MAIA

href="http://www.plebius.org/" target="_blank"--------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- PHOTOS BY CARLOS ARGUELLO, DAVID BURCH, DAVID LA PORTE AND DONN HARPER------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------Maia is a multi-talented, internationally known performer and recording artists, who has notable credits as a stage, film, television and radio personality. Also known as (aka) Sonjia Denise Hubert Harper, of the Hubert Family of Georgia, single-named, Maia, was born in Atlanta and is an accomplished vocalist and instrumentalist who is proficient on several musical instruments including the harp, flute, piccolo, vibraphone. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ As a composer, Maia has spent many years developing her music style, which is greatly influenced by her paternal grandmother, Katie E. Boyd. "Grandmama would start her day, early in the morning. I was always awakened when I'd hear her humming while she did her morning chores. Negro Spirituals, Gospel and that old time stuff like "Dr. Watts" were the kind of melodies she seemed to favor. Katie Boyd was an early riser, which is one of many habits that I picked up from her. These melodies are at the core of my being and are at the root of my creative musical expression." ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------- Maia, who presently lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband, Donn Carl Harper, is a professional actor as well, being a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Association For Radio and Television Artists (AFTRA). She is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (earning a BFA--Sonjia D. Hubert, 1991, with focus in graphic design, scientific illustration, performance and video production). She is the mother of four children (Azaziah, Gabriel, Amal and Uttama ), six grand children (Aankha, Aminah, Akhenaton, Imaninia, Ndidamaka and Hasani), and is second mother to six children whom she assisted in raising (Saiph, Jafar, Seba, Tarik, Taijite' and Wali). ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Maia recently performed with The Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra at the Disney Concert Center's Red Cat Theater in Los Angeles, CA and Calfornia State, Domingus Hills (2007). She also appeared at Club Fais Do Do with Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (2007). Maia was artist in residence, musically collaborating on stage with Hortencio Langa in Maputo, Mocambique (1999). She is a former executive member of the AACM (The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) who gained critical acclaim as bandleader of Y'Bindu, an all women's collective that was featured at the 35th Anniversary Celebration of AACM held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, IL and at the Walker Center for the Performing Arts in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2000), also as co-founder and bandleader of the AACM's first all female vocal-instrumental ensemble, SAMANA (1991-1999). SAMANA gained notoriety by appearing on Chicago's ETA Theatre Main Stage during the Sor Juana Festival Tribute to Women along with Mexican Harpist, La Negra Graciana(1998), Women Of The New Jazz Festival (1994 "Fest Favorite" by Lloyd Sachs of The Chicago Sun Times), Steppenwolf Theater's Traffic Arts Performance Series (1998), Groundbreaking Ceremony of The Hilary Rodham Clinton Women's Park in Chicago, IL, King Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio, and the Chicago Jazz Festival (1997), to name a few. ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------- DISCOGRAPHY (ASCAP Member)--------------------------------------------"BASA NOVA"--Vocals;Chris Nelson------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------"HOLD ON"---Vocals; Joe Seabe and the Vocal Students Performing Arts Studio West ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------"KICK ME WHEN I'M DOWN...I'M DEAD"---Vocals/Instrumentals/Song-writer; PASW Productions ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------"INTRODUCING MAIA"---Vocals/Instrumentals/Song-writer; Self Produced; M'Ladiah Productions------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------"HAPPY KWANZAA"---Vocals/Instrumentals/Song-writer; Self Produced; M'Ladiah Productions------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------"PURE FIRE"---Vocals/Instrumentals; Vandy Harris & Katumbi Records----------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------"SAMANA"---Vocals/Instr umentals/Song-writer/Co Producer ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------"; I edited my profile at Freeweblayouts.net , check out these Myspace Layouts!
-----------------AFRO BLUE w HARP and VOCALS------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------DECEMBER 2007-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE---------------------------------------------------- ---- Here is a sample of my sons' band, the internationally traveled; Hypnotic Brass Ensemble as seen in "The Chi" (not so shy)--Chicago, IL performing the tune "Sphere". Check out more of Hypnotic Brass Ensemble at YouTube and on myspace.com. The apple don't fall far from the tree. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ MAIA JAMS WITH HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE AT CLUB FAIS DO DO IN LA, MAY 2007------------I had a blast offering vocal improvisations during this number with THE HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE in "The Lay" (Los Angeles) May 2007. This tune is a work in progress being developed by HYPNOTIC with Nigeria's beloved FEMI KUTI, son of FELA KUTI, set for future release.----------