World Voices Shared at LTV

LTV Studios has launched a bold, new programming initiative, LTV’s World Voices, a year-long series dedicated to presenting international and under-represented artists for live, accessible performances on LTV’s Studio 3 stage.

The series will kick off on Sunday, May 19, at 6 p.m. with multi-Grammy nominated gold and platinum recording artist R. Carlos Nakai who will perform with special guest Shinnecock Nation’s The YoungBlood Singers.

Nakai, of Navajo-Ute heritage, is the world’s premier performer of the Native American flute. He began his musical studies on the trumpet, but when a car accident ruined his embouchure, his musical interests took a turn — he was given a traditional cedar flute as a gift and challenged to master it.

As an artist, he is an adventurer and risk taker, always giving his musical imagination free rein. Nakai is also an iconoclastic traditionalist who views his cultural heritage not only as a source and inspiration, but also a dynamic continuum of natural change, growth, and adaptation subject to the artist’s expressive needs. Nakai has received two gold records (500,000 units sold) for “Canyon Trilogy and Earth Spirit” which are the first (and only) Native American recordings to earn this recognition. In 2014, “Canyon Trilogy” reached Platinum (over one million units sold), the first ever for a Native American artist performing traditional solo flute music. He has sold over four million albums in the course of his career and received 10 Grammy nominations.

Nakai is making a his East End debut with this performance at LTV. He has performed with over 30 symphony and chamber orchestras, was a featured soloist on the Philip Glass composition “Piano Concerto No. 2: After Lewis & Clark,” which premiered with the Omaha Symphony. Nakai also works with producer and arranger Billy Williams, a two-time Grammy winner, in composing for and performing the traditional flute in orchestral works of a lighter vein.

In a cross-cultural foray, Nakai performed extensively with the Wind Travelin’ Band, a traditional Japanese ensemble from Kyoto which resulted in an album, “Island of Bows.” Additional recordings with ethnic artists include “In a Distant Place” with Tibetan flutist and chanter Nawang Khechog and “Our Beloved Land” with famed Hawaiian slack key guitarist and singer Keola Beamer. Recently, Nakai released “Voyagers” with Philadelphia Orchestra cellist Udi Bar-David which blends Native American melodies with Jewish and Arabic songs.

“Our primary importance as musicians is trying to tell people that history can’t be changed, but the future can be,” says Nakai. “Personally, I feel I should try to contribute something that would encourage people to change, to become more positive about our situation, to reorganize and reorient ourselves together instead of continuing to build walls.”

At LTV, Nakai will perform his meditative and transporting solo work for which he is widely renowned. A special welcoming ceremony of traditional chant and drumming will be performed by Shinnecock Nation’s The YoungBlood Singers. Following Nakai’s performance, Jason Amis, master yoga teacher and new host of East Hampton’s LongHouse Reserve, will take to the stage to moderate an illuminating conversation between Nakai and the audience.

LTV’s World Voices Series will be held at LTV Studios throughout the year and will feature performances such as: The Juneteenth Jubilee — a dance celebration, white party and gospel extravaganza presented with and benefiting the Eastville Community Historical Society; the return of Sitar Maestro Ustad Shafaat Khan, joined this for this much-requested encore by his fusion band East Meets West; and more international surprises still to be announced.

Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 at the door and VIP Café Tables will be available for $65. Purchase at ltveh.org. LTV Studios is at 75 Industrial Road in Wainscott.