Free Jazz,from the wilds of Boston and the African American core in New York City. Icons among us, working stiff sonic yeomanry, Avante garde upsets and the hazards it ever endures
By Eric Zinman. First published in FEMEFICATIO UK in 2012. (originally edited by Kamaria Muntu and Malkia Charlee Martin) Linda Sharrock is sitting today in a wheelchair after having suffered a stroke. She is disabled from motion and words literally, without action, flabbergasted. She, however, is still on a mission. An eloquent, artistic, and authentic musician who began her career in partnership with jazz guitarist and husband Sonny Sharrock. Her impressive vocals on the album Black Woman produced by Herbie Mann on Atlantic Sub Vortex and released in 1969, heralded the arrival of a cutting edge talent to be reckoned with. She now finds herself embroiled in a complex domestic drama. In a fight for her own autonomy, property and the financial wherewithal to heal properly. But even in this tragic complexity which must be sorted if she is to survive. She is yet determined to work, to tour – to reclaim the artist in herself and her place in the world of avant-garde jazz.
Linda and Sonny Sharrock, 1970s
“America always made it a point to keep the creative arts low down” was a phrase I heard during the 60’s ... But I never had a precise idea what the expression low down might actually represent until I learned more about it – witnessing closely the infamous fate of Linda Sharrock and her literal human, physical and artistic destruction ... Now I know.” (Mario Rechtern, musician and Linda’s caregiver).
After a tumultuous year Vision Festival seeks to imagine a world without Roy Campbell and Amiri Baraka.
Arts for Art Presents
VISION FESTIVAL 19
Studies In Freedom
Wednesday June 11 thru Sunday June 15, 2014
At Roulette, 509 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Honoring Legacy of Amiri Baraka
Since the first Vision Festival, in 1996, Amiri Baraka has been an important presence at Vision. For many of the other artists and audiences who have participated each year, Baraka has been an inspiration. For the last five years Baraka helped organize the panel discussions. This year, we not only wish to pay tribute to him by acknowledging his importance, but we also are looking to him for inspiration to continue the struggle and not become complacent.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 Celebrating LifeTime of Achievement Charles Gayle
7:00Charles Gayle Trio + Dance
Daniel Carter – reeds, Miriam Parker – dance + Guest
Charles Gayle – bass & piano, Michael T.A. Thompson – drums
8:15Charles Gayle Quartet
Charles Gayle – tenor, Dave Burrell – piano
William Parker – bass, Michael Wimberly – drums
9:15Quincy Troupe reading from the work of Amiri Baraka + his own poetry
9:45Charles Gayle & the Vision Artist Orchestra
Charles Gayle – piano, conduction
Kidd Jordan, Hamiet Bluiett, Ingrid Laubrock – sax
Ted Daniel – trumpet, Steve Swell – trombone
Jason Kao Hwang, Mazz Swift – violin, viola
Nioka Workman – cello, Shayna Dulberger – bass
Andrew Cyrille – drums
THURSDAY, JUNE 12 Celebrating musicWitness® Jeff Schlanger
6:30 CHILE•NEW YORK•AfghanIRAQ by Michael Lucio Sternbach
FILM the work of Jeff Schlanger Music by William Parker & Roy Campbell
7:00 Steve Dalachinsky reading from the work of Amiri Baraka + his own poetry
7:15 Wimberly’s Harlem Ensemble ‘Signs & Rituals’ Michael Wimberly – drums, percussion, Antoine Roney – tenor & soprano saxophone Larry Roland – bass, Nioka Workman – cello
10:15 Peter Brötzmann + Hamid Drake + William Parker Peter Brötzmann – reeds, Hamid Drake – drums, percussion, William Parker – bass
FRIDAY, JUNE 13 FROM SPIRIT TO SPIRIT – honoring Roy Campbell
4:30 Panel: The Legacy of Amiri Baraka: Art in Action: Part 1
Cultural Identity / Self Empowerment / the role of Free Jazz
A retrospective in the First Person Moderator: Mike Burke Democracy NowPanelists : Oliver Lake,William Parker, Jason Kao Hwang, Mazz Swift,DD Jackson, Fred Moten
7:00Whit Dickey Quartet
Whit Dickey – drums, Mat Maneri – viola, Michael Bisio – bass, Rob Brown – alto
8:00Ramya Ramana Poet – reading her own work and that of Amiri Baraka
8:15Women with an Axe to Grind
Kris Davis – piano, Shayna Dulberger – bass Mazz Swift – violin, Patricia Nicholson – dance, words, rhythm
9:15 Jemeel Moondoc QuintetJemeel Moondoc – alto saxophone Steve Swell – trombone, Nathan Breedlove – trumpet Hill Green – bass, Newman Taylor Baker – drums
10:15James “Blood” Ulmer Music Revelation Ensemble revisitedJames “Blood” Ulmer – electric guitar Calvin “The Truth” Jones – bass , Cornell Rochester – drums
SATURDAY, JUNE 14 A FUTURE OF VISION (Honoring the Next Generation)
12:30 Forum on : The legacy of Improvised Music
Dave Sewelson, Connie Crothers, T.A. Thompson, Lisa Sokolov, William Parker
2/ 4pm Music Is Mine Music Program
3:45 All students (70 musicians) under direction of Jason Kao Hwang + guests
4:30 Panel– The Legacy of Amiri Baraka: Art in Action Part 2
Part 2 - Decolonizing the Music: The conversation continues:
Moderator: Basir MchawiPanelists: William Parker, Juma Sultan, Ahmed Abdullah, Brent Hayes Edwards, Hamid Drake, Fred Moten
6:00Fay Victor + Tyshawn SoreyFay Victor – voice, Tyshawn Sorey – drums, percussion, found instruments
7:00Jordan + Burrell + Parker + DrakeKidd Jordan – tenor saxophone, Dave Burrell – piano William Parker – bass, Hamid Drake – drums, percussion
8:00 Poet David Henderson reading the work of Amiri Baraka + his own poetry
8:20TIMES THREE Connie Crothers – piano, Henry Grimes – bass, violin, Melvin Gibbs – electric bass
9:30Roy Campbell Tribute Band led by Sabir MateenSabir Mateen – reeds, conduction, Rob Brown – alto saxophone Daniel Carter – reeds, trumpet, Dennis Gonzalez – horns Andrew Bemkey – piano, William Parker – bass Hamid Drake – drums
WHEN Wednesday, June 11 thru Sunday, June 15, 2014
WHAT3 Panels Honoring The Legacy of Amiri BarakaJune 13, 14, 15
Each Night a poet will read from the words of the Great Amiri Baraka
6/11 Quincy Troupe, 6/12 Steve Dalachinsky, 6/13 Ramya Ramana,
