"A Year of Jubilee" : 36th Annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert w/NES Ensemble & JCMC Ensemble

BOSTON - Oct. 25, 2013 - PRLog -- Friends of John Coltrane Memorial Concert presents A Year of Jubilee: the 36th annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert, with the New England Spiritual Ensemble and the John Coltrane Memorial Concert Ensemble; hosted by Eric Jackson. Saturday, November 23, 7:30 pm. Tickets: $32, $27 students/seniors, $40 VIP. Northeastern University, Blackman Theatre, Ell Hall, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115. Wheelchair accessible. For tickets: tickets.neu.edu, 617-373-4700 (TTY 617-373-2184; further information on the concert can be found at http://www.friendsofjcmc.org.

The John Coltrane Memorial Concert Ensemble will partner with the New England Spiritual Ensemble to present an evening of Jubilee Songs in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, and in memory of the four young girls (Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson & Denise McNair) who were killed in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama on September 15, 1963.

As New England’s premiere vocal ensemble, the New England Spiritual Ensemble is dedicated to the preservation and performance of Negro spirituals, including Jubilee Songs with lyrics that are often more direct in revealing the enslaved Blacks' existence. This year’s concert will feature a select repertoire encompassing a variety of vocal and instrumental manifestations, integrating John Coltrane’s rich contribution to the expansive body of songs codified as Jubilee Songs.

From childhood, Coltrane was well versed in Jubilee Songs. Both his grandfathers were AMEZ ministers and the young Coltrane grew up hearing and singing the music of the black church. In elementary school, he wrote a research paper on the renowned black concert singer Marian Anderson, who performed a diverse repertoire of spirituals. Coltrane was raised in the religious south and some of his compositions, such as “Spiritual,” “Alabama,” “Song of the Underground Railroad,” are clearly drawn from his deep familiarity with Negro spirituals.

New England Spiritual Ensemble

Based in Boston, the New England Spiritual Ensemble was founded in 1994 by Vincent Dion Stringer, Myran Parker-Brass and Beverly Mosby. The members of the ensemble are conservatory trained, professional musicians who are exceptional communicators. Their performances are captivating and totally engrossing, always involving the audience emotionally. According to the Boston Globe, the Ensemble is “excellent...blessed with performers who own good voices...daringly expressive,” and reported that their performance “brought a hush to the hall." Modeled after the world-renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers, the ensemble is devoted to “preserving the art and tradition of Negro spirituals.” As such, members have created several educational outreach programs over the years, including a summer music camp for high school students, a Spirituals symposium that aired online at WGBH, and a joint workshop with the Cantata Singers at Boston Arts Academy’s Summer Institute for educators. In addition to national and international tours, the New England Spiritual Ensemble has appeared nationally on “CBS Sunday Morning,” on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today,” and is the subject of several public television features. Their recording, Comin’ Up Shouting, features the arrangements of spirituals and works of John Andrew Ross.

The New England Spiritual Ensemble includes Christina DeVaughn (soprano), Joei Marshall Perry (soprano), Myran Parker-Brass (alto), Cynthia Harmon (alto), Orlando Lightfoot (tenor), Davron S. Monroe (tenor), David C. Howse (baritone), Daniel Perry (bass), and Milton Wright (bass). http://www.nespirituals.org

John Coltrane Memorial Concert Ensemble

John Coltrane Memorial Concert Ensemble features some of the leading musicians of our time, many who also happen to be based in the Boston-area. Along with long time JCMC affiliates Stan Strickland (reeds/woodwinds) and Carl Atkins (reeds/woodwinds), this year’s concert will also feature Cosimo Boni (trumpet), Lance Bryant (reeds/woodwinds), Jeff Galindo (trombone), Yoron Israel (drums), Ron Mahdi (acoustic bass), Michael Peipman (trumpet), Sarah Politz (trombone), George W. Russell, Jr. (piano) and Bobby Tynes (reeds/woodwinds).

Friends of John Coltrane Memorial Concert

John Coltrane Memorial Concert, the world’s oldest performance tribute to the musical & spiritual legacy of John Coltrane, who inspired many, no matter the community or culture, to achieve musical, spiritual, and humanitarian heights never thought possible. The gathering is presented by the Boston-based Friends of John Coltrane Memorial Concert, Inc. (fJCMC), originally established as John Coltrane Memorial Concert in 1977 and incorporated in 2012. Producers of the concert are Leonard Brown and Emmett G. Price III.

fJCMC is proud to acknowledge this year’s sponsors which at press time are Color Magazine, JazzBoston!, John D. O'Bryant African-American Institute (JDOAAI) at Northeastern University, MassJazz, Northeastern Center for the Arts, Northeastern University, Touch 106.1 FM, and The Word Boston. For updates on sponsors and other pertinent information: http://www.friendsofjcmc.org, (617) 671-0789, friendsofjcmc@gmail.com.

“Coltrane (still) draws a crowd … With 14 impeccably improvisational musicians leading the liturgy and several Boston jazz fixtures beatified throughout the course of the night, this year’s Coltrane tribute was like a Sunday morning service on Saturday night.” (Boston Globe)