INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION SPECTACULAR!
JAZZ & CLASSICAL
Classic Cartoons, Live Music & Comedy
General Manager: Theresa Vibberts
Territory: Worldwide
“As I watched The Queen’s Cartoonists slip and slide through decades of cartoon music in a matter of minutes, with the animations projected on a large screen behind them, I followed a
captivated crowd of young and old consciously connect what they were watching with what they were hearing. The pleasure of the perfect synchrony of sound and pictures was instantly
recognizable.”
“The music is utterly dazzling, the cartoons are delightful, and the light-hearted silliness and mumblecore, deadpan humor of the pianist and band leader Dr. Joel Pierson are absolute treasures.”
INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION SPECTACULAR!
What do a singing fish, a Navajo folk tale, unrequited love in Oaxaca, and a hot air balloon ride in Buenos Aires have in common? They all are animated films featured in The Queen’s Cartoonists International Animation Spectacular! TQC presents contemporary animated films from every (permanently inhabited) continent on the planet in a concert that runs the gamut of serious, funny, virtuosic, and stunningly beautiful. The films are a tribute to the diversity and depth of both the world of animation, and of the Earth’s culture itself, with an emphasis on women filmmakers and animators from underrepresented backgrounds. Accompanying the films is TQC’s usual brand of humor, musical virtuosity, and on-stage mayhem.
ABOUT
Projections of animated films dazzle the audience, while the band recreates original soundtracks note-for-note, or writes their own fresh compositions to modern pieces, all the while breathing new light into two unique forms of art: jazz and animation. Tying everything together is the TQC brand of comedy - anecdotes about the cartoons and the composers, stream-of-consciousness humor, and elements of a musical circus.
Since their inception in 2015, the six musicians, hailing from four continents, all reside in Queens, New York, and are a uniquely creative part of the New York jazz scene. The band has presented their innovative concert experience to performing arts centers, clubs, and festivals all across North America and Europe. The Queen’s Cartoonists have opened for the New York Philharmonic and are the only artist in the 40-plus year history of the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City to sell out multiple all-ages shows. The have been featured in over 50 publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, NPR, and Mashable.
Recent highlights include collaborations with the National Film Board of Canada and Aardman Studios, bringing the beloved films of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep to audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Dr. Joel Pierson
Musical Director, Piano
Washington, DC
Rossen Nedelchev
Drums
Sofia, Bulgaria
Greg Hammontree
Trumpet, Trombone
Savannah, GA
Malik McLaurine
Bass
Queens, NY
Mark Phillips
Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone
Melbourne, Australia
Drew Pitcher
Flute, Tenor Saxophone
Michilimackinac, MI
“Who needs another Broadway show when you can hire a jazz combo playing music from Bugs Bunny cartoons?”