Stevie Wonder’s ‘Magical’ All-Star Line up featured Tony Bennett, Prince and Frédéric Yonnet
In the wrap up of the Stevie Wonder concert in New York on Nov. 17th, Fox reporter Roger Friedman writes that "only the great Stevie Wonder, a megawatt genius with an outsized career and staggering song catalog, could have pulled off his concert on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden."
He goes on to say, "The show is magic, and it’s not static by any means. Stevie doesn't spend the whole night seated behind the piano, either. At one point, standing, he and guest artist Frédéric Yonnet — a Wonder disciple — had a crazy harmonica duel that almost sent Stevie flying off the stage in a frenzy." Read the entire story.
They’re aren’t many people that would take on Wonder head to head but Yonnet proved more than capable on their rendition of “Boogie on Reggae Woman”. "It was like watching Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi," said Juliet Gilliam, an audience member and fan of both. "There was a complicity between the two that was more impressive and genuine than competitive."
Yonnet's energy is contagious and Wonder felt the vibe. As they took the music higher and higher, they were literally taken to their knees, at one point, holding each other's hands to keep balance. The exchange not only demonstrated their harmonica acrobatics but also the depth of their burgeoning friendship. Just like during the concert shows in Boston and Washington, DC, the crowd loved it.
Other guest stars at the MSG show included Prince — who played a wicked guitar solo on “Superstition” — and the legendary 81-year-old Tony Bennett, who joined him for a historic duet on their shared hit from the late 60s, “For Once In My Life.”
After the two and a half hour show, Yonnet joined a host of Stevie’s guests — including his beautiful wife, designer Kai Milla, comic Chris Tucker, pop legends Ashford & Simpson, actor Anthony Mackie, attorney Londell McMillan, Tonya Lee, Warner Music’s Kevin Liles, publicist Carla Sims, and BET’s Steven Hill — for a private dinner at Mr. Chow’s. But the party did not end there, a smaller entourage joined Stevie and Kai at the club Rebel, hosted by DJ Spinna & Bobbito Garcia and featured all Stevie Wonder music. They partied until 5 am. It was magical night indeed.
Read other related stories:
NPR.com
FOX.com
New York Times
Frédéric
Yonnet featured on Danaroc.com
Check
out Dana Roc's interview with Frédéric
in the "Inspiring
People" section
of danaroc.com
Highlights
of a Wonderful Summer
[September-October
2007]
This
summer Frédéric and
some of his favorite artists got
together on stage to generate a
whole lot of musical energy. The
most exciting moment: A duet with
musical idol and friend Stevie
Wonder.
In
Case You Missed It...
 Washington,
DC - When Billy Crystal wanted to set the mood during
his acceptance speech for the
Mark Twain Prize, producers called Frédéric Yonnet. As Crystal mimicked Mark Twain,
Yonnet added sounds of the era.
The PBS special, taped
at the Kennedy Center on October
11, airs beginning November
12. Check local listings.
Other performers
and presenters included Robin
Williams, Whoppi Goldberg, Robert
De Niro, Danny De Vito, Barbara
Walters, Jon Lovitz, Rob Reiner, Jimmy Fallon,
Martin Short, Joe Torre, and Madeleine
Peyroux. (photo credit: Joseph
Allen)
A
Wonder Summer's Night
 Boston, MA -
The stars were aligned when Stevie
Wonder invited Frédéric
Yonnet to perform during the last show
of his 13-city A Wonder Summer's
Night Tour. Frédéric
performed "Boogie
On Reggae Woman" with Wonder,
in front of a sold out crowd
at the Bank of America Pavilion
in Boston, MA, on Sept 20. Check
out this fan-posted video.
This was the first time Stevie
Wonder has toured the US in 12
year and we bet it won't be his
last. Photo: Stevie, Milton,
Frédéric
and Carla Sims.
Frédéric performed "Didn't
You Know" with Erykah
Badu in August during her show
as part of "Fridays at Sunset" in
Richmond, VA.
Check out these and other videos featuring
Frédéric.
Hot
Picks and Upcoming Events
 Washington,
DC - Frédéric
performs
as the
special
guest of Erykah
Badu on
Friday,
September
28, at
Love Night
Club, 1350
Okie Street,
NE. This
invitation-only
event,
sponsored
by Verizon,
is one
of many
activities
taking
place during
the Congressional
Black Caucus
Foundation's
Annual
Legislative
Conference
in DC.
