Classic Black: African-American Voices from 19th Century San Francisco

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Bios:

Poet, Spoken word artist, devorah major served as Poet Laureate of San Francisco 2002-2006. Classic Black was produced with an individual artist commission from the San Francisco Art Commission’s Cultural Equity Grant program. Ms. Major has performed nationally and internationally with and without jazz musicians. Her poetry books include street smarts, where river meets ocean, and with more than tongue. She collaborated with composer Guillermo Galindo to create Trade Routes, a symphony with spoken word and chorus, that premiered with the Oakland East Bay Symphony. She is featured on eight cds including two Daughters of Yam recordings with Opal Palmer Adisa, Fierce Love and The Tongue is a Drum. She performs nationally and internationally with and without jazz musicians.

Tenor saxophonist Richard Howell, who’s also adept at playing a number of other instruments, is a lively force on the local scene, tirelessly devoted to spreading the jazz gospel, with an accent on African influences. Howell’s Coltrane-inspired sax playing is in high demand – he’s been hired by Etta James, Chaka Kahn, Don Cherry, Buddy Guy and many others. This veteran musician, vocalist and educator, and band leader is often seen and heard touring the world in the bands of other great musicians.

Emmy-winning composer Mark Izu, a third generation Japanese-American, has fused the traditional music of Asia with African-American improvisation. Izu plays acoustic bass as well as several traditional Asian instruments such as the sheng (Chinese multi- reed instrument) and sho (Japanese multi-reed instrument). Izu has composed scores for film, live music concerts and theater. In 2009 Izu won an EMMY for Out Standing Music for his score in Bolinao 52.

Location: Main Library Koret Auditorium

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.