FILM INSPIRED BY CHILDREN OF KENYA EMBODIES THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
"The rare Christmas record that transcends background music, nostalgia or pure business, this first Christmas album by the jazz pianist Geri Allen is serious and thoughtful."
- Ben Ratliff, New York Times
Motéma Music is proud to announce its collaboration with Media Voices for Children
on a short film titled A Gift. Produced by Media Voices, the project is a new cultural music video set to music from jazz pianist Geri Allen's new Christmas album, A Child Is Born (released on Motéma, October 11). Now available for viewing on YouTube, the filmmakers and Allen present the film as a gift to the public during this holiday season. In return, the public is encouraged to make donations toMedia Voices and/or Media Voice's project, Kenyan SchoolHouse (both non-profit initiatives). Donors who donate $100 or more will receive a gift of Allen's album.
Produced by filmmakers Len and Georgia Morris, the film was inspired by the children they encountered while visiting Kenya this past September. As they traveled the length and breadth of Kenya, crisscrossing the country for three weeks, the Morris' handed out 650 lollipops to the children they met along the way.
"Having made documentaries about children's human rights for over a decade, I could see the futures of these impoverished kids. We wanted to touch and change each of their lives, to bring them the food they lack, the educations they'll never have, health, happiness and the security of childhood. Instead, we had to settle for 'How are you?' a smile and a lollipop with a whistle," says Len.
These moments, along with Allen's music, form the heart of the short video. The film and music 'honor' the beautiful spirits of these children of Kenya, the valuable work of Media Voices for Children and the sacred nature of Allen's music.
"A moment of giving and joy is a precious thing. it is never trivial. The film demonstrates this in a profound way," states Motéma Music Founder and President Jana Herzen.
"I am moved and grateful to have my music used in this beautiful film with these beautiful children," reflected Allen after viewing the film for the first time.
With her critically acclaimed solo piano project, A Child Is Born, Allen offers her own interpretation of Christmas and the holiday spirit, a collection of traditional and original Christmas music that is profound and exuberant, solemn and joyous, spiritual and intimate. The project is her third release for Motéma Music and honors equally meaningful, but perhaps even more deeply entrenched influences: family and spirituality. Allen refers to the album as "a joyous Christmas celebration and remembrance of a childhood where love was always unconditional."
Len concludes, "How natural, then, to put the Lollipop Project, as we call it, to Christmas music and how fortunate we are to have the artistry of pianist Geri Allen to bring it all together."
Donate to Media Voices and/or Kenyan SchoolHouse (a Media Voices initiative)
For more information on Media Voices for Children, visit: mediavoicesforchildren.org
For more infromation on Kenyan SchoolHouse, visit: kenyanschoolhouse.org
Produced by filmmakers Len and Georgia Morris, the film was inspired by the children they encountered while visiting Kenya this past September. As they traveled the length and breadth of Kenya, crisscrossing the country for three weeks, the Morris' handed out 650 lollipops to the children they met along the way.
"Having made documentaries about children's human rights for over a decade, I could see the futures of these impoverished kids. We wanted to touch and change each of their lives, to bring them the food they lack, the educations they'll never have, health, happiness and the security of childhood. Instead, we had to settle for 'How are you?' a smile and a lollipop with a whistle," says Len.
These moments, along with Allen's music, form the heart of the short video. The film and music 'honor' the beautiful spirits of these children of Kenya, the valuable work of Media Voices for Children and the sacred nature of Allen's music.
"A moment of giving and joy is a precious thing. it is never trivial. The film demonstrates this in a profound way," states Motéma Music Founder and President Jana Herzen.
"I am moved and grateful to have my music used in this beautiful film with these beautiful children," reflected Allen after viewing the film for the first time.
With her critically acclaimed solo piano project, A Child Is Born, Allen offers her own interpretation of Christmas and the holiday spirit, a collection of traditional and original Christmas music that is profound and exuberant, solemn and joyous, spiritual and intimate. The project is her third release for Motéma Music and honors equally meaningful, but perhaps even more deeply entrenched influences: family and spirituality. Allen refers to the album as "a joyous Christmas celebration and remembrance of a childhood where love was always unconditional."
Len concludes, "How natural, then, to put the Lollipop Project, as we call it, to Christmas music and how fortunate we are to have the artistry of pianist Geri Allen to bring it all together."
Donate to Media Voices and/or Kenyan SchoolHouse (a Media Voices initiative)
Donors who contribute $100 or more
will receive a gift of A Child is Born
For more information on Media Voices for Children, visit: mediavoicesforchildren.org
For more infromation on Kenyan SchoolHouse, visit: kenyanschoolhouse.org
***
A Child Is Born's Recognition:
"This well-considered program brilliantly stitches together familiar traditional Christmas and gospel songs...a quietly masterful display of artistic conception."
- Kirk Silsbee, Los Angeles Times
"Allen has earned her reputation as an innovative pianist, and she deepens it with this genre-bending album." - Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune
"Occasionally a jazz CD covers Christmas tunes with intelligence, eschewing the pabulum of the season. Pianist Geri Allen presents such a disc."
- Karl Stark, Philadelphia Inquirer
Geri Allen · A Child Is Born
Motéma Music · Release Date: October 11, 2011
For more information, please contact:
DL Media · 610-667-0501
Jordy Freed · jordy@dlmediamusic.com
