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Samirah Evans and Mathew Dorko reunite at Nova Arts from their days of performing as a duo act in New Orleans. Both left New Orleans post Katrina and coincidentally found themselves choosing to not only live in the Green Mountain State but in the town of Brattleboro!
Most of all, Evans' assets -- which once made her the toast of pre-Katrina New Orleans -- include her sultry, sometimes silken, always smoking hot vocals and vibrant stage presence. Add to this gumbo of saucy ingredients her passion for connecting with her audience while she’s moving and grooving on- stage.
- Owen McNally, WNPR Jazz Corridor
Samirah Evans is known for her dynamic, soulful approach to jazz and blues, among other genres. Her style is also heavily influenced by the New Orleans sound where she was one of the city’s most in-demand singers.
Her 1990 debut at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival began a stint of 15 consecutive years performing there as a leader or featured vocalist, and she was a fixture in both clubs and concert venues throughout the Crescent City, including Snug Harbor, Tipitina’s and the House of Blues. During her career, she has toured North and South America, Europe and Asia, sharing stages with a multitude of New Orleans notables and legendary artists, including James Brown, B.B. King, Dr. John, Levon Helm, Aaron Neville, Charles Neville, Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, Jr., Irma Thomas, Trombone Shorty and Sheila Jordan.
Hurricane Katrina caused Samirah to relocate to her husband’s hometown of Brattleboro, Vermont. She assembled a band called Samirah Evans and Her Handsome Devils and developed notoriety throughout New England touring upon their 2009 CD release “Hot Club” Live at the Vermont Jazz Center, Evans 3rd release.
Evans dedicates time to perpetuating indigenous American music. In New Orleans, Evans participated in the Blues Schoolhouse sponsored by the House of Blues Foundation and hosted a show for the N.O. Jazz & Heritage Foundation radio station, WWOZ. She is currently an Artist Associate in Jazz Voice at Williams College and offers voice instruction in her home studio. https://samirahevans.com/
Matthew Dorko has been playing, singing, writing and recording music for over 40 years.He fell in love with the guitar at an early age and soon began performing wherever he could- busking in Harvard Square in Cambridge, and on the streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans. He spent his formative years surrounded by the music of New Orleans and was fortunate enough to study at UNO where he was mentored by Jazz Patriarch Ellis Marsalis and Guitarist Steve Masakowski. Since then Matthew has played Jazz professionally Both in New Orleans and in the Boston area. He has toured as a bassist, guitarist and singer in multiple genres. He now lives in Brattleboro VT, where he has been focusing on producing, mixing and mastering music.
With two degrees from NYU, Alex Minasian has, at a remarkably young age, established himself as a versatile pianist, educator, and impresario in many different musical genres. As a pianist, Alex has has studied with some of the greatest pianists in jazz history, including Hank Jones, Don Friedman, Jean-Michel Pilc, and James Williams, and has performed in most of the country's most famous jazz rooms, such as Birdland, the Blue Note, Cafe Carlyle, Yoshi's, Bohemian Caverns Iridium, Jazz @ Lincoln Center, the Village Vanguard, and the Apollo Theater. He has shared the stage with such legends as James Ingram, Arturo Sandoval, ?UESTLOVE, Sam Moore, Marylin McCoo, Curtis Fuller, Hank Jones, and Clark Terry, and with such jazz greats as Brian Lynch, Billy Pierce, Sheila Jordan, Gary Bartz and Hugh Masekela. Alex was the last pianist for the late iconic singer and NEA Jazz Master Little Jimmy Scott, and is the pianist and musical director for the renowned jazz singer Mark Murphy, and performs as pianist and musical director for singer, actor, songwriter, and musical historian Billy Vera and his 18-piece big band. Alex has also headlined such important jazz celebrations as the Rochester Jazz Festival appearing as co-leader of a trio with Canadian bassist Brandi Disterheft. In 2013, Minasian, Disterheft, a veteran drummer Steve Williams (Shirley Horn), formed the Hanky Panky Trio to honor Hank Jones..The Hanky Panky trio is featured in Season 2 of the hit Netflix show, 'Orange Is The New Black'. They have performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival with Sheila Jordan, and as a trio at the Istanbul Jazz Festival..He has also been collaborating with Broadway Star Christina Sajous (Spider Man--Turn off the Dark, and American Idiot) on an eclectic nightclub act featured at such New York City hotspots as Duane Park and Millesime. Alex has been featured in Yerevan Magazine, a Los Angeles–based Armenian publication promoting Armenian news and culture.
Northeast Wine Company seeks out small production wines expressing the unique terroirs of the northeast. Their educational seminars and tasting events strive to help customers discover the incredible variety and quality showcased by these regions. Notheast Wine Company works only with sustainable and organic wineries, and encourage everyone to drink local!
Somellier and owner Sarah Trubnick with lead this add-on tasting, with local cheese pairings from Vermont and NH.
Wine tasting portion of the evening begins at 7pm and will wrap up before the music begins.
