Musicians and guest artists of the African American Composer Initiative will present concerts dedicated to the rich heritage of music by African American composers, The concerts feature vocal and instrumental music: spirituals, jazz, blues, popular, and concert music. Ticket proceeds benefit Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto.
Composers featured on the concert include Valerie Capers, William Grant Still, Florence Price, Mary Lou Williams, Duke Ellington, John Robinson, Adolphus Hailstork, Jeremiah Evans, Charles Lloyd, Jr, and Kenny Dorham.
Performing on the program are soprano Yolanda Rhodes, tenor Othello Jefferson, pianists/vocalists LaDoris Cordell and Deanne Tucker, The Picasso Ensemble: pianist Josephine Gandolfi, violinist Susan C. Brown, cellist Victoria Ehrlich; clarinetist Carol Somersille, percussionist Jim Kassis, trumpeter John Worley, trombonist John Monroe, flutist Stephanie McNab, and saxophonists Oscar Pangilinan and Tod Dickow. Featured guest artists are jazz greats Valerie Capers, piano, and John Robinson, bass. The Eastside Choir, directed by Jansen Verplank, will also perform.
For further information: https://aacinitiative.org/concerts/