MP3 Dwayne Kerr - Flutation
Kerr, of the Erykah Badu Band (Neda Stela), offers his unique blend of contemporary jazz, R&B, funk and dance grooves in a riveting creation he calls, "Soul Jazz."
12 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Smooth Jazz, URBAN/R&B: Soul
Details:
To order Dwayne Kerr''s CD, "Flutation" by phone, call 1-800-Buy-My-CD. Credit or debit card needed.
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DWAYNE KERR PERFORMANCES WITH ERYKAH BADU
THE SUGAR WATER FESTIVAL
(other artists are Queen Latifah, Jill Scott, Floetry)
July 8—Virginia Beach, VA (Verizon Wireless)
July 9—Washington, DC (Merriweather)
July 12—Wantagh, NY (Jones Beach)
July 13—Boston (Bank of America Pavilion)
July 15—Homdel, NJ (PNC Bank Arts Center)
July 16—Camden, NJ (Tweeter)
July 17—Uncasville, CT (Mohegan Sun)
July 21—Atlanta, GA (Chastain Park)
July 22—Atlanta, GA (Chastain Park)
July 23—Charlotte, NC (Verizon Wireless Amphitheater)
July 26—Detroit, MI (DTE Energy Center)
July 27—Toronto, CN (Air Canada Centre)
July 29—Chicago , IL (Northerly)
July 30—Chicago, IL and Cleveland, OH (Northerly and Tower)
July 31—St. Louis, MO (UMB Bank Pavilion)
August 2—Denver, CO (Fiddlers)
August 4—Concord, CA (Concord Pavilion)
August 6—Las Vegas, NV (Mandalay)
August 9—Los Angeles, CA (Greek Theater)
August 10—Los Angeles, CA (Greek Theater)
(Dates subject to change. Check your local listings for show times)
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REVIEWS OF DWAYNE KERR''S CD, "FLUTATION"
"Seasoned flutist Dwayne Kerr, of the Erykah Badu Band (Neda Stela), sparkles in this smooth and sassy contemporary jazz album, laced with R&B, funk and dance grooves for a mixture of the light and the upbeat and the downbeat, the fireplace/red wine atmosphere and the dance floor demands. A full-flavored delight."
---Derek Sivers, President of https://www.tradebit.com.
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"The combination of determination and artistry in Dwayne Kerr is something I would very frankly (and selfishly) like to clone for young aspiring musicians! The fact that this CD is so melodic and inspired was no surprise to me, having followed Dwayne''s career from the beginning. I just wish I could send him on a tour around the country to impact thousands of others who lack his focus and character, not to mention diligence as an artist."
---Kirk Whalum, Warner Brothers Records
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"As I watch my friend in amazement, the high tones and the trills become part of me, helping me to grow on stage. I don''t know which is sweeter, his tone or his soul."
---Erykah Badu, Motown Records
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"It is wonderful. Spiritually and musically superb. Dwayne Kerr''s CD release, Flutation, showcases this Erykah Badu musical cohort in a sort of emotional flute stream of comfort and intrigue as we go from jazz to soul to soft R&B by this outstanding player....With the emotion he brings to his playing sans lyrics, Kerr easily pulls off the hard task of bringing music to life like a piece of classical music emotes a tale with its intonations and musical movements. This one is definitely high quality, and will hopefully be up and running on our light jazz stations soon. Wonderfully put together piece of fine musicianship."
---Carol Anne Szel, The Inside Connection (national music magazine)
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"Turn down the lights, light the fire, put on Flutation, close your eyes and lay back, it''s gonna move you! This magical genus touches my senses with a little contemporary jazz to soft R&B. Dwayne Kerr, of the Erykah Badu Band, shows his extraordinary-seasoned talent with his debut CD. It is fresh, light and purification to my pallet."
---t. jewels, Long Island Entertainment
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"Consummate musicianship and songwriting. Dwayne Kerr''s CD has given so much quality musicianship and songs to my radio shows. Plus, his new CD brings R&B, jazz and funk to the party. I have been talking to my musical friends all week about this CD."
