Apollo New Works artist, vocalist, composer Martha Redbone teams up with longtime collaborator composer, pianist, producer Aaron Whitby to celebrate the words of bell hooks in their developmental work-in-process Guardian Spirit: The Poetry of bell hooks, a multidisciplinary musical exploration of bell hooks’ landmark work, Appalachian Elegy: Poetry and Place. Known for their powerful and award-winning settings of poets Ntozake Shange in for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuff, Drama Desk Award 2019; Broadway revival 2022 and William Blake, album The Garden of Love: Songs of William Blake, Redbone and Whitby channel bell hooks’ meditative, confessional, and political lyricism into a genre-defying soundscape that echoes the spirit of her Kentucky roots and heritage she shares with Redbone.
"Her stories shone a radiant light on everything I had ever known and so many secrets lost before my time, bell hooks helped me listen to the whisperings of the guardian spirit. Having left our planet less than a year ago, it is only fitting to celebrate her writings setting them in music and storytelling."
- Martha Redbone
Martha Redbone- Vocals, percussion
Aaron Whitby- Music Director, Piano, keys
Charlie Burnham- Violin, vocals
Robin Macatangay- Guitar
Fred Cash- Bass
Kevin Johnson- Drums
Keith Anthony Fluitt- vocals
Ramona Renea- vocals
Vivian Sessoms- vocals
Guardian Spirit is generously supported by the New York State Council on the Arts.
Apollo New Works artist, vocalist, composer Martha Redbone teams up with longtime collaborator composer, pianist, producer Aaron Whitby to celebrate the words of bell hooks in their developmental work-in-process Guardian Spirit: The Poetry of bell hooks, a multidisciplinary musical exploration of bell hooks’ landmark work, Appalachian Elegy: Poetry and Place. Known for their powerful and award-winning settings of poets Ntozake Shange in for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuff, Drama Desk Award 2019; Broadway revival 2022 and William Blake, album The Garden of Love: Songs of William Blake, Redbone and Whitby channel bell hooks’ meditative, confessional, and political lyricism into a genre-defying soundscape that echoes the spirit of her Kentucky roots and heritage she shares with Redbone.
"Her stories shone a radiant light on everything I had ever known and so many secrets lost before my time, bell hooks helped me listen to the whisperings of the guardian spirit. Having left our planet less than a year ago, it is only fitting to celebrate her writings setting them in music and storytelling."
- Martha Redbone
Martha Redbone- Vocals, percussion
Aaron Whitby- Music Director, Piano, keys
Charlie Burnham- Violin, vocals
Robin Macatangay- Guitar
Fred Cash- Bass
Kevin Johnson- Drums
Keith Anthony Fluitt- vocals
Ramona Renea- vocals
Vivian Sessoms- vocals
Guardian Spirit is generously supported by the New York State Council on the Arts.
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