Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Riva Nyri Précil releases first album, Perle de Culture, honoring the beauty of Haiti’s culture


Riva Nyri Précil releases Perle de Culture, March 2015. Photo by Joey Rosado 

Date: April 6, 2015
Contact: Michelle Karshan
Michelle Karshan Communications
Tel: 917-853-0433
Fax: 212-202-3992


Riva Nyri Précil releases first album, 
Perle de Culture,
honoring the beauty of Haiti’s culture

Brooklyn, New York (April 6, 2015) – Singer/songstress, Riva Nyri Précil, releases her debut album, Perle de Culture (Cultured Pearl), showcasing the unique and diverse richness of Haiti’s culture that continues to influence all of Riva’s creativity. The album’s 16 songs are a seamless fusion of World Music’s Haitian Racine/Roots songs, mixed together with soul, jazz elements, and African tones. Vocals by Riva Nyri Précil and music arrangement and production by Monvelyno Alexis. Perle de Culture is available for digital download on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby.

Riva  explains why her first album is a tribute to Haiti, "Perle De Culture is my way of supporting, preserving, and exposing the beauty of Haitian culture. It is my gift to the people of Haiti and around the world, so that everyone may enjoy the rich fruits our land has to offer."

In her authentic sultry and soulful Creole voice, Riva, who like many others, lives between two cultures, shares her own interpretations of Haiti’s Vodou songs traditionally sung to honor or call upon the wide array of spirits brought over from Africa on slave ships bound for Haiti.  Four original songs -- Nan Dòmi, Ou Fèm (a love ballad), Zantray Lavi, Mwen Bezwen w, (a love song duet with a zouk/konpa beat) and are arranged and produced by Monvelyno Alexis.

“Ms. Precil is a bright star on the horizon of world music and beyond. This debut album is unbelievably impressive! It has it all -- strong vocally, strong musicianship. I look forward to all the genre hopping I expect her to be doing in the future.” Tim Wolff, Film and Documentarian director, producer.  Directed and produced The Sons of Tennessee Williams

Yes! I love when I fall in love with someone's music. This is what happened when I heard Riva Nyri Précil sing for the first time. With a voice that sounds like honey, a fluid vibe, and a soulful and jazzy melange of her Haitian heritage and influences, Riva Nyri Précil gives us something that feels so special. Naïka in Balance -- Staying Centered in the Artistic and Holistic

A Gifted Voice. 
Smooth, soothing and relaxing… these are the epithets that come to my mind to describe the voice of rising star Riva Precil who, I believe, has already earned a comfortable seat in the front row of the Creole Divas' Club. She surfs musical genres with ease and will amaze listeners with her effortless approach to singing...I am convinced her natural talent will conquer the hearts of many listeners in the coming years.KariJazz, The Kreyol Jazz Source 


Riva Nyri Precil…a soul full of passion. The Soul Pick

Background. Born in Brooklyn to a Haitian father and a mother of Irish/Russian descent, Riva grew up in Haiti from age 5 until 15 where she was exposed to, and participated in, both traditional and contemporary Haitian music and culture. In Haiti, Riva studied music, folkloric and modern dance, art, and theatre under some of the most important teachers of their genre. Riva began performing at an early age in cultural events, clubs, on television and at Haiti’s National Palace.

Returning to Brooklyn in 2004 following political upheaval in Haiti, Riva attended LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts (the “Fame” school) where she majored in vocal performance and studied jazz history. Riva attended Loyola University in New Orleans on a voice scholarship graduating with a degree in Music Therapy. Returning to New York, Riva did her Music Therapy internship at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan, where she participated in a study on the positive impact of music therapy on premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Riva has performed at numerous venues including the New Orleans Jazz Festival, The Jazz Gallery, Brooklyn College, the Haiti Cultural Exchange, at Drom and Shape Shifter Lab, in Center for Traditional Music and Dance showcases, in the Atlantic Antic and Make Music New York festivals, and at several Haitian and other restaurants/clubs including Tonel, La Caye, Harlem Social Club and Pepela. Riva also performs regularly at benefits for Haiti including for Fonkoze, the Lambi Fund and Edeyo Foundation, Lamp for Haiti and the Haitian Education and Leadership Program (HELP) at the recent annual concert for Haiti in Montclair, New Jersey.

Journalists/Editors: Photos by Joey Rosado for jacket and insert images attached.  Please contact Michelle.Karshan@gmail.com for additional info, music, high-resolution images, interviews, etc.

