As Black History Month comes to an end, events across the region celebrate the achievements of extraordinary African Americans
The legendary John Coltrane revolutionized jazz music with his innovative style of playing. Although he died of liver cancer at the age of 40, Coltrane’s legacy as one of the most prolific and influential artists of all time continues. The Philadelphia Jazz Legacy Project will honor you in a free conversation with Lewis Porter, a musician / educator who wrote two books on Coltrane and documentary filmmaker / historian Steve Rowland, producer of the audio doc “Tell Me How Long The Trane’s Been Gone. ”Jazz Legacy project director Suzanne Cloud will be the host.
They may have started in 2019, but Arthur Thomas and Funkitorium seem to have been playing together for decades. Their combination of old school funk, soul, hip-hop and blues has already brought them an avid fan base, although the closure of COVID-19 last year has lessened its momentum. The band will perform funk on Friday night as the featured artist in this week’s World Café Live House Concerts.
- What: Broadcasting live concert
- Where: Online, through the World Café Live YouTube channel
- When: Friday, February 26, 8 pm
- How much: Free, but donations are welcome
The Black History Untold project by journalist Sofiya Ballin spawned a new documentary simply titled “Love”. He explores black love in the face of racism and the emotional and spiritual upheaval that comes in its wake. The doc introduces local couples and tells the stories of their respective trips. Ballin will join Aja and Fatin Dantzler from Kindred the Family Soul and Syreeta Martin, presenter of WURD’s “Safe Space” for a post-screening discussion.
Mosaic and ceramic artist Ellen Tiberino grew up in western Philadelphia in a family of artists so creative that they had to found their own space, the Tiberino Museum. She will have a conversation about her life as a creative and how her family’s legacy inspired and influenced her own work. The assistant director of the Center for Community Education in West Philly, Tiberino, will also talk about her work there and what it means, as well as how community organizations remained during the pandemic.
Pianist and songwriter Courtney Bryan was inspired to create “Blessed” based on racial protests from last year. It says that the Bible Scripture ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth’ (Matthew 5: 5-9) also informed her. Bryan worked remotely during the pandemic with soprano Janinah Burnett, vocalist Damian Norfleet and sound engineer Robert Kaplowitz to assemble the piece, a process she dubbed “sonic padding”. The result is a concert film that includes images of protests in New York, Philadelphia and New Orleans. “Blessed” makes its debut at Opera Philadelphia this week.
- What: Transmission of opera film performance
- Where: Via Opera Philadelphia channel
- When: Opens on Friday, February 26, at 8 pm
- How much: 7-day rental, $ 10, $ 25 digital commission package or free with $ 99 season pass
The Choir School of Delaware hosts its annual Black History Month program this weekend featuring poetry by beloved African American artists like Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Jacob Lawrence and the 2015 twins Poet Laureates of Delaware, Al Mills and Nnamdi Chukwuocha, to music. After the presentation, there will be a social gathering of the community and discussion with the composers.
- What: Black History Month Event
- Where: Streaming through the Escola do Coro website
- When: Sunday, February 28, 4 pm
- How much: Suggested free donation $ 25
The large-scale work of African-American educator, sculptor and potter Syd Carpenter is on display over the weekend at the Michener Art Museum. The 11 pieces in the collection connect his two passions – art and gardening – through his research on various black-owned farms in South Carolina, Georgia and the Gullah Islands. Each of the sculptures is named after one of the owners of the farm or gardens and contains botanical elements and items associated with agricultural work, from tools to sheds. Pittsburgh-born Carpenter was also inspired by his mother and grandmother, both avid gardeners.
The historic South Jersey winery and resort, one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in the country, was renovated in 2019. This weekend, he concludes his Vintner Wonderland event with options for ice skating on his outdoor wine rink , dinner or shop.
This year the festival becomes virtual with a bonfire and beer event in the ‘backyard’. Participants can buy boxes of local craft beers and taste with their housemates, family or quarantine capsules – those over 21, of course. There are two box options, the Kennett box and the Winterfest box, with 48 different beers available in each. The boxes are due to be picked up on Saturday, February 27, in downtown Kennett Square, from 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets are limited and collection times remain.
- What: Virtual beer festival
- Where: In your preferred home or quarantine location
- When: Saturday, February 27, from 10 am to 4 pm
- How much: $ 110 per box
Contralto singer and pianist Marian Anderson initiated anti-racism when she performed at the Lincoln Memorial after segregationists denied her the chance to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC The daughter of Philadelphia has had a long and historic career despite obstacles you faced. a black woman in Jim Crow America. Her life is celebrated through a virtual guided tour of the three-story Marian Anderson National Museum, until January 2022.
- What: Virtual tour
- Where: Online, via National Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society
- When: Saturday, February 27 – Saturday, January 1, 2022
- How much: $ 10, call for group rates
Keep checking under “Things to do” as we continue to provide our entertainment choices during the recovery of the industry’s COVID-19. Check out our coronavirus updates to stay up to date with the latest information regionally.