New Haven Independent

Original music composition, dance, vocals, drama and film, all of magnificent depth and quality-it just doesn’t get better than that! Grammy nominated Imani Winds boasts Valerie Coleman on flute, Toyin Spellman-Diaz on oboe, Mariam Adam on clarinet, Monica Ellis on bassoon and Jeff Scott on the French horn. The program featured chanteuse, Rene Marie, with Christopher Huggins’s choreography danced by Rachel Ashley. Bobbi Williams is to be credited for her superb direction. It was a multi-media social commentary on the life and times of Josephine Baker.

The evening was a memorable gift to all that attended and they expressed gratitude in an extended standing ovation. Now to the dishin’ …

The highly regarded and well-known Edmonds family is famous for all of their overachievers (the Reverend and all of those very smart daughters and granddaughters), and one of them is Toyin Spellman-Diaz of Imani Winds. Her musical credits are as impressive and solid as those of her colleagues. This was not an audience of family and friends — that alone would have filled the auditorium. (My theory is that they probably went to the rehearsal) Spotted in the packed house were Bill Connolly and Rudy Sannino, Marshall and Arlene Elovich of Guilford, Lindy Lee Gold, Roz Meyer (festival co-founder), Dr.Richard and Judy Shelling, Bob Gregson, Curlena McDonald, Rosanne Zudekoff, and Attorney Norman and Marilyn Zolot. Celina Fernandez, (theatrically talented daughter of Angel Chavero-Fernandez) was in a swoon over the “best week of her young life; she attended at least one festival event a day, while maintaining her busy academic and extracurricular schedule!

The Festival of Arts and Ideas really is ALL FOR THE GREATER GOOD!