Watch Riva Nyri Précil "Ou Fè M" Official Music Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yCQ_OAItLZI

Listen to Se Bon by Riva Nyri Precil on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/riva-precil/se-bon



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Riva Nyri Précil (click on to enlarge) Photo by Joey Rosado

Monday, August 4, 2014

1492 song by Monvelyno Alexis. Vocals: Monvelyno Alexis and Riva Nyri Precil

BOHIO MUSIC band releases "1492"

See full press release at http://wadnerpierre.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/loyola-graduate-singer-and-songwriter.html 

See English translation of song below

hear clip of song and purchase at www.CDBaby.com/cd/bohiomusic 




1492 

written and composed by Monvelyno Alexis 2014

Voices Monvelyno Alexis and Riva Precil  

Translation from Haitian Creole to English 

In 1492 the colonizers debarked 
With their cross, rosary and bible in hand
They came to civilize
They came to evangelize 
The colonizers killed everything they came in contact with
They eliminated children and adults on the island
The colonizers massacred children and adults on the island 

My country, hold on ay
Haiti hold on, hold on tight
My beautiful mother, hold on tight

Give us back our country 
Colonizers
Give us back our country
MINUSTAH

1804 we chased the colonizers out effortlessly
1934 we chased the colonizers out effortlessly
In '94 the colonizers returned relentlessly to dominate us 

If we all mobilize
If all Haitians have the desire
If we all organize ourselves
We'll chase the colonizers out
We'll chase MINUSTAH out 

Hold on tight
Hold on to our culture
Hold on to our tradition
Hold on to your mother
Hold on....


(various shout outs of things dear to Haitians)

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Collaborative Peace Poem by Michelle Karshan and others

Peace Poem by Michelle Karshan (collaborative poem – send in your suggestions for additional “peace” or “piece” phrases. Thank you so far to Caitlin Karshan, Alain Charles, Hilary Bieber and OneLove for their contributions) posted in 2008. Revised 2014


Collaborative Peace Poem 
by 
Michelle Karshan
 and others

Peace march
Peacenik
Peaceful
Peace God
Peace pipe
Peace up in here! (Hilary Bieber)
A piece of the pie
Nobel Peace Prize
Department of Peace
International Day of Peace
Imagine Peace Tower
Teaching Peace
Planting Peace
Increase the Peace
Peace Broker
Peace Protest
Rest in Peace
The Mideast Peace Talks
The Paris Peace Talks
Peace and Tolerance (OneLove)
Parents for Peace
Veterans for Peace
Pathways to Peace
Peace on Earth Goodwill to Men
Peace, love and hair grease! (Caitlin Karshan)
World peace
Pray for Peace
The Peace Museum
The Mideast Peace Talks, again!
United Nations Peacekeeping?
Piece of shit
Piece of the action
Piece of ass
A piece of the rock
A piece of rock
Piece of advice
Peace of mind
Piece of work!
Fighting for peace?
Blessed are the Peacemakers
Build Peace
Peace Corps
Peace and Reconciliation
The Mideast Peace Talks, still!
Greenpeace
Witness for peace
Peace Brigades
Peace Games
World Peace Day
Peace Talks
Peace Treaty
A piece of paper
Waging peace
Inner peace
Peace symbols
Peace dove
Love and peace
Peace and hugs (Hilary Bieber)
Peace sign
Peace through art
The art of peace
Peace of chalk (Alain Charles)
The Peaceable Kingdom
Animals for Peace (Hilary Bieber)
Peace and art (Hilary Bieber)
Peace, love and happiness
Hand me that piece (Alain Charles)
Make peace
Peace Education
War and Peace (Hilary Bieber)
Peace and Justice
No peace, no justice!
Grandmothers for peace
Pastors for peace
Peace protestor
All we are saying is give peace a chance
Peace – pay it forward! (Hilary Bieber)
Down the road a piece
Peace and solitude
A piece of my heart
Peace and quiet
Piece of cake
Pieces of a puzzle
Piece meal

Peace…

Peace is cool (Hilary Bieber)

Peace be with you (Hilary Bieber)

Peace Now!


Peace out!

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Brooklyn Sudanese feast for Aleya (home from college) by Abdul and Gafar

Food Sudani!  

A Brooklyn Sudanese feast for Aleya (home from college) 
-- compliments of chef Abdul and Gaffer




MAHSHI!

Eggplant, red and green peppers stuffed with ground beef



Blender prepared vegetable salad







Tilapia fish with carrots, potato, and onion



Foul - Fava beans with tomato sauce