$10 Livestream
This event will be livestreamed only
Featuring Chris Coles
Named one of Cleveland Magazine’s “Most Interesting People of 2021,” saxophonist/composer/educator Chris Coles brings his powerful meditation on the 2015 Charleston church shooting to the Lincoln Theatre for one show only.
Combining jazz, spoken word and movement, audience and performers share a musical reflection on issues of social justice, racial inequality, and gun violence.
About the Series: Our Jazz at the Lincoln Theatre series showcases both established nationally-recognized artists and local musicians, and includes curated events, intimate small ensemble performances and educational activities that reach into the community through concerts, workshops and artist residencies.
The program:
The Love Deamon Song Cycle is a collection of songs inspired by Gaara, an anime character from the Naruto Universe. These songs are musical sketches of the emotions Chris Coles felt following Gaara's life arc from his birth, to him embracing the darkness of the sand spirit living in him, to meeting Naruto and being confronted with an alternative to the darkness, and finally his road to redemption becoming one of the most beloved of his village.
Nine Lives
On June 17, 2015, Dylann Roof entered Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, with the intent of killing innocent black members of the congregation. The 21-year-old white gunman chose this particular church precisely because of its historical significance as one of America’s oldest black churches and a center of civil rights activism. After sitting through the prayer service, Roof opened fire on the congregation, resulting in the death of nine black people.
As a jazz saxophonist, I grapple with social issues and sort through my emotions through performance and music composition. During the aftermath of the shooting, I was moved to sit down at the piano and write Nine Lives. The twelve-minute tone poem is a narrative of the tragedy as it unfolded. In addition to commemorating the nine who were killed and serving as a reminder of the horrific event, the piece brings further attention to the racial injustice still plaguing this country. Nine Lives is my contribution to the long tradition of protest music, a history that is integral to black music.
I recently decided to expand Nine Lives into a four-movement suite for jazz ensemble. Each movement will build upon the story of the Charleston shooting to examine broader societal problems through different art forms: animation, spoken word, dance, and instrumental music. Along with my collaborators, I am interested in exploring the fear that seemed to drive Dylann Roof to act as he did, how mob mentality affects racial awareness in this country, and most importantly, how constant self-examination and empathy can bring about positive transformation.
Alto Saxophone Nathan Paul-Davis
Tenor Saxophone Chris Coles
Baritone Saxophone Brad Wagner
Trumpet Tommy Lehman
Trombone Sam Blakeslee
Voice Emily Laycock
Piano Theron Brown
Bass Dave Morgan
Drums Zaire Darden
Drums James Johnson
Emcee Jul Big Green
Spoken Word Orlando Watson
Featured Soloist, Guitar Dan Bruce
Click here to go to the event: https://www.jag.tv/events/lincoln-chriscoles 15
In-Theatre tickets range in price from $10 - $68 (prices do not include CAPA facility fee or 5% City of Columbus Entertainment fee). Tickets available at www.CBUSArts.com, The CAPA Ticket Office, 39 East State Street, and by phone at (614) 469-0939.
