Mariea Antoinette by Terri Fowler In one instance, an attraction was formed and the harp became the means for self-expression and amazement. That bond occurred many years ago for the classically trained, jazz, funk harpist, Mariea Antoinette. Mariea is a masterful muse with a holistic approach to music and life, in general, and she gravitates to all things organic. This trend is reflected in her musical evolution from the classics to remakes of blues, pop, and R&B hits. She credits one of her teachers, Elena Maskovtseva, with her ease with complex instrumental interpretation and skill. But she recalls her attraction to the harp was accelerating from that first encounter “it made the hairs on my arms stand up,” she added. Her craft was sharpened by years of undergraduate work at universities in San Diego, her hometown, and nearby Arizona that offered master’s classes in harp performance. These classroom experiences translated into real-time application of this artform when she Other accomplishments have placed her squarely on became the principal harpist at the Walt Disney the national stage with historic figures and legendary Concert Hall in Los Angeles with the Southeast artists. “Another milestone for me was hearing my Symphony Orchestra in 2007. music for the first time on the radio, then being asked Her journey led to further ventures into the world to play on the live radio broadcast, On-Air Radio, for of entertainment as a fixture with the all-girl, an hour with it reaching across the country.” Her hard internationally-known jazz ensemble, Jazz in Pink. work paid off. Her discography of three CD’s is with She plays along with the bands core members, Gail her publishing company at BMI. The titles are “Sexy Jhonson, Alethea Rene’, and Karen Briggs. Together, Paradise”, “Straight from the Harp” and her latest, “All they create fusions of traditional classic tunes and My Strings” that features her releases “That Thing”, a modern complications. This fiercely unapologetic cover of the Lauryn Hill hit and “Loving You”, a Minnie group of musicians deliver a cocktail of genres from Ripperton classic, accompanied by the Fattburger jazz with touches of symphonic rock, soul, and hip- band. hop undertones during their performances. Those liberating experiences ignited a spark in this musical chameleon. As a solo artist and at the urging of her fellow band members, Mariea tests the limits of the harp beyond its traditional realm.
Mariea draws inspiration for compositions from various sources in nature and insists that her attention to good health, nutrition, and spiritual awareness are central to her musical success. An average day for this early-riser might include a morning jog on the beach She spread her creative wings and launched into or a walking path, followed by a smoothie of fruits, original works of art, combined with innovative covers super greens, and chia seeds, while seated in a remote that show her prowess as a genre-bending musician. area on a nearby rock or outlook, while most of the For Mariea, the biggest thrill and surprise of her world is emerging from bed for work. career occurred when she recorded her first album She is socially astute and an avid reader. Mariea with producer Carl Evans, Jr., Musical Director of balanced life fuels and sustains her outlook on life, Fattburger, the national jazz fusion band. “It was an music, and creativity. Mariea has benefitted from sage exciting game-changer to have the skill set to come advice from veteran entertainers to “be prepared to into the studio and put down my harp arrangements work hard, practice excellence, and have the highest and improvise, after watching Hollis Gentry and many integrity and moral standard in all that you do.” A-list musicians record,” she said. (con’t on page 63)
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