Martin Perna is an educator, social entrepreneur, and multidisciplinary artist living in Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas

Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...

.

Music

He is founder of the musical groups Antibalas and Ocote Soul Sounds, and has written for and/or recorded with Sharon Jones, Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...

, Baaba Maal

Baaba Maal

Baaba Maal is a Senegalese singer and guitarist born in Podor, on the Senegal River. In addition to acoustic guitar, he also plays percussion. He has released several albums, both for independent and major labels. In July 2003, he was made a UNDP Youth Emissary.-Biography:Born 12 November 1953...

, Angelique Kidjo

Angélique Kidjo

Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo, commonly known as Angélique Kidjo is a Grammy Award–winning Beninoise singer-songwriter and activist, noted for her diverse musical influences and creative music videos. Time Magazine has called her "Africa's premier diva". The BBC has...

, The Whitefield Brothers, the Daktaris

Daktaris

The Daktaris, whose name means "doctors" in Swahili, were an Afro-beat revival group based in Brooklyn. The group no longer exists today, though some of its members have gone on to be part of Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra....

, No Surrender, Apsci

Apsci

ApSci is a video-centric avant pop duo with origins in indie hip hop. As individuals, their roots go back to punk rock and opera. The duo consists of Bronx born, New Jersey-bred Ra Lamotta and his Filipino-Australian wife Dana Diaz-Tutaan...

, Architecture in Helsinki

Architecture in Helsinki

Architecture in Helsinki is an Australian indie pop band which consists of Cameron Bird, Gus Franklin, Jamie Mildren, Sam Perry, and Kellie Sutherland...

, and many other groups.

Education

Perna began his educational work in 1992 at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia as an overnight docent during the Camp-In Program. From 1998-2000, he taught at El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice in Brooklyn, New York. He has integrated education into his work as a musician, conducting musical workshops at Yale, McGill, Haverford, New York University, Concordia, University of Texas-Austin, and University of St. Denis (Île Réunion).

In 2007, based on his experiences as an educator and traveller, he conceived of the GO! Passport and is currently developing a pilot program for high school student in Austin Texas for 2011.

Multidisciplinary Art

He is author of the children's book BLACKOUT

Blackout

-Loss of lighting or communication:* Power outage, an accidental loss of electric power* Rolling blackout, an intentional loss of electric power* Blackout , the practice of minimizing outdoor lighting for protection from attack...

! about the 2003 blackout in the Northeastern United States

Northeastern United States

The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...

 and Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, published in 2006 by Magic Propaganda Mill.

An apprentice of earth architecture master Nader Khalili

Nader Khalili

Nader Khalili was an Iranian-born architect, writer, and humanitarian who received his philosophical and architectural education in Iran, Turkey, and the United States....

 Perna also practices superadobe architecture and has created works in Michoacán

Michoacán

Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...

, Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, and Austin, Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

.

Partial Discography

The Very Best "untitled" Flute, baritone saxophone

Daktaris

Daktaris

The Daktaris, whose name means "doctors" in Swahili, were an Afro-beat revival group based in Brooklyn. The group no longer exists today, though some of its members have gone on to be part of Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra....

 "Soul Explosion" Flute, tenor saxophone.

Mike Jackson and the Soul Providers "Revenge of Mr. Mopoji"

Nino Nardini "Rotonde Musique" Flute, saxophone

Lee Fields "Let's Get a Groove On" Baritone saxophone

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings "Dap Dippin'" Baritone saxophone

Antibalas "Liberation Afrobeat Vol. 1" Baritone saxophone, percussion

Antibalas "Talkatif" Baritone saxophone

Antibalas "Who Is This America" Baritone saxophone

Antibalas "Government Magic" Baritone saxophone

Antibalas "Security" Baritone Sax

TV on the Radio

TV on the Radio

TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....

 "Satellite" Flutes

TV on the Radio

TV on the Radio

TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....

 "Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes" Flutes, saxophones

TV on the Radio

TV on the Radio

TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....

 "Return to Cookie Mountain" Flute, saxophones, percussion

TV on the Radio

TV on the Radio

TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....

 "Dear Science

Dear Science

Dear Science is the third album by American art rock band TV on the Radio. It was released via Interscope Records in the United States, Touch and Go Records on iTunes and was licensed through 4AD in Europe and all remaining territories. Despite the marketed release date of September 22–23, the...

," Flutes, saxophones

Ocote Soul Sounds "El Niño y El Sol" Flutes, saxophones, guitars, percussion

Ocote Soul Sounds "The Alchemist Manifesto" Vocals, flutes, saxophones, guitars, percussion

Official website

GO! Passport
OCOTE SOUL MEDIA
Antibalas