Welcome to Philadelphia Jazz Project
We Shall Continue - Celebrating MLK 2021
Jan 14, 2021
Jazz speaks for life. The Blues tell the story of life's difficulties, and if you think for a moment, you will realize that they take the hardest realities of life and put them into music, only to come out with some new hope or sense of triumph. This is triumphant music. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WEEKEND
January 15-18, 2021
The Museum of the American Revolution
101 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
In a truly revolutionary moment in early 2019, the Philadelphia Jazz Project was invited to develop and present a special performance celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. during his birthday weekend at The Museum of the American Revolution. Entitled, We Shall: A Lyrical MLK Celebration, the performances were an engaging intermingling of spoken word, singing and instrumental music, including Jazz, Gospel, Blues, Soul and Hiphop. All to pay tribute to one of America’s true revolutionaries and greatest citizens; Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The participating performers included:
▪ Kareem Idris - poetry/recitation
▪ Toby VEnT Martin - vocals
▪ V. Shayne Frederick - vocals
▪ James Solomon - vocals
▪ Kendrah Butler-Waters - piano & vocals
▪ Jocko McNelly - bass & guitar
▪ Kimpedro Rodriguez - drums
The performance was so successful that we were invited back in early, pre-pandemic 2020 to remount it. Due to the CDC’s COVID-19 restrictions we were unable to once again present a live performance. However, we in collaboration with the musuem and have developed a remarkable, virtual experience, entitled, WE SHALL CONTINUE: A REFLECTION ON REVOLUTIONARY LEGACIES, which pulls together video footage from the two concerts, as well as commentary from the performers and other contributors, all to take a look at Dr. King’s enduring impact on the struggle for Human Rights and ongoing American Revolution.
Check out the special programming during The Museum of the American Revolution’s, Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend taking place January 15-18, 2021, at the museum.
*WE SHALL CONTINUE: A REFLECTION ON REVOLUTIONARY LEGACIES video can only be viewed online.
You can learn more about the We Shall performances at:
Join us January 15-18th, 2021 in celebrating this brave soul, this drum major for peace whose eloquent and powerful voice still speaks loudly for equality, justice and human rights.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WEEKEND
January 15-18, 2021
The Museum of the American Revolution
101 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
CREDITS:
MLK Illustration: Eric Battle
Photos: Tim Blackwell of shotsfired
Special Thanks:
To all of the artists who worked so long and hard on this project.
Diane D. Turner and Leslie Willis of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection
Sergio Galeano, Laura Deutch and PhillyCAM
Antoine Haywood
Kenneth AbdusSalaam
Adrienne Whaley and the Museum of the American Revolution
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Philadelphia Jazz Project is a sponsored project of the Culture Trust | Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Philadelphia Foundation.