AACM presents: An Evening of Creative Music featuring a rare solo performance by Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith and New Voices of the AACM

CHICAGO-The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) and the University of Chicago present the first concert in its 2006 season: An Evening of Creative Music featuring a rare solo performance by Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith and New Voices of the AACM on Friday May 5, 2006 at the University of Chicago’s Fulton Recital Hall, 1010 E. 59th St. (corner of Ellis Ave. and 59th St.) on the 4th floor. The entrance is through courtyard, door on the left. The concert begins at 8:00 PM. Ticket prices are $25, $15 for students and can be purchased at the door.



A longtime AACM member, Mr. Smith is a trumpet-player, multi-instrumentalist, composer and improviser who has been active in the creative contemporary world music for over thirty years. As an Improvisor/Composer, Smith has studied a variety of music cultures (African, Japanese, Indonesian, European and American) and has developed a Jazz and world music theory, and a notation system to fully express this music which he calls "Ankhrasmation". He has composed music for solo, ensemble, classical and creative orchestra and stage works.
Mr. Smith's Nda-Kulture ensemble has performed most of his music since 1970. His compositions has been performed by other contemporary music ensembles: AACM Orchestra, Kronos Quartet, Da Capo Chamber Player, New Century Players, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, Contemporary Chamber Players (University of Chicago), S.E.M. Ensemble and California E.A.R. Unit.
The AACM is a world renowned organization which proudly and loudly celebrated its 40th anniversary last year with a year-long concert series culminating with a festival at the Museum of Contemporary Art. From the start, the AACM positioned itself at the forefront of musical innovation, and its members have long been recognized for their influence on 20th-Century music. Drawing on a wide range of musical styles, AACM members have created new notation systems, extended techniques and new technologies, invented instruments, kinetic sculptures, and much more, creating a composite approach that has come to be known around the world as "Great Black Music: Ancient to the Future."

The 5 After 7 Project featuring New Voices of the AACM’s is an ensemble representing the organization’s newest members’ work. The ensemble will be featuring compositions written by Saalik Ziyad. This ensemble features Al Strong, trumpet; Art Turk Burton, percussion; Khari B, spoken word; Isaiah Jackson, trombone; Jephte Lanthia, bass; Ann Ward, piano and vocals; Saalik A. Ziyad, vocals and Taalib-Din Ziyad, flute and vocals.

Performance, March 14 2006 7:30pm

205 East Randolph Dr., Chicago, IL 60601,US - 20.00


BREATH OF FRESH AIR Harris Theater for Music and Dance 7:30 p.m. Guest Artists: Julia Bentley, mezzo-soprano Jerome Kitzke, composer & vocals
Every breath can be a renewal, a cleansing exchange, an act of opening yourself to new sounds Melinda Wagner Wing and Prayer Stephen Jaffe Homage to the Breath David Lange Sweet Air Jerome Kitzke Breath and Bone Lester Bowie When the Spirit Returns
I will be singing on the Lester Bowie piece. You should come and watch the program, it will be a great experience.

Kwanzaa Performance

I will be singing with the AACM on Friday Dec.30 at 7pm at the South Side Community Arts Center
3831 S.Michigan.

My next performance is here at this link

AACM Presents

Brief Bio

The 5 after 7 project was started by Saalik Ahmad Ziyad. Saalik who is a native Chicago, is a new member of the AACM: the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. While perfroming with the AACM he has been able to explore various types of music. His major influences are John Coltrane, Edward Wilkerson, Eddie Jefferson, Jon Hedricks, Joe Williams, Gil Scott Heron and many others to name a few. Here is a short bio on Mr. Ziyad: While at Northern Illinois University the multi-faceted Ziyad regularly performed in classical, opera and jazz ensembles at NIU. Ziyad who is receiving his degree of Bachelor of Music in vocal performance is no stranger to performing. As a young child Ziyad began his music training at the AACM School of Music at age 8, studying with Edward Wilkerson, Ernest Dawkins, Vandy Harris, Ann Ward and many other AACM faculty. He also began his singing career at age 7 with the Chicago Children's Choir and has performed with the Kenwood Academy Concert Choir, Willie Pickens, Amina Claudine Myers, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (under the direction of Zubin Mehta and James Levine), and Chicago's Association of the Advancement of Creative Musicians." "In addition, he has appeared in George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" under the direction of Bobby McFerrin and has performed the roles of Elder McLean in the opera "Susannah", Vicomte Cascada in the "Merry Widow", Aeneas in "Dido and Aeneas, St. Stephen in the opera "Four Saints in Three Acts" the role of the Rabbi in the musical "Fiddler on the Roof" and the role of Sammy Davis Jr. in the production of “The Rat Pack Live” Ziyad was also the jazz vocalist of The world-renowned NIU Jazz Ensemble, while perfoming with the NIU Jazz Ensemble he toured with the likes of Hammiet Blueitt, Steve Turre and Rufus Reid. "Ziyad has toured extensively in the United States, Poland, Russia and South Africa and has performed for Hillary Rodham Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Mayor and Mrs. Daley, the Archbishop Demond Tutu, Cicely Tyson and Richard Dreyfuss." Ziyad currently has two groups in projects, The 5 after 7 Project and The PS:JT Quartet. Ziyad is currently teaching voice, theory and ear training at the AACM School of Music

The Next upcoming performance

Saalik's next upcoming performance will be with the Great Black Music Ensemble of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. The concert will be held at the Dusable Museum of African American History on Oct.2 at 2pm. For more information you can visit www.aacmchicago.org.