Somi

Known for her original blend of modern jazz with popular and African music, and the innate poetry of her songwriting that often gives voice to issues of social justice, Somi’s exquisite artistry will be on full display as she returns to Krannert Center to celebrate the release of her recording What Does it Take to Bloom. Hailed as “a performer in full command of her instrument and powers” (The New York Times), Somi discovered her musical identity traversing the cultural bridge between Africa and America. That sense of discovery continues to guide a career in which she has crafted “an elegant amalgam of the musics she loves and the bi-continental experiences that have shaped her life” (NPR). Somi has been honored with Grammy nominations, Jazz Music and NAACP Image awards, a Doris Duke Artist Award, and multiple fellowships, but in her heart of hearts, the Champaign native is an East African Midwestern girl who loves family, poetry, and freedom.