Imani Uzuri Curates: SInners and Saints

February 26 - March 1, 2014

Vocalist, composer and cultural worker Imani Uzuri curates SINNERS AND SAINTS, a four day festival (Feb 26-March 1st) celebrating Black American vernacular culture (Ring Shouts, Spirituals, Blues, early Gospel, Line Singing, Praise Houses, Jazz) and their contemporary counterparts! This week will celebrate improv as an ecstatic tradition and the ways in the ways in which secular and sacred often intertwine in these cultural systems.

WEDNESDAY, FEB 26TH at 7:30 pm:
Sinners and Saints Festival Opening Night will feature musical guests rollicking, clapping, playin' and saangin' low down dirty Blues AND catchin' the Holy Ghost while praising through Spirituals, early Gospel and Line-Singing old metered hymns; exploring the ways in which secular and sacred (sometimes even profane) often intertwine in these Black American cultural forms. The night will feature powerhouse performances by Imani Uzuri, Courtney Bryan, Marvin Sewell, Tyehimba Jess, Fredara Mareva Hadley, Jarvis McInnis, Rozz Nash, Mikel Banks and surprise special guests followed by a high octane panel discussion moderated by Matthew D. Morrison (Ph. D. Candidate in Historical Musicology, Columbia). Come bring your tambourine for this Juke Joint/Chuuuch mash up.

THURSDAY, FEB 27th at 7:30 pm:
A special musical staged reading of Karma Mayet Johnson's captivating INDIGO, A BLUES OPERA, followed by an artist talk moderated by Toshi Reagon.

At the intersection of ancestral conjure, herstorical fact, and raw ritual, INDIGO, A BLUES OPERA investigates the lesbian roots of the Blues through the lens of two lovers who refused to remain enslaved. Take the journey back to 1853 and remember. Followed by artist talk with playwright, composer and performer Karma Mayet Johnson moderated by composer, vocalist, culture worker Toshi Reagon

FRIDAY, FEB 28th at 7:30 pm:
Black Vernacular Sounds and Moves roundtable discussion moderated by cultural critic Greg Tate, followed by RINGSHOUT DANCE PARTY featuring DJ Reborn and special guest dancers Afro Mosaic Soul.

Cultural critic, musician and Black Rock Coalition co-founder Greg Tate moderates the Black Vernacular Sounds and Moves roundtable discussion with practitioners Rashida Bumbray (Run Mary Run), DJ Reborn, Shalewa Mackall (MUV), Brian Polite (Afro Mosaic Soul) and more discussing the vibrant interplay between music and dance within the traditions of Ring Shouts, Cake Walks, Swing Dancing, etc, and how these systems have continued, expanded and transformed in contemporary DJ (House, Soul, Detroit Techno, Hip-Hop) and club dance culture via legendary underground spaces like Chicago House clubs, New York's The Loft , Paradise Garage and contemporary spaces. AND THEN WE DANCE 9-12 MIDNITE -- RINGSHOUT DANCE PARTY with DJ Reborn.

SATURDAY, MARCH 1st at 7:30 pm:
Sinners and Saints Closing Night extravaganza with Imani Uzuri's new band PRAISE HOUSE, exploring improvisation as an ecstatic tradition. This raucous closing night concert features Imani Uzuri (vocals, tambourine) and very special musical guests Darius Jones (saxophone), Marika Hughes (cello), Guthrie Ramsey (piano), Marcus Gilmore, Graham Haynes (trumpet) and more musical surprises. Welcoming all Sinners and Saints.

Photo by Petra Richterova