SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 / 7:30PM
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR COARTISTIC DIRECTORS
Welcome to the third annual Flow Fest, Brampton’s International Drumming Festival!
We are thrilled to present an evening filled with extraordinary performances and vibrant cultural expression, in collaboration with Brampton on Stage. Our festival continues to highlight the West African drumming traditions and their influence on contemporary music forms like jazz, cumbia, and calypso.
We invite you to experience the powerful and rhythmic stories that an incredible group of artists have come to tell tonight. This is a celebration of tradition and innovation, honouring both the wisdom and creativity of our elders and our youth. Everyone is welcome. Our commitment is to continue cultivating an atmosphere where you can be moved by the music, express yourself, and engage with both emerging artists and seasoned performers. Make yourself comfortable and enjoy this musical jubilee. Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to sharing even more with you next year!
Larnell Lewis & Joy Lapps
CAST, CREW & HIGHLIGHTS
IG: @rdotchung
@rdotchung for Instagram and Twitter
IG: @ashalapps
Facebook: @blackqueensofdurham
Website: larnelllewismusic.com/
IG: @larnelllewismusic
Youtube: Larnell Lewis Music
TikTok: LarnellLewisMusic
Facebook: Larnell Lewis Music
MC RYAN CHUNG
Ryan Chung, or R. Chung, is a broadcasting and digital media dynamo with over a decade of experience. Bursting onto the scene in 2009 after the Much Music VJ Search, he has consistently elevated his career to new heights. From MTV Canada to Corus Entertainment, Ryan has used his dynamic voice to captivate audiences on the big stage. He has hosted at top venues across the country, including Echo Beach, Harbourfront Centre, and City Hall, as well as at major events like the Pan-Am Games and JUNOFEST in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Ryan is a dedicated champion of emerging talent from the Greater Toronto Area and across Canada. He produced a seven-year Canadian music highlight show on G98.7FM, interviewing artists such as Savannah Ré and Jully Black. In his current role as a live studio and content producer, he hosts CBC Music’s National Morning Show, featuring a segment called SYNTH (Songs You Need to Hear). When Ryan isn’t shaking up the city, you can find him relaxing with his wife in Scarborough.
MC ASHA LAPPS
Lapps is an entrepreneur, public speaker, and vocalist. She is the founder of the Black Queens of Durham group, a community of over 12,000 Black women who work cooperatively to foster tangible opportunities for socioeconomic transformation and community building. Asha is also the creator of LoveLife Find Love, a dating course designed for high-achieving women in their 30s and 40s seeking guidance on their journey to healthy, fulfilling relationships. Through her diverse endeavors, Asha continues to empower individuals and communities, making a lasting impact on both personal and collective growth.
LARNELL LEWIS - CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF FLOW FEST
Larnell Lewis is a Grammy Award winning musician, composer, producer and educator based in Toronto. He is a distinguished drummer known for his immense talent, skill and musical creativity. He has recorded and toured internationally with world renowned artists including Quincy Jones, Laila Biali, Jacob Collier, Pat Metheny, Snarky Puppy and many more. He also leads his own project, The Larnell Lewis Band and released his debut album, In the Moment, in 2018. This project explores Larnell’s deep connection to jazz, fusion, and his Afro-Caribbean roots. In 2020, Larnell released Relive the Moment, a reimagination of his compositions from his debut with new live drum performances. Most recently, Larnell released Slice of Life (2024), a reflection of his past few years and the lifechanging experience of becoming a father. Larnell Lewis is endorsed by Yamaha Drums, Zildjian, Promark, Evans, D’Addario, Prologix, and Latin Percussion. He released his first signature drumsticks with Promark earlier this year.
