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American Legacy Magazine Celebrates Black Music Month
American Legacy Magazine - Summer 2008
New York, NY (BlackNews.com) - American Legacy Magazine celebrates Black Music Month with a special Summer issue dedicated to black music in America and the African Diaspora--from the deep South's early folk-rooted string band music, to the African rhythms brought to us via Caribbean nations such as Cuba, to the unheralded women of color who "swung" the big bands as righteously as any of their male counterparts. "Without the participation of black people, America very likely would not have been able to contribute the unique sounds of spirituals, blues, rhythm and blues, jazz, funk, rap, and hip-hop music to the world songbook," states American Legacy Editor, Audrey Peterson. "It was the intangible things that Africans brought--their rhythms, their notes, their musical styles--that found new life and new expression despite the daunting circumstances."
IN THE ISSUE
* Enslaved black's combined the banjo with the fiddle to create a centuries-old tradition called string band music.
* The ethnomusicologist John Work III spurred a folk-life project that today enriches the Library of Congress.
* Latin music scholar Ned Sublette, the author of Cuba and Its Music, and most recently The World That Made New Orleans explores the musical journey of the conga player Mongo Santamarķa from the Cuban barrios to the top of the international jazz world.
THE LADIES WHO SWUNG THE BAND
* Renowned jazz critic and journalist Nat Hentoff tells the story of undersung women jazz musicians and bandleaders from the era of Count Basie and Duke Ellington and introduces us to some of today's hot jazz stars.
A LIFE WITHIN THE MUSIC
* With her rich, unforgettable voice Odetta has forged a decades-long career as a folk musician, her music giving a voice to the Civil Rights movement. Today, back on the road, and in the process of completing live concert DVD scheduled for release this year, Odetta remains an activist, adamant about the importance of artists speaking out on social issues.
PASSING IT ON
* With their old-timey sound the Carolina Chocolate Drops have reignited the black string band tradition that had all been lost. Under the tutelage of octogenarian Joe Thompson, the young (30 and under) trio is blowing up the stage across the U.S. and internationally, bringing the sound of the banjo, fiddle, harmonica and jug to a new generation of listeners and a ever-growing fan base.
For more information, contact Crystyn Wright at (212) 457-3003 or cwright@americanlegacymag.com.
CONTACT:
Crystyn Wright
212-457-3003
cwright@americanlegacymag.com
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