Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble;
Meet the Artist Library Program

July 18, 2009, 2:30 pm

Queens Library
Forest Hills Branch Library
108-19 71 Avenue

Founded in 2006 by violinist Meg Okura, the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble is one of the leading voices in "world chamber jazz" with its multi-cultural and original sound. The players demonstrate dexterous playing on traditional instruments such as the ehru (two-stringed Chinese violin) and sinobue (Japanese bamboo flute), as well as the violin, flute, cello, sax, piano and percussion. Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble is dedicated to promoting diversity through their multi-cultural music by taking classical masterpieces and infusing playful elements of jazz, funk, rock and varieties of world music.

Meg Okura (Band Leader/Founder/Violinist): The New York Times has called her compositions and performance "vibrant" and "sophisticated." While directing the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, she continues to perform with the most notable names in music, appearing with Michael Brecker, David Bowie, Philip Glass, Ziggy Marley, Lenny Kravitz, Kanye West, Bebel Gilberto, Herbie Hancock, and Diana Krall. She has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Madison Square Garden, and on television. Ms. Okura writes music for Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, as well as for films, documentaries and modern dance productions, and recently returned form a tour in Japan with Cirque du Soleil. Ms. Okura earned her B.M. and M.M. from The Juilliard School as a classical violinist.

Free and open to the public

Meet the Artist Library Series, part of Lincoln Center's 50th Anniversary
We are pleased to bring world-class performing artists to your local library as part of Lincoln Center's 50th Anniversary celebrations. Special thanks to Brooklyn Public Library; The New York Public Library, Bronx and Staten Island Divisions; and Queens Library.

Meet the Artist Series
Lincoln Center's Meet the Artist programs, including both the School Series and specially tailored custom programs, take place at Lincoln Center or at host site locations and introduce students and audiences of all ages to the arts through intimate, live performances paired with a unique opportunity to interact with performers.

Major support for Meet the Artist is provided by Betsy and John Levin and International Flavors & Fragrances. Endowment support is provided by Disney.

Special support for the Meet the Arts Library Series, part of Lincoln Center's 50th Anniversary, is provided by internationals Flavors & Fragrances, the Charles H, Revson Foundation, and Carnegie Corporation of New York.