On Nov. 18-19, The Columbia College Center for Black Music Research (CBMR) presented “Black Vocality II: Cultural Memory, Identities, and Practices of African-American Singing Styles.”
The event presented a series of scholars, singers and vocal performers who explored the ways in which singing has shaped, defined and re-contextualized the Black experience. Far from being an arid academic symposium, Black Vocality II included a beat-boxing workshop; discussions on Sam Cooke and Albert Ayler; author E. Patrick Johnson performing a segment of his “Performing the Voices of Others: The Experience of Sweet Tea;” an in-depth discussion on icon Nina Simone and her impact on her times; and a full-scale concert by various artists in celebration of her work.
The Nov. 19 symposium on Simone kicked off with a now-famous quote attributed to Richard Pryor: “White people had Judy Garland. … We had Nina Simone.” Noted author and music critic Aaron Cohen, authors Salamishah Tillet and Emily J. Lordi, and performer Napoleon Maddox investigated how Simone, with just her voice and talent, was able to stand as a beacon during the civil-rights movement in the 1960s. Simone’s influence and art brought worldwide attention to a largely domestic issue not through politics but through her emotional and blunt music. Lordi’s presentation linked Simone with queer icon Audre Lorde, and revealed how they were able to transcend what appeared to be cultural disadvantages and turn them into history-changing advances.
The symposium closed with a multifaceted concert with re-interpretations of some Simone’s most memorable recordings: “My Baby Cares for Me,” “House of the Rising Sun,” “Feeling Good,” “Be My Husband,” “Wild is the Wind,” “Strange Fruit” and “I Loves You Porgy.” The performers included Allegra Dolores, Ayanna Spaulding, LaShera Zenise Moore, Yaw, Storie Devereaux, Tammy McCann and Napoleon Maddox.
The event was designed and curated by former CBMR resident fellow Gianpaolo Chiriaco as a component of Project ROTVOSCIAME (The Role of Traditional Vocal Styles in Reshaping Cultural Identities Related to African Diasporas in America and Europe).