Starting at 6pm on March 22nd at Matthattan's CODA, and again on March 23rd at Brooklyn's Southpaw, the "New York Collective of One World Beat Artists" will be performing in a spectacular line-up featuring six artists or bands per evening, all to benefit OWB's "Give A Child A Chance" education campaign. Organized by OWB USA Coordinator, Lisa G. Humphrey--herself one of the performers--this incredible group of caring creatives features F.L. Jones and the F.B.B., Mic Jones, Ayanda Hutchinson Band, Eve Torturo Band, Kaissa, Durand's Funky Blues, and Phife at CODA, and the Wonderland Orchestra, Nicole "Byrd" Johnson, Rashani, Lisa Humphrey, Bulan, and Ali Shaheed Muhammed at Southpaw.

F.L. Jones (www.fljones.com) is a multi-talented artist, producer, and songwriter, who began performing at the age of five in a local barbershop, went on to sing back-up for Celine Dion at a private party attended by world leaders, has a bachelor's degree in music, and been in the Australian production of the musical, "RENT", as well as travelling the globe on its world tour. He has also formed the Funky Basement Band (the F.B.B.)--a five-member group which includes guitar, bass, drums, keys, and vocals, who perform around New York at such legendary clubs as The Bitter End--and recently scored his first film, "200 American", as well as being hard at work on his debut CD. His music is upbeat, poignant, funky, with shades of hip-hop, a strong focus on melody, and influences ranging from Stevie Wonder and Prince to Sly and the Family Stone. He also has his own production company, Lotus Musiq, a collective which creates innovative and exciting work to meet artistic needs.

Ayanda Hutchinson is one of the most exciting artists to hit the recent music scene. Born and raised in Brooklyn, she has been greatly influenced by singers like Sarah Vaughan, Chaka Khan, Carmen MacRae, and Aretha Franklin, and she has been compared to Erykah Badu and Angela Bofil. Her thoughtfully penned lyrics have earned her rave reviews from the likes of Billboard Magazine, and her original blend of jazz, R&B, funk, soul, hip-hop--"with a twist of attitude"--and rich alto voice "can make you hot like fire or melt you like chocolate". Ayanda has performed with Liza Minnelli, appeared at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, and Lincoln Center, and works with a broad range of musicians and producers (Fully Fresh Records, CZAR Entertainment, Wes Anderson). She has written and self-produced her own recording, "That's How It Goes", which confirms her reputation as an up-and-coming musical diva.

Kaissa, a Cameroonian artist of international stature, makes music which speaks against war and injustice, with electrifying performances that are a testament to the power of music to transcend cultural differences. Kaissa has played in live appearances and on recordings with Papa Wemba, Salif Keita, Cesaria Evora, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Manu Debango, and her own unique World Music style--described as "hip-hop soul with a Zap Mama twist"--is an exciting blend of R&B, jazz, makossa, African, and Brazilian fusion. She has recently released her debut album, "Looking There", and has appeared on the Putumayo compilations "Global Soul", "World Reggae", and "Women of Africa". Her appearance at the XVI Africa Festival in Germany in May 2004 was billed as "A Star is Rising: Regarded as One of the Future Great Voices of Africa", and in March 2005, she will also be performing at the Mosaic Music Festival in Singapore, a 10-day gathering of acclaimed artists of the jazz and World Music scenes (www.esplanade.com).

Wonderland Afrobeat Orchestra is a dance-making machine, armed with heavy sounds of congas, tight rhythms sections, orchestrated melodic horn sections, and diverse vocal styles. This twelve-piece orchestra is mainly about entertaining, with its fusing of Yoruba music, jazz, funk, reggae, hip-hop, and Big Band, creating an explosion on stage that makes the dance floor shake, in the style of Fela Kuti. Band members are of diverse origins and cultures, tracing their roots to Europe, Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. They have also performed live on radio and played in several festivals in the USA, spreading their inferno of sounds along with their political convictions, which center around "freedom", whether from want, hate, ignorance, and oppression, or for peaceful, inspirational expression. Their debut CD, "Afrobeat Factory", is being played on airwaves in Nigeria, UK, Brazil, Japan, Senegal, France, and the USA, including New York's WBAI 99.5 FM and a host of college radio stations across the country.

Lisa G. Humphrey, a.k.a. Moody, is a dynamic OWB USA Events Coordinator, the main organizer of the "New York Collective of OWB Artists" and co-host for both evening events. She has a BA in theater from Fordham University, and has honed her singing, writing, and producing skills while working in the corporate world by day. Lisa's musical influences range from show tunes to R&B, and from rock to reggae, and her material includes both original or covers. She has a particular love for musical theater, and her early talent in this regard landed her the role of Ethel Waters in a play about the entertainer's life, called "Ethel". It was the experience of singing 17 solos for two weeks that turned her interests to writing songs. More recently, Lisa's gears have shifted from theater to cabaret, her smooth grooves gracing the stages of many Open Mic Clubs in the NYC Metro Area. She is presently re-inventing herself through her one-woman show "Love In Chaos: A Collection of Original Poems and Songs".

Mic Jones, aka The Choir Boy, is an urban rapper--working as a hospital orderly--who has been profiled by WB News (in a program entitled "Hip Hop Healing"), been interviewed and lauded for his socially-conscious work with youth, and is a classically-trained musician who is a veteran performer with a number of youth orchestras. The son of two ministers, with two brothers in the Army--one just returned from Iraq--this 22-year-old is determined to spread a message of peace, respect, love, and healing. Mic himself has had to overcome a speech impediment, a struggle he draws on to help others. The violence and tragedy he sees daily at work fuels his passion and determination to reach people--especially youth--with music which educates, encourages, and is inspiring. Marvin Gaye, with his powerful, haunting anthem--"What's Goin' On"--are among Mic's greatest influences. Mic has a CD in the works, and check out his cautionary plea for HIV/AIDS prevention and protection (http://www.passportapproved.com/stream/AIDS.mp3). A classic and classy example of music making a difference for us all.

See the Coda details...

See the South Paw details...