What a pleasure and honor it was to work with Mississippi Teachers at the Whole Schools Institute in Meridian, Mississippi July 19, 20 and 21. 3 hours a day for 3 days we worked on the workshop version of Nora’s Ark, the jazz musical by myself and Clifford Carlson. Some folks started out with a lot of experience such as Karen, singer and music teacher from Nora Davis Magnet School in Laurel. But there were others who never did anything like this before. Most hands went up at the end of the 3 days when asked, “Who feels like they could put on a jazz musical like this with their class?” So now we can’t wait to see how things unfold. Where will the next Mississippi production of Nora’s Ark take place? Thanks to Sonya Robinson, my partner teaching artist. We couldn’t have done it without you. And thanks to the Mississippi Arts Commission. I’m honored and thrilled to be a part of this great gathering of teachers and artists!
Evan Christopher, clarinetist from New Orleans, and I had a ball playing a duo concert in the historic Riley Center. What a hall…look Ma…no microphones!
Teachers arrive at Riley Center, Meridian, Mississippi
Mississippi bluesman LC Ulmer sets the tone for the Institute
Teaching Artist Sonya Robinson kicks off Nora’s Ark Workshop
LC Ulmer and Eli Yamin at the Riley Center
Bugsy finds her character
Teachers in Nora’s Ark Workshop
Mississippi Teachers at Nora’s Ark Workshop
Eli Yamin and Evan Christopher in concert at the Riley Center
Eli talks to the audience, “Jazz is like teaching, improvisation on a theme.”
Evan Christopher wails on the clarinet
Eli Yamin and Evan Christopher jam with Cadillac Bill and John at Riley Center
Eli receives book on Mississippi music from teacher at Institute. That’s Elvis Presley and B.B. King on the cover of the book!
Eli Yamin plays UNIFOR, University in Fortaleza, Brazil
What a piano! It’s amazing how the possibilities open with a fine Steinway instrument at my fingertips. We opened the concert with our new arrangement of the spiritual, “Trouble of the World.” After hearing this arrangement, one person observed, “Now I know where John Coltrane and those guys were coming from!” It’s true, African American Spirituals have been a well of inspiration for generations and continue to inspire us on the Rhythm Road.
In the workshop, participants hummed call and response with Kate McGarry as she evoked lessons she learned from her great teacher/mentor, Dr. Horace Boyer. Dr. Boyer dedicated his life to teaching the repertoire and performance practices of African American Spirituals. The hymnal he put together is used worldwide. It’s called Lift Every Voice and Sing and is published by The Church Pension Fund (ISBN: 978-0-89869-194-8).
Kate McGarry evokes the memory of Dr. Horace Boyer
Once again LaFrae Sci evoked the rhythm of the blues…The shuffle is the heartbeat…
LaFrae has been documenting her experiences with us on the Rhythm Road on LaFrae\’s Blog
Then Bob got the harmony in the mix and tapped those not playing instruments to fill in 3 parts. Here’s a taste of how that went…
At the workshop we were also knocked out by 17-year old Brenna on cavaquinho, a guitar like instrument, and her friend Clayuton on flute. Our hearts melted when we heard them play this sweet choro called “Receita de Samba.”
With a sound like that, we were so happy to welcome Brenna and Clayuton to play with us at our evening concert. It was wonderful to have them play this piece joined by LaFrae on shaker. After that they sat in with us on “I Feel So Glad” by Hop Wilson. Brenna sure got some bluesy chords out of her cavaquinho and Clayuton took a heck of a blues flute solo!
Clayuton, LaFrae Sci and Brenna play "Receita de Samba," in concert at UNIFOR, Fortaleza, Brazil
Bob got the audience terrifically involved in the traditional “John Henry.”
Bob Stewart insist the audience make a full sound with their "hammer."
Next we presented our new lyrics and arrangement of my composition, “Rwandan Child.” It is dedicated to the wisdom and safety of children all over the world. We also played our new arrangement of Billy Taylor’s classic, “I Wish I Knew How It Feels To Be Free.” Billy Taylor is one of the pioneer jazz ambassadors and paved the way for artists like us to teach and play all over the world. For me, this song will always pay tribute to Dr. Taylor’s great legacy of positivity, overcoming obstacles and insistence on the jazz language being spoken, understood and appreciated by people all over the U.S. and throughout the world.
Pianist/Educator/Jazz Ambassador Billy Taylor, composer of "I Wish I Knew How It Feels To Be Free"
We closed the concert with Night Time Is the Right Time, made famous by Ray Charles, and “Healing Song” by myself and Clifford Carlson. By now we are accustomed to having audiences sing with us in both English and Portugese…
HEALING SONG by
Eli Yamin and Clifford Carlson
Portuguese translation by Edvaldo Amorim
“It’s not just a song for me
Take a breath and you will see
Why the blues has the power to be
A healing song, a healing song.”
“Não é só uma canção prá mim
Respire e você vai ver
Porque o Blues tem o poder de ser
Uma canção… que nos cura.”
One person at the workshop said, “I don’t sing, I don’t play an instrument. But the atmosphere you created with the blues drew me in so I felt comfortable joining in. It touched my soul!”
We could not have connected so deeply with the people of the North East of Brazil without the great expertise of Edvaldo Amorim, Cultural Affairs Specialist from the U.S. Consulate in Recife, Brazil. He served as road manager, interpreter and a host of other duties. Thanks a million Edvaldo, we love you madly!
