Empirical in Birmingham

Tomorrow evening at 7pm Empirical recorded three years ago in Birmingham at Town Hall Symphony Hall will be streaming. ''We’re excited to be part of Town Hall Symphony Hall’s streaming series with a very memorable concert from 2017 that featured …

Published: 29 Oct 2020. Updated: 3 years.

Tomorrow evening at 7pm Empirical recorded three years ago in Birmingham at Town Hall Symphony Hall will be streaming. ''We’re excited to be part of Town Hall Symphony Hall’s streaming series with a very memorable concert from 2017 that featured mainly music from our album Connection,'' says Empirical bassist Tom Farmer.

''The title refers to the unique connection we have with each other as musicians – something that is sorely missing from our lives right now given the difficulties of getting together to perform or even to rehearse. We also miss the connection to our audiences and the energy that only exists in live performance.'' Link: to the Facebook stream

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TV review: Sing It Loud: Black and Proud, Channel 4

Presented by Maya Jama, opening Sing It Loud: Black and Proud Ayanna Witter-Johnson sang from the Stevie Wonder songbook as she accompanied herself on cello. 'Living for the City,' the Londoner explained in a post-performance sequenced interview …

Published: 29 Oct 2020. Updated: 3 years.

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Presented by Maya Jama, opening Sing It Loud: Black and Proud Ayanna Witter-Johnson sang from the Stevie Wonder songbook as she accompanied herself on cello. 'Living for the City,' the Londoner explained in a post-performance sequenced interview with Jama, resonated with her on several levels.

Part of the Black and Proud Season Channel 4 in partnership with jazz club Ronnie Scott’s this celebration of British jazz musicians was shown on Channel 4 last night. Pianist Ashley Henry followed singing Nina Simone's 'Mississippi Goddam' as he led his trio from the piano. In conversation afterwards Henry said Ronnie's was like his ''living room'' and recalled getting up at a jam session there for the first time. He said referring to his song choice and more generally that Simone changed the narrative of what a black entertainer can be.

Sam Smith pianist Reuben James singing James Brown's 'Say it Loud! I'm Black and I'm Proud' leading his trio, told Jama ''now's the time'' in his interview. Regarding the black lives matter mood at the moment he commented: ''I feel there's a lot more awareness and people are more comfortable having the conversation.''

Zara McFarlane sang 'Strange Fruit' in the most significant moment of the whole show, the hard hitting Abel Meeropol song associated with Billie Holiday that describes shocking racist murder. Zara in her interview describes the song as ''heart breaking'' She said the first time that she sang it live she cried.

Poppy Ajudha singing Marvin Gaye classic 'What's Going On,' and MC-saxophonist Soweto Kinch, rapping as ever supremely eloquently, also took to the Ronnie's stage in a very well-curated black protest anthem themed show.