Ode to the Black Fiddler (OBF) is an IAH Studio initiative that highlights the artistry and cultural contributions of BIPOC string musicians through live performance and community-centered programming.
Since 2016, IAH Studio has developed and produced the annual Ode to the Black Fiddler Music Festival, a full-day celebration featuring nationally recognized string musicians whose work spans the full range of string music, including Hip-Hop, Jazz, R&B, Latin Fusion, Blues/Folk, Electronic, global sounds, and more. The Ode to the Black Fiddler initiative was created to extend the annual festival experience beyond the main event by bringing performances to local communities in an accessible, intimate format.
As part of the Bronx Arts Ensemble Summer Music Series, Ode to the Black Fiddler welcomes Strings N Skins, an ensemble founded by Haitian vocalist and percussionist Okai and Latin Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist Luisa Bastidas. Drawing from Afro-Latino, Haitian, and Colombian musical traditions, the group’s music showcases a rich exchange of cultural influences and contemporary styles.
Luisa "La Lulu" Bastidas
Okai Fleurimont
Lautaro “El Beat del Primo” Burgos
Pablo Cafici
