Award-Winning Artist PlumDragoness’ Debut Album Release: “Renaissance of a Poetess”

At World Cafe Live in West Philadelphia on December 7th, 2010, Plum Dragoness & the Elements’ had their official release party for the debut album, “Renaissance of a Poetess,” produced by Emmy award-winning producer Rodney Whittenberg.

The event included performances by Gabrielle de Burke & her live music project, Plum Dragoness & the Elements, as well as guest DJ’s Lina Luv & Lee Mayjahs? of the Philadelphia EXperiment, plus VJ artist Kevlar of Visual Infinity.

“Gabrielle’s poetry is pure sensory theater...it’s more than words from a page...”

Award-winning spoken word/performance artist “Plum Dragoness, a.k.a. Gabrielle de Burke, bridges gaps between traditional sacred/secular dance, theatre and present day urban expressions of life. Her work has been featured in local venues such as the Philly Fringe Fest, Painted Bride Art Center, World Café Live, the Rotunda, as well as national & international stages like the Times Square Performing Arts Center in NYC; the Ultraworld, Gaian Mind & Philadelphia EXperiment Festivals (Baltimore, MD); the Earth Dance Festival (Laytonville, CA); the Burning Man Festival (Black Rock City, NV); the Global Roots & Om Festival & the Grand Theatre (Ontario, Canada); the Rossport Gathering (County Mayo, Ireland) among many others.

The music project, “Plum Dragoness & the Elements”, combines dance, poetry, theatrical performance, live instrumental accompaniment and stunning visual projections. Their new album, “Renaissance of a Poetess”, combines poetically minded, powerful prose with multi-cultural rhythmic grooves. Their musical styles incorporate African high-life, Blues, Brazilian, Folk, Hip-hop, Jazz, Reggae, Rock, World music and Electronic influences.

“Gabrielle is a dedicated artist whose work fosters social dialogue and understanding through the stories and myths, dance, poetry, studies on cultures, and people she brings to her performances and public projects.”

The performance set at World Cafe Live by “Plum Dragoness & the Elements”, combined dance theater/performance art presentation & an all live musical act that brought together collaborating musicians Larry Connelly (One), Jon Esposito (Mighty Paradocs), Elliott Levin (West Philadelphia Orchestra), Justin Darcy (The Wholetone Collective), Harun Najashi (Persia Sound), and Ali Richardson (Universal U), along with guest musicians Xande Cruz (the Batukis), Gina Fererra (Philadelphia Gyil Fusion Project), Djo Fortunado (Os Humanos) & Larry “Tofty” (West Philadelphia Orchestra).

The performances of Plum Dragoness & The Elements lends itself to lyrical poetry & vocal content that address a range of social issues pertaining to our daily lives along with a diverse range of musical compositions set to a background of live visual projections & theatrical movement spectacle & stylistic dances!

• Renaissance of a Poetess

• Spoken Word, World
• PlumDragoness
• 08/29/2010
• 

Liner Notes: • All Tracks Produced, Engineered & Mixed by Rodney Whittenberg at Melodyvision Studios (www.melodyvision.com), *except “Crane Awakening” produced @ Soul Groove Sound http://www.facebook.com/eboltz). Executive Producer-G. Casella. Mastered @ Masterwork Recording by Peter Humphreys (www.masterworkrecording.com). Manufactured & Duplicated by Disk Makers. • Layout & design by Laura Schetzsle (www.schetzsle.com). Photos by Deborah Boardman (www.debbieboardman.com), Josette Bonafino (www.multiculturalyouthexchange.org), Peter {Parker} Brodhead (www.parkerism.com), Vinny Gasper (www.flickr.com/people/vinny_gasper) & J.J. Tiziou (www.jjtiziou.net). Logo Design (“Dragon Mandala”) by Megan Cassidy (www.meghancassidy.blogspot.com). • All Poems Written & Performed by PlumDragoness/Gabrielle de Burke Booking contact: dragoness@earthtones.com Website: PlumDragoness Profiles on Myspace & Facebook • Giving Thanx & Shout Outz: to my Mama Nancy for always believing in me even when I was struggling to, to my Daddy Ken for rolling w/ the stones even when they were hard to dodge, to all of my family of friends & fans who have helped me raise the funds to make this CD a reality, to all the young & old folks who reminded me to leave my mark w/ heart, to all the musicians for supporting the “epic nature” of my poetic persuasions w/ the soul of their divine instrumentation, to Rodney Whittenberg for his patience, honesty & enduring inspiration throughout the process of making this project come fruition! • Many of these poems were written nearly a decade ago. For years after performing them in local, national & international venues I was approached by many individuals in the “music business” who evoked in me a sense of distrust, which inspired me to take long nap. After many not so random angels warned me not to sleep on my gifts, I woke up & decided in 2007 to take myself seriously. In mid 2007, I began the initial process of recording my work as an independent artist with Emmy Award Winning Composer Rodney Whittenberg @ Melodyvision Studios. After much trial & error I present to you my 1st album where the music dances with the spoken word! May these her-stories resonate your inner-most cathartic chords! © 2010 All Rights Reserved G. Casella.

1. Lung Shen/"Dragon Spirit" (feat. Rodney Whittenberg/ascap - Synthesizer, Per...
2. Per-suits; Article Ii: Section Femme-amend (feat. Andres Cisneros-Congas, Sh...
3. Reciprocation (feat. Andres Cisneros-Congas, Shaker, Djo Fortunato - Classic...
4. Provoking Objects (feat. Rodney Whittenberg/ascap - Organs, Synthesizer, Dru...
5. Convenience Score (feat. Elliot Levin - Flute & Rodney Whittenberg - Drums)...
6. Prisons Out-lived In (feat. Rodney Whittenberg/ascap - Organ, Drum Programmi...
7. Gestures (feat. Andres Cisneros - Congas, Shaker, Gina Ferrera - Finger Pian...
8. The Window Seat (feat. Jon Espo - Bass Guitar, Elliot Levin - Saxophone, Rod...
9. Sustenance (feat. Nicole Alexander - Percussion, Lawrence Connally - Drum Ki...
10. Grow (feat. Rodney Whittenburg)...
11. *crane Awakening (feat. Erik (Meeshu) Boltz)...