Mike Block (cello, vocals), Christylez Bacon (beatbox, guitar, rhymes), and special guest Edward Pérez (bass, replacing Patricia Ligia) form a dynamic trio, blending original music with global influences to form a fresh and accessible sound. Each member of the collective brings influences and repertoire from their diverse backgrounds, such as hip-hop, classical, bluegrass, funk, and pop styles, synthesizing them through original compositions and songs that highlights their improvisational spontaneity and high energy stage presentation.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Christylez Bacon was born and grew up in Washington, DC and attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. He has been featured on Morning Edition, National Public Radio, performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and founded the Washington Sound Museum, a regular concert series at the Atlas Performing Arts center in Washington’s H Street NE. The Washington Post notes that he is a beatboxer and progressive hip hop artist. He also played with the National Symphony Orchestra. Bacon classifies his largely diverse music as progressive hip hop.
Mike Block is a Grammy Award-winning cello player, singer and composer passionate about cross-cultural collaboration through music, and committed to inspiring individuals and connecting communities. Acclaimed by the New York Times for his “vital rich-hued solo playing, and by Salt Lake City Desert News as a true artist… a sight to behold, Mike Block is one of the bravest, most intriguing musicians on the American fusion scene. (Gramophone). Mike Blocks shows offer a rich mixture of classical repertoire, folk music, original compositions and songs that draw inspiration from his diverse collaborations.
Edward Perez resides in the cultural crossroads of Queens, New York, where he leads parallel careers as a composer, arranger, and bassist. Although he began his career as a jazz bassist, he quickly branched out to Latin-Jazz and traditional styles from Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and other parts of South America. His works have been performed by the likes of The Silkroad Ensemble, Yo-Yo Ma, Alan Gilbert, Galician gaita powerhouse Cristina Pato, Latin-jazz legend Ignacio Berroa, Latin-grammy nominated Peruvian singer Jorge Pardo, and oud phenom Kenan Adnawi. His numerous recording credits on bass include the Grammy-nominated Latin jazz album “Second Chance” by Hector Martignon. Currently, Perez co-leads the Terraza Big Band, an 18-piece jazz group, alongside Michael Thomas.
