SoulRagga
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States
Music
Press
Having Ms. Armstrong work with our musicians surpassed our expectations. In ten minutes she was able to get 200 students to create and perform intricate musical passages. Having a working professional in the field of body percussion, rhythm, and vocal performance was a treat. - Ephrata Area Education Foundation
"...While keeping Baby Eddie on the road, Roth and Krisukas started working with saxophonist Dave Smith and violinist Mark Golin, creating Zen for Primates. The band developed a cult following, played New York City, shot a music video, recorded "Albatross" in 1992 and essentially broke up in 1994, when its members decided to pursue individual projects.
In 1996, consideration of the band for the Warner Brothers movie, Addicted to Love, led the band back to the studio to finish and release "Blessed Are the Sheep Herders" in June 1998." - Adrienne Redd for Hallow Ear
The Sarah Ayers Band comprises Dave Smith on guitar, Suavek Zaniesienko on bass, Jim Ruffi on drums and Ayers on lead vocals. The band has been together for three years, performing in the Pennsylvania region and touring the East Coast - MIX Online
Dave Smith joined BC & The Blues Crew in 2001 on guitar and wind instruments. He continues working with the band, now known as The BC Combo at concerts and festivals, on sax. A former Berklee student, his outrageous power on the sax has been equated to Pharoah Sanders. - BC and the Blues Crew
A former member of the off-Broadway production of STOMP, guest choreographer Camille Armstrong brings her dynamic brand of hip hop and body percussion to “Switch Up.” A percussionist herself, Ms. Armstrong is a master at the art of body percussion, a form of music and movement that allows dancers to explore the musical landscape of their bodies." - The DeSales University Dance Department Blog
Camille Armstrong performs in 2011 for a crowd gathered at the Levitt Pavilion at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. - Caption for a photo taken by Matt Smith for The Express-Times
A former "Stomp" cast member will be making noise of a different kind Friday night in Bethlehem Township, Pa.
Camille Armstrong and the SoulRagga group will perform during a tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at Moravian Academy, 4313 Green Pond Rd., according to a news release. Armstrong is also the mother of Moravian Academy senior Temple Shuford, according to the release. - Dustin Schoof - The Express Times January 2013
"...You weave your melodic line like a spinner of silken thread, in syncopated rhythms, vocal virtuosity that never loses this deep connection with its roots, shoot and flower; we were lost in time, lost in the moment, carried away to that space and place where artists take us. When we return, we sense having journeyed out beyond familiar ground, to a land of magic that teaches us to see and hear and be in a new way..." - Dr. John O'Donnell
“The easiest way to describe Camille Armstrong is as a performing arts renaissance woman. The one-woman windstorm” - Michael C. Upton - Review Correspondent February 29, 2012
AJ Silverberg has been playing harmonica and guitar in the Northeast for the past 10 years. His sound on the harmonica has been compared to Stevie Wonder, Toots Thielemans, and John Popper. - Lehigh Valley Musicians
SoulRagga made their local debut last week the band's sound is a melding of many genre' reggae, blues, funk, rock, jam and even latin..
- Sam Younes of U Walk Entertainment August 2011
Don't miss the debut of new Reggae and Soul group SOULRAGGA fronted by Camille Armstrong from the hit Off-Broadway Show "STOMP" She was in the cast for 10 years, and is an established vocalist/percussionist. She is joined by Valley guitar legend J.J. Bellew, keyboardist Dave Jankovsky, Steve Zalalas-bass, and Conor Szymanski-drums. If you like Erika Badu, soulful guitar riffs, and conga drums you'll love this eclectic mixture of musicians. - Grounzero Magazine
To all the bands who jumped on board to make this happen I am forever grateful and indebted to the who's who of talented and dedicated local & regional musicians that include...., SoulRagga, Trouble City All Stars, Sinister Realm, The 4 Walls, Corndogs, Eighteenth Hour, Driver, PokerFace, Sarah & Jeff Teets of Necromance, Matt Roman....
- Sam Younes of U Walk Entertainment on Sunday August 14, 2011
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Camille Alicia Armstrong, graduate of NYC's "Fame" high school and former 10-year cast member of the show STOMP, blends together a highly melodic and rhythmic hybrid of the music she loved in the American/Jamaican household she grew up in.
Camille pretty much created a playground for herself where she could dance, sing, play beats with her body, musically interact with the audience and direct the band, all at the same time, making it a new and exciting experience every time for everyone.
In it's 2.5 year reign, the band has played at A Bears Picnic, Trails End Harvest Festival, and NY Harvest Festival.
The all star members boast:
Camille, a multi-talented performing artist in the true sense of the word. Former front woman for Post Junction, current Urban Arts Facilitator and Outreach Performing/Teaching Artist), and Director and Instructor of Hip-Hop and Rhythms at Pennsylvania Youth Theater.
Dave Jankovsky, a silent growing force in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.
Steve 'Z' Zalalas, 'a Bear, Post Junction, Start Making Sense, Paul Theissen Band, The Flannel Kitties.
Dave Smith, The Dave Smith Project, The BC Combo with Bev Conklin, and LVMA winner of "Best Woodwinds" for 2 years.
West Coast band members:
A.J. Silverberg, AJ and The Bear, The Subtle Experience, Music from the Moment.
Between the 6, SoulRaggas members have played at local Venues such as, Steel Stax, Musikfest, The State Theatre, Allentown Symphony Hall, The Firehouse, The Funhouse, Porters Pub, Mollys Pub, Mothers Bar and Grille, Pearly Bakers, Secret Art Space, Fegleys Allentown Brew Works, Black & Blue, and the former Witch Brew.
Beyond: Venues in France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Korea, Mexico, Spain, Japan, Canada, and throughout 42 of the United States.
Links
