UKAMUSIC – featuring Naomi Louise Warne and Jeff Oster – A Tribute to Johnny Mandel

Ukamusic is a new century world music collective created by Naomi Louise Warne that is spontaneous & ever changing - from the band members, style of music, artwork & fashion. The latest project "The Songs Of Johnny Mandel" features Grammy winner Charles Neville on saxophone. This was their final collaboration before Charles passed in 2018.

The original band U-ka (meaning "brightness") was created by Australian singer, songwriter & multi-instrumentalist Naomi Louise Warne in 1993 when she lived in New Orleans. The inspiration of this city & her collabo­ration with the great jazz saxophonist Charles Neville (Neville Brothers) produced some fabulous live performances, including the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival, and the Live at Snug Harbor CD which was an offi­ cial entry in the 2014 Grammy Awards.

Charles Neville is best known as one of the legendary Neville Brothers in whose recordings Charle's signature Sax sound helps to insure his legacy as one of New Orleans most important musical sons. In addition to his decades with the Neville Brothers Charles has performed with other world class artists in­ cludingJohnny Ace, Little Walter,Jimmy Reed, Big Maybelle, BB King,James Brown, Bobby Blue Bland,Johnny Taylor, Clarence Carter, O.V. Wright and Ray Charles. Not ignoring his hometown he has also played saxophone behind Allen Toussaint, James Booker, Ernie K-Doe and Huey "piano" Smith.

Their last collaboration is an offering in 3 languages, English, French & Japanese that pays tribute to the genius ,power & magic of Johnny Mandel's songwriting featuring original arrangements & reworking of some of the most popular songs of the 20th Century including The Shadow of Your Smile, Emily, W here Do You Start, and the Theme from M*A*S*H.