Becca Stevens performs on 24 and 25 June as part of the multi-disciplinary live installation, Ten Thousand Leaves in its first residency at The Jazz Gallery, New York.
The project has been awarded the ‘Performing Arts Japan’ grant by The Japan Foundation and is sponsored by YAMAHA Corporation of America — Becca is pictured here with Aya Nishina and Japanese Ambassador Takahashi from the Consulate General of Japan in New York.
The project is inspired by Japanese women’s poetry from Man-yo-shu(Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves) and essays such as Makura-no-sōshi(The Pillow Book). Becca Stevens and Aya Nishina premiere songs of modern lyricism that blend traditional Irish folk music and Japanese Gagaku — court music from the 7th century. The second component of the New York residency brings a Children’s Tea Ceremony to The Farm Soho on 26 June inviting local elementary to high school students (ages 3 – 18) to a one-of-a-kind international cultural experience.
Becca’s recent highlights include: The Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Barcelona Jazz Festival, National Sawdust, Rockwood and JazzKaar Festival. She is currently working towards her next album ‘Regina’ which will be released in 2017.
