The Cuneen Hackett Arts Center in Poughkeepsie is housed in an old Victorian structure surrounded by residences. It houses 3 art galleries and a small performance space that seats 200. This one of the 2 homes of the Elysium Furnace Works. The other is in the St. James Episcopal Church in Beacon, NY. This series per its founders James Keepnews and Mike Falloon “presents vanguard artists in settings as dedicated and uncompromising as the art itself”.
Harriet Tubman is named after the famous abolitionist and conductor of the underground railroad. The powerful music lives up to its name. Leading its followers to freed ears and minds.
The members of this band are also known for their careers outside this band. Guitarist Brandon Ross has performed with Cassandra Wilson and John Lurie. Bassist Melvin Gibbs spent several years as a member of Henry Rollins band. JT Lewis has performed with Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Elvis Costello as well as many well known avant gardists.
Although, the music is considered avant garde, its roots are in field hollers, blues and spirituals. Roots music at its very roots. It is outside music performed by insiders. Except ie is expressed with 21st century instrumentation and scholarly curation. Music that is beyond the slavery of categorization and about thinking for yourself.
This is a power trio that presents music above and beyond Cream, Jimi Hendrix and others with all its heavier influences.
John Coltrane is one of those heavier influences. The band played “Ascension”, a post “Love Supreme” composition.
“Green Book Blues” is about the book used by African American travelers to navigate the Jim Crow south for services.
“Araminta” was Harriet Tubman’s original name.
“The Terror And The Beauty” is almost ballad like in its beauty. This is dedicated to the late Sonny Sharrock.
Wadamalaw Island is a beautiful song about the island that was the North American ancestral homeland of Melvin Gibbs. It is located near Charleston. It is said that George Gershwin stayed there and was heavily influenced by the music.
A strongly African/Blues influenced “Can’t Tarry” powerful vocals by Brandon Ross is about those attempting to walk home from Africa from the Sea Islands into the water for a final release. The hypnotic bass of Melvin Gibbs with JT Lewis made the listeners feel the power and the determination of the walkers. Brandon Ross’ guitar explained the anguish and hope.
All three pushed their instruments to become extensions of their hearts and minds. The addiition of loops, reverb and other effects by Ross and Gibbs pushed these instruments to their expressive limits.
Going past the music they grew up with and beyond, synthesizing it with their own interpretation and playing it all those with open ears and listening. Leading the listeners to freedom.
