NEXUS-ONE WORLD MUSIC: What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?

Frederick Douglas 1818 – 1895

Frederick Douglas’ famous speech ‘What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?’ provides the theme to the next Nexus – One World concert at St George’s Bloomsbury.

The monthly Jazz Warriors International/Nexus – One World concerts at St George’s Bloomsbury have so far plumbed extraordinary depths. Maybe it’s the profound nature of the dates, subject matter, the music and the venue that have resulted in a form of alchemy.

The initial Nexus – One World Music concert was held on the the date that Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated, another celebrated the legacy of the remarkable African American composer William Grant Still while last month’s performance – as readers of this on-line journal will know – was dedicated to freedom fighting suffragette Emily Davidson.

The line up of musicians, which has included pianists Pat Thomas, Robert Mitchell and Paul Gladstone Reid, violinists Lizzie Ball + Omar Puente, vibes/marimba player Orphy Robinson, percussionist Adriano Adewale, flautist Rowland Sutherland, vocalists Cleveland Watkis and Fumi Okilji, have blown us all away. And that includes our host Bonnie Greer.

Lous Armstrong & Billie Holiday

So, here’s warning of the next concert which will be held on Thursday 4th July. Appropriately on July 4, 1900, trumpeter Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong was born in New Orleans and on July 4, 1852 Frederick Douglass delivered his ground breaking speech at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York titled “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” The line up for this event is Django Bates (piano), Nikki Yeoh (piano) and Cleveland Watkiss (vocals).

Nexus -One World is held at St George’s Bloomsbury and it’s starts at 6.30pm!!(Not 7pm). Tickets £10 at the door, £8 advance booking, £6 concession. For tickets rings 020 7242 1976 or email concerts@stgb.org.uk