performing 400: An African American Musical Portrait

Thursday, November 21, 2019, 7:30 pm
Bowker Auditorium

In 1619, the Dutch brought the first enslaved Africans to Jamestown, Virginia. Acclaimed bassist and composer Avery Sharpe marks this 400th anniversary with a new original piece of music touched by spirituals, gospel, blues, jazz and classical idioms, along with video. Featuring Don Braden (tenor saxophone), Duane Eubanks (trumpet),Davis Whitfield (piano), Ronnie Burrage (drums), Avery Sharpe (bass) and the Extended Family Choir directed by Kevin Sharpe. A long-time Pioneer Valley resident, Sharpe studied at UMass Amherst before embarking upon a globe-spanning career.

Pre-performance talk in the auditorium at 6:30 p.m. by Dr. Barbara Krauthamer, Senior Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Programs, Dean of the Graduate School, Professor of History, author “Black Slaves, Indian Masters: Slavery, Emancipation, and Citizenship in the Native American South,"  and co-author, “Envisioning Emancipation: Black Americans and the End of Slavery.”

General Admission $15; Students $7