Maya Azucena

After an uproarious response to last year’s one-night-only presentation, Maya Azucena and Vanessa Hidary, in partnership with The Zipper Factory, present a recurring event: CULTURE BANDIT SOUL, a dynamic, hilarious and moving fusion of theater and concert.    

CULTURE BANDIT SOUL: a Powerful night of Word, Soul,

and Hip-Hop to Strings

Dynamic Indie Soulstress MAYA AZUCENA and Compelling Actress/Spokenword Artist VANESSA HIDARY (aka The Hebrew Mamita), fuse their Arts in the next installment of their highly celebrated CULTURE BANDIT SOUL at the ZIPPER FACTORY on Wednesday November 12^th.  Art exhibit at 7:00PM/Performance at 8:00PM Sharp. Tickets $20. 336 West 37th Street, NYC.  Reservations 212.352.3101 
 
Clips from Vanessa Hidary’s critically acclaimed solo show, “Culture Bandit,” along with new and familiar poems (as seen on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam), are interlaced with songs of Grammy-acknowledged Maya Azucena from her critically acclaimed CD, “Junkyard Jewel,” and a beautiful quartet of Strings, Guitar and Percussion.   
  
The diverse duo come from different backgrounds and experiences, yet prove that the soul can connect across cultural divides.  The result is a journey into Cultural observations, Hip Hop, Relationships, Humor, and Life.  It will stir your soul. You will laugh to tears, and feel the need to celebrate your own journey of life.  All this, while supporting a cause!  A silent auction will raise funds for a community nonprofit organization. 
 
Each presentation of Culture Bandit Soul will raise awareness and funds around a humanitarian outreach; have a special performing guest host; and will feature an art exhibit in the Lobby/Lounge!  November 12th’s exciting line up includes guest host poet/activist Caitlin Meissner; art exhibition of works by painter and clothing designer, Josana Blue; and a focus nonprofit organization, Voices Unbroken. (Read below for details)!  The following presentation will happen on Thursday, February 5^th, with guests to be announced at a later date. 
 A SILENT AUCTION of “Jazz Curtain,” a painting generously donated by Josana Blue, will help to raise funds towards supplies and workshops for up to 400 youth who experience hands-on programs through Voices UnBroken.  We decided to make the painting available to our fans by allowing them to make early bids on MySpace.  (”Jazz Curtain” is 26 x 30″ in the frame ).

Make your bid now! The final bids will happen at the CULTURE BANDIT SOUL event this WEDS NOVEMBER 12TH. For advance bids starting now, post your bid as a COMMENT to MySpace.com/MayaAzucena . You can see the image in the profile, as well as previously placed bids, then post your own.  The night of the show, we will close out the final bids.  Our highest bidder at the end of the night takes home the piece, while 100% of the proceeds will benefit Voices UnBroken participating youth! Great news is, the Voices UnBroken Board of Directors will match all donations made for the night.  So, if you bid on “Jazz Curtain,” or contribute any amount in donation for Voices UnBroken that night, your $1 will be worth $2 in terms of supporting the youth! 

Please come and contribute your love and support.  Your support is worth twice as much on NOVEMBER 12TH.

Voices Unbroken is a Bronx-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing under-heard members of the community – primarily youth ages 14-21 – with the tools and opportunity for creative self-expression.  Through creative writing workshops in group homes, residential treatment facilities, jails, juvenile detention centers and various other alternative and non-traditional settings, Voices UnBroken nurtures the inherent need in all people to tell their stories and be heard.  It is our belief that this claiming – or re-claiming – of stories leads to individual and community growth and change. 

LEARN MORE: www.VoicesUnBroken.org

CULTURE BANDIT SOUL:      MORE BIO DETAIL: 
 Vanessa Hidary (player 1) borrows from her one-woman show that chronicles her life as a New York Jewish teen coming of age during the Golden Age of Hip-Hop, and her dedication to fostering the understanding and friendship between people of all races. Her candid story is told with humor, and will remind any audience member of their own youthful journey through insecurities, love-gone-awry, and struggles with identity. From Hip Hop Festivals to Synagogues Vanessa has traveled the world performing her works on diverse stages and varied audiences. She has recently began running Racism and Poetry workshops with B’nai Brith organization, and directed alumni of Birthright Israel Organization in a production of personal stories written about their first visit to Israel and Jewish identity, in a show called Birthright Israel NEXT Presents: Monologues. 
  
Maya Azucena (player 2), a Brooklyn native of mixed heritage and hardknocks, tells her story through dynamic songs of life, faith and celebration.  Maya Azucena comes across both as vulnerable and almost superhero-like in the portrayal of her songs, fusing genres of Soul, Hip Hop, and Folk.  She represents survivors of all makes, and those that embrace their own power to overcome struggle.  She just recently had a US State Department sponsored concert tour of Asia (Burma, China, Philippines and Sri Lanka) under THE RHYTHM ROAD: AMERICAN MUSIC ABROAD program.  The goal of the tour was to promote cultural exchange within countries that have limited interaction with Americans.  Maya and her band have performed at dozens of benefits including the Save Darfur Rally on Washington’s National Mall, and Hope Night, an event produced by Maya last year to raise awareness of Domestic Violence. 
 
Both women are forces to be reckoned with in their business, and have each felt compelled to cross the divides of culture and take on people of all backgrounds, finding common ground in individual souls.   
  
Caitlin Meissner (host), the Albany, New York raised, Brooklyn based artist is an extraordinary poet, performer, educator and graphic designer.  Using her background in visual art, anti-racism work, disability advocacy and youth empowerment, her poems are visually rich testaments to the complexities of the human spirit. As a performer, she has featured for the progressive literary collective louderArts; Opened for the acclaimed Page Meets Stage series (with Thomas Lux); Shared sets with musicians such as Immortal Technique, Grandmaster Caz, Boot Camp Clik and many others; And has performed on countless stages- from street corners to Columbia University, from Ghana to the famous Nuyorican Poets Café in NY, and Rikers Island, including a recent tour throughout the San Francisco Bay Area in September of 2008. 
  
 

Josana Blue (guest artist) is a painter, clothing designer, and life-long artist with a diverse range of gifts. She is a self-starter who uniquely integrates all artistic mediums. Josana’s work, which is based on female subjectivity, is surrounded by elements of the city, music, dance, love and fashion. Her noticeably distinct painting style consists of abstract linear figures painted with a brilliant and chic color pallet. Josana’s one of a kind custom fashions range from screen printed t-shirts, kids clothes and accessories to hand sewn evening wear and party dresses. Her work epitomizes the elegant bohemian.
Voices Unbroken is a Bronx-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing under-heard members of the community – primarily youth ages 14-21 – with the tools and opportunity for creative self-expression.  Through creative writing workshops in group homes, residential treatment facilities, jails, juvenile detention centers and various other alternative and non-traditional settings, Voices UnBroken nurtures the inherent need in all people to tell their stories and be heard.  It is our belief that this claiming – or re-claiming – of stories leads to individual and community growth and change.   
 
The Zipper Factory is in fact a renovated Zipper factory that features theatrical productions in addition to a concert series. It’s a superb 199 seat venue for performers and audiences - amazing sightlines, great sound, and unusually comfortable seats (most of the seats come straight out of automobiles!). 

Learn more about the featured artists and organizations:  
www.HebrewMamita.com  
www.JunkyardJewel.com.   
www.VoicesUnbroken.org.   
www.MySpace.com/CaitlinMeissnerPoetry

www.JosanaBlue.com 
www.TheZipperFactory.com