Joan Henry & SPIRITED

Joan Henry heads up this dynamic sextet, whose music may be described as a ‘jazz-and-journey’ experience dancing on the borders of world music with equal parts jazz standards and originals touched by Native American and Brazilian flair

Joan Henry
Joan Henrylead vocals, percussion
Dennis Yerry
Dennis Yerrykeyboards, vocals
Gus Mancini
Gus ManciniSax , synths
Tom DePetris
Tom DePetrisguitar
Rich Syracuse
Rich Syracusebass
Ruperto Ifil
Ruperto Ifildrums

Essence of SPIRITED

After the tradition of jazz fusion groups Weather Report & Steps Ahead, Spirited’s music may be described as a ‘jazz-and-journey’ experience dancing on the borders of world music, always rich and engaging, often exploratory,  with equal parts jazz standards and originals touched by Native American and Brazilian flair.

These artists are all composers & performers in their own right; among them, they have played with a veritable Who’s Who in Jazz & Popular Music – Dizzy Gillespie, Jack DeJohnette, Kenny Burrell, Lee Shaw, Jaco Pastorius, Michael & Randy Brecker, the Brubeck Brothers, Pete Seeger, Max Romeo, Waylon Jennings, Cyndi Lauper, Maria Muldaur to name a few — yet they were all looking to work even deeper.

The artists of Spirited pride themselves on the in-the-moment experience they bring to audiences as a band; from old-school Ella Fitzgerald & Nat King Cole gems to the ballads & hard bop of Theolonius Monk with a sprinkling of indigenous-rooted originals for extra spice, Spirited takes you for a ride you won’t soon forget…

“Thank you for your wonderful deeply moving performance at the Falcon. I was blown away by your talented band! You made the premiere of Tribal Harmony a real success! I hope you will come back to the Falcon again!”

Laura, a fan

“Joan Henry is one of our favorite singers here at WDST!”

 

“They will get you up on your feet! …a funky Brazilian undercurrent that will have you dancing in the aisles…”

Karin A Wolf, founder, The Phoenicia Jazz Series

“People, until you’ve heard SPIRITED, you ‘ain’t heard nothin’ yet’…”

Evan Pritchard, author & musician, Center for Algonquin Culture

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