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| Congo Square US Tour Jazz at Lincoln Center announced today that the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and Odadaa! with Yacub Addy Congo Square, written by Mr. Marsalis will tour the critically-acclaimed work, and Mr. Addy, to 11 U.S. cities in June. The 24 musicians - complete with brass instruments, African percussion, bamboo flutes and balaphones - will perform the celebrated musical experience that had its premiere in New Orleans last spring. A CD release of Congo Square will be available in early June. The piece was named for the location - Congo Square - the only place in America where African slaves were allowed to perform their own music and dance in the 1700s-1800s. Their music established the roots of American music today, and Mr. Marsalis and Mr. Addy wrote Congo Square in testament to this. The composition took on even more significance in the months that followed the tragic destruction of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. For Congo Square, Mr. Marsalis and Mr. Addy combine traditional African music with jazz and celebrate the historic site that exists today. "Congo Square was the only place in the United States where Africans were allowed to play music with drums and dance." said Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis. "From that tradition sprang many styles of American music - from jazz to country to rock and roll and back to jazz again. After the Louisiana Purchase, officials were determined to stop the gatherings in Congo Square – it took 52 years to achieve this. Perhaps the same spirit and dedication shown by slaves through 52 years of harassment will also be shown by the citizens of New Orleans in the face of the natural ravages of Katrina." Since the formation of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in 1988, the world-renowned orchestra with Wynton Marsalis has toured over 300 cities in more than 35 countries on 6 continents, performing in all aspects of Jazz at Lincoln Center's programming. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |