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Flaco Navaja & the Razor Blades bring their beautifully diverse sound to @KimmelCulturalCampus (Facebook/Instagram)/@KimmelCC (Twitter) for another fun-filled & FREE evening on the Plaza on Wed., 5/30! Full lineup of “Nightlife” events at kimmelculturalcampus.org
Press Contacts:
Lauren A. (Woodard) Hall
484-832-1963 (cell)
lhall@kimmelculturalcampus.org
KIMMEL CULTURAL CAMPUS HOSTS
PARTNERED PRESENTATION WITH
MALPICA AND AFROTAINO, AS PART OF NEW NIGHTLIFE FREE SERIES
Evening event, part of Kimmel’s new “In the Plaza” series,
features Flaco Navaja & The Razor Blades
May 30, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, April 7, 2022) –– The Kimmel Cultural Campus hosts a partnered presentation with local presenting partner MALPICA and AFROTAINO as part of the new Nightlife at the Kimmel series. Happening Wednesday, May 30, 2022, from 8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m., this evening features Flaco Navaja & the Razor Blades. Alongside Lunchtime Unplugged and Happy Hour Sessions, this event is one of the new, FREE programming series taking place under the Kimmel Center’s soaring 150-foot vaulted roof in the Plaza.
“We are thrilled to bridge genres and add new experiences to our eclectic roster with this event, as Flaco Navaja & the Razor Blades move from poetry to spoken word, and from salsa to hip-hop,” said Matías Tarnopolsky, President and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc. “With a bilingual band leader able to infuse both English and Spanish into performance, Navaja’s band includes keyboard, drums, and horns.”
Two of Philadelphia’s greatest Latin/World music and cultural producers join forces to cook up the perfect live music and dance experience. Jesse Bermudez, Philly's pioneer and legacy producer known for his long-standing ‘Jesse Bermudez Presents’, ‘Salsa Caliente’ live Latin Jazz & Salsa dance concerts and more; alongside AFROTAINO, the dynamic music and cultural arts team delivering the sights and sounds of the Afro-Latinx diaspora from Philadelphia to the world are pulling out all the stops to serve up this once-in-a-lifetime experience, curated especially for the Kimmel guests.
“AFROTAINO is thrilled to have the opportunity to join forces with MALPICA's Jesse Bermudez to co-curate this special evening with Flaco Navaja and The Razor Blades as part of the Nightlife at Kimmel series,” said Marangeli Mejia-Rabell, Founder/Creative Partner of AFROTAINO. “This act embraces both the legacy and well as the emerging practices as they celebrate Latino culture. Audiences need to get ready to have tons of fun with us on May 30th.”
About Flaco Navaja
Flaco Navaja is a singer, poet, and actor who was born and raised in the Bronx. He sings in both Spanish and English and has toured with various groups across the globe.
If Héctor Lavoe Boxed Rubén Blades and KRS-1 was the referee you’d get Flaco. A Nostalgic old sound with brand new Spoken Word.
Navaja’s original style of poetry combines singing, beat-boxing, and spoken word. He was the host of the legendary open mic showcase “All That! Hip Hop Poetry & Jazz” at the famous Nuyorican Poets’ Cafe. He has performed at national and international venues and events. In 2003, he toured internationally with the Tony Award-winning Russell Simmons’ DEF POETRY JAM, and he has appeared on four episodes of the HBO series.
Navaja is a member of Screen Actors Guild and has appeared in several films & television shows, including PRIDE & GLORY, FIGHTING, GUN HILL ROAD, LAW & ORDER, CSI NY, and new web series EAST WILLYB.
About MALPICA
Mr. Jesse Bermudez has been involved in the Latin music scene in Philadelphia with a diverse background in the arts for over 40 years. He’s worked with artists around the country and abroad, bringing a wealth of experience in artist representation, stage production, festival productions, concerts, consulting for Latino entertainment, Master of Ceremonies/voiceovers and on-air personality.
Mr. Bermudez was founder of the Asociacion de Musicos Latino Americanos (AMLA) in 1982, and in 1986 he founded the first Latin Music School, now currently under Artistas y Musicos Latino Americanos the AMLA School of Performing Arts. Mr. Bermudez also created many educational programs with music for public and parochial schools in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley.
Mr. Bermudez has received numerous recognitions for his work with local and national organizations, including National Congress of Puerto Rican Rights, WPVI Channel Six “Puerto Rican Panorama”, Stockton Barthol Foundation, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau Multicultural Award, Latin Beat Magazine Philly Salsa Award, Honoree of La Feria del Barrio, Liberty Bell from the Navy Defense Department, Champion of the Children Award Institute for Arts and Education, Painted Brides first Artist of the City Award, Delaware Valley’s Most Influential Latinos Latin Leaders Awards, and The Philadelphia Music Heritage Award. In 2012, Mr. Bermudez received a Lifetime Achievement Award from NALAC National Association of Latino Arts and Culture.
His recording of Papo Vazquez and the Mighty Pirate Orchestra, recorded live at the Painted Bride arts center, was nominated in 2008 for a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz recording.
Mr. Bermudez was successful developing an official yearly week of salsa in Philadelphia: Siempre Salsa Philly (first week of July).
The City of Philadelphia named July 8, 2015, the “Jesse Bermudez Day” for outstanding contribution to Latin music and community involvement, and he has received 3 lifetime achievement awards.
Bermudez continues to advocate, making Latin music part of the fabric of the city of Philadelphia through his radio show “Sonido Diferente” 1310 on MEGA, which was transmitted live for 4 years, and before that on WNWR Radio 1540 for 2 years; those programs featured the young talent, music and important information to the Latino community.
