Welcome to the Nia Network: A Program Bureau, a division of Celeste Bateman & Associates. The program bureau features visual and performing artists, historians, writers and motivational speakers of African descent who present in various venues nationally and internationally. CB&A has compiled a roster of extraordinarily talented individuals who are available to perform and present at colleges and universities, performing arts centers, schools, churches, corporations, festivals, trade shows, etc. What makes this program bureau unique is that all of the participants present topics and art forms pertaining to the African Diaspora.
Nia is the Swahili word for ‘purpose.’ Our purpose is to promulgate what is rich and positive about African, Caribbean, and African-American culture, history, heritage and art. For booking information, email us at info@celestebateman.com or call 973.705.8253.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to take on additional artists/speakers at this time, but please feel free to forward your information for future consideration.
Nia is the Swahili word for ‘purpose.’ Our purpose is to promulgate what is rich and positive about African, Caribbean, and African-American culture, history, heritage and art. For booking information, email us at info@celestebateman.com or call 973.705.8253.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to take on additional artists/speakers at this time, but please feel free to forward your information for future consideration.
Spirit of Life Ensemble
Spirit of Life Ensemble (SOLE)- The music of this captivating afrocentric and multi-cultural unit is a true reflection of the group's name. Their sound is soulful, passionate, and filled with infectious energy, while at the same time, inventive and thought-provoking in its concept. Although their music is deeply rooted in the Jazz tradition, it has been strongly influenced by the myriad of musical styles found in the African Diaspora. The rhythms of Latin America, South America, the Caribbean Islands, Africa, and the African-American musical genres of rhythm & blues, gospel, funk, and the blues permeate the sound of this electrifying ensemble whose "Jazz with a World Beat" approach leaves your heart dancing long after your feet have stopped.
Formed in 1975, the SPIRIT OF LIFE ENSEMBLE, under the band leadership of multi-percussionist Daoud-David Williams, and the music directorship of Bob Ferrel, the collective now boasts a personnel of approximately 50 plus musicians. Generally, the group features from 8 to 18 players in performance.
The collective experience of the members of the Spirit of Life Ensemble includes performances and/or recordings with some of the icons of Jazz such as the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Barron, John Hicks, Nancy Wilson, Muhal Richard Abrams, Ahmad Jamal, Shirley Scott, Charles Mingus, Bob Crenshaw, Horace Silver, Buddy Rich, Randy Weston's African Rhythms, Abbey Lincoln, Eric Dolphy, Abdullah Ibrahim, Wynton Marsalis, Onaje Allen Gumbs, Max Roach, McCoy Tyner, Miriam Makeba, Archie Shepp, Sun Ra, Talib Kibwe, Winard Harper, Charles Earland, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jimmy Owens and Pharaoh Sanders to name just a few.
The SOLE Jazz orchestra was in-residence at New York's internationally renowned Sweet Basil Jazz club from 1995-2001. The group has been featured in many different Jazz festivals such as Pori International Jazz Festivals (Finland); Kaunas International Jazz Festival (Lithuania): Estonia International Jazz Festival (Estonia); Ottawa International Jazz Festival (Canada); Lake George Jazz Festival (New York); Jersey Shore Jazz Festival, (New Jersey); JVC Jazz Festival (New York); and the Panasonic Village Jazz Festival (New York), to name a few. SOLE has played at such celebrated Jazz clubs as New York's Blue Note, Iridium, Birdland, The 5 Spot, S.O.B.'s, Village Gate, and Duc Des Lombards in Paris, France and Imatra International Jazz Festival, Finland.
Their Music Appreciation Concerts feature jazz and world music for young people. Excellent for school assemblies, these “edu-tainment” performance workshops are interactive and include traditional and original compositions of Blues, Latin, African, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Euro-Classical music for children of all ages. Spirit of Life Ensemble is available for concerts, workshops, seminars, master classes, assembly programs, lectures and residencies. The group performs as an eight to 18-piece band or smaller combo of five to seven pieces.
Formed in 1975, the SPIRIT OF LIFE ENSEMBLE, under the band leadership of multi-percussionist Daoud-David Williams, and the music directorship of Bob Ferrel, the collective now boasts a personnel of approximately 50 plus musicians. Generally, the group features from 8 to 18 players in performance.
The collective experience of the members of the Spirit of Life Ensemble includes performances and/or recordings with some of the icons of Jazz such as the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Barron, John Hicks, Nancy Wilson, Muhal Richard Abrams, Ahmad Jamal, Shirley Scott, Charles Mingus, Bob Crenshaw, Horace Silver, Buddy Rich, Randy Weston's African Rhythms, Abbey Lincoln, Eric Dolphy, Abdullah Ibrahim, Wynton Marsalis, Onaje Allen Gumbs, Max Roach, McCoy Tyner, Miriam Makeba, Archie Shepp, Sun Ra, Talib Kibwe, Winard Harper, Charles Earland, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jimmy Owens and Pharaoh Sanders to name just a few.
The SOLE Jazz orchestra was in-residence at New York's internationally renowned Sweet Basil Jazz club from 1995-2001. The group has been featured in many different Jazz festivals such as Pori International Jazz Festivals (Finland); Kaunas International Jazz Festival (Lithuania): Estonia International Jazz Festival (Estonia); Ottawa International Jazz Festival (Canada); Lake George Jazz Festival (New York); Jersey Shore Jazz Festival, (New Jersey); JVC Jazz Festival (New York); and the Panasonic Village Jazz Festival (New York), to name a few. SOLE has played at such celebrated Jazz clubs as New York's Blue Note, Iridium, Birdland, The 5 Spot, S.O.B.'s, Village Gate, and Duc Des Lombards in Paris, France and Imatra International Jazz Festival, Finland.
Their Music Appreciation Concerts feature jazz and world music for young people. Excellent for school assemblies, these “edu-tainment” performance workshops are interactive and include traditional and original compositions of Blues, Latin, African, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Euro-Classical music for children of all ages. Spirit of Life Ensemble is available for concerts, workshops, seminars, master classes, assembly programs, lectures and residencies. The group performs as an eight to 18-piece band or smaller combo of five to seven pieces.