How jazz music gives voice to Black resistance
Black History Month music performance delivers “a moment to exhale”
This week, Capilano University was pleased to welcome New York-based jazz ensemble, the Caili O'Doherty Quintet, to campus. The concert was a highlight musical keynote presentation in the interactive series of events honouring Black History Month at CapU in February.
“It provided a moment to exhale,” said event co-organizer Susan Romeo-Gilbert in her closing remarks at the event, to express the sense of learning and renewal through music the concert provided.
Enlightening, thought provoking and illuminating, the concert delivered equal parts jazz music and education on the civil rights movement and the role of Jazz music in adding voice to black resistance.
Featuring Caili O'Doherty on piano, Adi Meyerson on bass, Cory Cox on drums, Roxy Coss on saxophone and Tahira Clayton on voice, each member added context from their lived experience and perspective as a jazz musician.
Two CapU Jazz Studies students, saxophonist Jacob Elwood and trumpeter Aidan, were invited to join the quintet on stage for the final number. Having only received the music an hour before, the students blended flawlessly into piece.
A panel discussion with the musicians, co-moderated by trumpeter, arranger, composer and CapU Jazz Studies instructor Daniel Hersog and Elwood, followed the performance, giving audience members a deeper level of insight and learning into the history of Jazz music and the pivotal role it has played in both Black expression and the civil rights movement.
Capilano University is grateful to the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver for hosting this special event for the CapU and North Shore communities.
Submitted by: Communications