Elena Pinderhughes

Elena Pinderhughes (born 1995) is an American jazz flutist, singer, and composer. She has toured extensively with jazz trumpeter Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah and has also performed with Herbie Hancock, Common, Esperanza Spalding, Vijay Iyer, Lionel Loueke, Carlos Santana, and Josh Groban.[1][4]

Elena Pinderhughes
Pinderhughes performing with Braxton Cook at the National Black Theatre in Harlem, 2014
Pinderhughes performing with Braxton Cook at the National Black Theatre in Harlem, 2014
Background information
Birth nameElena Pinderhughes
Born1995 (age 27–28)
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Flutist
  • singer
  • composer
Instruments
Years active2005-present
LabelsSRP Music Group[3]
Websitewww.thisiselena.org

A former child prodigy,[1][5] Pinderhughes was described by The Guardian in 2014 as "the most exciting jazz flautist to have emerged in years."[6]

Early life

Elena Pinderhughes was born in 1995 in Berkeley, California.[1][7] Raised by professor and activist parents, she grew up in Berkeley with her older brother Samora, a pianist.[2][4] She is biracial.[2]

Inspired by her brother to pursue music, she was first drawn to the flute after attending a Venezuelan concert at age four, and she began singing and playing flute at age seven.[3][8] From ages 8 to 18, she attended the Young Musicians Choral Orchestra academy in the East Bay, where she studied flute and voice with a focus in jazz and classical music.[5] After being named a Presidential Scholar, she moved to New York to attend the Manhattan School of Music.[8][9]

Career

When Elena and Samora Pinderhughes were 9 and 13 years old respectively, they professionally recorded their first album together, entitled Catch 22.[2][3] At age 10, Elena Pinderhughes was featured in the HBO special The Music in Me, in which she played Latin jazz flute alongside other young musicians.[10]

Upon moving to New York for college, Pinderhughes was propelled into the city's jazz scene, where she met and began collaborating with musicians such as Ambrose Akinmusire, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, and Terri Lyne Carrington.[8] In 2015, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (then performing as Christian Scott) released an album featuring Pinderhughes titled Stretch Music, which he subtitled (Introducing Elena Pinderhughes).[11] In 2016, Pinderhughes was named the number one "Rising Star" flutist in DownBeat magazine.[8]

In October 2016, Pinderhughes performed in Common's NPR Tiny Desk Concert at the White House, alongside Robert Glasper, Bilal, Karriem Riggins, Derrick Hodge, and Keyon Harrold.[12] She has also appeared in Tiny Desk Concerts by Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah in 2015,[13] Zaytoven in 2019,[14] and her brother Samora Pinderhughes in a virtual concert in 2022.[15]

In September 2023, Pinderhughes performed a five-part suite titled "A Diaspora Journey" alongside Beninese guitarist Lionel Loueke at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Pinderhughes and Loueke also both performed with Herbie Hancock for his headlining set at the festival.[16]

Discography

As leader
  • Catch 22 (2005) (with Samora Pinderhughes)

References
  1. Greenstein, Colette (September 14, 2023). "Signature Series Presents the Elena Pinderhughes Berklee Septet | Berklee". Berklee. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  2. Dinkelspiel, Frances (December 14, 2011). "Berkeley's Pinderhughes siblings make music magic". Berkeleyside. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  3. "Elena Pinderhughes". New York Philharmonic. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  4. Roos, Brandon (September 14, 2016). "After a Decade, 21-Year-Old Elena Pinderhughes Starts at the Beginning". KQED. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  5. Post Staff (September 12, 2023). "Elena Pinderhughes Comes Home for RADIUM Runway". Alameda Post. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  6. Fordham, John (July 30, 2014). "Christian Scott review – African-American roots, vividly contemporary". The Guardian. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  7. "Elena Pinderhughes". Jazz Empowers. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  8. Effinger, Shannon J. (November 17, 2016). "Samora & Elena Pinderhughes on Composing Transformations". DownBeat. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  9. ABC7 (June 18, 2013). "Multi-talented Berkeley teenager becomes Presidential Scholar recipient | ABC7 Los Angeles | abc7.com". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  10. Shattuck, Kathryn (October 7, 2006). "Big Sounds, All but Bursting Out of Small Packages". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  11. Stevens, Nathan (November 19, 2015). "Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah: Stretch Music (Introducing Elena Pinderhughes)". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  12. Boilen, Bob (October 4, 2016). "Tiny Desk Performance With Common At The White House". NPR Music. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  13. Jarenwattananon, Patrick (October 9, 2015). "Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR Music. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  14. Carmichael, Rodney (February 28, 2019). "Zaytoven: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR Music. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  15. Birch, Nikki (April 15, 2022). "Samora Pinderhughes: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert". NPR Music. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  16. Gilbert, Andrew (September 20, 2023). "5 can't-miss acts at Monterey Jazz Festival 2023". Datebook | San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
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