Jazz percussion faculty artist Nasar Abadey and music director Allyn Johnson lead the Washington Renaissance Orchestra for “In the Tradition,” presented in the historic Lincoln Theatre this Friday, June 20 at 8:00 pm. The concert, featuring an ensemble of the DC area’s most prominent musicians, celebrates June as African American Music Month.
From the press release:
Presented by ARTSdpc and H STREET Main Street, the Washington Renaissance Orchestra features many of DC’s premier musicians, composers, bandleaders and educators in what promises to be amongst the most explosive musical highlights of this summer season. Given its august history the Lincoln Theatre, which has hosted many of the most historic big bands in the annals of jazz and dance, is an auspicious venue for this roof-raising evening of great sounds.
Under the leadership of drummer and Artistic Director Nasar Abadey, and pianist and Music Director Allyn Johnson, the Washington Renaissance Orchestra is by turns a thoroughly contemporary ensemble while maintaining a profound connection to the jazz tradition. Abadey, leader of his own enduring band SUPERNOVA® and Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Institute percussion professor, “continues to develop and experiment with color and texture in his sound” (Washington City Paper); and Johnson as “Dean of DC Jazz piano; the best representative for the state of creative Black music in DC” (CapitalBop) is Director of Jazz Studies at University of the District of Columbia. Together, their broad perspectives on the music bring a rich color pallet to the Washington Renaissance Orchestra, an ensemble loaded with DC’s elite instrumentalists. As special guest, the multi-talented Navasha Daya brings her exceptional vocal perspectives to this compelling program.
The Washington Renaissance Orchestra features:
Elijah Balbed: Tenor Saxophone; Brian Settles: Tenor Saxophone; Antonio Parker: Alto Saxophone; Charlie Young: Alto Saxophone; Julien Lane: Trombone; Reginald Cyntje: Trombone; Leon Rawlings: Trombone; DuPor Georges: Trombone; Whit Williams: Baritone; Alvin Trask: Trumpet; Michael Thomas: Trumpet; Thad Wilson: Trumpet; Tom Williams: Trumpet; Nasar Abadey: Drums; Allyn Johnson: Piano; James King: Bass; and Navasha Daya: Vocals.
For more information and ticketing:
nasarabadey.com
artsdpc.net
capitolbop.com
thelincolndc.com/tickets
