Video from The Afro-Semitic Experience workshop performance of a new project: Letters from the Affair
We’d like to let you know that the video is now available from our first ever performance of a new work that we have been developing. The piece is called Letters from the Affair. Letters from the Affair is a hybrid work—there’s a little jazz, a little opera, some Klezmer, some musical theater and maybe even an art history lecture. This multi-media jazz song cycle is based upon a series of letters written by the Impressionist painters Camille Pissarro and Edgar Degas.
The letters trace their artistic friendship and its eventual deterioration as a result of the anti-Semitism caused by the Dreyfus affair. Images from the era and paintings and prints by the artists will provide further context. This work presents an impression of the personal ramifications of a national political event and is an illustration of how bigotry can destroy a friendship.
If you are interested in viewing this video please contact us for the link at info@afrosemiticexperience.net
To our Friends and Fans,
We have sad news. Our friend and brother in music, Stacy Phillips, a man who was many, many things, including a Grammy award winner, a Bluegrass legend and a founding member of the Afro-Semitic Experience, died, Tuesday, June 5 around 9:30. He was 74 years old. He experienced a massive heart attack on Sunday and from then on it was just a matter of time. He was surrounded by his family, his sister and his niece and nephew. Stacy was his own person and that was reflected in the life he led as a musician. We traveled the world with him. We traveled the United States with him. We shared meals together and bandstands together. We heard the same jokes from him over and over and we laughed every time. It is hard to believe he is dead. We would say more about Stacy, but others have already said it better. There is a great obituary about Stacy in the New Haven Independent.
On Sunday, June 10, we participated in a musical memorial for Stacy at Café 9 in New Haven. We were joined by so many other musicians, bands, students, and fans who all paid tribute to him. There’s a great article about that event in the New Haven Independent.
Zichronoh l’vrachah May his memory be a blessing
With our highly accessible ethnic world music mix and our ability to get an audience on its feet, The Afro-Semitic Experience is redefining the jazz concert and making a difference with our message of Unity in the Community.
The Afro-Semitic Experience in concert
The Cultural Center at the Opera House, 121 N. Union Avenue, Havre de Grace
Please join us for a concert at the historic Opera House in Havre de Grace. We are looking forward to sharing a retrospective of over 20 years of friendship and music in this incredible space. For tickets and more info please visit: https://hdgoperahouse.org/event/the-afro-semitic-experience/
Friday night services with The Afro-Semitic Experience
Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb Street, NW, Washington, DC
Please join us for a Friday night service at the Washington Hebrew Congregation. A special sabbath service with a message: Unity in the Community. For more information please visit: https://www.whctemple.org/calendar/all/display/5584/index.php
MLK and Shabbat Shira service with The Afro-Semitic Experience
Woodlands Community Temple, 50 Worthington Avenue, White Plains
Please join us for a Sabbath Service where we celebrate freedom--the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the crossing of the Red Sea. A musical night like no other. For more information please visit: http://www.wct.org/index.php
Here’s a link to something we think is also of importance and value, Reverend William J. Barber’s speech that followed our performance at the URJ Biennial. His words that evening were a call to action and a powerful reminder that there is still much to do in our nation to achieve equality and equity for all our citizens. We hope you will take some time to watch or at least listen to what Reverend Barber said that evening.
Ahoy!!! Afro-Semitic Experience drummers Abu Carter and Alvin Carter, Jr. recently gave a drumming workshop at sea aboard the Schooner Amistad off the shore of Westbrook, Connecticut.
Warren and David singing at Dickinson College
finale at Dickinson College with student choir and musicians joining us
Will Bartlett and Saskia Laroo at Dickinson College
Warren Byrd singing at Dickinson College
Stacy Phillips' back!
Alvin and Abu Carter
Saskia Laroo and David Chevan at the CCA 50th Anniversay event
Will Bartlett at the CCA 50th Anniversary event
Stacy Phillips at the CCA 50th Anniversary event
Stacy, Will, Saskia, and David at the CCA 50th Anniversary eventat the CCA 50th Anniversary event at the CCA 50th Anniversary event
David, Abu and Warren at the CCA 50th Anniversary event
David, Abu, and Warren at the CCA 50th Anniversary event
Will, Saskia, David, Abu, and Warren at the CCA 50th Anniversary event
Abu and Warren at the CCA 50th Anniversary event
Alvin at the CCA 50th Anniversary event
Stacy Phillips at the CCA 50th Anniversary event
Abu Carter at the CCA 50th Anniversary event
Warren Byrd at the CCA 50th Anniversary event
Will and Saskia at the CCA 50th Anniversary event