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Rhythmic Concepts, Inc., with the generous support of Target Corporation, will present In the Name of Love, the 8th Annual Musical Tribute honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Oakland's only non-denominational musical tribute honoring Dr. King. Since its debut in 2003, this program has become one of Oakland's most prominent civic and cultural events, bringing our diverse community together to celebrate the life and work of one of the greatest humanitarians of our time. This year's event promises to be a profound celebration of civil rights, with an incredible evening of music and celebration.

"In the Name of Love" features both local and national talent, children from our Oakland public schools, archival footage of Dr. King shown on a larger than life screen, and the presentation of the "City of Oakland Citizen Humanitarian Award", given to an outstanding member of our community working to make a difference. Each year, 1,400 adults, elders, children and families, from extremely diverse backgrounds, come together to share in the inspiration of Dr. King's teachings, through the joy of music. All of these elements help make "In the Name of Love" one of the most memorable and soulful events of the year.

Our illustrious emcee for the evening will be Brian Copeland, the multitalented comedian, writer, television host and radio talk show host and author of Not a Genuine Black Man.

This year's amazing line-up includes Ledisi, one of the country's most gifted rising stars, the John Santos Sextet featuring vocalists Kimiko Joy and Orlando Torriente; the powerful 60-voice Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir; and the Oakland Children's Community Choir under the musical direction of Melanie DeMore with over 200 children from our Oakland elementary schools, backed up by Khalil Shaheed's Oaktown Jazz Workshops.

Archival footage of Dr. King's powerful oratories will be shown throughout the evening and the Citizen Of Oakland Humanitarian Award, chosen in conjunction with the Oakland Department of Human Services, will be presented to an individual who has given back to the community in extraordinary ways.

Brian Copeland, Emcee
If you were to look up the definition of the word versatility in a dictionary of performers, chances are you'd find the name BRIAN COPELAND. The multitalented comedian, writer, television host, talk radio host and commentator has basked in the glow of both public and critical acclaim for nearly a decade.

Copeland's incisive, cutting edge standup comedy material and his unique ability to hilariously cut to the heart of some of our most serious social and political problems has earned him spots as the opening act for such diverse artists as Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Dionne Warwick, Donna Summer, Peabo Bryson, Al Jarreau, Ringo Starr, Manhattan Transfer, James Brown, Rick Springfield, Lionel Richie, George Benson, Etta James, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. In addition to performing in clubs and concert halls across America, he has appeared at such venues as Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Taj Mahal and Trump Palace in Atlantic City and Constitution Hall in Washington DC.

Ledisi

Ledisi Anibade Young, one of the most talented rising starts of today, is an R&B singer-songwriter from New Orleans. Her first name means "to bring forth" or "to come here" in Yoruba. Her mother sang in a Louisiana R&B band, and at only age eight, she first began performing with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. She moved to Oakland, California, where she was nominated for a Shellie award in 1990 for her performance in a production of The Wiz and performed in an extended run with the San Francisco cabaret troupe, Beach Blanket Babylon. She studied opera and piano for five years at University of California Berkeley in their Young Musicians Program.

In 1995, Ledisi formed the group known as Anibade. After an unsuccessful attempt to get the group signed to a major label, she started LeSun Records with Sundra Manning, and with Anibade, released her demo Take Time, which gained major airplay from local radio stations. In 2000, Ledisi released her first album, Soulsinger: The Revival. The album spun off four singles, "Soulsinger", "Take Time", "Get Outta My Kitchen", and "Good Lovin". In 2002, she went on to release her sophomore album, Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue. This album won her an award for "Outstanding Jazz Album" at the California Music Awards. Ledisi then took a five-year hiatus, during which time she stated that she was unsure of wanting to stay within the music industry. In response, Ledisi wrote the song "Alright" to express her life. In 2007, Ledisi signed a major record deal with Verve Forecast and received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. In 2008, she released her Christmas album, It's Christmas, Lost & Found, which has sold 216,894 copies, and was nominated "Female Artist of the Year". In 2009, Ledisi's fourth studio album Turn Me Loose was released on August 18, 2009.

