52nd City

BAG on Sunday

In a very theoretical sense, I've been a fan of the Black Artists Group for the past few years, having read Benjamin Looker's great book on the subject, having picked up a few pieces of vintage vinyl and having been attuned to some recent group readings, usually thanks to the promptings of Brett Underwood. Problem on the last count is that while I've been aware of them, I've not attended a reading/performance of the resurrected group, a sad trend I hope to change this Sunday night, when BAG's hosting a tribute to John Coltrane in the rehabbed addition to the Scott Joplin House, the Rosebud Cafe.

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BAG Celebrates John Coltrane

K. Curtis Lyle, Shirley LeFlore, Michael Castro, Mike Nelson, Gary Sykes and Zimbabwe Nkenya will celebrate John Coltrane's birthday on Sunday, September 23rd from 7 – 9 PM at Scott Joplin House State Historic Site and you are invited!

By any measure, John Coltrane (1926 – 1967) was one of the most important
and influential musicians in the history of jazz. As Dom Cerulli wrote in his liner notes on Africa/Brass (Impulse! A-6) "Coltrane plays tenor saxophone quite unlike anyone in all of jazz…" Cerulli goes on to characterize Coltrane's work as "restless, probing, extracting, absorbing and moving on…"

Apt words to describe the vibrant creative work of the artists gathering to celebrate Coltrane's life. Lyle, LeFlore, Castro, Nelson, Sykes and Nkenya
represent some of the most dynamic creative artists currently active in the
St. Louis literary and music communities. With the backdrop of new work created for this event by visual artist Seitu, their work will probe, extract, absorb and move on, honoring Coltrane's life and work.

John William Coltrane was born in North Carolina and schooled in Philadelphia . He worked with various jazz and rhythm & Blues bands before establishing himself with St. Louis trumpeter Miles Davis's quintet in 1955. It was during this tenure with Davis that his distinctive tone and adventurous approach to harmony blossomed. A stint with pianist and composer Thelonious Monk two years later further honed his playing and improvisational skills. After briefly rejoining Davis 's group he went out on his own in 1960. The John Coltrane Quartet quickly became one of the most talked-about bands in jazz. Coltrane's legacy – his music – is one of the most profound and valuable treasures in the history of jazz.

K. Curtis Lyle is a visionary poet and performance artist whose emotionally
and intellectually charged work has explored subjects as diverse at "Nut
Check" (taking its departure from an obscene anecdote by Richard Pryor) to
his seeking, probing, singingly poetic explorations of history, culture and meaning. Mike Nelson, who has performed with the St. Louis Symphony
Orchestra, China National Orchestra, Aska Kanedo and tours throughout
the country as a performer and lecturer is an outstanding trumpet player,
along with his renowned work on conch shells and sacred Bata drums. Shirley LeFlore, poet and performing artist extraordinaire, a member of the original
BAG, forged the groundwork and has served as the inspiration for countless
poets weaving their words with and into true creative jazz. Michael Castro
has traveled widely and is known both locally and internationally for his long tenure as a St. Louis-based performance artist and published poet. Gary Sykes was named St. Louis ' best drummer by the Riverfront Times and has played with a who's who of jazz musicians including Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill, James Moody, Eddie Harris, Pharoah Sanders, Lester Bowie and John Hicks. Zimbabwe Nkenya, curator of this tribute as well as performer, has returned to the St. Louis area after more than 20 years as a successful performing and recording artist in New York and the Southwest. On upright bass and mbira he has worked with many internationally renowned musicians and his work reflects the broad scope of deep roots and influences in jazz and African music.

This free event opens the fall BAG series of events in the Rosebud Café,
Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, 2658 Delmar Blvd in St. Louis. For
more information call 340-5790 or email BAG at:
bag-blackartistgroup@yahoo.com.