Music
Jazz, justice and Juneteenth: Wynton Marsalis and Bryan Stevenson join forces to celebrate Black protest
NEW YORK (AP) – Black music traditions like jazz play a key role in Juneteenth celebrations, says civil rights lawyer and jazz pianist Bryan Stevenson.
That’s why he and Pulitzer Prize-winning jazz artist Wynton Marsalis debuted “Freedom, Justice and Hope,” a live album of historic jazz records created to protest racial injustice, just in time for this 12 months’s celebration.
In addition to a brand new arrangement of saxophonist John Coltrane’s “Alabama,” a tribute to the 4 black girls killed within the 1963 Ku Klux Klan bombing of Birmingham’s sixteenth Street Baptist Church, the project features original compositions by rising bassist Endea Owens and trumpeter JoshEvans.
The album, released by Blue Engine Records, encompasses a guest appearance by the Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestra, of which Marsalis is the artistic and managing director. It is currently streaming on digital platforms.
Its publication comes ahead of this summer’s tenth anniversary of the death of Michael Brown, a black teenager fatally shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri, which sparked a wave of Black Lives Matter protests. When “Freedom, Justice & Hope” was recorded three years ago in 2021, the nation was reeling from one other flashpoint – the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
“To take some of the great jazz works of the 20th century and integrate them into the narrative of the long struggle for social justice in this country is just a dream come true,” said Stevenson, founding father of the Equal Justice Initiative, a criminal justice reform nonprofit. and racial justice based in Montgomery, Alabama.
The history of jazz and the musicality of Black American protest runs deeper than many individuals realize, said Marsalis, the legendary trumpeter who provides moving melodies throughout the album. Stevenson accompanies on piano and intersperses spoken reflections on disenfranchisement, racial injustice and the activism that has erupted in response.
“Jazz itself was the opposite of minstrelsy,” Marsalis said, referring to a type of entertainment popularized within the twentieth century wherein white actors with blackened faces performed racist depictions of African Americans.
“Jazz still has the same influence,” he said. “People come in, they can play and they take what they do seriously. They will discuss issues and be honest about them, and they don’t feel the need to denigrate themselves.”
Originating in ragtime and blues, cultivated in turn-of-the-century New Orleans, and rising to prominence through the Harlem Renaissance, the genre is a crossroads where music meets the march for justice. Some historians even credit jazz singer Billie Holiday’s 1939 rendition of “Strange Fruit,” an anti-lynching poem by Abel Meeropol, as one among the catalysts of the Civil Rights Movement.
“I think jazz as an art form should be understood as a protest against the narrative that black people are somehow incapable,” Stevenson said. “The extraordinary thing that jazz musicians did was that they took Western music, did things with art forms that others had been doing for centuries, and added things that dazzled and inspired.”
“They did it with dignity and purpose, debunking this false narrative of racial hierarchy,” he said.
In that spirit, Owens’s lighthearted “Ida’s Crusade” chronicles journalist Ida B. Wells-Barnett’s lifelong struggle against lynching and false imprisonment. Evans’ “Elaine” draws inspiration from the 1919 Arkansas massacre wherein several hundred Black Americans were killed.
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With Marsalis and Stevenson, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performs recent arrangements of “Honeysuckle Rose,” originally composed by Fats Waller in 1929; “We Will Overcome” – The Civil Rights Movement Has Stopped Since 1947; and “Freedom Suite”, originally composed by Sonny Rollins in 1958.
Apart from Stevenson’s monologues and songs from the album “Freedom, Justice and Hope”, these songs are entirely instrumental and contain no vocals.
Jazz’s reliance on instrumental solos has led some to stereotype it as outdated, irrelevant, and less connected to social justice than rap and vocal-based hip-hop – similar to Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” “F(asterisk)(asterisk) (asterisk “NWA) Tha Police” and “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar. But musicians, scholars and activists urge listeners to recognize and defend the political messages conveyed through the emotional depth of music.
“Sometimes there are no words to express the joy and sadness we feel,” said Reiland Rabaka, founder and director of the Center for African and African American Studies on the University of Colorado Boulder.
“And sometimes these trumpets, these saxophones, these guitars, these pianos – they can express it better than our words can,” said Rabaka, who has written extensively about hip-hop and Black Power, songs about women’s liberation and civil rights.
According to Rabaka, the improvisational elements of jazz may be present in the Middle Passage from Africa to the Americas, where slaves chained to the underside of ships invented songs. Improv is also present in Juba and juke dances, common in various parts of the southern United States, including Congo Square in New Orleans, where slave auctions were held.
Improvisation may be compared to the resourcefulness of Black Americans who, using what they’d, built a life for themselves after freeing themselves from the agricultural environment wherein they were confined.
For Marsalis and Stevenson, the eleventh release of the album recorded three years ago is symbolic. June 19, or Juneteenth, is the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom – greater than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation granted them it.