Ledisi's web site

John Santos Sextet

Four-time Grammy-nominated percussionist and US Artists Fontanals Fellow, John Santos is a major exponent of Afro-Latin music through innovative use of traditional forms and instruments with contemporary music. He's been a prolific performer, composer, teacher, writer, radio programmer, and record/event producer for over 30 years, having worked with acknowledged masters such as Cachao, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Bebo Valdés, Max Roach, Eddie Palmieri, Patato Valdés, Francisco Aguabella, Steve Turre, McCoy Tyner, Batacumbele, Omar Sosa, and Carlos Santana. John was a member of the Latin Jazz Advisory Committee of the Smithsonian Institution.

The John Santos Sextet will shed light on the historical and cultural significance of Latin Jazz, as well as its aesthetic characteristics pertaining to instrumentation, rhythm, interpretation and improvisation. Organized in 2003, their repertoire consists of original compositions and exciting original arrangements of classics from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the US. Their first CD, Papa Mambo, was released on John's Machete Records label in the Summer of 2007. Their second CD, Perspectiva Fragmentada, released in October, 2008, also on the Machete Records label, was selected as one of the five top Latin Jazz CDs of 2008 by New York's All About Jazz magazine, and was a nominee for a Cubadisco award, equivalent to the Cuban Grammys. This evening, the Sextet features special guest vocalists, Kimiko Joy and Orlando Torriente.

John Santos 's web site

The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, with its exquisite vocal harmonies and stirring gospel repertoire, is a multiracial interfaith group of 55 vocalists united in their love of gospel music with its message of hope, joy, unity and justice - under the direction of Terrance Kelly. Created in 1986 by Rhythmic Concepts, OIGC went on to form it's own independent corporation in 1991 and is an international touring and recording group. From 1999-2003, the OIGC earned the Gospel Academy Award for "Best Community Choir of the Year." Terrance Kelly received the 2003 Gospel Academy Award for Best Director. The choir's has preformed with recording stars Tramaine Hawkins, Take 6, Linda Ronstadt, Peter Gabriel and Jeffrey Osborne.

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir's Web Site

Oakland Children's Community Choir is a music education project provided completely free of charge by RCI to Oakland elementary schools with little or no access to the arts. Over 240 children from Glenview and Cleveland elementary schools participated this season in a four-month music education and performance project under the Musical Direction of Melanie DeMore and accompanist Ben Heveroh. These schools were selected because of the diversity of the population and the lack of funding for cultural programming. Tonight's event is the culmination of their work. OCCC provides a number of important services for underserved children: access to a high quality music fundamental program, exposure to the teachings of Dr. King, and an exciting opportunity to showcase their accomplishments by performing at a high profile public event alongside professional artists.

The Oaktown Jazz Workshops is a multifaceted presentation, and preservation organization dedicated to celebrating the artistic and cultural significance of America's Classical Music - Jazz. Under the musical direction of Khalil Shaheed, OJW was formed in 1994 and celebrates jazz music as an American indigenous art form of profound artistic & cultural significance. The purpose of OJW is to promote, preserve, and present this music so that all youth, and especially African American youth, develop a sense of ownership and pride in jazz music as a uniquely American cultural tradition.

Oaktown Jazz Workshops' Web Site

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 Location: Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA

 Box office opens 4:30 pm; doors open at 6:00 pm

Tickets: $12 general admission; under 12 FREE

Affordable ticket pricing made possible by Target

Tickets by phone: (800) 838-3006, or to purchase online: click Brown Paper Tickets.

For more info, please contact:
Stacey Hoffman, Executive Director
2501 Harrison Street, Oakland, Ca., 94612
(510) 287-8880
RCI@jazzcampwest.com

Presented by Rhythmic Concepts, Inc. RCI is an Oakland-based non-profit organization. "In the Name of Love" has been made possible through the generosity of Target Corporation, City of Oakland, Cultural Funding Program; William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Clorox Foundation; Zellerbach Family Foundation; Macy's; R.O.O.F Foundation; See's Candies; Bay Area News Group East Bay; Oakland Tribune; KRON 4; KBLX; and Solstice Press.

Official Sponsors: