2008 Woodie Awards
'Black History Spectacle' offers mix of jazz and gospel music tonight
Jessica Alexander
Issue date: 2/9/07 Section: La Vida
The thigh-thumping, toe-tapping rhythms of jazz will come together with the hand-raising "hallelujahs" of southern gospel 8 p.m. tonight at the Allen Theatre.
Brad Leali, director of jazz studies, has brought together Texas Tech's Jazz Ensemble I and a gospel choir comprised of area singers for a "Black History Spectacle."
In observance of Black History Month, Leali has prepared a concert including the tunes of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and a few originals by Leali and former Texas Tech graduate Arlington Jones.
"Jazz came from Afro-American spiritual music," Leali said. "What better way to bring it back than for Black History Month?"
Leali said he is a proponent of spirituality in music and making spiritual and emotional connections with people through music. He said this concert is an opportunity for the performers to praise the name of God.
"The message of the lyrics and most of the tunes are just giving thanks," Leali said. "I think that's a big part of Afro-American history - not just now, but for all time."
Jones and fellow Tech graduate Quamon Fowler will perform as guest artists, soloing on the piano and saxophone, respectively. Leali said he picked the performers based on both their talent and the message they try to express.
"They're the type of musicians that are able to convey a feeling to an audience," Leali said, "…and this is what I'm trying to teach my students."
Leali said he is happy to have a mix of races performing in both the choir and the band. He said he tries to convey the fact that Black History Month is not only about the accomplishments of black Americans or black people but of everyone.
"We can't separate," Leali said. "We have to acknowledge the accomplishments of people coming together because everything that was achieved throughout our history we could never do alone. It was a mixture of races having one vision."
Fowler, who is also a teaching assistant with the School of Music, said he thinks gospel music is at the heart of what African-American culture is about. He said African Americans coming out of slavery would embrace church as a place to come together and gain strength to overcome obstacles like segregation.
Brad Leali, director of jazz studies, has brought together Texas Tech's Jazz Ensemble I and a gospel choir comprised of area singers for a "Black History Spectacle."
In observance of Black History Month, Leali has prepared a concert including the tunes of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and a few originals by Leali and former Texas Tech graduate Arlington Jones.
"Jazz came from Afro-American spiritual music," Leali said. "What better way to bring it back than for Black History Month?"
Leali said he is a proponent of spirituality in music and making spiritual and emotional connections with people through music. He said this concert is an opportunity for the performers to praise the name of God.
"The message of the lyrics and most of the tunes are just giving thanks," Leali said. "I think that's a big part of Afro-American history - not just now, but for all time."
Jones and fellow Tech graduate Quamon Fowler will perform as guest artists, soloing on the piano and saxophone, respectively. Leali said he picked the performers based on both their talent and the message they try to express.
"They're the type of musicians that are able to convey a feeling to an audience," Leali said, "…and this is what I'm trying to teach my students."
Leali said he is happy to have a mix of races performing in both the choir and the band. He said he tries to convey the fact that Black History Month is not only about the accomplishments of black Americans or black people but of everyone.
"We can't separate," Leali said. "We have to acknowledge the accomplishments of people coming together because everything that was achieved throughout our history we could never do alone. It was a mixture of races having one vision."
Fowler, who is also a teaching assistant with the School of Music, said he thinks gospel music is at the heart of what African-American culture is about. He said African Americans coming out of slavery would embrace church as a place to come together and gain strength to overcome obstacles like segregation.
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