“Enslaved people learned to love in the midst of sadness, and that is something extraordinary that can be achieved,” Stevenson said. “This is the part of Juneteenth that I hope we can start celebrating. Not just emancipation, but this whole legacy. … I think music plays a key role in that.”
Echoing his colleague’s words, Marsalis said he hopes to encourage people to have a look at the challenges ahead moderately than continuing to fight old battles.
“I like Juneteenth in a symbolic sense because often people, wherever they are in the world, don’t know they are free,” he said. “From a national standpoint, the nation must view June 11 within the context of the national struggles we’re still fighting.
“We are still fighting this conflict, now on a unique battlefield. No one was telling people, “Hey, it’s long overdue.” Let’s be present,” Marsalis said.
Music
Paul Wall joins forces with Gracie’s Corner to get a fresh remix “Wheels on the Bus” and this is BOP
As a parent of 4 children and three who’ve 10-i-fund, my favorite music genre at this moment of my life are jams suitable for the age, which I can listen to without the desire to stab my eyeballs. So when “Gracie’s Corner” struck my awareness a few years ago to fill this void (and appreciating parents around the world) I knew that we found gold.
For example, while “Happy Birthday” Stevie Wonder will all the time be a birthday song of the black community, at this point he is commonplace “Gracie’s Corner” version at birthday parties For those of us who went to see “sinners” at the opening weekend.
“Gracie’s Corner” for many who have no idea (or should not have children) is a YouTube channel for youngsters. According to their side, YouTube provides “a combination of educational, funny and encouraging songs for children from various environments. Come and dance with the game when he chooses a funny journey with family and friends!”
More precisely, they take some rhymed rhymes, which everyone knows and love and put a bit on it. Which leads us to the reason behind the season. If you have not heard the “Gracie’s Corner” version “Wheels on the bus” You cannot have black children. Until now, heavy bass, hi-hat jam trap has 111 million views. Yes, you read the right 111 million views. These wipers are Swisków. Let’s say, Issa Bop.
Well, because people from the headquarters of “Gracie’s Corner” don’t play truthfully, they got here out and got Paul Walla-Tak, he has Houston rap labels, Swithahouse Paul Wall, “Master of the People”-to drop a part of what is dirty south.
Listen to me. I don’t understand how this cooperation was created by Paul Wall and “Gracie’s Corner”, but whoever played this thing must conduct seminars on synergy and creative cooperation for the whole family. I hope that this person is liable for planning a family reunion, because in that case, it is not only city trips and cooking in the city park for this family. The undeniable fact that the whole poem by Paul Walla feels like the one who was sitting, which could fit on the slow rhythm album of Mike Jones, or mainly every song during which Paul Wall has ever appeared – but still works for BOP of this children – is a nasty work of the most beautiful diversity.
Listen, I do not know if you may have a reason to pull up “Gracie’s Corner”, but in case you do it, move quickly to listen to this “wheel on the H-Town bus-to-remiks” with Paul Wall. And in case you didn’t know that “Gracie’s Corner” exists earlier, consider your life, and now you see how the life of oldsters will look and the way it differs from a lonely life. Because now I hit this remix “wheels on the bus” in a automobile with my children. This, my friends, is for all wines.
Indeed, the wheels are rolling.
(Tagstranslata) parenting, and black
André 3000 is currently and has been for the most a part of the last 30 years of one in every of the leaflets dressed at the planet. Since placing the whole generation of young black men to turban in stores with cosmetics supplies to blond wigs and kilos, there may be nothing that Atlien cannot break away.
So when he hit a haunted blue rug during the MET gala in 2025 in the entire piano on the back, even the most lost that they had to cut the thorn on the side of Mrs. Jackson a little bit of slack. By turning a single-piece black outfit with a red hat, which definitely has a specific name, only carrying what I can put on is a designer trash bag-good room one in every of the lithium at a goat level at the level of hip-hop also wore a piano … on the back. Yes. Piano. The entire 88-lake piano. I hope it was hollowed out for ease of movement; André 3000 is just not exactly a spring chicken at the moment. He doesn’t even rap by trading his notators on his famous flute collection.
Now it is extremely likely that me and your, your mother and your cousin, are wondering what can force anyone, and much more so André 3000, to cultivate the piano. Well, the answer to this query lies on Walking Promothal Exparit that André 3000 was at the MET gala. Just before he appeared in the Vogue channel for Met Gala Dwet Photo OP, group chats were in the news that André 3000 dropped the EP entitled “7 piano sketches”, while the biggest fashion night was half of the spring.
And don’t think that 3000 has returned to the bars, “7 piano sketches” is the most literal title of the album I’ve ever heard in my life; This is literally an album stuffed with piano sketches.
