Somi Petite Afrique Brings Supple Jazz Stylings to Harlem

Singer Somi will perform a special, one-night-only concert at Aaron Davis Hall on Friday, October 20, as part of a national performance and dialogue series on immigration in the African Diaspora.

The evening will include a panel discussion immediately following the 7:30 p.m. concert by Somi, a prodigiously talented East African songstress whose�vocals and music soar and soothe, hails from Rwanda/Uganda, but has made a home in Harlem over the past decade. She weaves her cultural�intimacy into every bar and lyric. Listen to Somi's music at www.somimusic.com

Celebrated for her unique sound merging jazz and African musical stylings, Somi has been called a modern-day Miriam Makeba and has performed and recorded alongside artists including Mos Def, Paul Simon, John Legend, Baaba Maal, Danilo P�rez and Jennifer Hudson.

For this event, Somi is joined with her band, Liberty Ellman, guitar, Toru Dodo, piano, Keith Witty, bass and Otis Brown III on drums will perform her latest album�Petite Afrique,�a song cycle that�ponders the dignity, beauty and fate of Harlem's�longstanding community of African immigrants,�in�a powerful�new forum that anchors a multi-city American tour. �

Motivated by Somi's belief that art inspires dialogue and dialogue creates cohesion, directly following the musical concert there will be a panel discussion focused on immigration within the African Diaspora. This timely panel will see Somi, immigration experts and community leaders discuss issues that are especially pertinent to immigrants of all ages and backgrounds in the new American political climate.

City College Center for the Arts was reimagined as a stand�alone arts organization with a mandate to create a focal point�responsible for the continued presentation and dialogue with�local and national artists. Included in this mission is to�continue making the arts and learning pertinent to the�surrounding Harlem community. Pricing reflects this�commitment to mission, as tickets are general admission at�$25, with Harlem-based residents ticketed at $10.�

Somi will perform on October 20 at Aaron Davis Hall, located on the campus of the City College of New York, at West 135th Street and Convent Avenue (129 Convent Avenue).

For tickets or information, call 212-650-6900 or visit www.citycollegecenterforthearts.org