The Fromm Players at Harvard concerts feature performances of new works by living and influential composers performed by a professional ensemble dedicated to the performance of contemporary music. This year’s events are curated by Harvard University Franklin D. and Florence Rosenblatt Professor of Music Vijay Iyer.
“Black Speculative Musicalities is meant to celebrate African American artists who, through their powerful imaginations, have challenged and expanded our notions of what music is, what it can be, and what it can do. These events shine a bright light on the radical sonic imaginings of the African diaspora,” says Iyer.
Visionary singer/ songwriter/ bassist Meshell Ndegeocello presents her ensemble with Chris Bruce, Jebin Bruni, and Abraham Rounds. Also part of this evening is Harvard composer and sound artist Yvette Janine Jackson’s Radio Opera Workshop featuring Esperanza Spalding, Tia Fuller, Rajna Swaminathan, Davindar Singh, Taiga Ultan, and Judith Hamann.
Fusing electronics and African Vodou rhythms is Val Jeanty’s NiteBjuti (Jeanty, Candice Hoyes, Mimi Jones); vocalist, composer, and librettist Imani Uzuri’s solo cantata Conjure Woman; and a set by NEA 2020 Jazz Master Roscoe Mitchell with his Quartet (Roscoe Mitchell, saxophones, flutes, percussion; Ambrose Akinmusire, trumpet; Junius Paul, bass; Vincent Davis, drums).