What is rock and roll? Asked and answered at Lincoln Center Out of Doors

Two fantabulous singers: Nona Hendryx (above)
and Corey Glover (below)
All photos (c)2014, Eva Yaa Asantewaa

Clearly, that's a question best suited to a multiple choice quiz where the correct answer is "All of the above." And, most of all, it is Black. Race music--from blues to gospel and beyond--is the mother source of rock and roll. Or, to put it another way, as writer Carl Hancock Rux did, rock "is one big family with a whole lotta children running around, and some of them don't know who their daddy is."

To Toshi Reagon (music director of Deep Roots of Rock and Roll), the Black Rock Coalition and all of the artists involved in yesterday afternoon's sensational Lincoln Center Out of Doors show, I will quote Rux quoting gospel singer Sallie Martin (1895-1988) in his narration: "Sing what you need to sing. Just keep singing it 'til it takes you where you need to go."

We all want to go there with you!

Here are a few of my photos from the day. Click for more.

Above: Toshi Reagon
Below: Nona Hendryx
among numerous musical artists performing at Lincoln Center Out of Doors
in Deep Roots of Rock and Roll
All photos (c)2014, Eva Yaa Asantewaa

Above: a dance by Adaku Utah
Below: Narrator Carl Hancock Rux
taking us deep into Black American music history
All photos (c)2014, Eva Yaa Asantewaa

Lincoln Center Out of Doors continues through August 10. Click here for schedule of these free events.

Souls intact

To even attempt to invoke the complex genius of Nina Simone might require an entire stage filled with badass women, and that's exactly how things went down last night at Aaron Davis Hall. Presented by Harlem Stage, the renowned Black Rock Coalition Orchestra gave the final performance of its Nina Simone Tribute, featuring numerous female singers and a versatile musical ensemble covering nearly two dozen songs written or interpreted by the extraordinary musical diva and activist who left us in 2003.

Standouts included Angela Johnson's mellifluous piano work and vocal phrasing, where we could grasp every nuance of thought and feeling in Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair and Brown Baby; Joi's frisky I'm Gonna Leave You with its driving rhythm that sounds exactly like a strong woman getting the hell on outta there; anything that Imani Uzuri turned her fierce voice to, absolutely anything, from the romping Backlash Blues to the softly pitying Fodder to the raging anger of Peaches in Four Women; the bravado of Toli Nameless's triple-threat celebration of See-Line Woman in song, dance and trumpet-playing.

Tamar-kali sizzled--what confidence and clout!--in the torch song Tell Me More, a five-alarm I Put A Spell On You, and a slow-drag Feelin' Good. Her voice is dark smoke crossed with flutely sinuosity. Mazz Swift, besides her duties in the lovely string quartet, offered up Lilac Wine with mesmerizing sensitivity. LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs's Pirate Jenny glowed with toxic charm.

There was much, much more, and I wish there could be much, much more. Harlem Stage, bring each and every one of them back without delay!

Other great vocalists from this show are also online:

Lisala
Somi
Maya Azucena

Nina Simone tribute

NINA SIMONE TRIBUTE/ BLACK ROCK COALITION ORCHESTRA
presented by Harlem Stage at Aaron Davis Hall

Friday, March 26, 7:30pm

7:30 pm Pre-show DJ mixer
8:30 pm Performance
10:00 pm After party

An 18-member all-female ensemble, under the direction of composer Tamar-Kali:

Angela Johnson http://www.angelajohnson.com/fr_index.cfm
Imani Uzuri http://www.imaniuzuri.com/
Joi http://www.myspace.com/joi
Lisala Beatty http://www.myspace.com/lisalab
Toli Nameless http://www.tolinameless.com/
Portia Rolle
Tara Thierry http://www.myspace.com/tarathierry
Tarrah Reynolds http://www.myspace.com/misstarrah
LaFrae Sci http://www.lafrae.com/Frae%20Frae.html
Jenny Hill http://www.jennyhilljazz.com/
Pam Fleming http://www.fearlessdreamer.com/
Lauren Sevian http://www.laurensevian.com/
Mazz Swift-Camlet http://www.myspace.com/mazzmuzik
Amali Premawardhana http://www.myspace.com/amaliprema
Surai Balbeisi http://www.myspace.com/nesrinebalbeisi
Narjess Saad-Ellaoui
Dawn Drake http://www.dawndrake.com/

For complete details, click here. For tickets, click here.