Last month, we told you all about GANGGANG’s I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll festival, Indy’s new Black rock festival. This month we’re celebrating African American Music Appreciation Month.
Although created as “Black Music Month” in 1979 by president Jimmy Carter, it wasn’t proclaimed officially until 2016 by president Barack Obama, who noted that Black music has helped us “dance, express our faith through song, to march against injustice, and to defend our country’s enduring promise of freedom and opportunity for all.”
But with centuries of music to explore, where to start? We invited Premium Blend saxophonist Jared Thompson to curate a playlist for Mirror Indy and give us some ideas to learn and jam all through June, and then take it from there for the rest of the year and beyond.
Jennifer Delgadillo: Music by Black musicians has shaped art and history movements. How do we know where to start to learn about these connections?
Jared Thompson: It starts with looking into who these artists were/are as people. I’m constantly looking for autobiographies, biographies, memoirs and documentaries about artists because they provide a more complete narrative. If you want to know what makes an artist tick, you’ve got to explore what is happening in their environment and community during their creative process.
Q: If you could take five albums with you to a deserted island, which would you take?
A: “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy Live at ‘The Club’” by Cannonball Adderley Quintet; “Mama’s Gun” by Erykah Badu; “Be” by Common; “Innervisions” by Stevie Wonder; and “First Instrument” by Rachelle Ferrell.
Q: As a musician, is there a song request you would never play?
A: There are a lot of tunes I’d prefer not to play (laughs in “Sweet Caroline” and “Don’t Stop Believing”), but if I’m being hired to provide a service to a client, my job is to meet and exceed their expectations … within reason.
Q: What is your favorite part about making music?
A: The entire process. Creating. Improving. Challenging your capabilities. Composing and performing are very satisfying and cathartic experiences for me.
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