(BPRW) West African Beats Returns with Unifying “One Song”

Renowned local vocalist and violinist Nicole Yarling leads a 12-member ensemble in Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion’s Black History Month tribute concert.

(Black PR Wire) Miami – On Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, at 4 p.m. at the Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Avenue, Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion presents the year’s quintessential Black History Month tribute concert as part of its West African Beats series featuring a 12-member multi-cultural ensemble led by celebrated local vocalist, violinist, and educator Nicole Yarling.

Titled “One Song,” the program is a musical journey through the African diaspora entirely curated by Yarling. Audience members of all ages will experience the influence of West Africa on cultures throughout the world through song and dance, taking a lush journey that begins with the music of Nigeria’s Fela Kuti before moving into the Caribbean for Haitian Rara and Trinidadian Soca. Then it is off to America for more folk traditions, jazz, gospel, selections from the Great American Songbook and even a few original compositions. Tied together, the audience will experience how the joy of music and dance creates humanity’s bond.

“This incredible voyage through the ages is a tale of history told through music and the rhythms of our ancestors, woven like a tapestry in a way that very few people can and we’re blessed that Nicole Yarling is uniquely qualified to do it,” said Dranoff 2 Piano Music Executive Director Emily Cardenas.

Besides Yarling, members of the ensemble feature pianists Martin Bejerano and Jim Gasior, Jean Caze on trumpet, Mark Small on saxophone, John Yarling on drums, Nanyamka Graham on percussion, Marty Quinn on bass, and Alex Cameron on fiddle, plus dancers Terrance Pride, Chloe Felizor and Evie Burns.

“Although the show is well scripted, people should also come to expect the unexpected because the joy of improvisation is found in all music derived from the diaspora, from Africa to jazz, to James Brown,” said Yarling. “The audience will walk away with that communal feeling that is alive in everything from the Sunday morning sermon to the Hip Hop rapper’s battle.”

Tickets run from $45 – $30 and are available online at www.Dranoff2Piano.org. Students with ID may purchase $5 tickets at the door.

Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion created The West African Beats series with support from the Funding Arts Network’s AWARE grant in celebration of FAN’s 25th year of philanthropy in Miami. The Miami Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs supports Dranoff’s entire season of music to help it fulfill its mission of creating community by fusing 2 piano repertoire with music of many genres and cultures through concerts, collaborations and education.

Photographs of the artists and interviews are available upon request.

More About the Artists

Nicole Yarling | violin, vocalist, producer

Discovered by vocal legend Joe Williams, Nicole Yarling holds a BA in Music from Baruch College and a master’s in music education at Columbia University. She also received private training in composition, arranging, voice and violin. Today, Yarling is on the faculty of the University of Miami Frost School of Music and serves as an assistant professor at Florida Memorial University where she is director of popular music. As a mentor, Yarling established a concert called Jazz Encounters at WDNA radio station. She runs the Jazz Education Community Coalition in Miami and hosts the First Friday Jam for the Gold Coast Jazz Society. Jazz Journalists of America presented Yarling with the Jazz Hero Award in 2015.

Martin Bejerano | piano

Acclaimed pianist and composer Martin Bejerano heads the Jazz Piano Studio at the University of Miami’s acclaimed Frost School of Music. He has performed and recorded with more than two dozen jazz luminaries and has graced the stages of most of the world’s major jazz clubs, festivals, and venues. He composed original works for Chamber Music America, Sonos Chamber Orchestra and Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion where he also serves as music director.

Jim Gasior | piano

Jim Gasior is the associate professor of jazz and instrumental studies at the New World School of the Arts in Miami, where he also serves as director of the school’s jazz ensemble. He has conducted clinics and master classes for students and band directors throughout the U.S. and has served as a faculty member for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Band Director Academy. As a pianist and keyboardist, Gasior has performed and/or recorded with a veritable who’s who of international pop artists and groups.

Jean Caze | trumpet

Jean Caze is a prominent figure in today’s jazz scene. His magnetic performances have graced stages alongside icons such as Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, and Al Jarreau, among others, and he recently served as the featured soloist for Michael Bublé Worldwide. Recognized as a “true improviser” who draws comparisons to jazz legend Miles Davis, Caze will unveil a new album in 2025.

Mark Small | saxophone

Mark Small is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist who was nominated and won Grammy’s with a variety of music. He has performed on Broadway, film, television, and around the world from the Sydney Opera House to Madison Square Garden. He currently teaches at the New World School of the Arts and Miami Dade College.

Nanyamka Graham | percussion

Nanyamka “Nany G” Graham, affectionately known as Nany G, comes from a vibrant Caribbean heritage that made her irresistibly drawn to the captivating rhythms of the djembe. The renowned Guinea Djembefola and Moussa Soumah mentored the solo artist and accompanist. Graham has achieved rare mastery known as “the hand,” the ability to infuse the drums with a voice that resonates with mesmerizing soundscapes.

John Yarling | drums

John Yarling’s flawless musicianship and commitment to his art make him the drummer of choice for many South Florida performers. He is at ease playing styles including jazz, blues, funk, and rock. In past years, he has performed with jazz luminaries Mose Allison, Sonny Stitt, and Nat Adderley, among others. Yarling has recorded with Ira Sullivan, Curtis Fuller, Pepper Adams, Joe Williams, Ernest Ranglin, Kevin Mahogany, and most recently Pink.

Marty Quinn | bass

Bassist Marty Quinn’s sharp attention to the groove and character of a song places him among Miami’s most sought-after bass players. A Chicago native, he brings his love of rock, blues, gospel, and folk music into creative musical scenarios, but his passion for teaching burns just as bright as performing. Quinn is a full-time lecturer in contemporary bass at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.

Alex Cameron| fiddle

Alex Cameron is a violinist/composer who is well known for his thrilling out of the box musical talent. Alex plays everything from classical to jazz and from Celtic to country. He has been performing since age five with his father, Doug Cameron, a well-known violinist and recording artist. The younger Cameron has won numerous concerto competitions playing everything from Mendelssohn to Lalo and Tchaikovsky.

Terrance Pride | dancer

Terrence “T.M.” Pride is the producing artistic director of Brévo Theatre and director of dance at Dillard High School for the Performing Arts. The dancer, choreographer, actor, and director boasts an expertise in driving community engagement, fundraising, and fostering equitable spaces for Black and underrepresented artists.

Chloe Felizor | dancer

Chloe Felizor is an enthusiastic and experienced dancer who received rigorous training in ballet, jazz, and modern dance, but her favorite is hip-hop. Now a dance teacher, Felizor has instructed countless students of all ages and skill levels, helping them to develop their technique, confidence, and love for dance.

Evie Burns | dancer

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