Composer

Led by 2023 Grammy-winning pianist/composer Kris Davis, this special concert is named for Davis’s 2019 breakthrough album, which was awarded “Jazz Album of the Year” by both The New York Times and NPR. “Bringing together wildly diverse musicians in tangled unity,” Davis often sets her improvisations to “grooves played with prismatic nuance” (The New York Times) by drummer Terri Lyne Carrington—a four-time Grammy winner and NEA Jazz Master herself. Turntablist and electronic musician Val Jeanty, bassist Trevor Dunn, and guitarist Julian Lage add layers of sonic texture for a thrilling and unexpected sound.

EPSG:4326

Kris Davis Diatom Ribbons

College of Charleston

### Event Description: School Day Performance - Etienne Charles: Earth Tones

**Date and Time:**  
Friday, January 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM

**Venue:**  
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre  
911 North University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

**Event Overview:**  
Join us for a captivating School Day Performance featuring Trinidad-born jazz musician, composer, and storyteller Etienne Charles. This special event, titled "Earth Tones," is designed for students in grades 6-12 and offers a unique multimedia jazz experience. The performance will include original compositions, images, and film, taking students on a sensory journey through sounds, video, and stories from at-risk coastal communities. The narrative will highlight the effects of global warming from tropical islands to the Louisiana Bayou, featuring musicians from the very communities most at risk.

**Themes:**  
- Music
- Jazz
- Multimedia
- Climate Change
- Environmental Activism

**Duration:**  
Approximately 60 minutes

**Age Recommendation:**  
Grades 6-12

**Featured Artists:**  
- Etienne Charles: Music Director, Trumpet, and Percussion
- Marcus Strickland: Woodwinds
- Warren Wolf: Vibraphone, Marimba, and Piano
- Eva Scow: Mandolin
- Jorge Glem: Cuatro
- Jonathon Muir-Cotton: Bass
- Val Jeanty: Turntables and Percussion
- John Davis: Drums

**Registration and Tickets:**  
Reservations are now open. To register, visit the event page or call the ticket office at 734-764-2538. Student, senior, and group discounts may be available.

**Sponsors:**  
- Supporting Sponsor: David Leichtman and Lauran McGinn
- Patron Sponsors: Anonymous, Laurence and Barbara Baker, David and Kiana Barfield Family Foundation, James and Nancy Stanley, Marianne Udow-Phillips and Bill Phillips

**About Etienne Charles:**  
Etienne Charles is renowned for his lush trumpet sound, varied compositional textures, and pulsating percussive grooves. A 2015 Guggenheim Fellow and 2022 Creative Capital Awardee, Charles is dedicated to connecting the Afro-descendant diaspora and highlighting marginalized communities through his music. His work often addresses touchy and controversial subjects, aiming to provoke thought and dialogue.

For more information about Etienne Charles, visit [etiennecharles.com](http://etiennecharles.com).

Don't miss this opportunity to engage, enlighten, and educate students through an energized multidisciplinary performance that addresses the critical issue of climate change. Reserve your seats today!

Val Jeanty

Composer

Events

Upcoming events

17 - 18 Jan, 2025

School Day Performance for Grades 6-12: Etienne Charles: Earth Tones · University Musical Society

Past events

Jun 2, 2024

Kris Davis Diatom Ribbons · Spoleto Festival USA

About

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