Brooklyn-based cellist Gabriel Royal and Apsaalooke hip-hop artist Supaman join forces for a performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 22, at the Alberta Bair Theater in Billings. A truncated concert will be performed at 12:30 earlier that day as part of ABT’s Student Matinee Series.
Oklahoma-born, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter cellist Gabriel Royal plays his “grown up lullabies” in the subway stations of New York City. That’s where he found his lawyer, his manager and his cello, and where he continues to find a genuine connection with his inspiration: the commuters of New York.
Influenced by Stevie Wonder’s groove and Burt Bacharach’s jazzy yet poppy sensitivities, along with other contemporary artists such as John Legend, Royal’s trademark sound is all his own. The cellist released his self-titled album in 2016, along with his single and music video for “Say It’s Right,” directed by Blake Farber, who has worked with Beyoncé and other A-list artists.
“I can’t wait to collaborate with the masterful Supaman,” says Royal. “We are curating a soulful and spiritual experience just for the Alberta Bair. This special evening will honor both of our musical upbringings and demonstrate that through music we have far more common than we have differences.”
As a member of the Apsaalooke Nation, Supaman makes his home in Montana. “Supaman” is Christian Takes Gun Parrish, a humble Native American dancer and hip-hop artist who has dedicated his life to empowering youth and educating listeners with a message of hope through culture and music.
His three self-produced projects have all received national recognition and awards, including the 2011 North American Indigenous Image Award for outstanding hip-hop album.
Supaman’s combines Native American culture, humor, and urban hip-hop culture in a performance that dazzles audiences, captivates listeners and breaks down stereotypes. He is a champion fancy dancer who travels extensively on the powwow circuit across the U.S and Canada and lives a drug and alcohol free life. He also is a champion clown dancer and a Native American Flute player, not to mention a loving husband and father of three.
These two artists, who have not met prior to this concert, are going to collaborate and share their music with each other and the audience.
“It’s going to be one-of-a-kind,” promises Supaman, who welcomes another opportunity to share and create music experiences.
Tickets are $42, $27 and $22 for students with valid I.D., and are available at the Alberta Bair Theater Box Office on the corner of 3rd Ave N and N Broadway, by phone at 406-256-6052 and online at www.albertabairtheater.org.
The evening performance is part of ABT’s TenForTen program available to public and private educators. Educators get a group of at least 10 students, friends, or parents together and if purchased in one transaction, pay only $10 per ticket. General admission tickets to the student matinee are $6 and available by phone only.