Media Contact: Micki Leventhal 312-344-7383, mleventhal@colum.edu or Priscilla Hunter 312-344-7805, phunter@colum.edu
Chicago, January 2003 -- Columbia College Chicago celebrates African Heritage Month 2003 with The Power of Black Music. More than 40 events, most of which are free, are scheduled from February 5 - March 17 and include explorations of blues, gospel, classical, jazz, soul, hip hop, rap, spoken word -- and everything in between. A complete schedule of events -- some of which are in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the DuSable Museum of African American History and the Museum of Contemporary Art follows. For information call 312-344-7459.
The kick-off concert for The Power of Black Music series features the All-Star Large Ensemble of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians in a program of Great Black Music: Ancient to Modern and Beyond. The eclectic evening includes performances by musicians Ari Brown, Nicole Mitchell, Steve Berry, Malachi Flavors, Ameen Muhammed, Dushon Mosley, Art Burton, Avreeayl Ra Amen, Taalib-Din Ziyad, Edward Wilkerson and Ann E. Ward. The program will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11 in the Claudia Cassidy Theater of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington.
The first of three Tradition Bearers Series programs from the Center for Black Music Research will also be presented on Tuesday, February 11 when musicologist Johann Buis interviews Billy Branch, Jimmy Burns and Tony Magiullo at 11:30 a.m. in Columbia's Conaway Center, 1104 S. Wabash. These Blues legends will also share some music. Additional programs include a discussion about Jazz with music critic Howard Reich, Von Freeman, Jodie Christian and Dr. Burgess Gardner and a conversation between Gospel queen Albertina Walker and historian Dr. Margaret Burroughs. The Tradition Bearers Series is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Illinois General Assembly.
Other highlights of The Power of Black Music include a Stepper's Set featuring D.J. Wali Muhammad of V103 FM; two Roots of Jazz concerts by the Orbert Davis Sextet; New Orleans-style jazz concerts with Chicago Jazz Ensemble, the internationally renowned jazz orchestra in residence at Columbia College Chicago, founded by the late William Russo; classical music by African American women composers; Spoken-word performances with the legendary Last Poets; a gospel concert by The Robert Wooten Choral Ensemble; and A Tribute to Nina Simone and Music of the Black Esthetic featuring Bobbi Wilsyn, presented by the Cerqua Rivera Art Experience.
Musicians and musicologists from Columbia's Department of Music and the college's renowned Center for Black Music Research have worked with the staff of Columbia's Student Affairs Division, and in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the DuSable Museum of African American History and the Museum of Contemporary Art, to bring together a series of performances, discussions, lectures and film screenings designed to entertain and to enlighten audiences on the role Black music has played throughout history and around the world.
Columbia's centerpiece event for The Power of Black Music is a March 6 benefit featuring a performance by and conversation with Russell Simmons and the Def Poets at The Metro. A Conversation with Russell Simmons will include performances by poets and spoken word artists who will present pieces on life, love, power and politics. Proceeds will benefit a Columbia College Chicago scholarship fund for graduates of the Chicago Public High Schools.