MILESTONE NEGRO SPIRITUALS UNTIL THE CIVIL WAR: WHEN FOLK-SONGS BRING FREEDOM with bassist Hilliard Greene

Sunday, January 20 at 2:30pm. This performance/workshop in words and music brings to light the significance and beauty of the remarkable songs associated with the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century enslaved people of African descent in their efforts to escape to free states and to Canada. These uniquely American heritage songs are recognized as a distinct musical genre. Hilliard Greene, acclaimed for composing and performing solo contrabass music, has toured throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Former musical director for jazz vocalist Jimmy Scott, he is the leader of The Jazz Expressions and member of the Zigzag Quartet. The music that will be featured is based on the coded Negro spirituals that runaway slaves used to elude capture. Selections will include: Swing Low Sweet Chariot; Wade In The Water; Deep River; Go Down Moses; Michael Row De Boat Ashore; and I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray.

Registration required. Check with Library to confirm location