KENSHAKA ALI

Sat., Nov. 4.  KENSHAKA ALI, in “A Love Supreme.”  Singer, director, acting coach, and professor of theatre arts, Mr. Ali was born and raised across the street from the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem, where, running errands for the backstage crews, he was let in for free.   Although captivated by Motown, blues, and R & B, he was drawn more to the lyricism of jazz, so from the Boys Choir of Harlem he went on to study with jazz vocalist Jay Clayton at City College New York, and after moving to California, taught theater at Cal State Dominguez Hills, then at Pomona College in Claremont, (and in “A Shirt and a Skirt” shared the bill with the great Barbara Morrison.)  As an Agape Licensed Spiritual Practitioner, he is drawn to fare reflecting a spiritual understanding of love—personal, romantic, communal, and divine; and follows in the tradition of the great baritone jazz balladeers such as Johnny Hartman, Joe Williams, and Arthur Prysock.  For this evening, he has gathered the support of Karen Hernandez on piano, Dori Amarilio on guitar, John Jackson on drums, and Henry “Skipper” Franklin on bass.