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Event
Marcus Shelby Orchestra and the Freedom Jazz Choir
At last year's Healdsburg Jazz Festival, bassist Marcus Shelby a composer of Ellingtonian sweep and ambition performed his suite "Soul of a Movement: Meditations on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.," with a 16-piece jazz orchestra and the 85 member HJF Freedom Jazz Choir, created especially for the festival with help from a grant provided by the James Irvine Foundation.
This year, Shelby plans to repeat the magic on another of his suites, "Harriet Tubman, Bound for the Promised Land." As with last year, the project is "about using music as a unifying force," according to Jessica Felix, founder and creative director of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival and the project. "We want to involve Sonoma County's diverse population by offering direct performance opportunities for participants to work alongside professional musicians, creating a profound cultural experience and fostering cooperation and understanding while expanding awareness and access to jazz."
The singers will get coaching from Shelby and singer Tiffany Austin. Rev. Adam Ivey, director of Santa Rosa's Joyous Noise Community Baptist Church Ensemble, has been commissioned to compose two pieces for the ensemble. The dynamic Ms. Faye Carol will be once again contribute her soulful vocals.
When released on disc in 2007, "Harriet Tubman" proved a landmark effort. Combining modern jazz, soul and spirituals, it richly evoked the life of the escaped slave and abolitionist. With close to 100 singers telling her story in Healdsburg, transcendence is practically guaranteed.
This performance at Santa Rosa's Glaser Center will be the second performance of the suite - the first is at the Community Baptist Church on May 17, the third and last is at the Raven Theater during the Healdsburg Jazz Festival on Thursday, June 5.
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LocationGlaser Center (View)
547 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
United States
Categories
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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