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Langston Hughes: The Dream Keeper
Mode Records

Langston Hughes: The Dream Keeper

$20.99

Details

Composer
AMRAM, DAVID
Artist
Mingus, Amram, Simon, Sikora, Davis, Chatis, Gallant, Stambaugh, Barron, Russell, Laurino
Format
CD
Label
Mode Records
Released
Feb 03, 2017
Catalog #
MOD-CD-A17
UPC
764593101727

About

Langston Hughes (1902–67) was an American poet, novelist, social activist and playwright whose work showcased the dignity and beauty in ordinary black life. His African-American themes made him a primary contributor to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. The hours he spent in Harlem clubs affected his work, making him one of the innovators of “Jazz Poetry.” Hughes’ poetry is still powerful and contemporary today. The Langston Hughes Project came from jazz guitarist Larry Simon, who is the founder of JazzMouth, unique festival in Portsmouth, New Hampshire that combines jazz and spontaneous music with readings by some of the finest poets. Hughes’ texts are brought to life by the rich, soulful delivery of Eric Mingus, son of Charles Mingus. For some years he worked as a session musician and backing singer, playing on dates with artists such as Carla Bley, Bobby McFerrin and Karen Mantler. He has also performed with the Mingus Big Band, Elliott Sharp’s Terraplane, Todd Rundgren, Elvis Costello, Nick Cave, Catherine Sikora and Levon Helm, and a featured performer in many of Hal Willner’s projects. Simon also brought David Amram — composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist, and author — to the project. As a classical composer and performer, his integration of jazz, folk and world music led him to work with Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Willie Nelson, Charles Mingus, Levon Helm and Betty Carter. Amram has composed more than 100 orchestral and chamber music works, and written many scores for Broadway theater and film, including the classic scores for the films Splendor in The Grass and The Manchurian Candidate. Amram collaborated with Hughes on the cantata "Let us Remember." Importantly, in the 1950s Amram collaborated in clubs with Langston Hughes and Jack Kerouac on the spontaneous creation of words and music which came to be known as “jazz/poetry.” And jazz/poetry is what “Langston Hughes: The Dream Keeper” is. Half of the poems find Mingus with Amram on piano, as a duo. The instrumentally varied balance of the album are Mingus duos with electric guitar or Hammond organ; with woodwinds and percussion or larger ensembles.

Tracklist 13 tracks

  1. 1 Weary Blues 04:02
    Track
    1
    Title
    Weary Blues
    Duration
    04:02
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project
  2. 2 The Dream Keeper 04:27
    Track
    2
    Title
    The Dream Keeper
    Duration
    04:27
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project
  3. 3 Neighbor 02:15
    Track
    3
    Title
    Neighbor
    Duration
    02:15
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project
  4. 4 Daybreak in Alabama 02:29
    Track
    4
    Title
    Daybreak in Alabama
    Duration
    02:29
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project
  5. 5 Sylvester's Dying Bed 01:57
    Track
    5
    Title
    Sylvester's Dying Bed
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project
  6. 6 Border Line 01:41
    Track
    6
    Title
    Border Line
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project
  7. 7 Reverie on the Harlem River 01:22
    Track
    7
    Title
    Reverie on the Harlem River
    Duration
    01:22
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project
  8. 8 In Time of Silver Rain 04:00
    Track
    8
    Title
    In Time of Silver Rain
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project
  9. 9 Bound No'th Blues 02:37
    Track
    9
    Title
    Bound No'th Blues
    Duration
    02:37
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project
  10. 10 Democracy 02:31
    Track
    10
    Title
    Democracy
    Duration
    02:31
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project
  11. 11 Ma Lord 01:26
    Track
    11
    Title
    Ma Lord
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project
  12. 12 Railroad Avenue 02:33
    Track
    12
    Title
    Railroad Avenue
    Duration
    02:33
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project
  13. 13 Life is Fine 03:26
    Track
    13
    Title
    Life is Fine
    Duration
    03:26
    Composer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Performer
    Eric Mingus, David Amram, Larry Simon
    Ensemble
    The Langston Hughes Project