He has been and still is an agent of unity and change locally, across the nation and internationally.
About AFROTAINO
RAHSAAN LUCAS
A NYC-born, Philadelphia-based arts/culture resource building bridges in the 21st Century via cross sector strategic partnerships. Through his intercultural marketing & entertainment solutions agency AFROTAINO, he has developed expansive promotional strategies for brands & corporations, produced large scale events, and presented international talent in concert halls & venues in the US & Caribbean. AFROTAINO’s work has been spotlighted & praised by renowned media publications & platforms like NPR, NBC Latino, Univision, Telemundo, VEVO, Latido Music, to name a few.
His experiences in the music, arts & entertainment industries, and niche marketing, combined with vision & drive have shaped him into a resourceful creative professional, always adaptable in our ever-changing business landscapes. He has worn many hats as part of his work, and continues to evolve within it.
Rahsaan has always explored new ways of melding artistic expression, progressive cultural trends, and win-win business opportunities into fun, unforgettable moments that make us all better people.
MARÁNGELI MEJÍA RABELL
Marángeli Mejía Rabell is a Puerto Rico-born, Philadelphia-based connector, cultural organizer & producer, arts & culture curator, and programmer whose work is centered on co-creation, capacity building, leadership development, cross sector collaborations and honoring our roots as a tool for social change and community self-actualization.
Marangeli’s practice is focused on community media practices, cultural organizing, intersectionality, accessibility, and diversity. As Co-Founder/Creative Partner of AFROTAINO and Director of the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival she co-curates, designs and executes arts & culture programming, collaborations, and multidisciplinary projects. She has served as the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival Director for over five years supporting the groundbreaking work of Latinx filmmakers. Under Marángeli’s leadership, PHLAFF has evolved into an international film festival that brings the best of US-based Latinx and Latin American stories to wide audiences. Throughout Marángeli’s career, she has centered Latinx creators, stories and culture to bring about positive change and new representation. She brings strong skills in developing and leading projects, campaigns and programs that combine business and community objectives and over three decades of experience establishing systems and metrics to measure collective impact. She is a recent graduate of the inaugural cohort of the National Arts Strategies Leadership Coaching Training Program.
Collaborations include: Pepon Osorio’s reForm at Tyler Contemporary, BrideNext, a Building Audience Demand project with Marty Pottenger and serving as a Guest Curator for the Mural Arts Program for the first cycle of their Neighborhood Portraits Project.
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Additional Nightlife at the Kimmel events include:
- Monday, April 11 – A partnered presentation with Jazz Philadelphia’s Gerald Veasley, in observance of Jazz Appreciation Month, the night will feature Josh Lee and The Extended Family, and Philly Lindy Throwdown, led by Nick Cruickshank.
- Wednesday, May 18 – A partnered presentation with Jazz Philadelphia’s Gerald Veasley, this evening features Luke Carlos O’Reilly and the Philly Jazz Divas.
- Monday, June 6 – A partnered presentation with REC Philly, featuring Girls Like Nice Things, with Chill Moody.
- Wednesday, June 15 – A partnered presentation with MALPICA & AFROTAINO, this evening features Yasser Tejeda & Palotré.
- Wednesday, June 29 – A partnered presentation with MALPICA & AFROTAINO, this evening features Pablo Batisa.
For the most up-to-date listings and information about the new, FREE programming – including Happy Hour Sessions, Lunchtime Unplugged, and Nightlife, please visit www.kimmelculturalcampus.org.
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Safe & Clean Commitment
The Kimmel Cultural Campus is proudly certified by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council – the gold standard for cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention programs.
We will always put the safety of our guests, artists, and staff first, and we have worked closely with partners, producers, artists, guests and other performing arts centers around the nation to develop the most comprehensive plan to safely reopen our doors. We are committing to a healthy and clean environment with increased disinfection, enhanced ventilation, and will enforce recommended health authority guidelines, including masks and proof of vaccination.
Masks are required to be worn at all times when on the Kimmel Cultural Campus, except when actively consuming food or beverage in designated locations. Prolonged periods of mask removal are not permitted.
All attendees for public events must show proof of full vaccination at the time of entry, with valid photo ID and copy of vaccination card (physical or photo). Children under 5 are no longer required to show a negative PCR test or negative rapid result when accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.
This policy is subject to change based upon guidance from the CDC and local health authorities. For more information on our Safe & Clean Commitment and the most up-to-date information about our policies, please visit kimmelculturalcampus.org.
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KIMMEL CULTURAL CAMPUS
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, our mission is to engage the region's diverse communities with art through performance and education. Our Cultural Campus serves more than 1-million guests per year and includes Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, and SEI Innovation Studio), the Academy of Music, and the Miller Theater (formerly the Merriam Theater) – representing more than 160 years of rich history for the performing arts along Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts. We are home to The Philadelphia Orchestra and seven esteemed Resident Companies: Opera Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly POPS, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Curtis Institute of Music. With nearly 9,000 seats per night, we are the region's most impactful performing arts center, and the second largest in the country. Our Cultural Campus serves as a preeminent and inclusive place to enjoy exceptional experiences that reflect the spirit of our region by cultivating a creative and socially responsible environment where our community shares experiences that are delivered with pride, integrity, and respect. As a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, we collaborate on, present, and produce a broad range of relevant and meaningful events, we serve as an active gathering space for social and community events, we educate the region's young people through access to quality arts experiences, and we provide support to artists in the creation of new work. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is the proud Kimmel Cultural Campus Season Sponsor. Read Kimmel Cultural Campus' vision statement, world view, and mission statement here. Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and how it encompasses our mission, co-workers, and programs here.
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