Imani Winds

Imani Winds
Origin New York, U.S.
Genres Classical, Chamber music, Jazz, Latin
Years active 1997 present
Labels Koch Int'l Classics/Koch Entertainment
Website www.ImaniWinds.com
Members Valerie Coleman, flute
Toyin Spellman-Diaz, oboe
Mark Dover, clarinet
Jeff Scott, French horn
Monica Ellis, bassoon
Past members Mariam Adam, clarinet

Imani Winds is an American wind quintet based in New York. The group was founded in 1997 and is known for its adventurous programming, which includes newly composed works, as well as compositions featuring African, Latin American, and American influences.

Overview

They have presented premieres by composers including Paquito D'Rivera, Mohammed Fairouz, Wayne Shorter, Richard Wernick, Fred Ho, Kenji Bunch, and Bruce Adolphe.

The group has released four CDs. Their first CD on a major label, The Classical Underground (Koch Entertainment), was released in January 2005 and was nominated for a Grammy award in 2006.

Imani Winds have toured throughout the United States and Canada, and participated in Chamber Music Society Two, a professional residency program of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. In addition, Imani has toured internationally and recorded with saxophonist Steve Coleman, performed with pop recording artists Morley and opened for Cassandra Wilson and Wynton Marsalis. They have appeared on radio programs including Saint Paul Sunday, Performance Today, News & Notes, The Bob Edwards Show, and The World.

The group's members are of African American and Latin American ancestry, and the name Imani means "faith" in the Swahili language.

In 2001 they won a scholarship with the Concert Artists Guild.

Awards history

Grammy

Imani Winds Grammy Awards History
Year Category Genre Title Label Result
2006 Best Classical Crossover Album Classical The Classical Underground Koch Int'l Classics Nominated

Honors

Valerie Coleman composed a piece for the symphonic winds of Roma High School called "Roma" dedicated to the students of Roma High School, Texas. She composed it in the summer of 2009 and the recording was available to the Audience in spring of 2010.

Discography

Year Title Genre Label Notes
2007 Josephine Baker: A Life of Le Jazz Hot! Cabaret tunes Koch Int'l Classics
2006 Imani Winds Jazz Koch Int'l Classics
2005 The Classical Underground Classical Koch Int'l Classics
2002 Umoja Classical Self-Produced featured original works by flutist Valerie Coleman

With Steve Coleman

Footnotes

External links

Listening

Video

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