Records. His album, 7st Born Second, was released in 2001 and hailed by critics though he
would eschew media efforts to box him into the neo-soul movement.

Following the mysterious leak of his 2006 album, Love For Sale, Bilal placed more focus on
touring, playing jazz-fusion/rock type funk. His third record, Airtight’s Revenge, released under
the independent label Plug Research, thrilled critics while providing listeners with a retrospective
journey and an experimental fusion of jazz, hip-hop, electronic, soul, and blues with themes of
love, religion, politics, and spirituality. His latest album, A Love Surreal, is now available.

Chris Turner

Chris Turner is a classically trained crooner, a soul singer for the ages
with a classic sound that defies his years. From falsetto to scatting to
laying down smooth and creative phrasings, Turner is bringing old soul
back with a fresh sound.

Turner graduated from the New School University for Jazz and
Contemporary Music and immediately started working as an in-demand
backing singer for the neo-soul and R&B scene in New York. He has
opened up for jazz greats like Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Michael Brecker and has
toured internationally with Esperanza Spalding, Bilal, Harvey Mason Sr., Dianne Reeves, and
others. In February 2013, Turner released his first single, “Liquid Love,” the video for which
debuted on BET. Turner’s current digital mix tape, called LOVELife Is a Challenge is now
available through iTunes, Amazon, and other online retailers. He is currently working on his
first full-length album.

 

Revive Music
R EV'VE Revive Music, founded in 2006 by Berklee alumna Meghan Stabile ‘06,
is a boutique live music agency that specializes in producing
genre-bending, creative-concept shows that tour worldwide with the purpose of educating
and inspiring audiences about artistic and authentic forms of music. Stabile’s locally grown
vision of live music exploded worldwide with help from Revive’s digital space dedicated to
musicians, revive-music.com, along with with Okayplayer and Revive’s newly launched label im-
print with Blue Note Records.

Neo-Soul Ensemble

The Neo-Soul Ensemble was formed by director Skip Smith with the aim of bringing together
talented Berklee students to perform contemporary R&B at its highest level. The ensemble has
backed up many well-known artists, including Bilal, Lalah Hathaway, Meshell Ndegeocello, and
David Dyson. Former students of the Neo-Soul Ensemble are now performing with Rihanna,
Nicki Minaj, gospel great John P. Kee, and Pharrell Williams, as well as writing and producing
for many recording artists.

Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra

Since its debut in 2008, the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra (BCSO) has set out on
a course to distinguish itself from other Boston-area orchestras. The ensemble has nearly 100
members and is the first full symphonic group ever assembled at Berklee. Possessing a distinct
Berklee twist, the group specializes in programming contemporary works—particularly those
by living composers—but juxtaposes them with pieces from the traditional orchestral repertoire.
“We want to explore different repertoires and types of music—symphonic material that does
not necessarily belong to the traditional symphonic repertoire. BCSO is firmly connected to the
roots of the symphonic repertoire. We're interested in adding to the continuum of great orchestral
music,” says assistant professor Francisco Noya, the BCSO’s music director and conductor.