Two-time Oscar® nominee, six-time Grammy®-winner and 2018 USA Fellow trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard has been a consistent artistic force for making powerful musical statements concerning pivotal moments in American culture – past and present.
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New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow’s widely acclaimed memoir is the source for this extremely moving story of his traumatic youth in Louisiana. What an amazing collection of talent: composer Terence Blanchard, one of the most influential figures in American jazz; librettist Kasi Lemmons, director of such remarkable films as Harriet and Eve’s Bayou; and a top-flight cast including many of America’s most brilliant singing actors. Fire Shut Up in My Bones is an opera for today, revealing the black experience in this country as few other operas have done.
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A pioneer of jazz funk, key figure of the acid jazz movement and dubbed the “Godfather of Neo Soul,” the legendary Roy Ayers continues to bridge the gap between generations of music lovers. In the 60’s he was an award-winning jazz vibraphonist, and transformed into a popular R&B band leader in the 70’s/80’s. Today, the dynamic music man is an iconic figure still in great demand with music industry heavyweights, including Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, 50 Cent, A Tribe Called Quest, and Ice Cube.
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Internationally acclaimed American jazz bassist and five-time Grammy winner, Stanley Clarke will delight Dallas audience in a night of first-class jazz. Known for giving the bass guitar a prominence it lacked in jazz-related music, Clark is the first jazz-fusion bassist to headline tours, sell-out shows worldwide and have recordings reach gold status. A joint partnership with The Black Academy of Arts and Letters.
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Transforming their voices into actual human instruments, Naturally 7 is the future of vocal music! The jaw-dropping acapella group performs effortlessly music of any genre from pop to jazz. Hearing and experiencing them will be an unforgettable performance memory one will not soon forget! A joint partnership with The Black Academy of Arts and Letters.
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Four-time Grammy Award® winner esperanza spalding performs in Annette Strauss Square this spring in a special one-night-only performance.
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Grammy-nominated vocalist Oleta Adams celebrates over 45 years in the music industry. An instantly recognizable singer of the soul and gospel canon, she is known for her warm tone and rich timbre. Throughout her career, she has released 9 albums, including secular, Gospel and Christmas albums, and was the featured vocalist behind Tears of Fears, Women in Chains which hit Top 40 of the U.K. and U.S. pop charts.
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Critically acclaimed jazz quartet Yellowjackets have been a creative force in the jazz world since 1981. Receiving 17 Grammy nominations with 2 wins across their 41-year history, their sound has been described as having a stronger edge, with driving rhythms and virtuoso playing that sets them apart from their peers and takes the listener across a journey of decades and styles.
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Explore the power of music through the voice of the violin with virtuoso Regina Carter. Featuring a sound that transcends genres, she is widely hailed for her mastery on the violin and her drive to expand its possibilities. Performing many styles of music from jazz, R&B, Latin, classical, blues, country, pop, African, and every musical genre in between, she has cemented herself as a true pioneer of her instrument.
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Soulful, passionate, stirring…these are the words most often used to describe Kirk Whalum’s music. Forged from his Memphis, (TN) gospel roots and his 1980‘s initiation into the thriving Houston, TX nightclub scene, Kirk’s big, rich tenor sound is unmistakably his.
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