fourteen music students (ages 14-18) participated in a seven week intensive workshop with Bakithi and piano accompanist David Bravo. This full scholarship, tuition-free program allows selected students to participate in an ensemble of talent, each year since 2011, under the guidance of a music industry professional.

Through one-on-one learning opportunities with masters in the music field, students are given training in composition and songwriting, rehearsal and performance skills, and additional experiences and relationships that will serve them well for their future endeavors. Come see the group perform this July and August! Ticket sales will go towards future funding for Music Masters Programs to ensure that others can receive this training, experience and exposure. Thank you to our venues for allowing us this fundraising opportunity! Thurs. July 6 – Hotel Indigo, Riverhead Sun. July 9 – House of Brews, Port Jeff Mon. July 24 – Stephen’s Tallkhouse Sat. August 12 – Jazzloft, Stonybrook Thurs. August 24 – 89 North, Patchogue

Bakithi Kumalo is a South African bassist, composer and vocalist who has worked with a wide variety of diverse artists including Gloria Estefan, Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Harry Belafonte, Cyndi Lauper, and Paul Simon. He has been active as well as a solo artist, with four albums to his credit – 1998’s San’Bonan, 2000’s In Front of My Eyes, 2008’s Transmigration, and 2011’s Change – as well as three award-winning children’s albums recorded with his wife, vocalist Robbi Kumalo. Kumalo’s bass-playing history began in Soweto where he grew up surrounded by music. “I picked up the bass early and realized I could follow the groove of a tune with it. I could play the bass lines from a cappella music, and I learned how to develop lines based on the left-hand work of accordion players in the township bands. Photo by: