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"Driving east across Missouri, to the edge of little Dixie. Through Lafayatte county, past arrow rockÖ" Narissa Bondís life echoes the haunting lyrics of her award-winning song ìCeliaî, from her new CD, ìKnocking at the Doorway to my Soulî. Narissa Bond is a true folk artist, with words and music gathered and crafted from the lives she has lived. An award winning songwriter Narissa has opened for national touring artists, Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky, Nina Gerber with Mollie O'Brien, L.J. Booth, Vance Gilbert and Ulali. She has performed at festivals and benefits including: the National Womenís Music Festival in Bloomington, Indiana; Campfest in Pennsylvania, Gea Gathering in Kansas, WOW Caberet in New York; Pride Festival in St. Louis, Missouri, Autumnfest in Illinois and NOW (national organization of women) mid-atlantic conference 2000 in Virginia Beach and most recently the Peace through Unity Conference sponsered by Virginians Against Domestic Violence in Richmond, Virginia. Narissa has also voluteered her music to many fundraisers and peace vigils. Some of these include Stop the Violence Peace Vigil at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, Southwest Blvd Family Health Care Fundraiser, Kansas City; Venezuela Flood Relief, and Aids Fundraiser sponsered by the Unitarian Universalist Church in Kansas, City. Narissa has been a regular in Kansas City night spots, drawing loyal crowds who have loved her music for years. Narissa released her first recording "A Free Spirit Canít Run Fast in High Heels" to glowing reviews, and has just released the CD "Knocking at the DoorwayÖto my Soul". At the historic Winfield Walnut Valley Music Festival, "Celia" won 1st place in the Old Days Category. Her song "Waitress" Placed in the Love Song Category For two consecutive years Narissa has been one of the winners of the regional Songwriters Circle awards. Narissa was awarded a fellowship from the Kansas Commission of Arts. Praise for "A Free Spirit Can't Run Fast in High Heels". The award winning song Celia, the true story of a slave girl, was used in the soundtrack of a video documentary entitled ìChallenge, Support and Achievement: Personal Journeys of Six African American Womenî produced by Shaw Dailey Creative Associates in Illinois in the winter of 1999. What People Are Saying... I admire her work and skills in presenting.
Great delivery...excellent pop sense...sure look forward to hearing
more. Narissa Bond's music finds strength in
contradiction. She crafts beautiful, reassuring songs out of
life's most daunting pains. The key to the music's transcendence
lies with her lithe vocals which handle tough subjects with uncommon
delicacy. ...New song-writers like Narissa Bond,
whose music fits into your palm like a smooth stone. It is familiar,
yet refreshingly new and candid....Like Bond, these other young
female artists are part of a new breed of African-American musical
poets, in the tradition of Joan Armatrading,Tracy Chapman. As a songwriter, Narissa's music is a realistic
blend of life and love. Her songs are poetic and full of passion.
As a performer, her mix of vocals and guitar create a haunting
almost spiritual sound that you will continue to hear and feel
long after you have left the concert. Narissa's CD is like one fine seamless
garment, as comfortable on the first hearing as on the thirtieth.
Her love songs use honesty instead of formula to reach your heart.
Her writing is most powerful when she tells the stories of her
own childhood in Texas, in House on a Hill, and of a young slave
in the 1850s in, Celia. Two things set this CD beyond the ordinary.
One is the blend of jazz and folk music. The other is her incredible
voice like flowing butterscotch. You will want to buy two copies,
one for you and one for a dear friend who needs some restful
beauty in their life.
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For booking contact:
Narissa Bond
Phone: 757-258-1919
e-mail: narissabond@earthlink.net
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