CutTime: Velda Kelly, John McLaughlin Williams, Rick Robinson, Derek Reeves & Keith Claeys, 70th Annual E. Azalia Hackley Concert, Detroit Public Library

Velda Kelly, John McLaughlin Williams, Rick Robinson,  Derek Reeves, Keith Claeys George Shirley

Detroit Public Library

The Premiere of "The Legacy of Roland Hayes" 

Composition by Patrice Rushen performed by
George Shirley and the Cut Time Players

Wednesday, February 12, 2014  7:00 p.m. 

Detroit Public Library - Main Library

  

CutTime News
Rick Robinson

Next was a remarkable performance with a large turnout for the annual Hackley concert at the Detroit Public Library. Local opera legend George Shirley set the context for and sang a new setting by Patrice Rushen of four Negro spirituals originally set by Roland Hayes, the first black classical tenor to enjoy an international career. George had us spellbound by his power, pathos and story about Hayes winning over a bigoted crowd in Berlin in 1930. On the piano for this work was my Interlochen classmate Alvin Waddles, an amazingly versatile tour de force, who I invited to also play solo. He spontaneously played a Fats Waller rag, a Gershwin Prelude and a raucous Mini the Moocher that had the whole audience singing and laughing! These provided wonderful contrast to CutTime's program by black composers with the players in the photo above.

Comment by email:

Thanks for sharing this Bill! - Rick Robinson (Mr. CutTime)