Drawing inspiration from the book 'Blues People' (LeRoi Jones), Lomax has created a piece reflective of the Duboisian concept of double consciousness, at once simplistic and complex. Lomax’s ‘Blues People’ is a seven movement composition that draws from the familiar simplicity of Negro Spirituals (sacred Blues) and the complexity of free improvisation of the avant-garde jazz period to create a powerful musical narrative of the ongoing African American struggle for identity, power, and Human rights.
Movements:
I. Africa
II. Ma’afa (The Middle Passage)
III. Prisoners Of War
IV. Freedom|Reconstruction|KKK
V. Civil Rights
VI. Amerikkka
VII. Freedom Ain’t Free
Personnel:
Mark Lomax, II- dr
Edwin Bayard- ts
William Menefield- pno
Expected release date: June 3, 2016
