WPKN Presents

BRIDGEPORT – THIS IS US!

Name: Bridgeport – This Is Us
Start: 2022-02-04T20:00:00-05:00
End: 2022-02-04T22:00:00-05:00
Location: Bijou Theatre CT

A Celebration of African-American Musicians

An all-star group of Bridgeport musicians comes together in a celebration of Black History Month with music covering many styles and generations. It features premier musicians who have performed and resided in Bridgeport for decades but have also traveled, toured, and performed throughout the world. Performing in a variety of styles ranging from the original African kalimba to jazz, funk, R&B, hip-hop, and soul, this show will be a salute to the genres and the masters of the game.

The program features James Moss (African kalimba, percussion vocals), Darian Cunning (virtuoso solo guitar, vocals), Mark Matthew (hip-hop), the Steve Clarke Band with Pat Marafiote, Chris Stanley & Thom Adams (jazz), and MDIII/Michael Dunham featuring world-renowned vocalists Janice Dempsey, Tiffany T’Zelle Wilson, and drummer Nate Barnes.

The performers,
in order of appearance

James Moss

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James Moss

Kalimba master, percussionist, educator, instrument maker and vocalist James Moss opens the program. He is a man who exudes dignity and knowledge, with a long career researching and performing African music with a range of performers from West Africa, as well as various jazz stars.

Darian Cunning

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Darian Cunning

Darian Cunning is a guitarist.

Photo by FTC Bill McMenamey

Mark Matthew

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Mark Matthew

Mark Matthew is an African American hip-hop artist based out of Bridgeport CT. Since 1998 he and his family members started an independent production company by the name of Smokey Lowe Ent. He has opened up for the likes of Goodie Mob, Juelz Santana and also has been featured on a DJ Envy mixtape. His latest projects that are on all streaming platforms are 405 Carroll Avenue, The Family that partied too hard, and his latest release The OldHead. His consistency through the years has always been good music mixed with powerful and explosive lyrics and flow. With his new Grown man approach to the so-called young man’s game of hip-hop, he stands out in a room full of giants.

Steve Clarke

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Steve Clarke

Steve Clarke (Bassist/Composer) Born and raised in Bridgeport CT. Has played and taught music solely for over 30 years.

Steve has been Blessed to share the stage with: Adam Hawley, Tom Browne, Paula Atherton, Althea Rene, Jeanette Harris, Marion Meadows, Carol Albert, Sean Uliasz, Sherry Winston, Vincent Ingala, Phillip Denny, Estaban, Victor Fields, The Five Satins, Ben E. King, The Drifters, Coasters, Sam & Dave, and many local bands weekly.

He has released 9 CD’s under his own name, has performed on over 60 CD’s with other artists, has toured in Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania as well as throughout U.S. with various groups.

“Clarke’s free-flowing compositions showcase plenty of fusion chops, but his rich tone and spaced-filled lines steal the show”
– Gregory Isola, BASS PLAYER MAGAZINE

Hear music, see videos: http://www.youtube.com/qupsclarke

Pat Marafiote

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Pat Marafiote

Pat Marafiote is a keyboard player with the Steve Clarke Quartet.

Thom Adams

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Thom Adams

Thom Adams – keyboardist, producer

Thom Adams plays music that can be described as funky, jazzy, soulful, and positive with influences from electronic music. Utilizing production values contrary to those to be considered typical of an electronic musician, Thom manages the tools of the microchip age to bring an organic feel to his music. The soul, funk, and jazz embedded in the heart of this artist are apparent in each track. Once you listen to this artist, you can appreciate the heartache, joy, frustration, sadness and every other emotion conveyed poured into every note.

Music for Thom is not just a passion but could be considered, life-sustaining. Thom explains, “I remember hearing my Dad play his trumpet or my Grandmother sing and being at peace with the world and all the turmoil it can bring to our lives, daily. Music is everything to me. Just like we need air to breathe, I need music to exist on this earth.” That passion for music emanates from his compositions.

This enthusiasm for music was something that could not have been avoided. “As an infant, my Mother and Father would play classical music as lullabies for me, and when they bought my first organ when I was seven… I was hooked immediately,” Thom so enthusiastically informs of his origins.

An artist whose love is TRULY the music, because that’s all that really matters, right?

Chris Stanley

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Chris Stanley

Chris Stanley is a drummer with the Steve Clarke Quartet.

Michael Dunham

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Michael Dunham

Michael Dunham, the concert organizer, is a recording artist and vocalist with an extensive repertoire and 40 years of experience. A versatile performer who works in multiple genres (Classic R&B, Funk, Old School, Jazz, Motown, the Stevie Wonder songbook), presently recording with producer Steve Sechi, Michael’s recording of “Got To Keep On Moving,” written by Sechi, was featured in the Netflix series “Feel Good.”

He has in the past done vocal tributes to Ray Charles, Motown, Al Jarreau, and in a performance with the famed New York based tribute band, The Loser’s Lounge, stole the show during a Stevie Wonder tribute at the old Playhouse On The Green, according to the Fairfield County Weekly who wrote, “Michael Dunham is the kind of artist who can cover other artists that we need to hear more of.” He is also a published journalist, respected visual artist, and a WPKN programmer since 2013.

Dunham has performed on some of the biggest stages on the East Coast, the Casinos, Madison Square Garden, Webster Bank Arena, Palace Theater, among others. He is one of the state’s most versatile and complete vocalists, a walking encyclopedia of great music. He is also a respected visual artist, a published journalist, and a radio programmer at WPKN with a show aptly named, “Real Music, Real Talk.” He also has a recording on the soundtrack of the Netflix show, “Feel Good.”

“An amazing talent,” says singer/songwriter Janice Dempsey.

Janice Dempsey

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Janice Dempsey

Janice Dempsey is a vocalist.

Tiffany T’zelle

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Tiffany T’zelle

Tiffany T’zelle, also known as the Fairy Goddess of R&B, is a singer and songwriter who was introduced to the music business as a young teen. Just out of high school, she and her group would land a recording deal with the music mogul Quincy Jones’ label, Qwest Records. She later extended her knowledge of the business by working for one of the biggest music publishing companies in the world, Zomba Recording Corporation, home of Jive and Verity Records. T’zelle would soon after travel around the globe as a supporting vocalist for Diana Ross, Tevin Campbell, Barbara Tucker, Carl Thomas, Leela James… just to name a few. Now, she tours the world performing her original songs, all the while finding time to get back in the studio to complete her next solo project “Call me T’zelle.” You can find some of Tiffany T’zelle’s music on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube and any other music source for music streaming and downloads.

Nate Barnes

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Nate Barnes

Nate Barnes is a drummer.