Bobby McFerrin & Voicestra on Jan. 27

Thousand Oaks, CA)—The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Foundation presents BOBBY MCFERRIN & VOICESTRA in the Fred Kavli Theatre at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Countrywide Performing Arts Center at 8:00 pm on Saturday, January 27, 2007. There will be repeat performances in Escondido on January 28, in Santa Barbara on January 30 and San Luis Obispo on January 31.

Bobby McFerrin is one of the natural wonders of the music world. A ten-time Grammy Award winner, he is one of the world’s best-known vocal innovators and improvisers, a world-renowned classical conductor, the creator of one of the most popular songs of the late 20th century (“Don’t Worry, Be Happy”) and a passionate spokesman for music education. His recordings have sold over 20 million copies, and his collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea, the Vienna Philharmonic and Herbie Hancock have established him as an ambassador of both the classical and jazz worlds. Yet McFerrin’s reach extends well beyond musical circles: he’s worked with actor Jack Nicholson, dancer Savion Glover, comedians Robin Williams and Billy Crystal, and audiences around the world. With a four-octave range and a vast array of vocal techniques, McFerrin is no mere singer; he is music’s last true Renaissance man, a vocal explorer who has combined jazz, folk and a multitude of world music influences - choral, a cappella, and classical music - with his own ingredients. As a conductor he is able to hear orchestrally, and with this gift has expanded his singing to include more imaginative territory then most; he might extend his vocal repertoire to sing trumpet-inspired parts in the jazz standard “Round Midnight” or to interpret the flute and cello parts in works by Fauré and Vivaldi, or to simply create entirely new worlds of sound.

Comprised of 12 uniquely gifted singers with broad stylistic experience ranging from jazz to R&B to Indian classical opera, Voicestra serves as a rich compositional palate for Bobby McFerrin’s expeditions into the musical universe. Bobby founded Voicestra in 1986 to explore interactive group singing in his performances, and it has since evolved into a medium for deeply spiritual and powerful improvisations. Voicestra is not just a choir, but a flexible and richly textured instrument through which Bobby can experiment with and express his unique vocal style and musical stream of consciousness. The music is entirely improvised and captures everything in the performance: the day, the time, the theatre, the audience. Melodies, rhythms and textures traverse from singer to singer, perpetually morphing in reaction to the moment and Bobby’s instincts. For many audiences, a Voicestra performance is akin to a religious experience, providing them the rare opportunity to witness as well as participate in a musical celebration of spontaneity.

Single tickets are $30-45 with group discounts available. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster or in person at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Ticketmaster sales are available by phone (805-583-8700), online at www.ticketmaster.com or at Ticketmaster outlets. For ticketing information call 805-449-ARTS (2787) or visit www.civicartsplaza.com.