Heather Maxwell is an American singer-songwriter and radio host for Voice of America. She sings

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

standards and composes original works on piano, kamalen n'goni, balafon, and percussion. Heather produces and hosts the radio and TV program ''Music Time in Africa'' for the

Voice of America Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content ...

History

Maxwell was born Flint, Michigan and began singing at age 7 with her family's gospel band. She studied music and anthropology at Interlochen Arts Academy and University of Michigan, and African music at University of Ghana - West Africa. From 1989-1991 Maxwell was a Peace Corps volunteer in a rural village in Mali. She spent time in Paris and Abidjan recording and performing with African musicians. From 1995-2003 she earned her master's degree and Ph.D. in

ethnomusicology Ethnomusicology is the study of music from the cultural and social aspects of the people who make it. It encompasses distinct theoretical and methodical approaches that emphasize cultural, social, material, cognitive, biological, and other dim ...

at Indiana University. Maxwell taught ethnomusicology at the University of Virginia. She also toured and recorded with jazz drummer Robert Jospé and with her own group ''Afrika Soul'' Maxwell at VOA

In 2011 Maxwell returned to Mali as a Fulbright Scholar for a teaching stint in Bamako at the National Conservatory of Music. The coup d'état on March 22, 2012 cut that short and she returned to the US. Later that year Heather joined the

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

as host and producer of the worldwide radio program ''Music Time in Africa''.

Discography

* 1991 ''Keneya Ji'' Samasa Records, Mali * 1992 ''Pygmee'' by Group Worro, EMI/Pathé Marconi, Studio JBZ, Abidjan * 2006 ''Heartbeat'' by Robert Jospé's Inner Rhythm, Random Chance Records * 2008 ''Inner Rhythm Now'' by Robert Jospé's Inner Rhythm * 2010 ''Afrika Soul'', Jesuno Baby Productions * 2014 "Mango Tree" (single) Jesuno Baby Productions * 2015 "All of Me" (single) Jesuno Baby Productions * 2016 "Abiro" (single) with Winyo, Jesuno Baby Productions

References

''This article incorporates public domain text from the Voice of America''.

External links

Inner Rhythm official web site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maxwell, Heather Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Place of birth missing (living people) Musicians from Flint, Michigan University of Michigan alumni Fulbright alumni