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April 9, 2007 Lining up Music and Entertainment at Taste of Durham is similar to creating a full course meal. The festival is only one day so fine-tuning the right blends of music genre and styles to create a feast of musical sounds and experiences can be a "chef's" burden or delight. "It is a creative process, and challenging for a grassroots program with scarce funding source. But we are committed to our vision and will bring in a robust music and entertainment schedule each year," explains Kimberly Ruskan, Founder of The Community Chest, Inc. which produces Taste of Durham.
The Community Chest (TCC) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit philanthropic organization that supports community interests and needs through distinctive project-based initiatives like Taste of Durham. The festival is a quality-driven festival and offers a unique showcase of international and cultural entertainment, area restaurant food sampling, art and cultural experiences, and a unique mix of interactive family entertainment. The heart of the mission is what they call "The Cycle of Giving": The synergistic effect of giving back to the community, building stronger community relations, supporting economic development as it pertains to community growth, and enriching the community by producing high-quality cultural and lifestyle experiences with concentrated focus on arts and cultural themes. Arts and cultural initiatives concentrate on platforms to showcase and support various art forms, known and emerging musicians and artists, and other cultural art explorations.
Proof is in their pudding.
TCC continues in their tradition to bring quality national, regional, and local performers and other international and cultural music genres and performers, ethnic dance demonstrations, and unique interactive celebrations like the New Orleans-style Mardi Gras Parade. Four designated stages are welcoming platforms to help support talented and diverse artists and musicians from all walks of the "world." The following are current entertainment and bands lineup:
Main Stage Performances include Jamie McLean, most widely known as the guitarist for the New Orleans jazz, funk institution, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Jamie's songwriting, filled with catchy hooks, beautiful lyrics and scorching guitar work, has mingled with the soulful gumbo of the Deep South. Bio Ritmo adds the Latin flavor of the music menu. The ever-evolving sound of Richmond, VA-based 9-piece salsa powerhouse Bio Ritmo is proudly rooted in the great Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican salsa traditions. Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes travels directly from New Orleans, LA with their unique FUNK/ROCK style blends of guitar, violin, and harmonica with a hard-driving rhythm section reminiscent of the Radiators' swamp funk added to the punchy horns of Tower Of Power. They will also lead the Mardi Gras Procession, which is something one must experience firsthand. From New York City, Nation Beat will make their debut to the Triangle area. They perform Eclectic world-groove music with Brazilian Roots. Inspired by the Afro-Brazilian rhythms of maracatu, Chico Science & the Mangue Beat movement of Recife, Brazil as well as New Orleans second-line, funk, and jazz, the Brooklyn-based group Nation Beat has created a fresh, compelling new sound. Floating Stone is traveling through the US from Europe and will grace the stage with their acoustic instrumental musical experience. The group has performed hundreds of world music, folk, cultural, and rock festivals and events throughout the world. Visit the official website to get pre-sampling of the bands at www.tasteofdurham.org. The website is also another platform that extends visibility opportunities for musicians.
The Performance Showcase, Taste of Jazz and Blues, and music to make you feel good are other areas to indulge in the good life. Gifted artists, musicians, and entertainers will showcase their talents. Listen to diverse music genres from seasoned performers to performers on the rise to stardom in their own right. Simultaneously, this festival is a great opportunity to showcase new artists and give talented musicians an opportunity to reach a broader and varied audience base. People can discover new music and support established artists. The following is a mix of professional bands, aspiring artists, or just passionate about the art form: Children of the Horn will offer a Taste of Funk and Jazz, More Jazz from The Bradshaw Quartet, Brazilian Soul will share the sound of Brazil, Tiny & Whitey delivers a zesty Taste of the Blues, Tim Smith Band will take you away with a taste of Reggae, R&B and Jazz, Durham Arts School Steel Band will transport you to the Caribbean, get swooped up with David DiGiuseppe with the romantic sound of accordion music around the world, and get a taste of Motown and soul with Mr. Coffee & the Creamers. Listen to authentic Zydeco by Zydecopious . Up and coming band, Dirty Rice, is a mixture of funk, rock, and reggae mixed together to create a unique sound. They may still be high school but their desire and passion for music is old school.
Top it off with Interactive International Dance. Various types of dancers will perform and demonstrate like The Largest Electric Slide and Line Dance in the Triangle, Mambo, Tangophila, Salsa for You, Jack Wolf & Zeydco, Inis Cairde Irish Step Dance, English Country Dance, Magic Carpet :Mediterranean and belly dance, Polynesian Dance, Lion Dance: traditional Chinese performance and the Bouncing Bull Dogs, the thrills, frills and actions from energetic jump roping at another level.
Ms. Ruskan emphasizes, "It is also important that our music line up is not 'overplayed' and similar to other festivals. In the end, it affects the audience of all festivals. From the beginning of our initiative, we developed a format to differentiate from other major festivals in the Triangle area. This ultimately defines its success. With a project management approach, TCC will create and establish successful business development infrastructures for each project. The goals are to set strong business foundations, and to financially sustain and support an initiative's activity and hard costs while helping to accomplish its objective.
"Through our acts, we hope to remind others to welcome change, embrace cultural diversity, gain awareness of community needs, and participate in creating solutions to enrich lives." The Community Chest, Inc.
Festivals within a Festival:
Restaurant Food Sampling, Performance Stages: Main, Performance Showcase, Taste of Jazz & Blues, International Dance Demonstrations, International Wine Tasting Pavilion, International Beer Tasting Garden, Chef Demonstrations: Foodnetwork Style Staging, Ice Carving Competition, Taste of New OrleansŐs Mardi Gras, Kids Corner, Art is Alive: Interactive Showcase of Art and Cultural Exploration, Vendor & Exhibitor Displays, and more. The Taste of Durham Festival is a unique festival format unlike any attraction in the Triangle area.
The Festival is produced by The Community Chest, Inc., (501-c-3) a nonprofit organization with passionate commitments to serve community interests and enrichments.
Date: Saturday, May 26th, 2007 Website: www.tasteofdurham.org
New Location: Imperial Center, Winchester Place, 4309 Emperor Blvd., Durham, NC 27703 (Page Rd Exit 282 off Interstate 40)
General Admission: $4 advance & $6 at festival. Time: 11am to 7pm 919-572-6551
Contact: Kimberly Ruskan 919-401-2926
