Sigma Alpha Iota

singing out loud Lewis Jacobs/NBC Lewis Jacobs/NBC Afro-Blue, featuring three SAIs, performs on this season of NBC's The Sing-Off. Afro-Blue, featuring three SAIs, performs on this season of NBC's The Sing-Off. SAIs Compete on NBC's The Sing-Off T he Sing-Off, hosted by Nick Lachey, returned for its third season, September 19 on NBC. Sixteen a capella groups began competing to win $200,000 cash and a Sony Music recording contract. Each group is judged by a celebrity panel comprised of Sara Bareilles ("Love Song" and "King of Anything"), Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five), and Shawn Stockman (Boyz II Men). One of those groups is Afro-Blue, an student ensemble from Howard University which includes three SAI sisters, Christie Dashiell, Mariah Maxwell, and Danielle Withers. Christie, Mariah, and Danielle were gracious enough to grant an interview to PAN PIPES and were delighted to share their experiences to date. These music majors and Delta Nu initiates at Howard University have made it through four elimination rounds as of October 31, and can't wait for us to hear them perform next. Pan Pipes (PP): How did Afro-Blue form, and how did you come up with the group name? Afro-Blue (A-B): Afro-Blue was formed by Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Jazz Vocal Studies (and Delta Nu initiate) Connaitre Miller at Howard University in 2002. She wanted to have a vocal jazz ensemble so students could get used to different styles of singing. There were a lot of jazz singers, and anyone who wanted to learn about jazz could be a part of this class. There were a few different groups started, and Afro-Blue is the more advanced group. As for the name, it was influenced by John Coltrane. (Editor's note: Afro Blue Impressions is an album by jazz musician John Coltrane, recorded live in 1963 and released on the Pablo label in 1977 as a double LP.) PP: How would you describe your music for the public audience if they have never seen you before? A-B: Jazz, pop, R&B, and hip-hop. It's like an accessible version of jazz. We manage to present jazz in a way that people can identify with. We're also a fun, personal kind of group, and that comes across in our sound. PP: How long has Afro-Blue been performing live together? A-B: Within the course, your final and midterm are performances. Afro-Blue has been performing since its inception. However, the first time that this particular group of students performed together was on The Sing-Off. PP: What is the craziest thing that has happened to you as a group? A-B: Being on The Sing-Off is the craziest thing! Through this show, we are getting the opportunity to travel around the world and sai-national.org SING continued on page14 FALL 2011 PAN PIPES 13

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