DARIA JOHNSON – Drums

Daria ‘Shani’ Johnson is a San Francisco based drummer, singer and multi-instrumentalist. Her style is solid, smooth, dependable and sensual. Her dynamic spirit has earned her the title as one of the most sought-after drummers in the Bay Area.

Shani’s appetite to create flourished at a young age. In Los Angeles, she began playing music while attending elementary school. Excelling in the art form, music became her primary subject. She continued her education at Hamilton High Academy of Music. Awarded a scholarship she went on to Berklee College of Music, where she studied with Victor Mendoza, Larry Finn, Rick Considine, Anne Peckham, Luanne Warner Katz and Joe Hunt. Her exceptional skills with percussion and drums brought her to San Francisco where she co-founded the band London Street.  On London Street’s debut release “Life through Lyric and Melody” Shani contributed her undeniable abilities to sing, write, arrange and produce, in addition to her drumming. London Street has toured the West Coast and Europe sharing the stage with John Legend, India Arie, Erykah Badu, Angie Stone and Ozomatli.

As an in-demand drummer, Daria ‘Shani’ Johnson has played with many fabulous musicians. Her roster includes live performances and studio sessions with Eoin Harrington, Theresa Perez, Esperanza Spalding, Sean Leahy, Vortex Tribe, Crystal Monee Hall, Edna Love, Trevor Garrod, Dan Lebowitz , Kofy Brown, Four Year Bender, Vudustu, Stu Hamm and Adam Theis of the Jazz Mafia.

Wairaka, Maori, New Zealand

Wairaka is a Māori ancestor for the Mt Albert area of Auckland. She is known as one of the beautiful daughters of Toroa, chief of the Ngati Awa tribe and captain of the Mātatua waka (canoe). Wairaka is known throughout New Zealand because of her bravery. She is known as a strong leader of her people.  One story of Wairaka’s bravery is when she saved the Mātatua waka and the Ngati Awa tribe, after their arrival in Aotearoa, New Zealand. With her mighty words she called to her ancestors praying, “Kia Whakatane au i ahau (let me act like a man)”. She grabbed the paddle and advised the women to save themselves from death.  Touching the paddle in those days was very ‘tapu’ or sacred. But Wairaka knew it had to be done.

Song:  Waka Wahine

AMELIA ROMANO – Harp

Harpist and teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area, Amelia Romano uses music as a medium for social change. Having played in a variety of harp ensembles, duets, and as a solo harpist, she explores new avenues of multicultural, contemporary and original music.  Her compositions and sound are influenced by her experiences and exposure to music styles in the San Francisco Bay Area, and year in South Africa.

She began studying harp at age nine with Diana Stork and later Cheryl Ann Fulton.  Amelia recently worked as a music teacher, educator, and school coordinator for youth with the Playing for Change Foundation at Ntonga Music School outside Cape Town, South Africa, from July 2010-2011www.harpntonga.blogspot.com.  Since returning to the Bay Area she has continued instructing privately and directing harp ensembles in underserved communities. 

REBECCA ROUNDMAN – Cello     

Rebecca Roudman is one of the San Francisco Bay Areas most versatile classical players.  Rebecca has performed all of the world, both as a soloist and a member of prestigious orchestras in locals such as Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Austria and Brazil. Throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Rebecca performs as a member of the Santa Rosa Symphony and the Oakland East-Bay Symphony. She has presented critically acclaimed solos with the Ohlone College Orchestra, the Mission College Symphony, the Community Women’s Orchestra and many others. A favorite of local composers, Rebecca has premiered many modern classical works for cello and had numerous compositions written for her. Rebecca has also accompanied Itzhak Perlman and performed in orchestras conducted by Michael Tilson-Thomas and John Adams.

On her cutting edge Zeta electric cello or her classical fusion Lewis and Clark carbon-fiber cello, Rebecca is one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most exciting crossover cellists. A frequent performer of jazz, blues, rock and world music, Rebecca has shared the stage with Carlos Santana, Isaac Hayes, Joan Baez, Ry Cooder, Elvis Costello, Deltron 3030, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Evan Rachel Wood, Liz Phair and many more amazing performers.  Rebecca also fronts her own exciting blues/gyspy band Dirty Cello – a high energy group that has rocked the main stage at a number of large festivals and has had repeat performances at the Hard Rock Cafe and Yoshi’s Lounge.  Rebecca also performs  frequently with R & B musicican Martin Luther McCoy, hip hop super group Latryx (Lateef and Lyrics Born), blues guitarist Danny Click and Bay Area favorites, the Jazz Mafia.

Warrior Queen Story 4: Fu Hao Warrior Queen

Fu Hao, was a key player in the rise of the fortunes of the Shang Dynasty. She married King Wuding (r. 1250-1192 BCE) and was one of the emperor’s 60 wives. Fu Hao took advantage of the semi-mat…riarchal slave society to rise through the ranks.

