|
|
 |
|
| Profile |
Soulful Serenade
Catherine Curan
11/01/2007
|
Acclaimed by music critics for its powerful combination of
African and American musical traditions, Congo Square is beautiful and
dissonant, romantic and bellicose. It honors both Katrina’s dead and enslaved
Africans in the African-style prayer "Libation." The opening song calls out for
peace and blessings for New Orleans, while heaping shame on FEMA, the Red Cross
and "all the greedy people all over this land."
On stage for the New York premiere, Jazz at Lincoln Center
Orchestra performers were decked out by their official clothier, Brooks
Brothers, mingling with Addy and members of Odadaa! resplendent in traditional
African clothing. Kansler recalls seeing the two groups in such different
outfits, with a mix of jazz horns and African drums, and wondering at first,
"Wow, what is this?"
Once they started playing, he found his taste in music
expanding beyond the classic rock he usually favors. During the intermission,
one of Entergy’s executives told officials from Jazz at Lincoln Center that if
they needed more funding, Kansler, through Entergy, was willing to step up. Soon
the company was adding to the initial $40,000 gift with another $50,000 to turn
the recording of that concert into a CD. Entergy’s name will be featured
prominently on the cover.
Marsalis says the recording would not have happened without
support from Entergy and the Riggios. "It’s something that you had to really be
interested in the art of a thing to want to do."
Catherine Curan is a senior correspondent for Worth.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
