Fulcrum Point New Music Project to Celebrate African American Composers

Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Chicago's leader in New Art Music led by Stephen Burns, proudly presents "Proclamation! The Black Composer Speaks," a dynamic concert program showcasing the broad spectrum of new art music from the African American perspective at the Promontory Chicago, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave., in one performance only, Friday, April 29, at 7:30 pm.

Based on the award-winning treatise of the same name by symphonic jazz composer David Baker, the double bill incorporates music by three generations of African American composers. A highlight of the evening is the World Premiere of a dramatic, improvisatory set in the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) tradition by the internationally acclaimed percussionist Kahil El'Zabar and his quartet featuring Robert Baabe Irving III (Miles Davis' music director/pianist), Dennis Winslett, and Harrison Bankhead alongside members of Fulcrum Point. The program also includes Alvin Singleton's striking "In Our Own House" and Jessie Montgomery's funky "Voodoo Dolz" for string quartet.

The cornerstone of the program is the World Premiere of composer Jeffrey Mumford's concerto for solo piano and ensemble, "becoming...," with Winston Choi as piano soloist. Commissioned by Fulcrum Point with support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and New Music USA, "becoming..." is an abstract expression of Mumford's personal experience with the majesty and beauty of light, clouds, and atmosphere from childhood memories. Photographic projections will complement the music to enhance the accessibility of the presentation.

"'Proclamation! The Black Composer Speaks' demonstrates our ongoing commitment to championing diversity in new art music," says Fulcrum Point Artistic Director Stephen Burns. "Throughout our 18-year history we have performed music by Fela Kuti, Duke Ellington, Tania León, Hannibal Lokumbe, Anthony Davis, and Lester Bowie in addition to masters and iconoclasts like John Cage, John Corigliano, Frank Zappa, Zhou Long, Paul Moravec, and Param Vir. Thank you for your spirit of adventure."

Tickets for "Proclamation! The Black Composer Speaks" are $35/25/15 and will be available starting Friday, March 11 at promontorychicago.com or by calling 312-801-2100.