Firey String Sistas

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | The Bennington College Carriage Barn Music Series presents a concert by the Firey String Sistas.  At the core of Firey String Sistas are three powerhouse women, Nioka Workman (founder, cello), Marlene Rice (violin) and Mala Waldron (piano, vocals). Together they infuse jazz with world music, global funk,‘head bopping’ soul to create a unique sound for violin, cello, bass, piano, vocals and percussion. The ‘Sistas feature cutting-edge acoustic and electric instrumentalists, who have played with Aretha Franklin, Beyonce, Lauryn Hill, India Arie, Greg Osby and Anthony Braxton among many. The group also regularly extends from a trio to a quintet, featuring top New York-based bassists and drummers. The ‘Sistas’ presentations include reflections of our times. Their concepts and words focus on aspects of women’s culture and a celebration of family traditions.

Concert Performers and Bios
Mala Waldron - vocalist, piano
Marlene Rice - violin
Nioka Workman - cello
Belden Bullock - bass
EJ Strickland - drums

Nioka Workman: founder, cellist. Recent highlights include a showcase feature with Sinners actor, spoken-word artist Saul Williams at the Blue Note NYC and a string quartet feature at the City Winery NYC as part of JFA Legacy Awards. Nioka’s musical stylings can be heard worldwide, on a number of recordings including Steve Coleman, Greg Osby, India Arie, DJ Rogers and Joe. She has toured throughout Europe & USA featured in festivals; Greater Hartford Jazz Festival, Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival, Summer Stage at Billie Holiday Theater, International African Arts Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival and Sons D'hiver Festival to name a few. As founder and director of the Firey Strings Company and ensemble Firey String Sistas, Nioka has worked to create platforms that expands the boundaries of string playing and amplifies women’s voices since 2011. Nioka is currently working on a one man show with spoken-word artist KAYO and with producer CEA on a solo CD project.

Marlene Rice has traveled around the world, from the month she visited and performed in Japan in the early 1990's, to her performances in France, Italy, Austria, Finland, Ireland, Trinidad and into Central/South America. One of her personal highlights took place at the Kennedy Center with her mentor, jazz violinist John Blake, during the performance of his “Celebration Of The Fiddle From Africa To America”. Ms. Rice is currently a teaching artist-in-residence, and string department director, at the Cecily Tyson School of Music.

Mala Waldron is a native of NYC whose first paid gig was at the Elk's club with a local R&B band at age 15. Later, enrolling at SUNY - Old Westbury she studied jazz piano, voice & composition with Makanda Ken McIntyre, Richard Harper, Warren Smith and Amina Claudine Myers, earning a B.A. Degree. She currently balances local performances with regular tours in Europe and Asia. Career highlights include opening at the Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival (JALC) for Patrice Rushen, being guest arranger/vocalist with James “Jabbo” Ware's “Me, We & Them Orchestra,” and appearing in the documentary, “The Girls in the Band.” CDs featuring Mala's work are “Lullabye,” (solo debut and tribute to godmother, Billie Holiday),“He's My Father,” (duo project with father, pianist/composer, Mal Waldron) and “Always There,” named one of Jazz USA's Top 10 CDs of 2006. Mala’s new solo project entitled “Deep Resonance” is now available.

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