- Etienne Charles, a Trinidadian educator and jazz musician, connects the African diaspora to regional musical roots through research and performance.
- Gullah Roots research immerses in Gullah Geechee culture, revealing ties to U.S. history and foundational influences on jazz.
- BarnArts presents diverse programming, featuring Gullah Geechee musical traditions and supported by regional arts funding and national grants.
Etienne Charles will bring Gullah Geechee jazz to BarnArt’s Feast & Field on Thursday, July 9. He will also lead two panel talks about this American music and its connections to the African diaspora and to U.S. history. (Provided)
As part of its 250th Celebration, BarnArts will bring Gullah Geechee jazz performer Etienne Charles, plus two discussion panels on this American music, to Feast & Field next Thursday., July 9.
Charles will lead two discussion panels that center on his Gullah Roots project, highlighting connections between the Gullah Geechee people of the southeast and early American history.
Etienne Charles is a Trinidadian educator and jazz musician focused on connecting the African diaspora and drawing lines to regions at the roots of migrations.
A 2015 Guggenheim Fellow and 2022 Creative Capital Awardee, Charles is currently an associate professor of Studio Music & Jazz at the University of Miami.
His July 9 stop at Feast & Field is a part of a three-state New England tour, in partnership with First Works in Providence, R.I., and the Springfield Jazz Roots & Roots Festival in Springfield, Mass. BarnArts and Feast & Field partners will highlight Charles’ stop in Barnard as part of a 250th celebration.
BarnArts works to create a diverse lineup of musicians and genres for Feast & Field; this is the first time Gullah Geechee music will be featured.
Charles fully immersed himself in Gullah Geechee culture as part of his greater efforts to understand the depth and breadth of the African diaspora.
What he uncovered was a deep connection to the history of the United States and to jazz, and he seeks to share these stories with the world through music.
Charles is a multidisciplinary artist with academic sensibilities which shine through his approach to jazz.
Two Panel Talks
Beyond an outstanding evening of music at Feast & Field, Charles will dive deeper into his work with Gullah Geechee music and history with two panels.
He will host a virtual presentation about his research for his Gullah Roots project (date TBA) early next week and BarnArts will host a panel on-site before his performance, at 5 p.m. on July 9.
The on-site panel will include local historians and musicians in an engaging discussion on the role of Black Americans in the Revolution, and the influence of Gullah Geechee culture on the development of jazz.
Details for the virtual panel will be advertised via local listservs, the BarnArts website, and social media.
Feast & Field is a unique collaboration between BarnArts and a collective of local farms: they provide the land for the event along with farm fresh food, drinks, and desserts, while BarnArts brings a thoughtful and dynamic selection of local, regional, and international musicians.
BarnArts strives to present a diverse lineup, so all can feel reflected on the stage and experience a variety of traditions and diverse cultures, while also experiencing outstanding music. More information about the series is at barnarts.org.
Etienne Charles’ events with BarnArts are funded in part by the Crossroads: Touring New England program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the six New England state arts agencies.
