A Soulful Music Celebration at Aaron Davis Hall

A joyful lesson in Black musical history will take place at Aaron Davis Hall on Saturday, April 7, as acclaimed performers Marvin Lowe and Queen Esther Marrow lead a cast of singers in exploration of the diversity and brilliance of Black American music through the decades at “A Soulful Music Celebration.” Presented by City College Center for the Arts (CCCA) in partnership with Marvin Lowe & Friends, the 3 p.m. concert will feature an ensemble of artists and singers taking audiences on a fantastic journey of music, culture and heritage.

Developed by singer Marvin Lowe, “A Soulful Music Celebration” brings performers from the Broadway, gospel and concert stages together to commemorate the African-American experience through song. From call-and-response to Negro spirituals and gospel to blues and jazz, the multitude of musical genres that have emerged from the Black experience in America as well as the role of music in uplifting and strengthening the community will be celebrated through songs such as “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”; “Make Them Hear You” from the musical Ragtime; “Come Sunday” and “Give Me Jesus.” ...

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A joyful lesson in Black musical history will take place at Aaron Davis Hall on Saturday, April 7, as acclaimed performers Marvin Lowe and Queen Esther Marrow lead a cast of singers in exploration of the diversity and brilliance of Black American music through the decades at “A Soulful Music Celebration.” Presented by City College Center for the Arts (CCCA) in partnership with Marvin Lowe & Friends, the 3 p.m. concert will feature an ensemble of artists and singers taking audiences on a fantastic journey of music, culture and heritage.

Developed by singer Marvin Lowe, “A Soulful Music Celebration” brings performers from the Broadway, gospel and concert stages together to commemorate the African-American experience through song. From call-and-response to Negro spirituals and gospel to blues and jazz, the multitude of musical genres that have emerged from the Black experience in America as well as the role of music in uplifting and strengthening the community will be celebrated through songs such as “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”; “Make Them Hear You” from the musical Ragtime; “Come Sunday” and “Give Me Jesus.”

Special guest star Queen Esther Marrow, a powerhouse singer who began her career with legendary composer-pianist Duke Ellington, will also take part in the event, performing gospel standards that have gained her critical acclaim during her many years touring Europe. Guiding the audience through the journey will be narrator Reverend Rashad Raymond Moore, assistant minister at Abyssinian Baptist Church, providing historical context for the songs and helping to shape the listeners’ understanding of the concert. Under the musical direction of James Davis Jr., “A Soulful Celebration of Music” will also feature performances by singers Brandie Sutton, Lucia Bradford, Sam McKelton, La Fredrick Coaxner and Voices from Harlem.

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