As you may see, the art of the album is comparable to the meta gala of the André 3000 outfit. This boy is coooooooold. This latest EP appears almost a 12 months and a half after André 3000 dropped, “New Blue Sun”, through which he began playing the flute, and never tell us more about Susa Screw and the Sasha Thumper crew. Despite the mixed reviews of “New Blue Sun”, this album was nominated for a lot of Grammy Awards during the 2025 ceremony, including the nomination for “Album of the Year”.
When everyone finally ends up talking about Met Gala costumes and a great discovery of Rihanna, prepare for the attack of dialogue about the André 3000 piano album.
(Tagstotransate) Andre 3000
After the official stage of selecting the jury, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Day in court is just around the corner.
On Monday, April 28, a whole lot of New Yorkers began the questionnaire process to find out their impartiality in the federal process “United States against Combs ” NBC News Reported.
The 55-year-old disgraced musical tycoon is in the face of many federal allegations, including racketeers, sexual trade and transport as a way to become involved in prostitution, resulting from many lawsuits that were filed against him. The amazing variety of complaints started to appear in months since he decided against him civil lawsuit by his ex -girlfriend and singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura in November 2023.
The next phase of the selection process of the jury, which might be carried out in person, will start on Monday, May 5, in court Daniel Patrick Moynihan in Manhattan. Opening declarations are to begin on May 12. The federal process is to last from eight to 10 weeks.
Since the initial notification of Cassie, which was settled only a day after its assembly, there have been many alternative allegations from many alternative parts of the rapper’s past, not to say a whole lot of gossip and growing around. Numerous documentaries and real crimes They also added to the conversation.
At this point, a lot of us can wander away in the noise of understanding how we came above all and what exactly are the tests. Many questions surround the attempt, including the technique to watch it (if possible), which is to be there and more. Below we return to clarify exactly how we came and say what to anticipate from the trial.
What are Diddy’s fees?
After the federal raid of Combs’ Los Angeles, Miami and New York, Diddy real estate was arrested on September 16, 2024 and is in the face of 5 federal allegations: tribute conspiracy, based on the allegations of prosecutors that the tycoon was led by a criminal enterprise to consolidate the assault; Two allegations of sexual trade, because he’s accused of forcing women to take part in sexual files with sex employees and drug -powered sex events “; and two cases of transport as a way to become involved in prostitution, resulting from the claims that he transported two women on state lines for prostitution.
What about all other accusations?
In addition to the trial, Combs are in the face of countless other processes and allegations, accusing him of improper behavior, abuse, rape and assault. Tony Buzbee, a lawyer from Texas, known for coping with loud lawsuit about sexual assault against powerful men (including a recent lawsuit value $ 50 million submitted against Shannon Sharpe), is involved in several trials against Diddy. He said that over 100 men and women from throughout the United States filed lawsuits against the rap tycoon or intended.
What did Diddy say?
Combs contradicts all allegations in a civil lawsuit against him. Talking with BBC NewsHis lawyers said: “Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and integrity of the trial.”
The statement added: “In court the truth will win: that Mr. Combs never sexually attacked or trade anyone – a man or a woman, an adult or minor.”
Is Cassie expected at his process?
Filing a Cassie catchment in a civil court almost two years ago was settled outside the court the day the day after its assembly. Diddy issued an apology after a physically recording leaked, which physically attacks her in the hotel corridor. However, this led many other accusers to the allegations, including those with the participation of minors that led federal investigators to a proper investigation in the potential case. The singer, who can also be a victim 1 in court documents, will testify in court under her full name.
The judge of the American District Arun Subramanian will chair the case in the southern district of New York, People magazine Reported. The COME Defense Team, led by Marc Agnifilo, includes Teny Geragos, the daughter of the famous lawyer Marek Geragos, known for representing the Menendez brothers, amongst others.
Georgian prosecutor Brian Steel, who represented rapper Young Thuga in his loud tribute process, also recently joined the Combs defense team.
Several US lawyers assistants, including Maurene Ryan Comey, daughter of former FBI director James Comey, conducts the prosecutor’s office. Maureen Comey chased Ghislaine Maxwell in her sexual trade process.
It will end up whether the sons of Combs Justin, Christian (Combs) and Quincy (Brown), who participated in previous court hearingsmight be present.
Where is Diddy now?
From the time of arrest on September 16, 2024, Diddy was behind bars at the Metropolitan Airesent Center in Brooklyn in New York, waiting for the trial. Many attempts to his lawyers exempt from Bond and strict guidelines failed because prosecutors are anxious about his ability to influence the case.
How much is he struggling?
If he’s convicted of racketeers, Diddy is prison. Meanwhile, if he found him guilty of two allegations of sexual trade, he’s in the face of a further not less than 15 years. Transport for the purposes of prostitution fees features a maximum judgment of 10 years.
Will the process be broadcast on television?
Cameras and electronic devices are often not allowed during court proceedings, so it’s unlikely to be broadcast, Vulture Reported. Although the media is not going to be allowed in the courtroom, they will report outside.
(Tagstranslate) Cassie (T) Sean Combs
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