The Shenson Faculty Concert Series returns this summer with free concert spotlighting CMC talented faculty members. Each year, the Shenson Foundation sponsors free community concerts for CMC faculty music projects to support CMC Faculty as performing artists and ensure their work on stage is shared and celebrated in our community.
This year’s presenters, featuring many talented intergenerational collaborators, will highlight a wide variety of musical styles, techniques, and creative inspirations—from the historical legacies of Black roots music, California folk and Sephardic music traditions, to theater and environmental and human rights activism.
June 23: Deszon X. Claiborne, drums
July 21: David Steinberg, saxophone/clarinet
August 4: Beth Wilmurt & Sharon Wayne, voice/piano/guitar
Reimagining the Trapset Drums: From Slavery to Afro-Futurism with Deszon Claiborne
Thursday, June 23 at 7pm
@ Sha’ar Zahav (290 Dolores St, San Francisco)
FREE
This performance celebrates the legacy of Black music—from history to the present day— through the drum. During slavery, the white slave owners feared the communicative power of the drums and subsequently banned their use. This new presentation-performance, coinciding with the Juneteenth commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved Black people in 1865, will also pay tribute to the important trapset drummers in the last 100 years, from Baby Dodds to Max Roach to Tyshawn Sorey.
This event will be hosted by our Mission District neighbors Sha’ar Zahav. RSVP is recommended, but there will be space for walk-up patrons at the door.
About the Performers:
A native of the Bay Area, Deszon Claiborne began his musical career at the early age of ten. Virtually self taught in the beginning, he went on to study with world-renowned drummers such as Richard Peterson, Rick Quintinel (Chuck Brown school of Drumming), James Levi, Billy Cobham and Kenneth Nash , an experience which provided him with a strong foundation in jazz, rhythm & blues and world music. He has had the pleasure to perform or record with the following artists: Peter Apfelbaum, Don Cherry, Charles brown, Angela Bofill, Les McCann, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Robin Ford, Boz Scaggs, Greg Howe, Henry Butler, Giovani Hildalgo, Kai Eckhardt, John Handy, Taj Mahal, Donald Harrison, Rodney Franklin, and may others.
In addition to his performing and recording credits, Deszon is also an educator. He has taught both private and group lessons to students of all ages and levels, youth to adult, and beginning to advanced. Deszon has also participated in music education programs in the Bay Area over the last 20 years, including Berkeley Jazz School, Jazz Camp West, Stanford Jazz Camp, Lafayette Summer Music camp, Moody’s Jazz Camp, Just Say Jazz, and Adventures in Music.
Health & Safety Precautions at Sha’ar Zahav:
- All event attendees 5+ must be vaccinated (including booster if eligible)
- All guests must wear a mask
CMC continues to closely monitor information from public health officials regarding public gatherings. Please be aware that events are subject to change to comply with these protocol. Thank you for helping us keep our communities safe!
Sha’ar Zahav is a fragrance-free environment. Please do your best to follow these guidelines when you visit our synagogue building:
- Refrain from wearing perfume/cologne
- Check your various products to see if there is a fragrance-free version available and/or try to use them at least a couple of hours before coming to Sha’ar Zahav to give time for the fragrance to wear off.
- Switch to fragrance-free laundry detergent and softener
For more information on this subject, including why it’s important and a list of Fragrance-Free products, please visit: eastbaymeditation.org