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 became the principal harpist at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with the Southeast Symphony Orchestra in 2007.

Her journey led to further ventures into the world of entertainment as a fixture with the all-girl, internationally-known jazz ensemble, Jazz in Pink. She plays along with the bands core members, Gail Jhonson, Alethea Rene’, and Karen Briggs. Together, they create fusions of traditional classic tunes and modern complications. This fiercely unapologetic group of musicians deliver a cocktail of genres from jazz with touches of symphonic rock, soul, and hiphop 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.

She spread her creative wings and launched into original works of art, combined with innovative covers that show her prowess as a genre-bending musician. For Mariea, the biggest thrill and surprise of her career occurred when she recorded her first album with producer Carl Evans, Jr., Musical Director of Fattburger, the national jazz fusion band. “It was an exciting game-changer to have the skill set to come into the studio and put down my harp arrangements and improvise, after watching Hollis Gentry and many A-list musicians record,” she said. Other accomplishments have placed her squarely on the national stage with historic figures and legendary artists. “Another milestone for me was hearing my music for the first time on the radio, then being asked to play on the live radio broadcast, On-Air Radio, for an hour with it reaching across the country.” Her hard work paid off. Her discography of three CD’s is with her publishing company at BMI. The titles are “Sexy Paradise”, “Straight from the Harp” and her latest, “All My Strings” that features her releases “That Thing”, a coveroftheLaurynHillhitand“LovingYou”,aMinnie Ripperton classic, accompanied by the Fattburger band.

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 or a walking path, followed by a smoothie of fruits, super greens, and chia seeds, while seated in a remote area on a nearby rock or outlook, while most of the world is emerging from bed for work.

She is socially astute and an avid reader. Mariea balanced life fuels and sustains her outlook on life, music, and creativity. Mariea has benefitted from sage advice from veteran entertainers to “be prepared to work hard, practice excellence, and have the highest integrity and moral standard in all that you do.” (con’t on page 63)

DESTINY D MUHAMMAD