---Joe Kelley, The Upper Room with Joe Kelley, WVOF 88.5 FM, Fairfield, CT
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DWAYNE KERR BIO
His masterful mix of sight and sounds is the memorable variable that makes flutist Dwayne Kerr, of the Erykah Badu band (Neda Stela), a popular figure in contemporary music today. Playing an instrument that traditionally has been heard more often than seen, Kerr has put the flute up front on display with his unique playing style and riveting stage persona.
Dwayne attracts audiences of all ages with his broad musical vision, blending contemporary jazz, R&B, hip hop, funk and dance rhythms in a creation he calls ,"SoulJazz." His flute easily is recognizable as Dwayne incorporates melodies that linger in your mind, with silky long runs and his signature technique-the staccato, double-tongued riff.
Playing through a wireless headset microphone gives Kerr the freedom to move, spin, dance to the grooves and venture out to play in the audience. This crowd-pleasing performance style leaves audiences with an indelible image of Kerr not usually associated with a flutist. "My live show is a combination of the musical and visual interpretation of the mood being created on stage," Dwayne explained. "I use my flute as a vehicle for my musical expression, without regard of the usual limitations expected from a flutist. The listener gets an emotional experience that goes beyond me playing the flute. I''ve included the visual aspect to heighten the audience''s expectation and show them that an instrumentalist also can be an entertainer."
Kerr, who is from Long Island, New York, was educated through the Central Islip school system. Kerr attended Nassau Community College, SUNY-Stony Brook and SUNY-Old Westbury, where he was trained classically and in jazz. A solo performing artist since making music his business several years ago, Dwayne so much impressed Ms. Badu that he was hired to play in the Grammy Award-winning vocalist''s band without an audition in 1998.
Dwayne''s debut CD, "Flutation," was released on DManns Records in January of 2003. The benefits of the invaluable experience and insight Dwayne acquired while touring and recording with Erykah are obvious on "Flutation," described by Warner Brothers Records saxophonist Kirk Whalum as "melodic and inspired."
"My CD is a collection of short, lingering melodies, with underlining funky, yet smooth grooves," Kerr said. "I wanted to record songs that would leave you grooving, while the melodies remained entrenched in your mind."
Kerr played on songs of Erykah''s just-released CD, "Worldwide Underground ," and her previous CD, "Mama''s Gun," on Motown Records; on Erykah''s version of the Chaka Khan hit, "Hollywood," which is on the soundtrack/CD to the Spike Lee movie, "Bamboozled," on Motown Records; and on Erykah''s song, "Today," which is on the Red Star Sounds compilation CD on Epic Records. "As I watch my friend in amazement, the high tones and the trills become part of me, helping me to grow on stage," Erykah said of Dwayne. "I don''t know which is sweeter, his tone or his soul."
While touring with Erykah, Dwayne has played in Africa, Italy, Japan, throughout Europe and Scandinavia; at venues including New York''s Apollo Theater, Central Park, Radio City Music Hall and the Superdome in New Orleans; at Prince''s birthday party at his Paisley Park complex; on the all-female artists Lilith Fair Tour; and on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, MTV''s Real World, The Oprah Show, Live! With Regis, Live! With Regis and Kelly, BET''s 106 & Park, The Essence Awards, Soul Train''s Lady of Soul Awards, The Orlando Jones Show and BET Live.
When not touring with Ms. Badu, Kerr is active in his venture as a solo artist. Among his career highlights, Dwayne performed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, the New Jersey Nets'' Black Tie Dinner and the Jazz & Broadway Concert at the United Nations; he has played at noted venues including the Apollo Theater-where he opened for Erykah, Sweetwater''s, Five Spot, B Smith''s, Village Gate, Philadelphia Civic Center and Long Island''s Carle Place Tower Records store--where the live-band performance of songs from "Flutation" was videoptaped; he has performed at halftime during several National Basketball Association games; he has played the National Anthem at many professional sporting events--including boxing champion Roy Jones Jr.''s title defense at Madison Square Garden--and he has concert videos airing on the BET cable network.
Kerr has a worldwide deal with the AKG Acoustics, endorsing their C420 headset microphone and WMS 80 wireless microphone system.
Dwayne has performed on shows with or opened shows for Erykah Badu, Regina Belle, Roy Hargrove, Ben E. King, Marion Meadows, Milira, Stephanie Mills, Melba Moore, Vanessa Rubin and other noted artists.