Andrea Loretz-Frey
Soprano |
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Our voices are the medium through which we extend our hearts. It is my
greatest desire and intent, that I bring to this world a bit more Joy,
Happiness, Comfort, and Laughter. One creative impulse has the power to
invite and extend inspiration.
We are all one, united in spirit, each of us seeking the healing and
beauty of unconditional love. Music has an undeniable power to heal,
through divine expression, in its totality.”
-- Andrea Loretz-Frey
Andrea Loretz-Frey is Founder, Co-Director, and Performance Artist with Improvelocity.
Andrea has performed for over 20 years, including performance
throughout the East Coast, US and Europe, and currently performs
throughout Boston, Greater Boston and New York. She holds a Master of
Music degree in Opera Performance, The Boston Conservatory, May 1996,
and has had the great privilege of studying with Robert Honeysucker and
Elizabeth Vrenios.
Andrea is also a vocal instructor, teaching at all vocal levels, for 15 years, in the Boston area and New York.
www.AndreaLoretz-Frey.com
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Toni Maria Pinheiro
Mezzo-Soprano |
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 Born in Boston MA from a lineage of indigenous peoples from North America (Cherokee, Seminole), India, Africa, and Europe (Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany), Toni Maria Pinheiro is called either ‘Toni’ or ‘Maria’ by family, friends and colleagues. Maria describes her vocal style as "musical shapeshifting" or "indigenous-improv-jazz-folk-gospel-sound channeling" to be a bit more descriptive. Her professional singing career began with The Indigos, a 4 singer, 6 musician pop and rhythm and blues band that performed in Greater Boston and Washington D.C. area night clubs, and at colleges throughout New England and New York. The Indigos recorded “Taboo” on the Gamble and Huff label, shared billing in Boston with Patti LaBelle's trio 'LaBelle', opened for the Count Basie Orchestra, The Four Tops, The Shirelles, Chuck Berry, and performed on the PBS (WGBH-TV) show Say Brother. Later in her singing career she sang with a’capella singing group Goddess Gospel, and was a member of the Temple of Wisdom’s Choir, Concert Choir and Cosmic Cabaret. She has performed with guitarist Carl Phillips as the duo Two Much, and as an improv vocalist and percussionist with Brian Rawson, MaSuMa, and Root-Wing-Ecstasy.
Maria expresses her passion for improvisation and uses her diverse business and creative talents in service to others and the Divine. Her relentless enthusiasm for all things new and inspiring led to her partnership with Andrea Loretz Frey and the co-founding and co-directing of Improvelocity in 2003. If you want to learn more about her and her work in the world, please visit www.wakeupartist.com.
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My body is in rapt anticipation
of what is about to occur. . .
I don't know what to expect - but I'm ready.
Aloof too, so no one will know
that the real me slipped in
quietly, unannounced.
Excerpt from ALOOF TOO
a poem by Toni Maria Pinheiro ©2001
dedicated to those who will experience Improvelocity . . .
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Grant Smith
Drumset, Percussion, Timpani, Tabla |
 Grant Smith studied drumset with Alan Dawson, Arabic drums with Jamie Haddad, tabla with Kazi Jalal, Afro-Cuban percussion with Enrique Pla, and Handance with Glen Velez. The Boston Globe calls him a "brilliant improviser." The Boston Phoenix has noted his topflight "cross-genre" abilities. Others note his sunny disposition. Grant has toured nationally and globally from Kraków to Thailand, Australia and New Zealand, and both Europes. Grant is a member of many world music, jazz, classical, orthodox, deconstructed, and free projects. He has performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Don Byron, Garrison Keillor, Jane Wang and despite such high profile gigs as playing timpani with Itzhak Perlman, borscht drums with Joel Grey, and tabla with the Violent Femmes, Grant still insists that his biggest gig was the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with Kermit the Frog and Big Bird. Theatre and dance credits include the American Repertory Theater's production of "The King Stag" featuring a solo multi-percussion score (with staging and costumes by Julie Taymor) and movement works with Shakti Smith, Jane Wang, and Liz Roncka as well as his own choreography known as hogginsho, featured at PASIC 2003 Focus Day.
Fave color: green. Fave food: Jane's cookies. Vegetarian. Taurus. (Earth) Dog. More about Grant at www.GrantleySmith.com.
