"Lieberman wraps it all up into an expansive musical tapestry that incorporates both standard and exotic timbres, excellent compositional devices, and some of the strangest vocal affectations I've ever heard.... I haven't heard many modern composers outside of film that are able to develop thematic material like this over such a varying stylistic palette. It really showcases her versatility and knowledge of the compositional process." — Matthew Bowman, Northeast Performer "Julie Lyonn Lieberman is a musical blacksmith who brings to her forge many tools to create beautiful, solid pieces of art. Styles vary from B roadway to world music." The performances on this album are exceptional. All of the musicians and vocalists on this album deserve an immense amount of credit for their work. As most great albums, Mixing America improves the more you hear it. The melodies and harmonies grow more enchanting with repeated listening." — Stephen McClurg, The Harbinger "...singer and violinist Julie Lyonn Lieberman has put together an eclectic collection of art songs ranging from dramatic commentaries on society's ills to several fine tributes to modern jazz. The lyrics are powerful and thought provoking; no surprise, coming from this prolific author of instructional books and tapes covering the history and practice of violin improvisation in the areas of folk, blues, swing, jazz, and New Age music. There is some fine jazz work here.... Lieberman's singing is at its best when she's singing wordless vocals in unison with her violin artistry or performing a painful social commentary with dramatic overtones." — Jim Santella, L.A. Jazz Scene "This experienced jazz musician, teacher, and author has created a fine CD that delivers some unusual written lyrics, powerful vocals, and violin playing that is incredible...would be ideal movie soundtrack material." — IQ Demo Review In this recording, violinist, singer, and composer Julie Lyonn Lieberman leads a haunting foray into the deeply spiritual challenge we face as a nation comprised of dozens of diverse cultures, languages, and beliefs. Mixing America views the state of our nation from the perspective of Eagle Bones, a Native American shaman murdered while defending his people, his spirit long incarcerated by the glass case that displays his skeleton in a national museum. We see through his eyes the America we've created: the self-righteousness that we call racism (The Tree of Thorns); drug addiction, as The Sandman lures us to sleep-walk through our lives; families that fail their children (Orphan Boy) as poverty, hopelessness, and the complexities of immigration overcome them. Yet incredible richness and vitality are inherent in our diversity (Mixing America), and there is the power of art (Fiddle Sing For Me) to inspire and guide us, to keep the creative heartbeat pulsing in us all (Lady Bop, dedicated to Betty Carter). Julie Lyonn Lieberman is a pioneer teacher of music improvisation and ergonomic performance. She was born in Newark, New Jersey on July 16, 1954. She is an American improvising violinist and vocalist, composer, author, educator, and recording artist specializing in fiddle and international violin styles. Julie Lyonn Lieberman was among the first to teach improvisation and world music at Juilliard; she also created the first eclectic styles teacher training program in the world as Artistic Director for the summer program, Strings Without Boundaries Strings Without Boundaries at Duquesne University. Julie Lyonn Lieberman began her formal education on violin studying with famed educator and author, Samuel Applebaum. She continued her classical violin studies with with Nancy Clarke of the Curtis Institute; Romuald Tecco of the Galamian School; Bill Henry, the co-founder of Orpheus Ensemble; and Stanley Ritchie, then concertmaster of the New York City Opera Orchestra and first violinist of the Philadelphia String Quartet. During this time she also became involved in roots music through family members who helped found the Folk Society of Northern New Jersey and who were involved with booking international groups such as The Boys of the Lough. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College, she became the composer-in-residence for one of America’s first feminist theatre company, Emmatroupe. Around this time, her work as a composer caught the interest of Leonardo Shapiro. Together they created “The Yellow House”, a play on the life of VanGogh which was performed at La Mama in New York City and at Theatre of Nations in Baltimore. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Julie Lyonn Lieberman’s first three books (see bibliography) were published; she wrote and produced a National Public Radio series called The Talking Violin detailing the history of violin music in America and narrated by Dr. Billy Taylor; created her first three recordings of original music (see discography), performed on Broadway in M. Butterfly and in venues such as Omega Institute, The New York Open Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Carnegie, and in colleges and clubs throughout America. She also produced three jazz string summits featuring many of the top improvising string players in America (Symphony Space 1984, St. Peter’s Church 1986, and New York University 1988), and co-produced a radio show, “Hear and Now” with Cynthia Bell on WBAI for four years. In the early 1990s, Julie Lyonn Lieberman and Steve Rathe of Murray Street Productions, wrote and produced a two-part series for the National Public Radio series, Jazz Profiles, titled “Jazz Violin” and hosted by Nancy Wilson. From the 1990s up through present day, Lieberman has been extremely active in the field of education. She worked as a consultant to National Young Audiences for several years, and went on to develop a jazz string curriculum for The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, followed by a creative curriculum for American String Teachers Association’s national curriculum book, “Curriculum for School String Programs K-12.” She has taught master classes for Music Educators Conference state conferences, American String Teachers Association’s state conferences, as well as residencies in schools throughout the United States. She has also authored over fifty articles for music magazines, including STRAD Magazine, STRINGS Magazine, Fiddler Magazine, School Band and Orchestra, and American String Teacher Journal, and Downbeat. In 2003, 2004 and 2005 she co-produced three alternative styles string festivals within American String Teachers national conferences, serving as the chair for the 2004 component. In 2007, she wrote and produced the DVD, Alternative String Styles in the Classroom, for American String Teachers Association and NAMM. As a D’Addario Elite Clinician since 1999, she has created over a dozen instructional videos. In 2008 she taught at Django in June at Smith Dollege. In 2009 the Natiional Association of Music Educators included Lieberman's Green Anthem as part of its suggested curriculum. The "Green Anthem", the world's largest concert.The mission of the Green Anthem Project wass to promote musicianship, creativity and leadership, while benefiting the environment. Special Awards and Honors: Lieberman is the recipient of over a dozen ASCAP awards and eight Meet the Composer awards. She won “Honorary Mention” for the video, “Improvising Violin: Four Personal Views, featuring Leroy Jenkins, John Blake, Jr., Billy Bang, and herself, which she helped write, direct, and moderate. She has been awarded four Citations for Merit from American String Teachers Association. Discography: 1981 Empathic Connections, Julie Lyonn Music 1983 Arcturus, Julie Lyonn Music 1991 The Roaring Brook Fiddler, Julie Lyonn Music 1995 Mixing America, Julie Lyonn Music 2002 Soundtrack (composed and performed) for the Taoist exercise video Body Logos Note: She was a also a guest artist on Laura Nyro's final album before her untimely death, Mother's Spiritual, 1984, designing her own violin lines for the album. Bibliography: Lyonn Lieberman, Julie. Alternative Strings: The New Curriculum. Pompton Plains, NJ: Amadeus Press, 2004. The Contemporary Violinist. (Book and DVD). Newtown, CT: Huiksi Music/Julie Lyonn Music, 1999. The Creative Band and Orchestra. (Book). Newtown, CT: Huiksi Music/Julie Lyonn Music, 2002. Improvising Violin. (Book). Newtown, CT: Huiksi Music/Julie Lyonn Music, 1997. Rhythmizing the Bow. dvd 2004 Planet Musician: The World Music Sourcebook for Musicians. (Book and DVD). Milwaukee, WI Rockin’ Out With the Blues Fiddle. (Book and DVD). Newtown, CT: Huiksi Music/Julie Lyonn Music, 2000. Techniques for the Contemporary String Player. 1993. Violin & Viola Ergonomics: Determine the optimum playing position and support for your body type. (DVD), 2010. The Violin in Motion. (DVD). Huiksi Music/Julie Lyonn Music, 1994. Vocal Aerobics. (DVD). Huiksi Music/Julie Lyonn Music, 2009. You Are Your Instrument. (book). Newtown, CT: Huiksi Music/Julie Lyonn Music, 1993. Compositions: String quartet: Ben’s Millennium Romp (commissioned by Manchester Music Festival) The Green Anthem, 2009 String Orchestra Scores: (Alfred Music): Midnight’s Celtic Run Folk Dance From Provence Lebedike Honga (A Lively Honga) Traditional / arr. Rockin’ It Hotter Than Blues Twin Sisters Traditional / arr. Flop-Eared Mule Traditional / arr. Blues Fiddle on the Fringe French Roast Traditional / arr. (Kendor Music) Butterfly Traditional / arr. (Kendor Music)