She is shown to have led numerous military campaigns. The Tu-Fang had fought against the Shang for generations until they were finally defeated by Fu Hao in a single decisive battle. Further campaigns against the neighbouring Yi, Qiang and Ba followed; the latter is particularly remembered as the earliest recorded large-scale ambush in Chinese history. With up to 13,000 soldiers and important generals Zhi and Hou Gao serving under her, she was the most powerful military leader of her time.

King Wuding gave Fu Hao a fiefdom on the borders of his empire, from which she could defend his borders and launch assaults against foreign peoples. In addition to crushing both domestic and foreign foes of King Wuding, Fu Hao served as a high priestess, conducting sacrifices to appease Heaven and honor the ancestors. Although the Shang King exercised ultimate control over ritual matters, which were the most important political activity of the day, oracle bone inscriptions show that Wu Ding repeatedly instructed Fu Hao to conduct special rituals and offer sacrifices. This was very unusual for a woman of that time.

Song: Elegant Dragon

Lozen, Chihenne-Chiricahua Apache Warrior

Lozen was a Chihenne-Chiricahua Apache warrior, shaman, and sage, or seer. She was born in the 1840s, in a section of New Mexico/Arizona/Northern Mexico known at that time as Apacheria, within sight of the Sacred Mountain near Ojo Caliente where the People began.

At a ceremony at the time of her adolescence, Lozen was given the power to find the enemy which she did by going alone to a deserted spot, standing with her arms outstretched, her open palms facing skyward. She stood waiting, turning slowly until she felt a tingling in her palms. After this spiritual-physical experience, she knew that she had found the direction of the enemy. She could tell the distance of the enemy by the intensity of the tingling. She was legendary for such powers, Diya and Inda-ce-ho-ndi (or “Enemies-Against-Power”), in battle.

She was not the lone woman warrior in her band. She had a companion, Dahteste. Both women fought alongside Geronimo. In addition to her considerable skill as a warrior, Lozen was also a skilled reconnaissance scout and clever battle strategist. She took part in warriors’ ceremonies, sang war songs, and directed the dances of the war parties before going into battle.

Lozen and Dahteste, with Geronimo, were eventually taken as prisoners to Mount Vernon Barracks in the U.S. region called Alabama, a Muskogean Indian word. Lozen died there, presumably of tuberculosis, at the approximate age of 50. Her brother, Bidu-ya, is quoted to have said that “Lozen is my right hand… strong as a man, braver than most, and cunning in strategy. Lozen is a shield to her people.”

Song: Joshua Tree Windsong

For the Celts, rape doesn’t seem to have been so much shameful as demanding dial–revenge. Boudicca, one of history’s most powerful women, suffered rape only vicariously — as a mother
, but her revenge detroyed thousands. Prasutagus, king of the Iceni, made an alliance with Rome so that he would be allowed to rule his territory (as a client-king). He died in 60 A.D.

Ignoring the rights of Prasutagus, Senator Tacitus of the Roman empire made the emperor and his own two daughters heirs, hoping, thereby, to placate Rome. Such a will was not in accordance with Celtic law; nor did it satisfy the new emperor, for centurions plundered Prasutagus’ house, whipped his widow, Boudicca, and raped their daughters.

It was time for revenge (“dial”). Boudicca, as ruler and war leader of the Iceni, led a retaliatory revolt against the Romans. Enlisting the support of the neighboring tribe of Trinovantes and possibly some others, she headed towards the town the Romans called Camulodunum, the new administrative capital of the Roman imperial province. After Boudicca’s forces resoundingly defeated the Roman troops at Camulodonum and virtually annihilated the IX Hispania, they headed towards London. The Roman commander chose to sacrifice London, so when Boudicca’s troops arrived, they slaughtered all Romans and razed the town.

Then the tide turned. Not to dwell on the sad details — eventually Boudicca was defeated, but not captured. She and her daughters are thought to have taken poison to avoid capture and ritual execution at Rome.

Song: Iceni Queen

Brandi Brandes is a multi-disciplinary percussionist, keyboardist, vocalist, and composer.. Her distinct aesthic is abstracted from the melodies and pulses of the day-to-day h
uman experience, expressed through a diverse musical background.

Brandi’s musical foundation is in theater and drum corps, and her musical evolution was through the diverse artistic communities of San Francisco: an artist residency at the Climate Theater, concerts for San Francisco new music composer Fred Adler, Garnada Arabic and flamenco quintet, Rennea y Sus Amigos salsa and Venezuelan folk music ensemble, Guapachoso salsa band, Punk Rock Orchestra, The Tennessee Valley Orchestra, The SFSU AfroCuban ensemble, and glamour punk band Simon Stinger.

She has studied primarily with San Francisco Ballet principle percussionist David Rosenthal and Machete Ensemble composer and arranger John Calloway.

Original theater compositions include City Circus Presents: Echo’s Reach, City Circus Presents: Kamikaze Heart, Tim Barskys 7 Beggars, Summer Shapiros Legs and All, and Betty Shmamieh’s Territories.

Theater orchestra credits include Tommy, West Side Story, The Wiz, and she is a regular stage band member for San Franciscos award-winning sketch comedy troupe Killing My Lobster.

Brandi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music with World Music emphasis from San Francisco State University.