‘Songs Of Freedom’: The music of Nina Simone, Abbey Lincoln & Joni Mitchell.
Featuring Rene Marie, Theo Bleckmann, Alicia Olatuja & Joanna Majoko.
First presented under the auspice of Jazz at Lincoln Center, the 1960s are explored through the work of three prolific artists: Joni Mitchell, Abbey Lincoln, and Nina Simone - all of whom have made an indelible mark in music. Each artist expressed freedom in various ways. Joni composed and sung about the freedom of love, Abbey expressed freedom of her individuality and race through her lyricism, and Nina Simone demanded freedom politically through song. The project is under the musical direction of Grammy Award-winning drummer, Ulysses Owens Jr.
Ulysses Owens, Jr. is one of today’s premier drummers and a rapidly evolving producer, composer, educator, and entrepreneur. Owens has established himself as a leader in his generation of jazz artists, admired for his sensitive, fiery, and complex playing, vivid display of textural nuance, and gift for propelling a band with charisma and integrity. Owens has been honoured with a 2015 Jazz At Lincoln Center Swing! Award,
2014 Global Music Award, 2013 ASCAP Plus Award, was designated a 2014 DownBeat Rising Star, and appeared as a TEDxJacksonville performer.
