New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Pianist Lara Downes has unveiled "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free," a powerful meditation on the Civil Rights Movement anthem written by Billy Taylor and popularized by
Nina Simone on her 1967 Silk And Soul album. Lara's rousing and moving interpretation was inspired by the work of the Equal
Justice Initiative, an organization working to end mass incarceration and challenge injustice.
The selection is from her recently announced album Some Of These Days (out April 3/Flipside), a collection of Spirituals and freedom songs - historic expressions of hope in the fight for equality - that continue to empower and unite in the face of racism and prejudice in today's climate. The album features Toshi Reagon, PUBLIQuartet, Musicality Vocal, The Chapin Sisters and others. Lara reimagines these songs with inspiration from America's diverse musical traditions: classical, jazz, folk, country. She is also joined by Newbery Award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson - the former
National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and Young People's Poet Laureate - for an in-depth audio commentary discussion on the American fight for freedom and the bright potential of today's younger generations.
Listen to "
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" here: https://youtu.be/rubOSPbhNRU
https://soundcloud.com/laradownes/lara-downes-i-wish-i-knew-single/s-qwBBj
Says Lara: "As I was on my way into the studio to start working on this album, I stopped into a used bookstore in upstate New York and picked up a copy of Bryan Stevenson's book Just Mercy. I had first read the book when it came out in 2015, and I've been intensely moved and influenced by the work of the Equal
Justice Initiative, the law practice that Stevenson founded to defend the unjustly condemned and the underrepresented who have been forever failed by our criminal justice system.
My rendition is inspired by the efforts of the EJI; the urgency to end mass incarceration and challenge systemic racial and economic injustice. To find solutions to these horrifying statistics: that one out of every three African-American males born today can expect to go to prison in his lifetime, and one of every six
Latino males. To make sure that all of us are treated fairly, and that no one is destined to be a statistic."
Lara has announced an expansive slate of performances for 2020, and has dedicated her recording and her album tour to her driving mission of youth engagement, education and mentorship. Lara - a fierce arts advocate and activist - will be hosting workshops with at-risk youth and youth choirs. She will use selections featured on Some Of These Days - "We Shall Overcome," "Down By The Riverside," "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child," "Steal Away" and others - to teach younger generations about the powerful legacy and lineage of these freedom songs.
Pre-order Some Of These Days here:
https://Naxos.lnk.to/SomeOfTheseDaysEL
https://bit.ly/someofthesedays
Some Of These Days tracklist:
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child - Traditional
Steal Away w/ Toshi Reagon - Trad / Charles Ives
Troubled Water -
Margaret Bonds
Hold On w/ Musicality and PUBLIQuartet -
Margaret Bonds
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free - Billy Taylor / Nina Simone
Deep River w/ PUBLIQuartet - H.T. Burleigh
Down By The Riverside - Traditional
All Night, All Day w/
Howard Fishman - Traditional
My Lord, What A Mornin' w/ Alphonso Horne - Traditional / H.T. Burleigh
The Bells -
Margaret Bonds
We Shall Overcome w/ The Chapin Sisters - Traditional
Fantasie Negre No. 2 - Florence Price
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen w/ Adam Abeshouse - Clarence Cameron White
Some Of These Days - Florence Price
Commentary track w/Newbery Award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson
Selected Upcoming Performances:
Feb 22 - Eugene, OR - Hult Center for the Performing Arts
Mar 15 - New York, NY - Subculture
Mar 24-25 -
Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Residency
Apr 3 - Los Angeles, CA - California African American Museum
Apr 16 - Los Angeles, CA - Yamaha Artist Concert Series
Apr 18-23 - Tecate, Mexico - Rancho La Puerta
Apr 30 - Chicago, IL - Impromptu, WFMT
May 2 - Los Angeles, CA - Occidental College
May 7 - Davis, CA - Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
May 8-9 - Houston, TX - Apollo Chamber Players
May 12 - New York, NY - Joe's Pub
May 16 - Grass Valley, CA - The Center For The Arts
May 30 - June 1 - St. Louis, MO - NPR From the Top / St Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra
June 5-6 - Georgetown, TX - Georgetown Festival of Arts
June 18 - Chicago, IL - Ravinia Festival
July 9 - Eugene, OR - Oregon Bach Festival
July 17 - Napa, CA - Festival Napa Valley
July 18-19 -
Santa Fe, NM - Performance
Santa Fe
July 25 -
Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Festival /
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
August 4-8 -
Santa Cruz, CA - Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
Youth Choir Workshops:
February 20-21: Eugene, OR
March 16: Brooklyn Youth Chorus workshop - Brooklyn NY
March 24-25: Ravinia Reach Teach Play workshops -
Chicago IL
April 2: Watts Learning Center workshops - Los Angeles, CA
April 3: Benefit concert for Watts Learning Center - Los Angeles, CA
May 29-June 1: St. Louis, MO
May 30: NPR From the Top with St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra
TBD: Sacramento, CA
https://www.laradownes.com/
