SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va., Oct. 18,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First World War Black veterans
returned home from fighting in France, hoping to be recognized as equal
citizens in this country. Despite their sacrifices and service,
they faced continued oppression and harsh treatment under
Jim Crow laws. The 1919 riots, also
known as The Red Summer, marked a turning point as Black citizens
supported by these returning veterans fought against their
mistreatment for the first time.
In the late 1990s, J. Kimo
Williams was commissioned by The National Opera Orchestra
(InterSound Records) to arrange Mozart Arias for their instrumental
orchestra release. It was quite the challenge in that the lyrics
associated with opera are so important that sometimes the essence
of the music that supports the story can be overlooked.
In 2023, Williams decided to bring visibility to Black WWI
Veterans and wanted to tell their story in this format. This
Progressive-Rock Jazz-Fusion project, titled 'Red Summer 1919: An
Instrumental Opera,' is his musical approach to imagining the
historical events leading up to the riots. Williams composed new
music and used themes from previous works to set each scene.
Relaying the visual narrative to the instrumentalists, Vinnie Colaiuta (Jeff
Beck, Herbie Handcock,
Sting), Michael Brecker, and
Mike Stern, they used their
imagination to create a musical representation of each scene
through their improvisation or (in the case of Vinnie) shape the
scene through rhythm.
"As Veterans Day 2023 draws near, also remembered as Armistice
Day, it offers a moment for deep reflection on the multifaceted
identities and experiences of us as Veterans. Beyond the common
public perception of Veterans as merely fighters or warriors lies a
tapestry of individual stories, beliefs, and reasons for serving,
unconstrained by political party lines. A poignant chapter in this
narrative is that of the Black Veterans of WWI. Their journey, both
on the battlefield and upon their return home, intertwines with the
long-standing thread of American racism. By delving into their
experiences, we are reminded of the richness of each Veteran's
story and the need to move beyond monolithic representations. Let
this Veterans Day be a celebration of diversity, historical
understanding, and deep respect for all those who have served,"
says J. Kimo Williams, Captain (Ret)
US Army, Vietnam 1970.
Liner notes that include each scene narrative
breakdown can be found at
https://omikmusic.com/rs%3A-act-i-liner-notes
Official Video is at:
https://youtu.be/YqkgzN2kQhw
The project will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon
Music and other streaming platforms.
Physical Copies (CD, Vinyl) are available at
http://www.kimowilliams.com
Contact:
Kimo Williams
367138@email4pr.com
3045821487
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SOURCE J. Kimo Williams