On June 29, the engrossing drummer Will Calhoun, who draws inspiration from the ancestors of Africa. Harry Belafonte, Art Blakey, and the world of Black rock Afrofuturism with Living Colour—the group of which he is a member—will bring his eclectic musicianship to full circle at Express Newark (54 Halsey Street). Calhoun’s mix of assorted ingredients is great gumbo for Black Music Month.
According to the Express Newark website, the center focuses on socially engaged art and design in Newark, N.J., where people co-create, collaborate, and make art for social change. Calhoun said during a phone interview, “I went there for an interview and afterwards I walked around to see the exhibits. I was so impressed, I stayed in that place for four hours. This space represents the creative projects that young people are doing and my performance gives me an opportunity to pay tribute to Amiri Baraka for the great creative contributions he made to the Newark community and the country.”
Calhoun’s one night affair is entitled “Blues People,” the same title of Amiri Baraka’s 1963 book (William Morrow), and will be based in the blues. He will be playing solo, something his iconic predecessor Max Roach would do live on stage and in recording sessions. He will be playing multiple instruments, including indigenous instruments like the Chinese Bawu flute and Nigerian Udu drum. “The instruments tell a story in time as it relates from the past to the future, from the future to the past. The music is traveling in both realms in a 360-degree pattern,” said Calhoun. It is essentially part of the mathematical paragon of ancient Timbuktu.
Calhoun will devote a few tunes in celebration of Roach’s centennial, aesthetically blending them with his multimedia scope of photography and video images from around the world, which will be projected during his live performance.
This performance is free and open to the public. The program begins at 6:30pm, with a show at 7:30pm to be followed by Q&A with Calhoun.
From an African American music perspective, the most important thing that happened during the 1964 World’s Fair was the Louis Armstrong concert. On June 30, the late legendary Queens resident will be honored at a special 60th anniversary concert right where it happened in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, in the Claire Shulman Theater (14 United Nations Avenue South), 3-5pm.
Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings will take the stage, showcasing their deep passion for Armstrong’s music. Horne has put together an all-star band that weaves the sound of Black music with New Orleans flair. Inspired by the music of King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, Gotham Kings uses the virtuosity of the young Armstrong and genius of King Oliver to take you on a journey of sound that encompasses the history of the trumpet and the story of jazz through rags, stomps, shouts and funk!
Tickets are $17. For more information visit queenstheatre.org. or call the box at office 718-760-0064.