Update from Circuit Productions

Circuit Productions, Inc.
Ph/Fax: (718) 638-4878
circuit635@earthlink.net

Circuit Productions, Inc. presents Fall Programs Featuring Three
Composers and Their Music Commissions with a Grant from the New York
State Music Fund
• Three composers present their music during Fall performances of
Rhythm Journeys: Masters of Jazz and World music
• Concerts continue to take place in NYC and NYS beginning
November 2007.
Brooklyn, New York, October 2007 – Circuit Productions, Inc., the
recipient of NYS Music
Fund grant ("Music Fund"), announced today that Fall programs will
feature the work of three commissioned composers for RHYTHM JOURNEYS:
MASTERS OF JAZZ AND WORLD MUSIC. The project is a series of free and
low-cost concerts showcasing jazz and world music throughout New York
City and State in collaboration with local cultural and educational
institutions.
Circuit Productions, through its new community outreach series, RHYTHM
JOURNEYS, will provide new music and live performances presenting
senior and emerging artists in a range of culturally relevant music
programming aimed primarily at youth and family audiences in
culturally under-served communities state-wide. "We are thrilled to
advocate for and present such a diverse group of artists," said Susan
Goldbetter, Executive Director of Circuit Productions, "who created
and/or revised their music for new underserved communities throughout
the city and state." The three composers, Sarah McLawler, John Miller
and Andy Algire will each be featured in performances this Fall.
Additional performances will take place through March 2008.
Sarah McLawler will be featured in Carol Sudhalter's Astoria Jazz
Band's program, Women Composers of Queens* on Friday, November 16,
2007, 7:00 pm at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in LIC, Queens.
Tickets are $13 or $10 for students, seniors and musicians! Phone
number for tickets is: 718.482.5151. McLawler's earliest introduction
to music was piano and organ playing in her father's church in
Indiana. Later, she became interested in secular music – Jazz meeting
both the famous Hampton family (Lionel and Slyde) and the Wes
Montgomery family. Shortly after winning a music scholarship to Fisk
University in the 1940's she began touring with the Lucky Millander
Big Band. Striking out on her own she soon formed the "all-girls" band
known as The Syn-Co-Ettes. Their extraordinary popularity brought them
to Chicago where they became the house band at the great Savoy
Ballroom. Ms. McLawler's recordings for Brunswick and Vee-Jay Records
include some of the greatest standards in jazz music. Sarah is a
recipient of a Meet the Composer grant; Outstanding Jazz Artist Award,
St. Peters Church; WWRL's Jazz Woman of the Year; a Lifetime
Achievement from International Women in Jazz; and the Music Danceology
Award. In March 2005 she traveled to Virginia Tech University as part
of a Ford Foundation grant award through Circuit Productions.

"The Music Fund will allow me to create new work, and present it this
Fall (12/20/07) with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band at the free
Trinity Concerts at One Series," said John Miller, accomplished
pianist, composer and arranger. He has recorded, performed and made
television appearances with the Stanley Turrentine Band for the past
seventeen years. He has also performed with George "Big Nick"
Nicholas, Frank Foster, Harold Ousley, Sy Austin, Bruce Hayden and Dee
Clark. In the past decade John has recorded albums with Count Basie,
Angela DeNiro and the Ron Aprea Orchestra, George Jackson, Mel Bliss,
The Baritone Saxophones, and Gene Gardener and the Jazz Recoverers.
Mr. Miller has also taught his art extensively throughout New York
State and has his own company, Jomil Music. Currently, he is the lead
pianist for the legendary Harlem Blues and Jazz Band. They recently
appeared at Westchester Community College, the Museum of the City of
New York and the Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts at Brooklyn
College.

"It's been an extraordinary opportunity having this source of funding
to encourage my work," said, Andy Algire, composer and performer. Andy
plays drum set, congas, African drums and percussion, balafon (wood
xylophone), kalimba (thumb piano), keyboards and piano. His
performances include the Kennedy Center with Rhythm Exchange World
Music Ensemble (REWME), Manhattan Tap, the Lakestreet Foundation and
clubs, theaters, festivals both nationally and internationally. For
the past five years Andy has worked closely with Irene Koloseus's
Féraba: African Rhythm Tap Dance. Artistic Director, Koloseus - a
prolific tap and African dance choreographer- creates unique rhythmic
patterns using her feet as an additional percussive instrument. The
two are currently working on Andy's new work "Sound Bridges" which
will be heard during their free performances in "Rhythm Journeys" at
Bronx Library Center (11/17/07) and in Westchester, Mt. Vernon and
Pelham in March 2008.

