Aura Surey (Morning Star)
Aura Surey is a Native Americana/roots band that explores the past and present of Native America through music. Fronted Native American Music Award nominee Ron Warren on Native American flutes and exceptional vocalist Janice Torres, its mixture of music styles allows the band to express itself in many different ways through many different genres. Aura Surey uses hand percussion, flutes and voice to express the simple beauty of ancient melodies and incorporates guitars, bass, and drum set to move the sound into mainstream music.
Aura Surey means “Morning Star” in the Taino language. The Tainos are the indigenous people of the Caribbean who at one time were considered extinct. Choosing to use the Taino phrase reflects the Taino heritage of our lead singer Janice Torres, who is of Taino descent. Many indigenous traditions are matrilineal, or prefer to trace their lineage through their mothers. Both the Taino and the Tsalagi (Cherokee) are matrilinealy based, so in following tradition, we have used the Taino pronunciation.
Featuring Ron Warren (Echota Cherokee) and Janice Torres (Taino)
Buster Hemphill (electric bass) is highly regarded as a bassist with artists in a diverse range of genres and contexts. Since arriving in New York in the mid-90’s, Hemphill’s funky imprint has made its way on to recordings, performances, or tours with the Ellington Legacy Band, guitarist Felicia Collins (of the CBS Late Show band), Daphne Rubin-Vega, Vonda Shepard, Harlem Gospel Choir, Chaka Khan, Three ‘Mo Tenors, Jay Collins, Judy Bady, drummer Keith Carlock, Ashford & Simpson, Brooklyn Philharmonic, hip-hoppers Camp Lo, the Metermaids, Onajé Allan Gumbs, Ramon Taranco, KJ Denhert, and many others. He's also a member of the Paris Troika trio with Misha Piatigorsky and Chris Wabich; they perform internationally in concert halls and at jazz clubs such as the Blue Note (NYC) and Iridium, and have recently released their first record.