Other upcoming events include:
Washington,
DC - Frédéric Yonnet performs at the private preview
event celebrating the opening of
the new Bloomingdale's store at
Wisconsin Place in Chevy Chase
on Tuesday, September 25 at 6 pm.
Bethesda,
MD- Frédéric Yonnet makes a guest appearance with India.Arie at the Music Center at Strathmore
on Saturday, October 6th at 8:00
pm. The concert is part of the
inaugural celebration of Dr. Mickey
L. Burnim as President of Bowie
State University. For tickets,
visit Strathmore.org.
Baltimore,
MD - Join Frédéric
for an Afternoon
Concert and Reception at the Walters Art Museum, 600
N.Charles Street on Sunday, October
16 at 3 pm. Frédéric
headlines and other performing
artists include Kendall Leonard and Waters Phase II. The event,
sponsored by the Alpha Zeta Chapter
of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, will
benefit the Myrtle Tyler Faithful
Fund.
The
Shop@FredYonnet.com
The Shop@FredYonnet.com now carries
C.A. Seydel Harmonicas for individuals,
retailers and wholesalers. These
top-of-the-line harps have been
around since 1847 and are regarded
by Frédéric as "the
best in the world."
The Shop@FredYonnet.com, which
also offers Frédéric
Yonnet cds, t-shirts and hats,
now accepts major credit cards.
Call 202-547-8313 to place orders.
----------------------
This
Summer's Hot Picks!
[July-August 2007]
This summer just got hotter with
the music of Frédéric
Yonnet. Check out the "Hot
Picks" below to find out where
you can see Frédéric
perform live with his band.
 Philadelphia,
PA - Frédéric
Yonnet performed a duet with
three-time Grammy winner John
Legend at
The Kings and Queens Bash, an intimate
and exclusive party on Thursday,
July 26, at the world-famous Kimmel
Center in Philadelphia. The duo's
performance of John's hit Ordinary People on harmonica
and piano was anything but ordinary.
Join the John Legend Network, www.johnlegend.com to see the entire
show on video.
Richmond,
VA - Frédéric
heads to the Old Dominion on Tuesday, August 14 to perform as part of
Richmond Jazz Society's Guest Educators
Series. This "informance" is
designed to entertain and educate
audiences about how the harmonica
has been incorporated into jazz.
Reserve your ticket today for this
show at The
Canal Club, 1545 East
Cary Street, Richmond, VA. While
this event is smoke-free, it will
be smoking HOT!
Chicago,
IL - Frédéric
Yonnet performs on the jazz stage at the 18th Annual
African Festival of the Arts on Friday,
August 31 in
Chicago's Washington Park. Other
performers include Hugh Masekela,
Goapele, Leela James, Randy Weston,
Poncho Sanchez, James Cotton and
Ron Carter.
Oakland,
CA - There is no better
way to celebrate the arrival of
Fall than with good music. Don't
miss Frédéric Yonnet at
the 6th Annual
Comcast Art & Soul
Festival on Sunday,
September 2, downtown
Oakland's City Center. Yonnet will
perform on the Soul Stage. Check
www.artandsouloakland.com for more
details.
Silver Spring,
MD - Frédéric
returns to perform at the 4th
Annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival on Saturday,
September 8 in downtown
Silver Spring.
The festival run from 11 am-10 pm.
Frédéric performs
from 5 pm-6 pm.
-------------
[March 2007]
Blowing Your
Mind
Isn't it curious that Frédéric
would chose to play an instrument
that takes his breath when it has
always been so hard for him to
catch it? As a child growing up
with asthma, he carried an inhaler.
As an adult, he carries a diatonic
harmonica. The breathing and drawing
of air through the harmonica has
strengthened both his lungs and
his spirit. The impressions are
in his music.
If you've heard and enjoyed Frédéric's
music and videos, click the forward
button below to share them with
others. Warning: It may take
their breath away.