Edvaldo Amorim, Cultural Affairs Specialist, U.S. Consulate, Recife, Brazil
It was a fantastic first week on the Rhythm Road. Many thanks to all our great support team at the Consulates, in Washington and at Jazz at Lincoln Center. We look forward to new discoveries and new friends in Belem and Manaus here in Brazil and then Chile later this month. Thanks for joining us on the Rhythm Road. Please do reflect on what you’ve seen here. We would love to hear what you think!
Eli Yamin with guest musicians Brenna and Clayuton
Nora's Ark Workshop, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Oxford, Mississippi
The trip to Mississippi was amazing. The photo above captures the sheer joy we felt at the culmination of the workshop performance of Nora’s Ark, the jazz musical by Clifford Carlson and me. Judi Holifield, Director of Whole Schools Initiative, sponsored by the Mississippi Arts Commission, brought me down to University of Mississippi at Oxford, MS to give workshops and perform for teachers. These are teachers empowered and inspired by art ready to change and uplift the world!
Bill Strickland inspired us!
July 12th I arrived in Oxford to participate in the retreat. Setting the tone for the week was the magnificent keynote speaker, entrepreneur, social activist, artist, visionary, author, jazz leader, Bill Strickland. In addition to hearing his keynote address and receiving this signed copy of his book, Make The Impossible Possible, I got to spend some time talking with Bill about making positive change in the world for ALL people through art.
The following day, workshops began with “Music As a Container.” In the workshop we explore how music gives us a chance to express “unspeakable feelings,” as well as stories, culture and community. I found participants, teachers from throughout the state of Mississippi, wonderfully engaged and warmhearted in the workshop. “Music as a Container” was inspired by a collaboration I had years ago with Dr. Abigail McNamee of Lehman College, City University of New York.
Janice from B.B. King Museum and teachers in workshop
In the afternoon, it was time for the Blues Immersion Workshop. We sang Leadbelly’s, “Good Morning Blues,” and the teachers wrote blues songs based on this model. Then it was time to head over to the Nutt Auditorium at Ole Miss where I was joined by the great clarinetist Evan Christopher from New Orleans for a duo concert. What a great way to warm up an audience–teach ‘em workshops all day long first. Just a great vibe…
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I Want To Be A Teacher is on my new CD, You Can’t Buy Swing, available on www.eliyamin.com, www.cdbaby.com or itunes.
The day after the concert, blues historian Scott Barretta and aficionado Thomas Henry Freeland IV gave me some tips on how I should go to Clarksdale. Before I knew it, I was on my way to the Mississippi Delta, birthplace of the blues. In Clarksdale, you can feel the spirit of the blues elders all over the place. It’s in the dust, sky, trees and wind…
Fabled blues crossroads, Clarksdale, Mississippi
Delta Blues Museum, Clarksdale, Mississippi
When I arrived at the Delta Blues Museum, eight or nine youngsters had gathered in the basement for blues class with veteran blues man, Bill “Howlin’ Madd” Perry. Before I could count to four, I was in the mix, helping the young piano players. Many thanks to Bill for such a warm and energized welcome. You made me feel completely at home.
Eli Yamin and Bill Perry
After the class, we headed over to Morgan Freeman’s blues club, Ground Zero. Bill was playing along with his son, Bill Perry Jr. on piano and their group. What a fantastic sound. Completely modern yet absolutely from the roots. I was knocked out to sit in the band and completely floored when Bill said, “There is no way you don’t have a least SOME Mississippi down in ya’ playing the blues like that. That ain’t no New York blues!” Thanks Bill for the sweet compliment. You guys are holding it down. Can’t wait to see you up here in New York at Terra Blues!
Bill "Howlin' Madd" Perry performs at Ground Zero, Clarksdale, Mississippi
Eli sits in with Bill "Howlin' Madd" Perry Blues Band at Ground Zero
Mr. John Billington, founder of Delta Blues Museum Education Program performs
I drove back to Oxford blasting one of the CD’s I bought at the Delta Blues Museum, Muddy Waters Greatest Hits, of course. What a night it was.
The following day, I was joined by a brilliant angel, newly located to New Orleans. The great singer and teaching artist, Sonya Robinson. She conducted her own workshops and partnered with me in the Nora’s Ark workshop. Thanks for your great partnership Sonya!
Sonya Robinson, teaching artist extraordinaire
Sonya and I joined forces to lead a nine-hour workshop production of Nora’s Ark, the jazz musical by Clifford Carlson and me. Check out the following clip and see what a wonderful job these professional educators do in leaping into the risk taking and soul expanding world of jazz drama. Many of the teachers plan to return to their schools throughout Mississippi to stage Nora’s Ark with their students. We are eager to see the results…
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After all this, I’m truly excited for the future. So many teachers being creative and spirited. Young people picking up the ball and running with it. One of the teachers in the Nora’s Ark workshop brought her 17 year old son, Chris. He made for a terrific Mr. Cheetah in the production and went home with new found interest in blues men Albert King and Muddy Waters and jazz in general. Hats off to you-skies the limit Chris!
You can also see photos below of myself with Bill Perry Jr., a wonderful young blues and jazz pianist from Clarksdale. Look out for this fiery young man. And, myself with the director of the Thacker Mountain Radio Show on Mississippi Public Radio. Thanks for having me on the show. What a great feeling–words and music, perfect together.
Big thanks to everyone at the Mississippi Arts Commission and Whole Schools. You are through-the-roof fantastic. Thanks a million for doing what you do. Together we are making the impossible possible. More art, more kids, more creativity, more humanity, more learning, more healing, more joy!
Hope to see you soon!
Eli and Bill Perry Jr., blues and jazz pianist from Clarksdale
Director of Thacker Mountain Radio Show and Eli
Eli with Chris, who played Mr. Cheetah in the Nora's Ark workshop