Follow @LarnellLewisMusic on FB/IN/YT/TT&@Larnell_Lewis on TW
Website: www.joylapps.com/
IG: @joylappslappsmusic
Youtube: @JoyLappsMusic
TikTok: @joylappsmusic
Facebook: Joy Lapps Music
Email: info@kgrp.org
JOY LAPPS - CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF FLOW FEST
Internationally lauded artist and composer Joy Lapps activates spaces for community building and creative expression. The award-winning instrumentalist of Antiguan and Barbudan descent treats the steelpan as a tool for engagement, anchoring her artistry in a profound, community-centered musical tradition. She aims to amplify women’s contributions in every facet of her work, giving nuanced attention to women of the steelband movement.
Her repertoire combines Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Brazilian inspired rhythmic and harmonic patterns, while also leaving “plenty space” for spontaneity. Her fondness for hit song forms and reimagined instrumental choirs emerge frequently in her compositions.
As a band leader, Joy has appeared at music festivals and events across Canada and the US including the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Victoria, Edmonton, DC, and Halifax Jazz Festivals and Miami’s Ground Up Fest.
In Joy’s work as an arts educator and creative consultant, she works with educators to engage students and meet curriculum goals through alternate and inclusive pathways. She also helps arts educators and community organizations plan and execute new steelpan programs.
Joy also applies her strategic business acumen to corporate partners, businesses, and organizations by offering workshops that utilize the steelpan as a tool for professional development and enhanced team collaboration.
For information on Joy’s most recent release Girl in The Yard and her upcoming release The Caribbean Christmas Mixtape Vol. 1, follow Joy on social media at @JoyLappsMusic and visit her website www.joylapps.com.
ESIE MENSAH CREATIONS FEATURING ESIE MENSAH, YOHANCE PARSONS AND TAEJAH MARK
IG: @esiemensah
@esiemensahcreations
Website: www.esiemensah.com/
ESIE MENSAH
Esie Mensah is an award-winning choreographer, director, dancer, movement director, educator, and TEDx speaker. As a member of the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers, she choreographed the Million Dollar Finale of Canada’s Got Talent and is a four-time Dora Award-nominated artist. Mensah has collaborated with megastars such as Rihanna, Howie Mandel, Kenny Ortega, Janelle Monáe, Nelly Furtado, and Arcade Fire, as well as with historic brands like Holt Renfrew, Coca-Cola, TIFF, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Toronto Raptors. In theatre, she has worked as a choreographer and movement director on productions including Three Sisters, Ransacking Troy, Russian Play, Victory, and Farmers’ Revolt, and has directed Serving Elizabeth.
Her original creations include ZAYO, The Audition, (INNER) Beings, as well as the Dora-nominated production Shades, and the films A Revolution of Love and TESSEL. Last year, she and Robert Binet (Ballet) were commissioned by Canada’s National Ballet School to co-choreograph The Call for Assemblée Internationale. Additionally, she served as the choreographer for Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha: A Musical Reimagining, which recently received six Dora nominations.
YOHANCE PARSONS
Yohance D.A.D.A. Francis Parsons is an accomplished percussionist, musician, producer, and songwriter who has been performing professionally since the age of two. He began his career as a djembe player with Ngoma Ensemble and has since evolved into a dynamic artist with significant solo achievements as both a musician and a writer.
Throughout his career, Yohance has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, drummers, and dance companies across the globe. His music has taken him to the Caribbean, South America, Africa, the United States, and Europe, where he has shared his talents with international audiences. In addition to his performing career, Yohance continues to serve as a creative director with Ngoma Drum Ensemble and HiClass Union.
TAEJAH MARK
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Taejah Mark is a professional drummer with over 18 years of experience. By the age of four, he was already tapping out a consistent beat while his father played guitar. As he grew, he advanced quickly to one-on-one lessons with some of the world’s most accomplished drummers. Today, Mark leads master drum and dance classes and performances while continuing to hone his artistry.
FLOW FEST PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
The Flow Fest Percussion Ensemble is composed of professional drummers and percussionists from the GTA and Brampton. This multigenerational group of artists have come together specifically for our Flow Fest celebrations. This year’s ensemble includes percussionists Dhaivat Jani, Dyalis Machado, Vraj Patel, Jerusa Leão, Pato Irie Martinez, John Lee and Jaash Singh.
