Gwen Laster: Violinist, Recording Artist, Author

Gwen's upbringing in Urban and Classical music was inspired by her mother's love for Blues, Jazz, the Motown sound and R &B. Her motivation blossomed through her Detroit high school orchestra teacher Anderson White. In addition to learning traditional Orchestral and Chamber music repertoire, Andy also introduced Gwen to the Electric Violin during an orchestra rehearsal. His organic approach to Improvisation was to point, then shout "Stand up, Take a Solo" using string arrangements of Dr. David Baker. Anderson White introduced Gwen to playing Classical music on Electric Violin, professional recording sessions and her first experiences of summer music camps. After earning her BM and MM from the University of Michigan School of Music, Gwen relocated to New York City. She emerged herself in recording, touring, collaborating with other artists, playing Broadway shows, Jazz clubs, Traditional and Non Traditional Chamber Ensembles and Teaching Improvisation to String Players.

She has released two recordings "Sneak Preview"(EP) and "I Hear You Smiling" of original music. The track "Send Love to the Equation" from the "Smiling" CD was selected for a very successful radio airplay campaign on AC Radio throughout the mid west. Her next recording "The Gameboard" will be released in January 2011. It is based on the readings of Steve Rother's book "Re-member” and inspired by her love for Yoga and Eastern Philosophy. The compositions are a Global Music Fusion concept using Violin, Vocals, Electronics, Western and non Western Strings and Percussion.

Gwen's collaborations with Popular, Global and Avant Garde recording artists give her an interesting and diverse set of skills and musical sense abilities. These artists include Alicia Keys; Unplugged, various recordings, Rhianna; The View, The Today Show, Barbados Music Awards, Beres Hammond; Madison Square Gardens (concertmaster), Kingston Jamaica, Saxophonist Joe Giardullo, Angie Stone, Shaggy, Aretha Franklin, Joss Stone, Haitian vocalist Emeline Michel, Multi Reedist/Composer Anthony Braxton and Leroy Jenkins. Her chamber and orchestral work includes Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, Harlem Symphony Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Sugar Hill Classical Band and The Braxton Opera "Shala". She has toured Japan, Cuba, Haiti, Barbados, Anguilla, Jamiaca, Canada, the Dominican Republic and the U.S.

 

As a teaching artist, Gwen has published her first violin method book; "Music for the Creative String Player". This instructional includes technical studies, original songs, beginning improvisation skills and a practice CD. She also presents “Creative Strings” clinics, workshops and private lessons to numerous colleges, universities, schools and arts camps everywhere. The Creative Strings workshop develops the trained string players’ composition, improvisation and studio production skills. Jazz and global music are also used to emphasize individuality of sound, music theory and ear training. All students record their own CD's of the music they've composed, arranged and/or studied as an end session activity. Creative Strings was the first non traditional string workshop welcomed by the Interlochen Arts Academy.

You can listen to and buy both Gwen's CD"s
"I HEAR YOU SMILING and "SNEAK PREVIEW"
here

For Bookings and Press Inquiries, please contact:
National Entertainment Management, Inc.
            Tyrone L. Williamson tlw.nem-- AT --gmail.com 602-570-6059
 
Chamber Music America "School Girl":
Click here to download article

Lynn Norment, Editor "Ebony Magazine" - Ebony Magazine's Annual Women's Issue
Gwen Laster's CD "I Hear You Smiling", The "Hottest and Latest in Black Music"
    
Sharon Nichols- Chronogram
Gwen Laster's Music; "Strong, fresh, funkified grooves with R&B elements"
 
Denis Poole - Smooth Vibes
"Gwen Laster, and her CD ‘I Hear You Smiling' is a spectacular success in using the violin coupled with Laster’s own soulful vocals to capture the essence of smooth and sensuous rhythms." 

Michelle Muhammad - The Final Call
" This is one of the best jazz CD's of this year. Her violin is soothing and captivating."

Sharon Gordon - Kuji Publications
"I Hear You Smiling  is guaranteed to stay in your CD player for a long, long time."
Professional Training
University of Michigan School of Music (BM,MM)
Angel Reyes
Jacob Krachmalnick
John Blake
Dr. Billy Taylor
Yusef Lateef
Fred Martell

Discography
Alicia Keys "Fallin"
Alicia Keys "Diary"
Alicia Keys "Unplugged"
Angie Stone – "Bottles and Cans"
Anthony Braxton – "Ghost Trance", "Shala"
Clint Eastwood – "Eastwood After Hours"
Emeline Michel – "Le Perternel"
Gwen Laster – "I Hear You Smiling"
Gwen Laster – "Sneak Preview"
Hubert Laws- "Plays Bach"
Jay-Z – "You Must Love Me"
Joss Stone "Introducing Joss Stone"
Joe Giardullo "Pearl Road"
Khalil Kwame Bell – "Gift of Forgiveness"
Luther Vandross-"So Amazing Tribute"
Ruth Naomi Floyd – "Responsibility"
Shaggy - "Strength of a Woman", "It Wasn’t Me"
Ty Stephens – "All Kinds of Love"

Festivals/Concerts/Tours
Beres Hammond/New York,
Kingston, Jamaica
African Street Festival/New York
Chicago World Music Festival
Gateway Festivals/Rochester
Global Arts Festival/New York
Havana International Jazz Festival
Ibero American Cultural Festival/Japan
Institute of Cultural Arts/Dominican Republic
Montreux Detroit Festival
Sphinx Symphony Orchestra/Detroit
Symposium 2000 Detroit/Ann Arbor

Grants/Awards
Meet the Composer
Jazz Study Fellowship/NEA
Lila Wallace/NEA
Jazz in July
Cognac Henessey Jazz Search 1st Place
Michigan Council for the Arts
Broadway Shows/ Television/ Orchestral/Chamber Ensemble
Alicia Keys, MTV-Unplugged
Anthony Braxton Ninetet Ensemble
Beauty and the Beast
Brian McKnight Showtime at the Apollo
Catskill Mountain Chamber Orchestra
Carousel
Deborah Cox, MTV
Eastwood After Hours, Carnegie Hall, PBS, NBC
Erykah Badu, MTV Unplugged
Jennifer Holiday
Lake George Opera Festival
Leroy Jenkins, "The Three Willies"
Miss Saigon
Obama Inaugural/Neighborhood Ball w/Shakira
Rhianna, The Today Show, The View, Barbados Music Awards
Sphinx Symphony
West End Symphony

Teaching/Master Classes/Workshops
Harlem School of the Arts-Director of Jazz Strings
IAJE-Chicago
Institute of Cultural Arts-Dominican Republic
Interlochen Fine Arts Camp/Creative Strings
La Guardia Community College
Medgar Evers College
NANM Convention
Music Outreach
Music of the Heart
Poughkeepsie Day School
St.Ann's School
Symposium 2000
Somers School District

Publications
Music for the Creative String Player
Incorporating Commercial Music in the Strings Curriculum (Field Study)
(Available upon request)
Jazz and Pop Arrangements for String Ensembles (Available upon request)