(Newswire.net — May 15, 2013) Marlboro, NY
Marlboro, NY: Teri Roiger will be singing the music of Abbey Lincoln on JUNETEENTH (June 19th), the annual holiday celebrating the abolition of slavery in the United States. Ms. Lincoln was a legendary singer, poet, songwriter, actress and civil rights activist.
“Juneteenth” is known as the oldest nationally celebrated holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas, origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Even though slavery was constitutionally ended on January 1, 1863, there were many slave owners that did not relay that information to their slaves. This day, “Juneteenth,” marks the arrival of the Union soldiers to Galveston where they informed the last of the slaves that they had been freed and enforced President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
In honor of that day and to foster national recognition of the holiday, Teri Roiger brings her quartet to the Falcon Arts Center in Marlboro, NY, to celebrate the music of Abbey Lincoln. Ms. Roiger will be singing songs from her new CD DEAR ABBEY plus songs from the albums Abbey Lincoln recorded with Max Roach during the civil rights movement: WE INSIST: FREEDOM NOW SUITE (1960) and STRAIGHT AHEAD (1961).
WE INSIST was the first of several jazz albums voicing the growing demand for equal rights with the vision to perform it on the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation (1963) which became the widely celebrated holiday Juneteenth. STRAIGHT AHEAD also captures the spirit of the rising civil rights movement and showcases Lincoln’s talents as a lyricist, mixing personal confession with larger social and political implications. Her ability to express human struggle through the beauty of music continued with her own compositions recorded by Roiger on her latest CD.
“The brilliant pianist James Weidman is incredibly musical and knows how to bring out the best in my singing, which is no surprise, since he played for several years with legendary vocalist Abbey Lincoln,” says Roiger. “Drummer Steve Williams, who played with Shirley Horn for 15 years, will bring all his experience and his magical touch to this live concert.”
Roiger and bassist John Menegon have collaborated for the past 20 years, which is evident in their ease of musical communication, both in live performance and on recordings. “John brings his solid, swingin’ bass lines and his original arrangements to each song on my CD, which adds a very special element to Abbey’s tunes,” Roiger says. Visit Ms. Roiger’s website at www.teriroiger.com
“All these gifted musicians have a deep understanding and love for Abbey’s music. Their very special combined talents reinvent tradition while rising to the occasion of Abbey’s great compositions and lyrics,” she adds.
DEAR ABBEY is Teri’s third CD as a vocalist and bandleader, and she is especially passionate about this recording. “Abbey’s music has had a profound influence on my life as a musician, teacher, lyricist, and songwriter,” says Roiger. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share this music with the audience at The Falcon!”
The CD was released in September 2012 on Greg Osby’s INNER CIRCLE record label. Osby and guitarist Mark Dziuba are also featured on the CD: Osby weaves his melodic vocabulary throughout five of Abbey’s tunes, and Dziuba brings a very special bluesy element to Hey Lordy Mama, a blues co-written by Abbey and Nina Simone. Frank Kimbrough is the pianist on the CD, and the renowned Brian Bacchus is on board as Producer.
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For More Information on The Falcon Arts Center, please visit: www.liveatthefalcon.com
For Dinner: Reservations Recommended Call 845.236.7970
Admission: Donations encouraged, $20.00 suggested.
Press Contact: Karen Newman Head Music & Film 845.679.5749
E-mail: duvchen@aol.com
For More Information on “Juneteenth”: www.juneteenth.com
For More Information on James Weidman, please visit: www.jamesweidman.com
Catherine Castle
whitediamondmedia@hotmail.com
201.723.4762