BE-SPOKEN: Chicago Bucket Boys

Rhythm has always served as a prominent marker of African derived music, with the drum being one of the most musically transformative instruments from Africa. At the heart of every piece of music lies the pulse of the drum. Check out this performance from the Chicago Bucket Boys. ******** The title, BE-SPOKEN, is a nod to the term ‘bespoke.’ The work uses sacred texts and music genres to address themes of Black empowerment, justice for police violence within Black and Brown communities, and hope for a more prosperous future. During the worldwide shutdown, violent atrocities committed upon the Black community were unavoidably visible. Our nation, once again, struggles to reconcile its original sin of slavery and its lasting institutionalized legacy, racism. BE-SPOKEN is an oratorio that explores the themes of loss and joy, and celebrates Blackness. Black music serves as durable cultural and social evidence that Blacks have survived the America. The work begins with a field song and moves through gospel, funk, and hip-hop. The text and music for the work was written by Emorja Roberson, Anthony T. Walker, Pamela Blair, and Chavis Gill (aka “King Chav”). BE-SPOKEN communicates messages of strength, resistance, and joy and in it one will hear and preservations of the sounds of Blackness as it is the amalgam of Black life. ******** BAND: Anthony Walker, piano Dr. Scott Cumberbatch, organ Turrell O'Neal, auxiliaries Derrick Hines, bass Redginald Norris, drums BE-SPOKEN COLLECTIVE: Leatha Harris, soprano Gaye Johnson, soprano Terena Love, soprano Kennedi Kyle, alto Julia McKenna, alto Brittney Hale, alto Zachary Gillis, tenor Venita Roberts, tenor Elvie Williams, bass Allen J Christian, bass NARRATOR: Bishop Juandolyn Stokes ******** Director of Photography: Ryan Blaske (https://blaske.studio/)