Erica Papillion-Posey Announces Dual Release of Debut Jazz Album and Book
Denver, CO (PRWEB) October 12, 2015 -- Erica Papillion-Posey, described as “...a living tribute and testimony to the memory of the great Ms. Marian Anderson, the legendary opera superstar and African-American trailblazer” [Denver Weekly News] is proud to announce the dual release of her debut jazz album, The Standard Reimagined, when jazz… and her book, Musings from the Mind of a Mezzo, Poetry & Prose of passion, pain & plight.
Fresh from her debut at Dazzle Jazz, where the songstress previewed selections from her upcoming album, described as “… pitch perfect and dynamic as she soared through classics like Nature Boy and Lazy Afternoon” [Roux Black].
A carefully curated collection of jazz favorites, The Standard Reimagined, when jazz… is a soundtrack of love and heartbreak featuring Erica Papillion-Posey, accompanied by Denver bassist, Ken Walker (Ken Walker Sextet) and the father and son Louisiana jazz duo, Chester Daigle II, piano and Jarius Daigle, violin (City Heat and Jazz in the Arts).
“This album has lived inside me for years, and I am now ready to let it out.” Ms. Papillion-Posey exclaimed when discussing her debut album. “Each selection is my love letter to jazz. A letter to a musical time that has always seduced me, a time when jazz was presented in its most evocative, sensual state and the aesthetic was one of understated elegance. The ambiance was high and the air thick with tangible anticipation before the first note was set free. This classic torch recording is a nod to that period.”
In addition to be being a prolific musician, Ms. Papillion-Posey has discovered her voice as a writer. Musings from the Mind of a Mezzo, Poetry & Prose of passion, pain & plight is a compilation of works chronicling various personal experiences as a child of adoption, a woman, performer, and artist.
“Erica Papillion-Posey writes with a palpable and smoldering desire.” Theo E.J. Wilson, a National Poetry Slam Champion described the author as, “…emotionally intelligent, wise, and elegant, her way with words triggers within the reader a mirror image of the muse that spawned her poetry. Brimming with femininity and command, we get a window inside the soul of womankind, and are seduced by both her shadow and light.”
Describing her evolution as a writer, Ms. Papillion Posey recounted, “For years I’ve written as a therapeutic exercise in an effort to exorcise the struggles of adoption, abuse, love, and womanhood and the various trials and tensions associated with self-expression as a vocal artist.” She continued, “Never intending to share such deep-seated thoughts and sensibilities pinned in the recesses of private journals. I realized that not only could my words give comfort and clarity to one in need, but they might also aid in the healing heart of another.”
In cooperation with Dr. Barbara Shannon-Banister PhD and Grand Design Inc. performances marking the dual release of the debut jazz album, The Standard Reimagined, when jazz… and her book, Musings from the Mind of a Mezzo, Poetry & Prose of passion, pain & plight are scheduled in both Denver, Colorado and Lake Charles, Louisiana this fall.
In Denver, The Erica Papillion-Posey Quartet will be featured at Baur’s Restaurant and Listening Lounge (1512 Curtis Street, Denver, Colorado 80202) on Friday, October 30, 2015 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $20.00 and are available for purchase at the door and in advance, purchase at http://www.baursrestaurant.com/events.
In Lake Charles, The Erica Papillion-Posey Quartet will be featured at The Heist (700 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601) on Friday, November 6, 2015 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $20.00 and are available for purchase at the door.
Both the jazz debut album The Standard Reimagined, when jazz… and the book, Musings from the Mind of a Mezzo, Poetry & Prose of passion, pain & plight will be available for sale on Friday, October 30, 2015 and are currently available for pre-order at http://www.epapillionposey.com.
A complete list of Erica Papillion-Posey’s events follows, and additional information may be found at http://www.epapillionposey.com.
