Motema

DETAILS

A delightful youth focused jazz album with songs by Grammy-nominated children's music artist Lori Henriques featuring the extraodinary pianist Joey Alexander.

The Songs:
"We Wore White" inspired by Leymah Gbowee
"Imagine the World" inspired by Muhammad Yunus
"High Time" inspired by Ralph Bunche
"Everything You Do" inspired by Jodi Williams
"Child of the Soil" inspired by Wangari Maathai
"Brave as a Girl" inspired by Malala Yousafzai
"A Kinder Way" inspired by Jimmy Carter
"A Human is a Human" inspired by Desmond Tutu

The Band:
Lori Henriques - vocals
Joey Alexander - piano
Eddie Barbash - sax (from Colbert band)
Kabir Sehgal - bass
Joe Saylor - drums (from Colbert band)
Oran Etkin - clarinet, bass clarinet (guest artist)

MORE ABOUT THE ALBUM

Legion of Peace is an exciting new album of children’s music inspired by Nobel Peace laureates, performed by some of the most compelling musicians on today’s international jazz scene. Singer-songwriter Lori Henriques (2015 GRAMMY ® Award Nominee, Best Children’s Album) has written beautiful, timely songs about some of our planet’s greatest peacemakers, conveying life-lessons via hummable tunes that resonate for all ages.

Lori’s quintet on the album is helmed by three-time GRAMMY ® -nominated teenage piano phenom Joey Alexander, and includes Eddie Barbash (saxophone) and Joe Saylor (drums) – known nationally for their work in the house band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert . Appearing as featured guests are fellow Motéma artists Pedrito Martinez , a GRAMMY ® nominated Cuban music innovator, and Oran Etkin, acclaimed clarinetist and founder of the innovative Timbalooloo children’s music method.

With musical portraits of beloved laureates Desmond Tutu, Malala Yousafzai, Leymah Gbowee, Jimmy Carter, and four others, the album is an entertaining call to action to work towards peace and justice in whatever ways we can, large or small. Interspersed throughout the songs are solo-piano interludes improvised by Joey Alexander, and the lead track is a moving spoken-word introduction by laureate Muhammad Yunus, the captivating creator of the microcredit movement who is known affectionately throughout the world as the “Banker to the Poor.” Dr. Yunus’ introduction invites listeners to let the spirit of peacemaking that courses through the album inspire them to work for peace and justice in their own communities.

In Dr. Yunus’ words, “When we listen to one another, we create a framework for understanding and for building peace. Our musician friends have helped us turn these laureates’ stories into songs, and we hope these songs inspire you to take action.” Produced by New York Times best-selling author and multi-GRAMMY ® -winning producer Kabir Sehgal (who also plays bass on the album), together with Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora (the internationally acclaimed sopranos who founded the “artists’ peace corps” Sing for Hope) and Jana Herzen (Founder and President of the acclaimed Multi-GRAMMY ® -winning Motéma label, based in Harlem), Legion of Peace encourages young people to “think globally and act locally” by developing empathy for neighbors near and far. Cover art and illustrations for the album reflect this, and were created by Sing for Hope artist partner Lady JDay.