Maya Cunningham is a jazz vocalist in the lineage of Billie Holiday, Abbey Lincoln, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Etta Jones, Gloria Lynne and Lorez Alexandria. She is a master storyteller through song, a virtuoso improvisor and stretches through a shimmering five octave range. Her approach draws on the emotional delivery of the Holiday lineage and the improvisational spontaneity of Vaughan. Cunningham holds a B.Mus. in jazz studies (voice) from Howard University, and a MA in jazz performance from Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. She performed Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the African American national anthem for Winnie Mandela during her 2003 visit to Columbia University in New York City. Cunningham sings with impassioned vocals and heart wrenching interpretations of song lyrics. Called a “talented young singer” by Village Voice jazz critic Gary Giddins, her vocals combine the elements of fiery soul, blues and be-bop jazz phrasing. Read more...
The Grandmother Project is a revolutionary presentation of jazz, gospel, fusion and soul that gives honor to the African – American female vocalists who were the architects in building African – American music |
Maya Cunningham's All Africa Band draws from songs about and from the Continent, that are inspired by African history, and many songs collected by Cunningham through her ethnomusicological field work in Africa. |
Ethnomusicology In Action uses music, video, radio broadcasts and more to share stories about the people of Africa, African America and the Diaspora. |