From the organizers: Intersections is curated by Andrew Waltz, Director of Arts Management at Park & Market. Hosts and performers for this year’s season include San Diego artists and arts leaders who have won Grammy Awards, toured with famous acts worldwide, and brought talent to some of the region’s most beloved music venues. The 2024 Intersections series is co-curated by a number of influential San Diegans with ties to the arts and culture community: Rebecca Jade, Damian DeRobbio, Kamau Kenyatta, and Yale Strom. Scheduled Intersections Events in 2024 Tickets will go on sale soon for the scheduled concerts below. Adama Bilorou Friday, Jan. 19, 2024 at 7 p.m. The Guggenheim Theatre, UC San Diego Park & Market West African Tradition and Beyond Tickets here Born in the rhythmic beats of Burkina Faso and rocked by the tradition of griots, Adama Bilorou knew how to transform his heritage into a melody of multiple nuances, a musical journey that crosses continents and cultures. A versatile musician endowed with a rare mastery of the Djembe and the Balafon, Bilorou has captivated ears and hearts across the world. From his childhood in Ivory Coast to his wanderings in Italy, France, the United States and Burkina Faso, he has written his score along the lines of diversity. Kamau Kenyatta will host and conduct a Q&A with Bilorou after his performance. “Adama’s music is an uncanny blend of folklore and innovation,” says Kenyatta. “His stylistic versatility and mastery of many historic West African instruments leaves audiences enthralled.” Lisa Sanders & Brown Sugar Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024 at 7 p.m. The Guggenheim Theatre, UC San Diego Park & Market Sincerity in Song Tickets here Lisa Sanders is an electrifying harmonizer. Her heartfelt songs are genuine with deep meaning and conviction. A musical style that can only be described as soulful country blues, her genres include folk pop, gospel, rock and jazz. Writing, singing and producing from her heart in nearly every genre for over three decades, Sanders continues to make an impact in the musical world. Kamau Kenyatta will host and conduct a Q&A with Sanders after her performance. “This fantastic group, propelled by the world-class songwriting of Lisa Sanders, impresses with its beauty, mastery and universal themes,” says Kenyatta. Quetzal and Martha Gonzalez Friday, March 1, 2024 at 7 p.m. The Guggenheim Theatre, UC San Diego Park & Market Art, Culture and Inspiration from East L.A. Quetzal is a Grammy award-winning ensemble of highly talented musicians, joined for the goal of creating good music that tells the social, cultural, political, and musical stories of people in struggle. Martha Gonzalez (lead singer, percussionist, and songwriter) calls it an “East LA Chicano @ rock group,” summing up its rootedness in the complex cultural currents of life in the barrio, its social activism, its strong feminist stance, and its rock and roll musical beginnings. Besides being a rock band, the group and its members participate in a much larger web of musical, cultural, and political engagement. Damian DeRobbio will host and conduct a Q&A with the group after their performance. Gene Perry & Rumba Ketumba Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 7 p.m. The Guggenheim Theatre, UC San Diego Park & Market A fixture in the local music scene since 1974, Gene Perry was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, and was one of the earliest pioneers of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean music in San Diego. His ensemble, Rumba Ketumba, is composed of a mixture of San Diego natives and musicians from around the world. Rumba Ketumba plays a high-energy mixture of Afro-Latin, Caribbean, Spanish Rumba, and other dance rhythms. Curator Yael Strom, whose Yiddish klezmer group has previously collaborated with Rumba Ketumba, will host and conduct a Q&A with the group after their performance. Kittel & Co. featuring Jeremy Kittel (violin), Josh Pinkham (mandolin), Quinn Bachand (guitar) Friday, September 27, 2024 at 7 p.m. The Guggenheim Theatre, UC San Diego Park & Market Acclaimed violinist Jeremy Kittel (formerly of the Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quartet), Kittel & Co. (“Kid-dle and Koh”) inhabits the space between classical and acoustic roots, Celtic and bluegrass aesthetics, and folk and jazz sensibilities. The members of Kittel & Co. have collaborated with Béla Fleck, Sarah Jarosz, Chris Thile, and Yo-Yo Ma. Together, Jeremy Kittel, mandolin phenom Josh Pinkham and transcendent guitarist Quinn Bachand coalesce into a singular voice that’s thrilled audiences from the Telluride Bluegrass Festival to A Prairie Home Companion. Yael Strom will host and conduct a Q&A with the group after their performance. Related links: UC San Diego Park and Market website | Instagram | Facebook
