MaestraShari

Innovative world beat music with a jazz base, MaestraShari's music is danceable while it evokes scenes of our gorgeous Mother Earth. Instrumentation includes all world musical families; cordophones, aerophones, membranophones, idiophones. Features world percussion representing all corners of the globe: Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian, Middle-Eastern, Tibetan, Indian... Violins, upright & electric bass, flutes, jazz & folky guitars. Electronic touches. Song forms are hooky, improvisational, rhythmically captivating, lyrically intriguing. Lyrics reference Mother Earth's challenges and encourage respect for the planet and her people.
MaestraShari is a composer/producer/engineer with 35+ years in the biz. Plays a bunch of the above instruments and writes the tunes. Her productions evoke the intertwined melodies and rhythms of Baroque era composers---whether she's using a mixed world percussion orchestra, all synths, or a guitar/bass/drums approach. Brings in a cadre of talented friends and musician colleagues to add touches of instruments she doesn't personally play. Sings a rich alto but often brings in other voices to add to her songcrafting palette.

Her 80s electrolushsynthpop duo, Perfect Jewish Couple, has cult status among fans around the globe. (see perfectjewishcouple.com. 1985 7" EP sells for upwards of $75/copy on eBay!)

Has studied in Cuba with Los Mun~equitos de Matanzas; with West African drum masters like Baba Olatunji, Mamady Keita and Yaya Diallo, with Brazilian Samba Masters like Nego Gato, and Western European Orchestral Conductors like Sigmund Efron. Studied Music Theory & Composition at CCM. Knows both current digital studio gear (works in Digital Performeron an iMac 27" with supplemental monitor) and the analog stuff; mixed live sound in large Cincinnati clubs like Bogart's and knows how to keep mics from squealing, how to splice analog tape, and can run signal path cables like nobody's business. Spends countless hours tweaking production and sculpting the final product for her recorded works.

Also a composer of choral music, MaestraShari has received grants for composition & performance for two major works, "Sharing Waters: A Videosong of our Ohio River" for solo violin, piano, Native American dancer, and African-American poet & spiritual singer set to projected video scenes of the beautiful (and industrial) Ohio; and "The Chakra Cycle", an 8-movement work for SATB Choir, bass, djembes, crystal glassware, vibes, and pipe organ. (Curious why it has 8 movements? Ask...!)

Each MaestraShari composition features a roster of talented musicians helping her realize her music, touched by her expert production techniques.
Each MaestraShari gig features a select group of talented performers to present a captivating performance customized to the needs of the venue, whether a huge outdoor festival or an indie bar.

Pretty much anything goes, always with a strong rhythm (if you can't dance, what's the point?), top-shelf performers, strong melodies & hooks, and thought-provoking lyrics.
Commissions accepted...hell, welcomed!!!