BRC ORCHESTRA @ BAMCAFÉ LIVE, BROOKLYN, NY, 1/18-19, A Salute To Richie Havens; With Richie’s brother Don and daughter Rachel in building, we brought the house down with transcendent performances from Stew (The Negro Problem), V. Jeffrey Smith (The Family Stand), Maritri, Kelsey Warren (Pillow Theory), King Julia (Fifth Nation), Akie Burmess (Aabaraki) and others. The BRC Orchestra’s only getting better, y’all…

Black Rock Coalition presented “MILLION MAN MOSH II” @ HIGHLINE BALLROOM, Featuring Living Colour, 24-7 Spyz, Ronny Drayton w/Rev. Kim Lesley, Nona Hendryx, Burnt Sugar Arkestra, Eddie Martinez, DJ Rockin’ Rob & Chuck City, and, in a super-special-throwback moment, the on-stage reunion of Grandmaster Melle Mel, Wonder Mike, and Raheim with bassist Doug Wimbish; live appearance from Donovan Drayton…

Thank you to the Estate of Gil Scott-Heron, LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs, Poetry Society of America, Bill Bragin, Jill Sternheimer, and the amazing audience and staff at Lincoln Center Out Of Doors for helping the BRC Orchestra close out the venue’s 2012 season in grand style!

The night felt great and featured an intro from Gil’s son Rumal Rackley as well as poignant performances by such paragons of talent as Brian Jackson, Sapphire, Martha Redbone, Sandra St. Victor, Carl Hancock Rux, Abiodun Oyewole, John Murillo, Gordon Voidwell, Hanifah Walidah, Willie Perdomo, Aaron Whitby, Val-Inc, Chris Eddleton, Fred Cash, Lisette Santiago, Ben Tyree, Dave Smoota Smith, V. Jeffrey Smith.

Lastly, thanks to Kelsey Van Ert, Frankie Santiago and Greta Rushion for lending very helpful hands to keep it moving.

We really hope to do it again. So keep an eye out!

May 26, 2012 @ BAMcafe Live
 
 
Wow. Lines around the block and love, love, love…for the music, the man, the band, and the show that brought Blackness and pride and soul-spirit grooves to our living room every week. Thanks to all who performed and thanks to those who gleefully embraced the eternal Soul Train line. We definitely feel like we did Don Cornelius and SOLAR Records proud.

May 11, 2012 @ BAMcafe Live
 
 
Thanks to everyone who came out to witness the BRC Orchestra channel the music of Steel Pulse in memory of Tom Terrell. It was truly a great way to remember a treasured friend and, as always, we thank BAMCafe live for showing us love for the 10th year in a row. True Democracy lives…

Round 1 of PARDON OUR ANALYSIS – Black Rock Coalition Orchestra Gathers for Gil Scott-Heron was produced in cooperation with the Estate of Gil Scott-Heron with support from Poets and Writers and Grove Press.

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH for helping us produce our first large-scale orchestra event independent of venue support. The show was moving, spirited, and full of those moments that remind us of how talented our artist community really is. Pictures, video, and Kickstarter premiums should start making their way to you any day now. Thanks again and keep checking here for further developments.

PARDON OUR ANALYSIS: A GATHERING FOR GIL SCOTT-HERON, a BRC Orchestra performance under the artistic direction of LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs. Featured Brian Jackson, Vernon Reid, Nona Hendryx, Carl Hancock Rux, Gordon Voidwell, KimberlyNichole, Sandra St. Victor, Felipe Luciano and Abiodun Oyewole of the Last Poets, Roger Guenveur Smith, Hanifah Walidah, Duriel E. Harris, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Alkebulan, Martha Redbone, Aaron Whitby, LaFrae Sci, Booker King, Lisette Santiago, Ben Tyree, V. Jeffrey Smith, Dave Smoota Smith, and Val-Inc. With video art by Aichlee Bushnell, Michael Paul Britto, Chinisha and Zach Fabri.

WHERE:
Performed: Saturday, January 14, 2012 @ Symphony Space, NYC
HOW MUCH: Tickets range from $25-$45

Keep the support going for Donovan’s Defense at www.4donovan.com. And thanks to everyone who came out to THE MILLION MAN MOSH. It was truly epic and we are humbled by the fact that such giants as Living Colour, 24-7 Spyz, Afrika Baambaata, and Michael Hampton could join legendary guitarist Ronny Drayton and Reverend Kim Lesley in raising very necessary funds. Performed: January 4, 2012 @ Highline Ballroom.