Hip-Hop Orchestra

Taoist composer-pianist JooWan Kim performs with his hip-hop orchestra, Ensemble Mik Nawooj (EMN), a chamber orchestra with a rotating personnel of MCs and an opera singer. Ensemble Mik Nawooj “defies such categories as jazz, classical, and hip-hop” (Oakland Tribune), is “ambitious” (The New Yorker), and is “a cosmic melding of culture and genres” (SF Chronicle). MTV called the group “thirsty to change the name of the game”, and NPR praised it by saying “Whoever said that chamber music couldn’t be hip obviously haven’t heard of Ensemble Mik Nawooj.”

JooWan Kim – music director/composition/piano

Do D.A.T & Sandman – rappers/lyricists

Lauren Woody – opera singer

Carmen Lemonie – flute

Nick Litwin – clarinet

Asuka Yanai – violin

Gabriel Beistline – cello

Eugene Theriault – bass

Louie Flores Jr. – drums

MikNawooj.com Mik Nawooj plays ” Black Swordsman” YouTube

“The future of Hip Hop” – East Bay Express

“Mik Nawooj is thirsty to change the name of the game” – MTV

Opening for Mik Nawooj: Ka Mau

“Style AND substance” is the motto of Ka Mau a multidisciplinary performance artist born and raised in San Francisco, California. For the last ten years Ka Mau has lived in Bali, Indonesia using the art of poetry, rap and dance to connect cultures, inspire creative thought and action and motivate youth to use their creativity as a means of personal and collective empowerment. He was named Best Poet in the 2002 Oakland, California Slam Finals. He is the winner of the 2004 & 2005 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival held annually in Bali, Indonesia. More about Ka Mau at: pitchblackgold.wordpress.com

Admission: $10-15. Doors at 7:00 Show at 7:30.

Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event. Please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets.