Women in Rock w/ Nona Hendryx, Siedah Garrett, Joyce Kennedy, and Cindy Blackman October 8, 2008

Star backing band includes Terri Lyne Carrington, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Late Show with David Letterman guitarist Felicia Collins

Women will rock the house when Berklee presents a one-time gathering of influential and groundbreaking African American female musicians. Berklee’s Women In Rock residency brings Nona Hendryx, Siedah Garrett, Joyce Kennedy, Cindy Blackman, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Felicia Collins to the college for performances, master classes, and panels, October 6 - 8, culminating in a public concert Wednesday, October 8, at 8:15 p.m. The artists will perform their original music at the event.

Terri Lyne Carrington, a professor of percussion, is the musical director for the concert and will play drums for all of the artists, leading a star backing band that includes powerhouse bassist Meshell Ndegeocello (who will not sing lead) and guitarist Felicia Collins of The Late Show with David Letterman. Rounding out the band is Berklee student Cedric Hanriot on keyboards and alumnus Aurelien Budynek on guitar. Student band Shea Rose will open the concert.

Women in Rock is the brainchild of Kudisan Kai, associate professor of voice, who will perform two of her songs with the band.

The Women in Rock concert is being filmed for inclusion in a documentary by Sheila Hardy, titled Nice & Rough, exposing the unknown history of black women in rock, and celebrating the complexity and courage of these daring, outrageous, sexy, soulful women who – despite what anyone thinks – choose to rock.

Official Website: http://www.berkleebpc.com