October 22
Boulder, Colorado
Caffe Sole
A Lady Sings the Blues
with the Chris Kroger Trio
October 30
Denver, Colorado
Baur’s
CD/ Book Release Party
Chester Daigle, piano
Ken Walker, upright bass
Jairus Daigle, violin
November 6
Lake Charles, Louisiana
The Heist
CD/ Book Release Party
Chester Daigle, piano
Ken Walker, upright bass
Jairus Daigle, violin
December 5
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Jazz in the Arts
Chester Daigle, piano
Ken Walker, upright bass
Jairus Daigle, violin
December 12
Washington, DC
W.B. Sports Cancer Survivors Brunch
The Howard Theatre
The Howard University Gospel Choir & Band
About Erica Papillion-Posey
In 2013, mezzo-soprano Erica Papillion-Posey made her professional North American debut in what has become her signature role of Carmen, where she, “…. captured Carmen’s slinky sexiness, radiating allure and trouble… She had the vocal power to sing a soft, seductive “Habanera” in a hall-filling, rounded voice, lingering over the phrases as the men in the square watched. She snapped off the Spanish-style ornaments of the “Seguidilla”, and was especially compelling in the lower register, where Carmen’s sultriness comes through…” [South Florida Classical Review]. After being hailed as, “… the best Carmen this city has seen in decades” [Miami Herald], companies nationwide have taken notice and she is scheduled for a performance of Carmen in Boulder, Colorado in May 2015.
With roots in jazz music, Ms. Papillion-Posey is regularly engaged to return to her first musical love. Most recently, she dazzled in the bayou of Louisiana as the featured guest artist at the Jazz in the Arts Black Tie Dinner, an engagement she is slated to repeat in 2015. Embracing the blurred lines between the classical and jazz genres, she has developed a groundbreaking new crossover concert series. The first of which, The Salon, Reimagined Tour, will debut in 2015 and be performed throughout Europe and the United States.
In 2010, Ms. Papillion-Posey made her international operatic debut as Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica at the Tuscia Opera Festival, under the baton of maestro Stefano Vignati. The demand for her “wonderful voice… full of grace and sensuality” [El Nuevo Herald] and her fierce commitment to character keeps European audiences coming back for more. Memorable European performances include the title role of Carmen, the Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte both with the Tuscia Opera Festival, Annina in La Traviata with Teatro Kizmet Opera, and Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro with Siena Opera.
Stateside, Ms. Papillion-Posey’s notable roles include her portrayal of Princess Akara in the world premiere of The Lady or the Tiger, an adaptation of Frank Stockton’s beloved short story by composers Cherise Leiter and Leanna Kirchoff. Ms. Papillion-Posey’s “purely exciting and rich voice” [Arte & Musica Magazine] was also featured as Baba in The Medium, Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte, and in the title role in The Rape of Lucretia.
A prolific concert artist and recitalist, Ms. Papillion-Posey’s repertoire includes performances of Handel’s Messiah, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater under the direction of Timothy Léon in Tarquinia, Civita di Bagnoregio, Castilione, Capranica and Ronciglione in addition to several solo recitals.
Most recently, Ms. Papillion-Posey was named a semi-finalist in the Paris Opera Awards. In 2013, Ms. Papillion-Posey was named a Continuo Arts, Milton Cross Young Artists Winner after being named the organization’s Rising Star Young Artists Winner in 2012. Other accolades and awards include first and second place winner of the Vocal Arts Competition of Colorado, respectively in 2005 and 2006, International Lyric Academy of Rome e Viterbo Award, AMICI of Denver Scholarship, Dante Alighieri Music Scholarship Competition, Jeff Bradley Music Scholarship Fund, E. Stoddard Young Endowment Scholarship, Stratton Faulhaber Scholarship, Coulter Norbloom Scholarship Grant and Joseph Docksey Career Development Fund Award.
Ms. Papillion-Posey earned a Master of Music degree and Advanced Certificate in Vocal Performance (both with honors and distinction) from the University of Denver, Lamont School of Music. She also holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Metropolitan University of Denver. She currently studies with renowned mezzo- soprano Grace Bumbry.
Learn more about Erica at http://www.epapillionposey.com.
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Contact:
Christie Connolley
Candescent Media
christie(at)candescent-media(dot)com
http://www.candescent-media.com
(888) 444-2757
Christie Connolley, Candescent Media, http://www.candescent-media.com, +1 (888) 444-2757, [email protected]
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