"Yes." - Grant Smith
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Joel Cohen
Cello |
 Joel Cohen received his B.M. from the University of Western Ontario and has been teaching for over 20 years. He has performed as Principal Cellist in the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and as Co-Principal Cellist in the Oakland Symphony Orchestra, and currently plays for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Handel and Haydn Society, and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra.
His teachers have included Irene Sharp, Margaret Rowell, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and Janos Starker. He has performed extensively throughout Europe and Asia, and regularly tours with the Johann Strauss Festival Orchestra of Vienna. Prof. Cohen was a member of the faculty at Municipal Music School in Tulln, Austria for several years and is currently on the faculty of the Holy Cross as well as the Performing Arts School of Worcester.
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Ukumbwa Sauti
Percussion |
 Who we are and how we are has always been a major influence on my music. From the first days of my piano plinking and poking at age 6 to my electronic orchestral ensembles today, music has been a way to mirror the internal and give definition to the external. The music I create exists to bring thoughtful work to appreciative ears, to create work that moves us with images borne of life and love and all the challenges that make us human. Living life as an African in America has opened my eyes to much that is wrong with this world, but also to so much that is right. We are a beautiful reflection of the universe. And so the shape of the world around us is a reflection of what is inside of us. I've always felt that life should have a soundtrack... That's why I do this... so that we remember that life can work - for all of us.
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Todd Brunel
Clarinets |
 Todd Brunel is an innovative, critically acclaimed clarinetist who leads a dual life as a cross-over classical and jazz musician. ?Tremendous virtuosity and heart," said The Boston Globe. He has played principal clarinet with the Opera Ebony of Harlem, the American Opera Musical Theater Company, ALEA III, the Andover Chamber Players, and many New York and Boston area orchestras. As a sought after advocate of contemporary musical styles, his premieres include works by composers George ?Skip? Brunner, Ara Sarkissian, The Alta Voz Composers Alliance, Vuk Kulenovic, Pamela Watson, Vache Sharyfyan and Lawrence 'Butch' Morris. Brunel?s numerous guest appearances include: Carnegie Hall, Harvard University, the Boston and New England Conservatories, The Manhattan School, CBGb?s Gallery, The SEAMUS Festival, the National Black Arts Festival (with Lilli Lewis) and the Montreal Jazz Festival.
Brunel produced the critically acclaimed 'Vortex Series' for improvisational music, which was the jazz "pick of the week" in the Boston Phoenix and the Boston Globe. In addition to premieres of his own compositions, his ?powerful, polyrhythmic improvisations,? (Somerville Arts Council) earned him ?A true cat, heavy pro? accolade from godsofmusic.com. Brunel received a Bachelors of Music in Clarinet performance from the Boston Conservatory of Music where he studied with Atilio Poto and Pasquale Cardillo. He has pursued graduate studies at the Longy School of Music, the University of North Texas and Brooklyn College Conservatory. He was a scholarship participant at the Aspen Music Festival and has studied with clarinetists Thomas Martin, Jonathan Cohler, Paul Shelden, composition with Sam Headrick, and jazz with Bob Mover and Peter Cassino. More about Todd at www.clarinetconspiracy.com
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"I hope to share the music that I have cultivated over many years with as many audiences as possible. Working with Improvelocity is helping me to see the limitless nature of music and collaboration. Our partnership should help to promote the best in human nature and to help people unleash their inner potential though performance workshops utilizing improvisation as a primary resource." -- Todd Brunel
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Paul Rodriguez
Guitar and Vocals |
 Paul Anthony Rodriguez has been in the music business for 35 years. He has performed at various venues across the United States and in Europe. His abilities include playing guitar and singing. He has performed in large and small venues, recording studios, and has arranged for all sizes of musical groups from a capella groups to chamber orchestras. His accomplishments include arranging for the Burbank Chorale in the Los Angeles area, working as a recording artist for Capitol Records for the pop group The Trend, and creating the score for a Charlie Brown TV special.
Paul currently resides in Sudbury, MA, with his family and owns a marketing/graphic design business called Natural Rhythm (why not!).
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Guest Artists
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- Deb Lempke, Drums (Cello Chix)
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