Sonjia Hubert Harper aka Maia by Dr. Gail Jhonson (con’t)

In retrospect, was it a distinct experience in sharing musical ideas with a woman?

It is always different when sharing with a woman as opposed to sharing with a man. As the old adage said, “Men are from Mars. Women are from Venus!” I have found this to be true and adjust, accordingly. So different, yes. I come from a family with four sisters and one brother. I navigate well with women. Gail is easy-going, very professional, focused, fun and very giving in the way that she shares her stage.

Have you ever collaborated with women in critical positions in your business?

I was co-founder of the first all-woman instrumental/vocal ensemble of the AACM (the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) in Chicago, Samana. My other co-founders are internationally renowned flutist, Nicole Mitchell and renowned sitarist/bassist/storyteller, Shanta Nurullah who have both branched out with other groupings (as have I). We performed and toured together for eight years in the 90s, adding to the group of the three of us up to each other, female instrumentalist, singers, and dancers to various presentations. There are certain aspects with communicating with audiences through feminine energy that affects people very differently than when I perform with all male energy of my genre, which is jazz. Women’s musical dialogue is just as different from men as our needs and desires. It is not about less amor for me. It is about the differences in texture and intention on stage, and in our lives. Sisterhood is top-tier priority in my life.

Are you an entrepreneur? Yes

Would you recommend women to collaborate more or less?

I recommend that women collaborate more. It has become a necessity in this time because our voices are attacked in government, constantly. There is power in numbers.

Did the collaboration initiate or enhance a sisterhood?

My sisterhood bond with Gail was already set. She and my daughter were good friends when I met her, and her daughter and my granddaughter are best friends. We clicked upon meeting, in the early 2000s, before we collaborated, musically.

How important is it for women to collaborate?

When women gather, the sound of laughter, the oooo’s and the aaaah’s of it, the rhythmical pattern of our movement and the harmony between our hearts and voices are important to experience as women. If you do not know, you need to know. I truly believe this. I know it from my experience as the band leader of Samana. There is nothing like it. The challenges and the triumph of sharing blood, sweat, and tears are unmatched.

Contact, sharper7778@gmail.com and across various digital and social media platforms.

-Dr. Gail Jhonson, Contributor - Musicwoman Magazine