“Honor!,” a series of 20 events at Carnegie Hall curated by the renowned opera diva Jessye Norman, opens tomorrow night, March 4, with a program that will trace the evolution of African-American music from its arrival hundreds of years ago through the present. “Honor: Blues, Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, Soul & Beyond” features performances by Geri Allen, Ashford & Simpson, Terence Blanchard, James Carter, Ron Carter, Doug E. Fresh, Corey Glover, Anthony Hamilton, Freddie Jackson, Leela James, Kem, MC Lyte, Toshi Reagon, Vernon Reid, Ryan Shaw and James “Blood” Ulmer, with a poetry reading by Avery Brooks. Ray Chew serves as musical director and the concert will be hosted by Sade Baderinwa and Wendell Pierce.
Other events in the series include “Sacred Ellington,” taking place on Saturday, March 7 at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine uptown. This event comprises excerpts from Ellington’s three Sacred Concerts, and features Jessye Norman with a jazz ensemble, string quartet, gospel choir, and a dancer.
Vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater headlines her own concert at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday, March 18.
For information on the other events in the “Honor!” series, and to access an interactive timeline of African-American music, a listing of black artists who have performed at Carnegie Hall since its opening in the late 19th century, visit Honor!.
