Iqua Colson | Declan Sheehy-Moss

Iqua Colson - began studying piano, dance and voice as a child which led to her entering Northwestern University School of Music as a piano major at 16 years old. She was named a Vocal Talent Deserving Wider Recognition by Downbeat Magazine and has been recognized by Billboard Magazine for distinguished achievement as a lyricist. The media has placed her in the company of some of our finest known vocal innovators and stylists including Sarah Vaughan, Jeanne Lee, and Abbey Lincoln. Her work has been discussed/reviewed in many languages and can be found in countless periodicals, and in several books including: Black Women & Music, More than the Blues, an anthology of essays/interviews on several women in music including the great Leontyne Price. Iqua co-owns recording label Silver Sphinx with husband and musical partner Ade, and their first release in 1980 later became part of Gilles Peterson’s 2011 compilation Freedom, Rhythm & Sound which credited them as the early roots of the “indie” movement alongside such independent innovators as Maurice White, John Coltrane, Sun Ra, and Mary Lou Williams. Iqua worked with tenor saxophone titan Fred Anderson for several years in her early career. This contributed to her decision to join the AACM in 1974 – that, and the encouragement of friend and master drummer - AACM Founder, Steve McCall. Though she has performed with other artists, her most frequent collaborator is her husband, noted pianist and composer, Adegoke Steve Colson. Their presentations have included some of today’s leaders of modern music. A native of Chicago, Iqua’s undergrad degree is in Music and she has a Masters in Public Administration / Arts Administration. Iqua regularly consults and produces arts based projects. She worked with her team and acclaimed actress Cicely Tyson to successfully design and build the Cicely L. Tyson School of Performing & Fine Arts. She has received awards for initiatives that use the arts as catalyst for educational and/or social change including the Shirley Chisolm Award in the Arts from the State of New Jersey where she now resides. In 2024, The Northwestern University Libraries purchased the Adegoke Steve Colson and Iqua Colson Archives including scores, compositions and artifacts relative to their varied and prolific careers. (Photo Credit: Mikel Colson) ---------------------------------------- Declan Sheehy-Moss - With an expanded instrumentation, Declan's newest project "Bounce" features a new, deeper sound. Combining elements of modern jazz, free jazz, and funk, guitar pedals and other electronics are used alongside typical acoustic instruments to further expand upon the sonic landscape. Loopers, synths, and more will be employed. Hailing from Brooklyn, Declan Sheehy-Moss is a genre-defying saxophonist and composer who artfully blends jazz, pop, funk, and electronic elements to craft an incendiary fusion of sound. His adeptness with digital production and recording techniques, coupled with his instrumental virtuosity, yields a unique digital-acoustic amalgamation at his Brooklyn-based studio, replete with analog synths, EWI, and an array of unconventional instruments. Declan's performances have graced illustrious venues like Monterey Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, BAM, Roulette, and many more. Recently Declan was also a 2023 recipient of the Composers Now IMPACT Award, an honor shared among artists such as Kalia Vandever, Alexis Cuadrado, Max Johnson, and many more. Further expanding his musical horizons, Declan works side-by-side with Henry Threadgill, assuming a multifaceted role handling audio engineering, EWI/Saxophone, technical support, and social media management for Mr. Threadgill. Declan has worked intimately on projects like "One" and "The Other One.”