The New York State Music Fund published guidelines and criteria and
accepted grant applications in a number of categories, including music
education and public performances of music by artists working in hip
hop, reggae, fusion, jazz, classical and folk music of all cultures.
Applications related to recording, distribution, or broadcast through
traditional or new media were also eligible. Special emphasis was
placed on reaching underserved populations and broadening awareness of
artists, genres or styles with limited access to commercial broadcast
or other mass distribution vehicles.
Advisory Panels comprised of recognized leaders from a cross-section
of the music world evaluated and recommended applications based on
criteria focusing on artistic merit and community impact. The award to
Circuit Productions was among nearly 400 grants totaling more than $35
million made by the Music Fund.

All three performances were made possible, in part, with funding to
Circuit Productions, Inc. from the New York State Music Fund,
established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller
Philanthropy Advisors.

*The performance, Women Composers of Queens is made possible (in part)
by the Queens Council on the Arts with public funding from the New
York City Department of Cultural Affairs."

About Circuit Productions, Inc.

Circuit Productions, Inc. was founded in 1986 as a non-profit
organization dedicated to the promotion, production and preservation
of the uniquely American art forms of jazz and tap dance. Our mission
is to inspire, entertain and educate underserved audiences in New York
through performances, public classes, workshops, and arts education
programs featuring senior artists of color who are living legends of
the city's rich tap and jazz history. Annually, Circuit provides
booking and management services for senior and emerging artists;
placing performers in museums, public libraries, community-based
organizations, local colleges, public schools, hospitals and nursing
homes.

For press and publicity please contact:
Circuit Productions, Inc.
635 Carroll Street, Ste. #2, Brooklyn, NY 11215
T: 718.638.4878
Tickets for November 16, 2007 at 7pm – LaGuardia Performing Arts
Center 718.482.5151
E-Mail: circuit635@earthlink.net or website: www.circuitproductions.org

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S: Fall 2007

* Saturday, November 10th, 2007, 3:30pm: Circuit Productions, Susan
Goldbetter, producer presents the Calpulli Mexican Dancers- celebrates
the rich, regional dance traditions of Mexico's diverse cultural
history - at the Bronx Library Center, 310 East Kingsbridge Road,
Bronx, Info/directions: 718-579-4240.

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007, 6:00pm: Circuit Productions, Susan
Goldbetter producer presents World Beat: African Dance and Drums -
with Jerbean Gilkes and Songs of the Valley at the Rugby Public
Library 1000 Utica Avenue (near Tilden Ave.) Brooklyn, NY 11203.
Info/Directions: 718-596-6972.

*+Friday, November 16th, 2007, Time: TBA: Circuit Productions, Susan
Goldbetter, producer presents Rhythm Journeys: Masters of Jazz and
World Music* featuring composer/performers, Sarah McLawler Emme Kemp
in "Women Composers of Queens". Saxophonist Carol Sudhalter leads her
11-piece band at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, 31-10 Thomson
Avenue, LIC, Queens. For ticket costs and general info/directions:
718-482-5151 or www.lagcc.cuny.edu/lpac.

*Saturday, November 17th, 2007, 6:00pm: Circuit Productions, Susan
Goldbetter, producer with presents
Rhythm Journeys: Masters of Jazz and World Music* featuring Irene
Koloseus's Feraba: African Rhythm Tap* at the Bronx Library Center,
310 East Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, Info/directions: 718-579-4240.

Saturday, December 15th, 2007, 12 noon: Circuit Productions, Susan
Goldbetter, producer presents World Beat: Burdetsky Family Circus at
the Holiday Hootenanny at Brooklyn Heights Library. 280 Cadman Plaza
West, Brooklyn, NY. Info. /Directions: Mr. Edward Robinson,
718-623-7100.

*Thursday, December 20th, 2007, 1:00pm: Circuit Productions, Susan
Goldbetter producer presents the legendary, Harlem Blues and Jazz Band
at Trinity Concerts – Concerts at One- 74 Trinity Place at Wall and
Broadway. For information check www.trinityconcerts.org or at Circuit
Productions, 718-638-4878.


*These performances were made possible, in part, with funding to
Circuit Productions, Inc. (CPI) for
" Rhythm Journey: Masters of Jazz and World Music" from the NYS Music
Fund, established by the NYS Attorney General at Rockefeller
Philanthropy Advisors.
+ Additional Support for this project was made possible in part, with
public funds from the Queens Council on the Arts

CPI is supported, in part, with public funds from New York State
Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural
Affairs. Generous support for programming made possible from the
Independence Community Foundation and the 2007 JPMorganChase Regrant
Program, administered by the Brooklyn Arts Council, Inc. (BAC).
Funding for World Beat workshops has been made possible by the Puffin
Foundation. Special thanks to Paquita Campoverde, Manager, Youth &
Family Programs and Meredith Walters, Director of Adult Services at
Brooklyn Public Library; Jean Harrapersaud, Adult Programs, Bronx
Library Center; Adult and Community Outreach Services, The New York
Public Library; and to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz,
Council member Dominic M. Recchia, Jr. and the Brooklyn delegation to
the City Council.