IMANI UZURI: 'CONJURE WOMAN'- A POSTMODERN CANTATA FOR STRINGS, VOICES AND FLUTE (3/6/15 Avant Music Festival @ The Wild Project, 8pm)

Featuring: Imani Uzuri (contralto), Steven Herring (baritone), Ann McCormack (soprano) + Kyle Beltran (tenor); Kaoru Watanabe (flute); Pala Garcia + Trina Basu (violins), Dana Lynn (viola), Marika Hughes (cello)

Uzuri introduces the world premiere of her new cantata Conjure Woman, inspired by the eclectic composer’s rural Southern roots, embodied within the coded, polyphonic and revelatory legacy of the Black American quilt making tradition. The composition will feature string quartet, four voices (including Uzuri, contralto), and flute. It takes as its main text a passage from American novelist Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon: “The singing woman...wrapped herself up in an old quilt...her eyes fixed...she sang in a powerful contralto.” (The concert will also include additional compositions from Uzuri's eclectic repertoire.)