Formerly Known as Quintessence
4901 Chowen Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN. 55410
Mauilotus Youtube Wind Blows Thru Lotus Leaf
The beautiful new instrumental and vocal music of the artist/composer/musician Marilyn Allysum are timeless compositions of eclectic and alluring soundscapes. Combining several genres into her music, Marilyn Allysum’s fluid and distinctive melodic lines cross musical borders, mesmerizing and captivating listeners.
New Features from the group include several songs sung by Allysum in Hindi and Punjabi, based on Kirtans/Bhajans, the ancient yoga of sacred music with chanting or singing. Some are from 15th and 16th century, by the poet saints, Kabir Sahib and Guru Arjan.
This was a time in India when music was used to attune oneself to nature and for healing the mind. “It’s the tone of that music which tunes a soul and raises it above the depression and despair of everyday life in this world” Sufi Hazrat Khan
The group plays with an advanced rhythmic and harmonic platform; that blends improvising with real and powerful dynamics. Their eclectic music weaves the sounds of many cultures transcending jazz, world-music, into a Global statement. Members of the group include; Marilyn Allysum – Flute – Piano – Gu Zheng – Vocals, Charles Fletcher – Bass Guitars, Mike Hurley – Drums and Percussion, David Wolfe – Santoor, (Persian Harp). Award Winning Original Music!
“Listen to a Journey of Discovery – A Unique Blending of cultural roots Chinese – Indian – Tibetan – Brazilian – African – European – Roam through Dynamic Worlds of Sound – Explore Intrinsic Realms of Rhythms – Voices – Patterns, Melodic Jazz Improvisations –Experience the mystical ambient music that is the Bridge of the Human Heart
Mauilotus recordings and live performances earned them several awards such as; “Best New Artists” at the Minnesota Music Awards, Recipients of the Jazz Composers Award and a National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) Award and tours with Affiliated Artists. It is this diversity in culture and music that give this show a musical strength that is unparalleled in the world today.
Advance Tickets can be purchased online. Contact us at: mauilotus.music@gmail.com
Tickets at the door are $20.
Mauilotus Youtube Unlock the Mysteries of My Heart
Marilyn Allysum – Composer and Musician, Piano, Flutes, Gu Zheng (Chinese Harp), Vocals
Marilyn is band leader, founder of and the group’s primary composer, Marilyn began her musical career at 7 as a child protégé playing classical accordion and picked up the flute at 9 years of age. She won the New York State, National, and International Accordion competitions for her playing of Beethoven, Bach, Tchaikovsky, and New avant-garde pieces. She switched to the piano at age 16, continuing her classical training in New York under Michael Tilson Thomas and John Pierre Rampal with a subsequent scholarship to the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music. She got her start in jazz while in high school, at Eastman School of music attending recordings by Chuck Mangione, traveled with the Paul Winter Consort, featuring Ralph Towner – who became the most influential mentor in her musical compositions. After a stint in Atlanta where she played in the jazz ensemble Reynardyne and in jazz clubs with Paul McCandless and others, she began a world travel program that would lead to the eventual forming of Quintessence, now known as, MauiLotus: the Marilyn Allysum group. Allysum’s name is synonymous with innovation, being influenced greatly by the cultural roots of world musical traditions, studying bansuri flute with G.S. Sachdev. She traveled thru India on five separate occasions, absorbing musical influences including, extensive training in the singing of bhajans/kirtans.
Charles Fletcher – Bass Guitars – Special Effects
The lyric bass of Charles Fletcher continually shapes new vistas for Mauilotus; he plays with an inspired sense of improvisation, inventive melodic lines, harmonic depth and all the while providing rock solid rhythm. The versatile Fletcher studied at the Jamie Aebersold Summer Jazz Clinics, Berklee College of Music, Metropolitan State University and St. Thomas University. He has played blues with The Jimmy Valentine Quintet and The Lamont Cranston Band, R & B with the T. C. Jammers and Mick Sterling And the Stud Brothers, variety with the R Factor, CBO, and The Sevilles, jazz/fusion with Northcoast He plays regularly with legends Eric Gales and Willie Murphy.
Mike Hurley Drums – Percussion – Special Effects
Mike Hurley’s drum set and percussion effects include strings of gourds, tiny shells, bells, and even kelp gourds. his collection produces evocative effects such as rainwater and winds of the desert. Hurley’s exciting drum solos are rich with changes of timbre and time signatures. Hurley has received critical acclaim for creating a sound that is clear and spacious; full of poise and spontaneity. Adventurous, fresh and a skilled improviser, he has performed and recorded with a host of musicians including: Prudence Johnson, Samoa, North Coast, African music with Mazonk Afrique & Les Anglos, and Middle Eastern music.
David Wolfe Santoor (Persian Harp) – Tibetan Singing Bowls
Wolfe has created a musical niche all his own, combining Indian Classical tradition and Jazz elements. His rare ability to express his conception of the Santoor’s role in an ensemble creates improvisational forays that intertwine, weaving a hypnotic ambience. He travelled thru India on four separate occasions absorbing musical influences and learning the art of singing bhajans/kirtans. He studied in Boulder Colorado under Colin Walcott and recorded Cloud Patterns with Kurt Schlaefer. Walcott and Pundit Shiv Kumar Sharma, are two of the primary influences in the development of his style.
“Print & Broadcast Critical Acclaim for – Mauilotus: the Marilyn Allysum Group”
“The group’s blending of Eastern and Western musical traditions and instruments yields intricate rhythmic patterns, lovely melodies…Music that flashes with colors, like a prism spinning in the Sun..” – Minneapolis Star Tribune
”Your music sounds wonderful.” – Bob Jones, Kool Jazz Festival
“Before “New Age” Music became a buzzword for fusion, world folk amalgams, or music for poltergeists, these instrumentalists were playing original music with depth, innovation and a diverse global vocabulary of instruments.” –City Pages
“Highly accomplished musicians who create music that is at once original and accessible. This is an exciting, dynamic group of artists who have much to offer the music world.” – Rob Moore, Program Director, – Breeze Network
“Eclectic, fused jazz and folk music with interesting instrumentation and Whole World implications.” – Bob Protzman, St. Paul Pioneer Press.
” A delightful experience of original music transcending existing labels.” – Richard Shulik, New England Journal
“This cadre of contemporary jazz artists mesh their own work with a creative style and spark that reassures audiences that intelligent original composing is being done in the Twin Cities.” – Twin Cities Reader
“A New Music that is compelling, logical, and spontaneous.” – Emory University, Atlanta, GA
“A thousand streams of light emanating into sound.” – St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN
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