The piece performed on stage for the 2024 festival was composed by ensemble members Angelica Zavala and Dhaivat Jani.
Dhaivat Jani (@janidhaivat): Tabla
Angelica Zavala (@angelicazavalamusic): Cajon
Vraj Patel: (@vraj2306): Tabla
Jerusa Leão (@jermusicca): Zabumba
Pato Irie Martinez (@patoirie): Surdo + Repique + Timbal
Dyalis Machado (@dyalisnmachado): Congas & Timbales
John Lee (@john_taewookie): Janggu
Jaash Singh (@jaash.singh): Darbuka
IG:
Dhaivat Jani
Angelica Zavala
Flow Fest Percussion Ensemble
IG: @dada_hiclass
IG: @quammiegreybeard
RUDI QUAMMIE WILLIAMS
Rudi Quammie Williams is a percussionist, producer, and arts administrator with a passion for World, African, and African Diaspora music and dance. As an avid student of both traditional and modern percussion and dance, he credits his community and teachers for shaping his craft.
Quammie has taught thousands of students and performed with artists such as the Truths and Rights Band, Joe Sealy, Archie Alleyne, Judy Mowatt, and Dr. John. His producing credits range from spoken word artist Ahdri Zhina Mandiela to the Afrobeat artist Cheka Katenen Dioubate.
A pioneer in introducing the Djembe drum to Toronto, Quammie co-founded Usafiri, Sankofa Drum and Dance Ensembles, and Baro Dununba, all dedicated to African and African Diaspora percussion and dance culture.
Beyond the stage, Quammie is an influential arts administrator, business leader, and community advocate. A proud two-time graduate of York University, he holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Business Administration. In his consulting work, he combines his academic training with his creative and cultural expertise, specializing in EDI and anti-Black racism training. He uses an African-centered approach to cultivate healthy, inclusive organizations.
Quammie’s commitment to community and cultural empowerment extends into his personal life. He is a husband, father of five, and a mentor to youth and community members. He volunteers at Ujima Fathering Centres Initiative, supporting African Canadian men in their roles as fathers. His 50-year career, driven by a love for family and community, continues to make a lasting impact.
MAJOKO DUO
Website: joannamajoko.com
IG: @itsjoannamajoko
Youtube: Joanna Majoko
Spotify: Joanna Majoko
JOANNA MAJOKO
Toronto-based vocalist, composer, and bandleader Joanna Majoko is recognized as one of Canada’s most exciting young singers. She has regularly performed with top musicians, including Larnell Lewis of Snarky Puppy, Grammy-nominated artist/drummer Ulysses Owens Jr., multi-Juno award winner Jane Bunnett, and Canadian Hall of Fame inductee David Clayton-Thomas.
Majoko has graced stages at major festivals and venues worldwide, such as Birdland Jazz Club in New York City, Le Duc Des Lombards in Paris, and the Internationales Jazz Festival Bern in Switzerland. She has received numerous accolades, including Emerging Jazz Artist at the 2021 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards and Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2019 ByBlacks People’s Choice Awards. She has also been awarded grants from the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council, and FACTOR to support her work.
In 2021, she released her debut EP, No Holding Back. With her powerful voice and unique artistry, Majoko continues to make her mark on the global jazz scene.
JUAN CARLOS MEDRANO
Juan Carlos Medrano is a Grammy-nominated percussionist, multiinstrumentalist, producer, and educator based in Toronto, Canada. His musical journey began as a championship-winning Gaita player in Cartagena, Colombia.
After moving to Toronto in 2006, he was inspired by the city’s diverse music and culture, which shaped his unique style. Juan Carlos has collaborated with award-winning artists such as Jesse Cook, Hilario Duran, BADBADNOTGOOD, Charlotte Day Wilson, and Jessie Reyez. He is also the music director of Toronto’s Afro-Colombian ensemble “Soukustek,” known for energizing festival dance floors across Canada and the UK. Currently, he is touring with Grammy-winning group BADBADNOTGOOD on their Mid Spiral World Tour, promoting their latest album, where he played a key role.
