MAY 20, 2018
Shout out to LaFrae Sci, our musical director, and the killer orchestra she assembled for this beautiful performance in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn—Shelley Nicole, Asa Lovechild, KiKi Hawkins, Jared Michael Nickerson, V. Jeffrey Smith, Marcus Machado, and Leon Gruenbaum. And thanks, too, to our outdoor connection, Letitia Guillory and NYC Parks who thought of us for this edition of “Movies Under the Stars.”
Much thanks to everyone who helped us pack the house and raise money for the BRC. It was epic on so many levels, being able to have so many of our friends and family in the theater to celebrate such an important cultural character and watch something that brings to light so many of the issues that we face in this country—as Black folk, as Black men, as Black women, as heirs of legacy, as Diasporans, as artists, as fans, as underestimated geniuses, as exploited and oppressed communities, and as ever-ascending scientists, warriors, and leaders. The room was full of powerhouses, and because of you we raised over $2,000 for the Black Rock Coalition. Extra appreciation to Luqman Brown (Buddhabug Records) for having the idea and sharing it with us, and to Greg Tate, Warrington Hudlin, Regine Sawyer, and Tim Fielder for sharing their wisdom on this very notable moment in time.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017, 8pm
We took our rip-roarin’ Black Rock Coalition Get-Down Revue out west for an encore performance of choice cuts from the Atlantic Records R&B box set. It was a celebration of the pioneers of early rock & roll who called the label home from 1947-1974 and the amazing artists who continue that legacy today. With Luqman Brown (bandleader/vocals), Jared Michael Nickerson (bass), Shelley Nicole (vocals), Ben Tyree (guitar), V. Jeffrey Smith (sax), Lewis ‘Flip’ Barnes (trumpet), Leon Gruenbaum (keys), and Greg Gonzalez (drums).
FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2017
Von King Park, Brooklyn, with New York City Parks Department
photos by SeanJamar.com
photos by LaRonda Davis
Prince was one of us. A rocker. Black and musically outspoken with depths that plumbed generations. That’s why we celebrate him. For us, he is more than a symbol, more than Purple Rain, more than a pimp rag, tootsie pop, and a cane (thankfully). He was living, breathing possibility. Giant inspiration in a 5-foot-plus frame. A roadmap to a different way.
In celebration of what would have been Prince’s 59th birthday, The Black Rock Coalition Orchestra dipped into the vault for IT’S GONNA BE A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT, a rousing remembrance under the musical direction of lifetime fan and rock-royalty-in-her-own-ri
FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017
BAMcafe Live
The BRC Orchestra, the all-star repertory company of the Black Rock Coalition, performed a focused retrospective on the music of legend Carlos Santana for May 5 (Cinco De Mayo): “Santana Redux with The BRC Orchestra,” as a nod to the collaborations of Black and Latino rockers and to Santana’s Mexican heritage. Santana, an often-cited influence for many Black rockers—including Prince and BRC co-founder Vernon Reid—is a rare legend whose half-century of work cuts across multiple genres, cultures and generations. Santana was a steadfast champion of many Black pioneers, like Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker and John Coltrane—“Santana Redux” is a showcase for the BRC to pay the legend back in kind.
A bittersweet, but triumphant, finale to our 15 years of fantastic shows at BAMcafe. We will miss what we had there, but that was just the beginning…
In a rousing revival of our Black Rock Coalition Get-Down Revue, we kicked off our 32nd year of mission-oriented programming with an encore performance of choice cuts from the Atlantic Records R&B box set in celebration of the pioneers of early rock & roll who called the label home from 1947-1974.
It was a certified dance party, featuring:
Luqman Brown – Musical Director/Bandleader
Jared Michael Nickerson – Bass
Ramsey Jones – Drums/Vocals
Ben Tyree – Guitar
Leon Gruenbaum – Keys
V Jeffrey Smith – Horns
Wayne Cobham – Trumpet
JS Williams – Trombone
Lisala – Vocals
Shelley Nicole – Vocals
Saturday, October 1, 2016 @ BAMcafe Live
The Black Rock Coalition Orchestra’s Tribe Called Quest Retrospective
Long recognized as one of the greatest hip-hop collectives of all time, A Tribe Called Quest took the genre to new heights sonically and lyrically by combining street beats with jazz influences—a style and a sound that laid the groundwork for new genres like acid jazz, trip hop, and drum and bass.
As part of SOURCE360 Festival, the BRC Orchestra paid respect to these hip-hop icons with a program that showcased some of the group’s best work, along with choice album cuts from classics like People’s Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm, Low End Theory, and Midnight Marauders. The program also honored founding ATCQ member Malik ‘Phife Dog’ Taylor (who passed away in March 2016), and Weldon Irvine, a distinguished composer and teacher who mentored the group and many others within the BRC circles.
Part of the SOURCE360 Festival
