Gregg August Ensemble

About this event

Crosscurrents and Cross Rhythms, Dialogues on Race, Volume II is a continuing project that originated in 2009 after Gregg received a joint commission from the Jerome Foundation and the Jazz Gallery in New York City. What began as a commission for a full length concert work, Dialogues on Race was recorded and released in 2020, receiving a GRAMMY nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble album. Crosscurrents and Cross Rhythms, Dialogues on Race, Volume II will be the second installment of the series. The idea behind the work is to create musical dialogue or conversations which discuss race relations in the United States. Through the melodies, arrangements and improvisations, a full discourse takes place.   “What’s Past is Prologue”   Throughout its history, America has passed laws designed to discriminate, expunge and prevent groups of people from becoming citizens based on ethnic or racial background. The titles of these laws often showed in bold relief who was not welcome; The Chinese Exclusion Act, The Indian Removal Act. This next volume will attempt to shine light on some of this American history. Selected poems, including carvings and drawings of poetry that were discovered on the walls of Angel Island, a former detention center off the coast of San Francisco, will serve as inspiration to develop the music.   Similar to Dialogues on Race, the instrumentation for Crosscurrents and Cross Rhythms, Dialogues on Race, Volume II calls for an ensemble of 7 horns, rhythm section, percussion, and 2 vocalists.     The personnel includes:   Gregg August-bass/composer Donald Edwards-drums Mauricio Herrera-percussion Sam Newsome-soprano saxophone Yosvany Terry-alto saxophone Stacy Dillard-tenor saxophone Lucas Pino-bass clarinet John Bailey-trumpet Rafi Malkiel-trombone Marcus Rojas-tuba Jen Shyu-vocals Frank Lacy-vocals