Enjoy Beau Dixon's meticulously curated cabaret of 23 songs and reading, at the Kingston Grand Theatre to celebrate the spirit and legacy of Black music. The cabaret is divided into categories: Negro Spirituals, Silent Voices, Message Lost in the Voices, Encore, and Reading (Emancipation Poem by Haui (Howard J. Davis).
From the moment Black people landed on North American soil, their music took root and became the basis of much of the popular music we hear today. There is an endless list of exceptional Black musicians who have been lost to history, while their white counterparts gained fame. From church hymnals to the blues, from jazz to rock n roll, R & B and rap, we owe much of our musical history to Black culture, and it's time to give credit where credit is due.
Dixon puts a lot of emphasis on the importance of Bob Marley and his songs in the expression of freedom and emancipation. He includes four Bob Marley songs: One Love, Zimbabwe, Slave Driver, and Redemption Song, One Love might seem a gentle one but it has a solid message. The others by Marley are more pointed in their intention.
The Blues are given their due with a fascinating comment that even though they depict darkness in their lyrics, they also convey humour and wink as well.
Stay for a talk immediately following the performance with Beau Dixon, hosted by Jermaine Marshall, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Advisor, Human Rights & Equity Office.
