Harmonies & Voices of Transformation: The Annual Benefit Concert for the National Black Writers Conference produced by Jill Newman Productions was held at the Highline Ballroom in New York City. A portion of the proceeds will support the National Black Writers Conference (NBWC), a biennial symposium dedicated to an exploration of “emerging themes, trends and issues in black literature.”
The event opened with the legendary writer and activist Amiri Baracka and a poem called “Play Dat” accompanied by saxophone payer, Gart Bartz. Amiri, who inspired the 1990s generation of spoken word artists, provoked the audience while entertaining them at the same time, mixing politics, spirituality, literature and music.
The second act was blues artist Guy Davis, who played the guitar and the harmonica at times. He had the crowd singing and dancing to his songs “Bumble Bee” and “Chocolate Man.” The global Renaissance woman Ruby Dee began her powerful performance with “I, I, I…am somebody, you share the somebodyness of me.” She continued to encourage the crowd with her second piece, “Our work is here, so let’s do it. Today is ours, let’s take it,” accompanied by the highly talented harmonica player, Gregoire Maret.
The headliner for the event was hip-hop artist Mos Def, who appeared stylishly with his red microphone and a DJ on stage. He mixed Arabic sounds with hip-hop beats and Brazilian samba, dancing and sweating through out his performance. He engaged the audience by making jokes, but also questioned the war in Libya. He surprised the crowd by bringing the 9-piece Hypnotic Brass Ensemble on stage, fusing hip-hop and jazz. Mos Def closes the evening with one of his most popular songs “Umi Says,” giving the audience hope “to be free.”
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Legendary poet Amiri Baracka. PHOTO CREDIT: Terrence Jennings
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Blues artist Guy Davis and Ruby Dee. PHOTO CREDIT: Terrence Jennings
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Blues artist Guy Davis and Ruby Dee. PHOTO CREDIT: Terrence Jennings
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Blues artist Guy Davis and Ruby Dee. PHOTO CREDIT: Terrence Jennings
