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It is a sad commentary on contemporary American culture that during the past twenty years relations between African-Americans and Jewish-Americans have - in the wake of the dismantling of the Civil Rights movement - disintegrated. In response, two Connecticut jazz artists, Warren Byrd and David Chevan, have created a unique musical program that merges their distinct cultures and heritages. In this musical offering, African-American jazz pianist Warren Byrd, and Jewish-American jazz bassist David Chevan combine their talents to fuse two centuries-old traditions that have served as time honored sources of comfort and strength. David and Warren have selected pieces from their traditions that speak to the soul and that emphasize and reveal the strong similarities that are at the heart of the passions, suffering and joys of these two worlds. Their music simultaneously projects a sense of deep contemplation and joyous exuberance. While there have been jazz artists who have delved into their spiritual lives for musical inspiration, this collaboration marks the first time that Jewish and African-American music have been so merged. The very act of performing these distinctive works together reveals how important it is to renew and strengthen bonds between the Jewish-American and African-American people and how extraordinary the results can be when such a collaboration takes place.
Warren and David have recorded and released a CD of their program also entitled, AVADIM HAYINU. They are currently seeking appropriate venues for their presentation. Their original presentation was at Congregation Mishkan Israel's annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial service in Hamden, Connecticut. In spite of an ice storm the service was attended by more than 300 hundred people, both members of the congregation and the greater New Haven community. Since then they have performed at colleges, synagogues, churches and other venues throughout the Northeast United States.
Warren Byrd is an accompanist for the School of Hartford Ballet, the Hartford Camerata and the Greater Hartford Academy for the Performing Arts. He has extensive experience accompanying and directing gospel choirs in the Hartford area. Mr. Byrd has worked with many important jazz artists including Archie Schepp, Steve Davis, Eddie Henderson and Mixashawm. He is also a member of BASSOLOGY, a jazz group led by David Chevan.
View all albums by The David Chevan/Warren Byrd Duo
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