Internationally-acclaimed, pianist/keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Yukihiro Kanesaka will headline this Valentine’s Day event, celebrating love in tributes to two of the most soulful, artistic voices of our time, by two of the Boston area’s greatest vocal talents:
Donny Hathaway, featuring Leon Beal Jr. on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7pm
Roberta Flack, featuring Athene Wilson on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 2pm
Born in Japan, Yukihiro Kanesaka moved to Boston in 2000 to attend Berklee College of Music, where he is now an assistant professor. A master of jazz and soul genres, as a composer, performer and engineer, he has topped multiple international musical rankings, including as #1 of the 2017 UK Soul Chart. He has performed and toured with De La Soul, Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), CeeLo Green, George Duke, and Mark O’Connor. He founded his own recording studio, “KOMUGIKO.” Joining Kanesaka for both shows will be Michael Christman (guitar), Domenic Davis (bass), and Osi Brathwaite (drums).
Both Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack began singing in their church choirs, as did Leon Beal Jr. and Athene Wilson. Golden-voiced Leon Beal Jr. has opened for many legendary vocal groups including the Temptations, Blue Magic, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, The Whispers, The Stylistics and others. Athene Wilson, a performer of Jazz, Gospel and R&B, is a three-time Boston Urban Music Award winner. Both artists are known not only for their soulful, powerhouse, vocal styles, but their ability to convey the story behind the music.
Love Weekend will also feature The Love Sampler on Saturday afternoon, at 2pm and 4pm, in the Black Box Theater at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. The hour-long Love Sampler will celebrate love from different cultures and perspectives, showcasing theater and music from a variety of remarkable local talent including Valerie Stephens, Terri Deletetsky, Maria Hendricks and Michael John Ciszewski.
Valerie Stephens returns to the stage, this time in her role as actress, writer, and storyteller. Here I Am is a solo moment of truth about aging with a little myth-busting in the process. Terri Deletetsky and Maria Hendricks come together with an amazing musical collaboration which aims to reclaim our spiritual spaces. Michael John Ciszewski will be sharing a portion of his third solo show Lovefool with audiences.
Tickets are $20 for the Saturday afternoon shows, and $25 for the Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon shows.
◊ member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
º member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829