the underground to Peace + unity:
An acoustic concert of music, song, poetry & dance
By Rico “Superbizzee” Washington
On Saturday, April 5th at Brooklyn’s Five Spot, some of the underground’s most diverse talents gathered to counterbalance the turbulence between warring factions. uni aum Entertainment, in tandem with Nhojj.com, presented the underground to Peace + unity, an “acoustic concert of music, song, poetry and dance.” The acts conjured concert-going excitement, and sowed seeds of thought into captivating performances. Even hostess Rollie Bee wove current events and strands of insight into her comedic repertoire.
Kicking off the night’s soiree was author and Les Nubians Poetry Contest Tour winner Fisiwe Zwana Cook, interjecting traditional spirituals and hymns into her spoken word piece with a twist of sarcasm. BMI singer/songwriter Abby Dobson, accompanied by guitarist Sheldon, performed three songs with a venerable voice that resonated the bittersweet theme of her lyrics. Singer and co-event curator Nhojj sent up an emotional cry for peace with an a cappella selection, arresting the attention of all in attendance with his call for "Peace."
uni aum's founder and co-event curator, seân, along with his rotating line up of musicians, urban spiRitual, propelled the audience into pandemonium with intense songs. During his last number “rEvolution”, the statuesque seân donned an afro a la Erykah Badu that emphasized the potent refrain, “rEvolution be/ in our walk/ rEvolution be / in our talk/ rEvolution be/ in our hair/ rEvolution be/ in the air.” Tonight’s urban spiRitual featured a jazz line-up: Ramsey Jones (percussion), Marcus McLaurine (bass), Alicia Rau (trumpet), Craig Knight (guitar), and Rico “Superbizzee” Washington (backing vocals). In a flash, the stage was dark. But the next act shed ‘light’ on the situation. Cellist Rubin Kodheli and dancer Ayelen concocted a sinuous avant-garde number integrating many mini flashlights and hauntingly fervent orchestration similar to visual artist Jean Michel Basquiat’s band, Gray.
Lydia Harrell, lead vocalist of Mother’s Favorite Child, rendered an a cappella version of one of her band’s compositions that sent chills throughout the Five Spot. Next, was budding black rock icon Reese. Solely backed by a guitarist, his whiskey-worn alto punctuated the poignant message with all the force and power of a protest song. If Bruce Springsteen was black and thirty years younger with cascading dreadlocks, he just might stand a chance at rivaling this young buck’s effervescent crooning. And when the energy level couldn’t get more intense, the retro entrappings of the band Finotee worked the crowd into a sweat. Channeling the energies of such 1970s bands as Rufus featuring Chaka Khan and Fela Kuti’s Africa 70, Finotee lead vocalists Swan and Justice woved seamless harmonies and conscious lyrics that roused the crowd into ‘funky good time’ mode. Even Swan’s mother Renč, original member of the pioneering 1950s group The Chantels, came on stage to turn the pressure cooker up another few notches.
At the close of the night, the message was clear: like ice water on a sweltering summer day; in times of unrest, peace is the only antidote. Kindred spirits greeted the audience and performers brandishing support of loved ones jettisoned across the Atlantic with hugs, smiles and words of hope. The evenings vibe reverberated a coined phrase by visionary, John Lennon: All we are saying is give peace a chance.
uni aum Supporters: Rolling Out Urbanstyle Weekly, Arista Records, Giant Step, Hidden Beach Recordings.
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