VocalEssence – Philip Brunelle, artistic director

Ta-coumba Aiken has applied his artistry to many public projects, including large murals in schools, on grain elevators and along highway fences. His lively work adorns the VocalEssence WITNESS publications and his drawings, paintings and glass work are in many private collections, restaurants and recording studios. The Minneapolis Central Library commissioned Ta-coumba to create handmade tiles for the fourth floor fireplace. He also has an installation at the Chicago and Lake Metro Transit Station. Mr. Aiken has created set designs for numerous theaters in Minnesota and California. His community art activism includes serving on arts boards for the Minneapolis Arts Commission, Intermedia Arts and as an advisor to the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Workshop Description
Duke Ellington was a genius at collaboration and composed music to show off the individual and corporate talents of his band. In this workshop students will use oil pastel, paper, paint, canvas and cardboard to explore the concept of artistic collaboration while listening to the music of Duke Ellington and learning about the Harlem Renaissance. Teachers may choose to have students make art based on Ta-coumba's style of rhythm patterns and spirit writing, or create a mini-mural

To Prepare Your Students

• Read The Piano Prince by Andrea Davis Pinkney paying careful attention to the last six pages about Ellington's partnership with Strayhorn and composing with colors

• Listen to Take the ‘A' Train on track 3 of the Companion CD

• Listen to 99% on track 5 of the Companion CD