Sunday, April 22, 2018
4pm
Questlove
in conversation with Fred Armisen and Joel Stein
discussing his new book,
Creative Quest
Aratani Theatre
Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
244 S. San Pedro Street
Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90012
PURCHASE TICKETS
$80 First 5 Rows + a copy of Creative Quest
$55 Orchestra Section Seat + a copy of Creative Quest
$45 Balcony Section Seat + a copy of Creative Quest
$25 Balcony Section
* Seating is on a first come basis in each section
Drummer, DJ, producer, culinary entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, and member of The Roots — Questlove is the unmistakable heartbeat of Philadelphia’s most influential hip-hop group. He is the Musical Director for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where his beloved Roots crew serves as house band. Beyond that, this 4-time GRAMMY Award winning musician’s indisputable reputation has landed him musical directing positions with everyone from D’Angelo to Eminem to Jay-Z. Questlove has also released three books including the New York Times bestseller “Mo’ Meta Blues,” “Soul Train: The Music, Dance and Style of a Generation” and most recently the James Beard-nominated “somethingtofoodabout,” and his new book “Creative Quest” will be released in April of 2018. One of his latest endeavors has been becoming a strategic advisor, and the first artist ambassador for Pandora, as well as hosting a new series “Questlove Supreme.” He also co-produced the GRAMMY Award winning Original Broadway Cast Recording of “Hamilton.” Most recently, Questlove and The Roots announced that they are developing an animated children’s series, along with a live action children series, in partnership with Amazon. Questlove is a Celebrity Ambassador for Food Bank For New York City, is on City Harvest’s Food Council, a board member of Edible Schoolyard, and the first Artist-in-Residence at the Made in NY Media Center. Questlove is also a Founding Member of the CAPA Foundation in Philadelphia. Additionally, Questlove and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter wrote a new original song “It Ain’t Fair” for the critically acclaimed motion picture “Detroit,” directed by Academy Award-winner Kathryn Bigelow. The song is performed by The Roots and Bilal.
In Creative Quest, Questlove synthesizes all the creative philosophies, lessons and stories he’s heard from the many creators and collaborators in his life. He also reflects on his own experience, to advise readers and fans on how to consider creativity and where to find it. Whether discussing his own life or channeling the lessons he’s learned from forefathers such as George Clinton, collaborators like D’Angelo, or like-minded artists including Ava DuVernay, David Byrne, Björk, and others, Questlove speaks with the candor and enthusiasm that fans have come to expect. “Creative Quest” is many things—above all, a wise and wide-ranging conversation around the eternal mystery of creativity.
Fred Armisen is an American actor, voice artist, screenwriter, producer, director, singer, musician, and comedian. Widely known as a cast member on ”Saturday Night Live” from 2002 until 2013, Armisen has portrayed characters in comedy films, including ”EuroTrip”, ”Anchorman”, and ”Cop Out”. With his comedy partner Carrie Brownstein, Armisen is the co-creator and co-star of the IFC sketch comedy series ”Portlandia”. Armisen founded ThunderAnt.com, a website that features the comedy sketches created with Brownstein, and is the bandleader for the ”Late Night with Seth Meyers” house band, The 8G Band. For his work on ”Portlandia”, Armisen was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2014. He has also won two Peabody Awards, one in 2008 as part of the ”Saturday Night Live” political satire cast and one in 2011 for ”Portlandia”.
Joel Stein is one of the pre-eminent moderators in the country, having moderated more than 1,600 events including the SALT II, Appomattox and the first time his parents had to see each other after their divorce. He was been nominated for two Moddies for Best Moderator In An Entertainment Beef (non-hip hop).
He wrote a sophomoric humor column in Time magazine for 20 years, along with 16 cover stories and many stories far away from the cover. He’s has contributed to The New Yorker, GQ, Esquire, Details, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, Businessweek and many magazines that have gone out of business. He has appeared as a talking head on any TV show that asks him, taught a class in humor writing at Princeton, and wrote a weekly column for the back page of Entertainment Weekly and the opinion section of the Los Angeles Times. This is the most he’s ever written in third person.