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Oscar Micheaux Suite
May
11

Oscar Micheaux Suite

Inspired by the life of the first major African-American film director and producer, Oscar Micheaux, this suite is modeled on Micheaux's biography, incorporating text from his writings. Micheaux’s ground-breaking films focused on contemporary Black life in the first half of the 20th century, racial relationships, and the struggle of African Americans trying to achieve success. He sought to create films that would counter white portrayals of African Americans, featuring complex characters of different social classes.

This suite strives to honor Micheaux’s work and the context in which it was created through an original, contemporary performance lens. It also marks the next step in the development of a new full-length stage musical that will tell the story of this charismatic and visionary African-American leader, produced through New York City's Prospect Theater Company. In March 2021, Prospect released an original short film, Making Micheaux, an investigation of a turning point in the filmmaker's creative life. The Oscar Micheaux Suite features songs from this film, as well as brand new material exploring new directions.

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Vocals & Tap: Aaron Marcellus
Trumpet: Alphonso Horne
Piano: Mathis Picard
Drums: Diego Ramirez

Songs from the Oscar Micheaux Suite
Music: Alphonso Horne
Book & Lyrics: Jesse L. Kearney, Jr.
Additional Lyrics: Peter Mills
Creative Producer (Prospect Theater Company): Cara Reichel

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Kabilla (Community)
Mar
23

Kabilla (Community)

Kabilla is the word for Community in Bambara, one of the most widely-spoken languages of Mali. Community is the birthplace of our customs and a source of healing and nurturing. Kabilla (Community) brings together Malian kora virtuoso Yacouba Sissoko, drummer Savannah Harris, and pianist Chris Pattishall to explore the folk music traditions of both the African and North American continents. Focusing on the emotional resonance of these numerous traditions, Kabilla is about the connection we all share.

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Liberating the Bird
Mar
9

Liberating the Bird

Vocalist Sarah Elizabeth Charles performs original repertoire dedicated to and directly inspired by the works of the late poet, memoirist and legacy, Dr Maya Angelou. Angelou has had an enormous impact on Charles’ own life and her fresh take on Angelou’s poetry pays tribute to Angelou’s creative space, activism, and immeasurable role in American history. This performance will feature Jordan Peters on guitar and special guest Keyon Harrold on trumpet.

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Pops and the Piano
Feb
23

Pops and the Piano

Trumpeter Alphonso Horne and pianist Chris Pattishall re-animate Louis Armstrong's legacy from a unique perspective: the pianists who performed with and influenced the legendary trumpeter. From his second wife Lil' Hardin to Earl “Fatha” Hines, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Clarence Williams, and Dave Brubeck, this program presents a broad range of Armstrong's career through the lens of these relationships.

Alphonso and Chris are joined by Samara Joy (vocals) and Jonathan Beshay (reeds).

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Fictions
Feb
9

Fictions

Pianist Chris Pattishall presents a musical exploration of the short stories of Jorge Luis Borges. Pulling from allusions and imagery in Borges’ stories, as well as references to Stravinsky, Bartok and Klezmer, Fictions pushes the limits of genre and intertextuality. Chris is joined by Benjamin Sutin (violin), Vitor Gonçalves (accordion) and Russell Hall (bass).

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