Yonnet Brings
Afropean Spice to the Smithsonian
Jazz Cafe
 Washington,
DC - Frédéric
returns to the Smithsonian Jazz
Cafe located in the Museum of
Natural History, on Friday,
March 30, from 6:00
pm-
10:00 pm. Frederic and his band
will be joined by guest vocalist
Patrick DeSantos, one on the
finest Brazilian and R&B
vocalist in the DC area. Together,
they
bring an "Afropean spice" to
the Jazz Café menu. Arrive
early, enjoy dinner and plan
to be thoroughly entertained.
Bring the entire family. Children
12 and under admitted free. Cover:
$10/no minimums.
The Smithsonian National Museum
of Natural History is located
at Constitution Avenue and 10th
Street, NW Washington, DC (use
the Constitution Avenue entrance).
METRO to Federal Triangle or
Smithsonian Station (Blue and
Orange Lines).
Yonnet Bites
the Big Apple
New York, NY -
Basketball fans will be blown away
when Frédéric performs
the national anthem during the
New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia
76's game on Wednesday,
April 4, at Madison Square
Garden. Arrive promptly at 7:30
pm to see his performance.
 New
York, NY - If
you miss Frédéric in "The
Garden" then catch him at
the Apple Store in SOHO on Friday,
April 6, from 7:00
pm -8:00 pm. iTunes and Apple
will promote Frederic's CD, Front & Center online and during
a live, in-store performance
with his band. The Apple
Store is located at 103 Prince
St. SOHO, New York.
Laissez les
Bons Temps Rouler
New Orleans, LA -
Frédéric returns
to Sweet Lorraine's Jazz
Club for
two shows, Friday
and Saturday, April 27-28, 10:00
pm and midnight,
during the Jazz & Heritage
Festival weekend.
If you're headed
to the fairgrounds, be sure to
stop by the Jazz Tent where Frédéric
will be the special guest of electronic
violinist,
Michael Ward. That same
evening, Ward joins
Frédéric at
Sweet Lorraine's Jazz Club for
two shows.
Frédéric will also
host a master class in New Orleans
for beginners and advanced players.
Register by calling 202-547-8313.
Off to the Races
Louisville, KY -
Grab your derby hat and make your
way to one of the most star-studded
events of the summer, the 133rd Kentucky
Derby at Churchill Downs.
Frédéric will provide
entertainment at the sixth annual
Grand Gala VIP reception and birthday
celebration for Muhammad Ali on Friday,
May 4. Frédéric will
also perform at the Grand Gala
after party on Derby day, Saturday,
May 5.
India.Arie & Yonnet Salute Stevie
Wonder
 Washington,
DC -
Singer India.Arie (L) and Frédéric
Yonnet performed the Stevie
Wonder tune, Heaven is Ten
Zillion Light Years Away,
during the American Society of
Composers, Authors and Publishers,
(ASCAP), annual "Songwriter
Night", March 13, in
Washington, DC. This year, ASCAP
presented the first Troubadour
Award to Stevie
Wonder. Other performers
that helped celebrate the "Wonderful" one
included Tony Bennett,
Smokey Robinson, Chaka Khan, Joan
Osbourn, Wyclef Jean Jon Faddis
and Dianne Reeves.
Grammy Weekend
The stars came out for the Roots
4th Annual Grammy Jam
Session held at the Key
Club in LA on February 9, 2007.
One of the highlights of the evening
was Anita Baker who
took the stage scattin' and giving
us the best that she had. Ms. Baker
then invited India.Arie on
stage with her to freestyle on
her flute. Frédéric
joined Indie.Arie and they made
beautiful music together. Other
notables on the stage and/or in
the crowd included Talib
Kweli, Queen Latifah, Matisyahu,
Jill Scott, Dave Chappelle, Common,
the Black Eye Peas, Fall Out Boy's
Patrick Stump, will.i.am, Isaiah
Washington, and many
more.
Don't Blow It...
If you've got harmonica skills
or you want to develop some, join
Frédéric at Middle
C Music,
Washington, DC, on Saturday, April
14 for a "Reed Your Lips" Harmonica
Master class. Beginner and intermediate/advanced
classes begin at 10:00 am and 11:00
am respectively. Space is limited
so register by calling Middle C
Music, 202-244-7326.
Check the Web site for upcoming
information about other group classes
and workshops that will be held
at throughout the summer.