A graduate of Humber College’s Bachelor of Music program and York University’s Bachelor of Education program, Juan Carlos combines his passion for music with teaching. When he is not touring, he leads hand drumming workshops for at-risk youth and serves as a supply teacher for the Peel District School Board. Juan Carlos Medrano’s dedication to both his craft and his community continues to inspire and uplift those around him, making a lasting impact on the music world and beyond.
IG: @joshuaxlucas
Youtube: @joshuaxlucas
TikTok: @joshuaxlucas
Facebook: @joshuaxlucas
IG:
@weediebraimahofficial
@LarnellLewisMusic
@MunirZakee
@roshanewright
JOSHUA LUCAS - THE FUTURE
Known as “the Future,” Joshua Lucas is a cultural preserver of authentic Jamaican music and heritage. A multi-award-winning artist, he has earned accolades as a JUNO Award-winning musician and songwriter. Beginning his career as a child, Lucas has captivated audiences across Toronto and around the world, sharing stages with some of the culture’s legends. His commitment to preserving and promoting Jamaican music continues to resonate with audiences, solidifying his role as a vital figure in the industry and in the culture.
WEEDIE BRAIMAH HANDS OF TIME
With their energetic and heartfelt performances, The Recipee Band offers a rich and memorable sound that is poised to leave a significant mark on the recording industry. Comprised of Jason Larmond, Juwayon Clarke, Johnathan Kerr, Dyheim Stewart, and Omar Lunan, the band masterfully blends elements of Motown, R&B, Gospel, Reggae, Pop, Rock, and Underground Neo-Soul.
Boasting over two decades of musical experience, The Recipee Band has earned high acclaim and has collaborated with international icons such as Justin Timberlake, Daniel Caesar, Brandy, Mya, and Usher Raymond. Their vibrant personalities, both on and off stage, combined with their infectious enthusiasm, have made them one of the most sought-after bands in the city. As they continue to captivate audiences with their dynamic performances, The Recipee Band is set to shape the future of contemporary music.
IG: @afroloops
IG: @the.recipee
Website: www.therecipeeband.ca
Email: therecipeeband@gmail.com
THE RECIPEE
With energetic and heartfelt performances that display layers of depth and an instantly memorable sound, The Recipee Band is set to make their mark on the recording industry. The band members consist of Jason Larmond, Juwayon (pr. Zhuu-way-on) Clark, Johnathan Kerr, Dyheim Stewart and Omar Lunan, who tastefully blend textures of Motown, R&B, Gospel, Reggae, Pop, Rock and Underground Neo-Soul.
The band has garnered over 2 decades of musicality, and continues to acquire high accolades and opportunities with international icons such as Justin Timberlake, Daniel Caesar, Brandy, Mya, and Usher Raymond. Their contagious personalities on and off stage, coupled with their desire to have fun in any room, make them one of the most high demand bands in the city.
Always the right mix. #FollowTheRecipee
SPECIAL THANKS
VENDORS
Event Planner
Raquel John-Matuzewiski of Raquel John Events @raqueljohnevents
Event Decor
Raquel John-Matuzewiski of Raquel John Events, Arlene Williams of ARL Decor, Jesse Ryan of Fwe Culture @raqueljohnevents @fweculturedesign arldecorations@gmail.com
Event Hospitality
Mercedez Thomas
Communications Consulting - Script and Copywriting
Subria Lapps of Transform Equity LinkedIn @SubriaLapps
Production Graphic Design/Video
Jesse Ryan of Fwe Culture Design @fweculturedesign
Video Director/Videographer
Dwayne Graham of The Art of Visual @thashowtime
Sound Engineer
Daniel Gregwah @gregwahengineering
Production Manager Sharon DiGenova
Makeup Artist Faces by Pureness @facesbypureness
Photo Booth
DLuxePhotobooth dluxephotobooths@gmail.com