This page contains a brief overview on the album AMIKAEYLA: Mosaic. Learn more about the artist and explore the track lists and website. If you find any information that needs to be corrected, please let us know.

 
Amikaeyla has been acclaimed as one of the "purest contemporary voices in the jazz, world and folk industry since Eva Cassidy" by National Public Radio. Lisa Austin from MTVOnline reported that "Amikaeyla's voice is like listening to velvet waterfalls...", and Mike Joyce of the Washington Post states that "Hovering over the earthy groove is best of all, singer Amikaeyla Gaston's sinuous voice, sultry, and spirited by turns."

Taking the national and international scene by storm, the Washington, D.C.-based artist comes from a musical family and has been training since the age of 4. Studying classical piano for over 25 years as well as flute, viola, djembe, and congas, her first and most proficient instrument is voice. Singing professionally since 1990, she captivates audiences with vivacious rhythms and sultry ballads. She is best known for her strong interest in sacred chants from around the world, and just returned from India following an invitation by the Dalai Lama to perform for the commemoration of the Golden Buddha at the first festival of Sacred Changing and Singing.

Trained by vocal professionals from Wesleyan University, Levine School of music, & Duke Ellington School of performing arts, Amikaeyla's musical techniques include classical choral opera, acapella madrigals, jazz, blues, rock, funk, and international styles from West Africa, Cuba, Brazil & South India. As the lead singer for the award-winning neo-soul world beat band known as Bottomland, she has received numerous awards and nominations for her vocal abilities from organizations such as the Washington Area Music Association and the Mid-Atlantic Songwriters association in categories such as Jazz Contemporary Female Vocalist (99); Urban Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year (98, 01); New Age Artist of the Year (98); & World Music Female Vocalist (97, 98, 99, 00, 01). Her newest release "Mosaic" received the highest number of WAMMY wins for 2004 (5)- Best World Music Recording, Best Jazz Recording, Best Debut Recording, Best Jazz Vocalist, & Best Urban Contemporary Vocalist in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area.

She has performed with the Lisner symphony; Sweet Honey in the Rock; Mickey Hart from the Grateful Dead; Giovanni Hidalgo and Baba Olatunji at the; Dahjay West African Pop Band; Kiva - Celtic Madrigalia Sextet; Caravan - South Indian Music Ensemble; Bottomland - Jazz and World Beat Ensemble; Big Village Rock Band; Mama Muti drum and vocal duet; Jawbone Acoustic Folk and drum trio; and has been pulled onto the stage spontaneously by Jonatha Brook, and Salif Kieta. Other performances include off-broadway productions of Jesus Christ Superstar as Mary Magdalene, and Lady Sings the Blues as Billie Holiday.

Several east coast venues she has performed at are The Kennedy Center, Blues Alley, Lincoln Theater, the Birchmere, HR-57, the Lisner Theater, Zanzibar, Strathmore Hall, Paramount Theatre in New York, as well as festivals such as Taste of DC, Takoma Park Folk Festival, Artscape Festival, Essence Jazz Fest, the March on the Mall for the National Organization for Women, and the Ford Foundation's Walk for the Homeless. She has been on numerous artists CD's and her music has received repeated airplay on NPR, WPFW, WJZE, WHUR, WCPR, WRNR, and is featured weekly on the theme song for the Caroline Casey Show on KPFA.

Amikaeyla also has been featured in and creates music for movie soundtracks, theater productions, and does voiceover work for commercials as well as for children's educational radio programs produced by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She performs for children all throughout the DC/Metropolitan area, teaches drum, piano, and vocals to children and adults, and is the founder of IHASI, the International Healing Arts & Sciences Institute - a non-profit community organization for holistic healing & self-empowered through the arts, spirituality, education, and outreach.

Check out the artist's website:
http://www.amikaeyla.com

Track List:
1. Summer Evening
2. Angels
3. Freeflowin'
4. We Have Returned
5. Funny
6. Been So Long
7. Womantree
8. I Wood
9. Portrait of J
10. Love Junqui
11. Exile
12. Eclipse
13. Transformation/ Family

Suggested CDs:

• Mae Robertson
• Jeni Fleming Acoustic Trio

Other Genres:

• JAZZ: World Fusion
• JAZZ: Free Jazz
• TYPE: VOCAL