If you'd like private harmonica
lessons the next time Frédéric is in a town near you, call 202.547.8313.
--------------------
[January
2007]
Catch
It Here...
Missed Frédéric's
last performance? Having a hard
time explaining to friends how
dynamic he is on stage? Then check
out some of the videos on YOUTUBE.com.
Frédé ric jams
with Erykah Badu
Frédéric
perform National Anthem @ Wizards
game
Frédéric
performs Boogie On Reggae Woman
Frédéric
performs Jimi Hendrix's Little
Wing for Dave Chappelle
Feel free to add comment, forward
to a friend or add to your site.
Music in the Mansion
In the House. Frédéric
and his band return to the Strathmore
Mansion on Friday, February
1, from 7:30-9 pm as
part of Strathmore's Music in the
Mansion series. Discover "a true
virtuoso" (The Washington
Post) straight out of the
European jazz underground.
Accompanying Frédéric
is Dan Reynolds on keyboard, Gary
Grainger on bass and Robert "Mousey" Thompson
on drums. Tickets are $26 and can
be purchased online or by calling
(301) 581-5199. Seating is limited
so reserve your tickets today.
The Mansion at Strathmore
is located at 10701 Rockville,
Pike, North Bethesda, MD.
Jazz
Meets Classical: Frédéric
Performs with the Dayton Philharmonic
Orchestra
Frédéric joins cellist Karen
Patterson and her jazz
ensemble as they perform classical,
jazz, dance, gospel, and uniquely
African-American music with the
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
(DPO) on February 17,
at 8 pm in the Schuster
Center, Dayton, Ohio.
"We're really excited to have
Frederic as apart of our ensemble," said
Karen Patterson. "He brings so
much energy to his performance
that this is sure to be a night
of boundless harmony."
The ensemble, which includes pianist
Vince Evans, saxophonist Donald
Walden, blues guitarist Nerak Roth
Patterson, bassist Marion Hayden,
and drummer Andre Wright, will
join the DPO to perform works by
Johannes Brahms, Antonin Dvoøák,
Scott Joplin, Luiz Bonfa, Antonio
Carlos Jobim, traditional American
Gospel music, and a commissioned
piece by Egyptian composer Halim
El-Dabh. Tickets range from $7-$33
and can be purchased by calling
937-228-3630.
Schuster Performing Arts Center,
Second and Main Streets, Dayton,
Ohio.
Reed
Your Lips!
 Don't
miss Frédéric's
free jazz harmonica workshop conducted
at Strathmore on February
19, from 1:15 pm -2 pm as
part of Discover Strathmore Free
Open House. You'll understand what
his CD entitled, "Blowing Your
Mind in Every Key of the Harp" really means
after participating in this 45-minute
session.
You'll experiment with techniques
like over-blowing, drawing and
tongue-blocking. Don't worry, this
family-friendly workshop is open
to everyone, but you must BYOH (Bring
Your Own Harmonica), otherwise
you can purchase one in the gift
shop.
Stop by Room 402 in the Education
Wing of the Strathmore Music Center
to satisfy your curiosity. Be sure
to get there early as the workshop
is first come, first serve.
The Music Center at Strathmore
is located at 5301 Tuckerman
Lane, North Bethesda, MD.
In Case You Missed It...
 The
Wizard of Harps
Washington Wizards'
fans rose
to their
feet as Frédéric
performed the National Anthem during
the Wizards vs. Orlando game on
December 29th. The Wizards won
the game and Frédéric
won the praise of the fans as he
so famously delivered the high
notes. Catch the video on YouTube.com.
Thanks again to many of you for
helping to make 2006 fun and
exciting. We look forward to seeing
you in the New Year.
The following blurb appeared
in The Washington Post Style
section on Dec 5, 2006:
Hey, Isn't That?
 Dave Chappelle, crashing a holiday
office party at the Washington
Marriott thrown by newsletter publisher
Bureau of National Affairs. The
enigmatic comic, in jeans and black
sweater, wandered around the buffet
a bit but never ate, and got shy
when fans approached. What the
heck? Turns out the D.C. native
was in town Saturday to see pal
Paul Mooney's show at the Lincoln
Theatre but went to the BNA shindig
because he's friends with Frederic
Yonnet, the jazz
harmonicist who was hired
to play.
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