A Deferred Dream or a Dream Come True? arrives in London this Saturday, 26th October, with Chicago’s Live The Spirit Ensemble.

Ernest Khabeer Dawkins

A Deferred Dream or a Dream Come True? is a 45 minute suite composed by Ernest Khabeer Dawkins – saxophonist and leader of the Chicago’s Live The Spirit Ensemble – which   celebrates the 50th anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have A Dream’ speech.

The election of America’s first Black President was a significant step in realising Dr King’s dream. Progress has been made but the recent conflict with the right wing Republican Party over “Obamacare” highlights the ideological war that has to be waged consistently in the USA  to deal with poverty and racial inequality.

“A Deferred Dream or a Dream Come True?” delivers a score that is rooted in the vibrant, constantly evolving musical traditions of the African American community. It fosters a critical engagement with the centuries-old tradition of Black oration that first shook the walls of slavery and to do this, Dawkin’s has positioned the performance poetry of Khari B, a Professor at Purdue University and a powerful visionary voice, at the core of Live The Spirit Ensemble.

The nine-piece Live The Spirit Ensemble are all culturally conscious, hard working and skilled musicians from the thriving Chicago scene and all have strong links with the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians). Amongst the others in the ensemble I’m particularly keen to check out Corey Wilkes who took on the unenviable task of playing trumpet within the Art Ensemble Of Chicago after the inimitable Lester Bowie passed away.

For a taste of the session you can check this live recording on Bandcamp and on the back of that I’ll be venturing over the the west-side, to The Tabernacle in Powis Square this coming Saturday, 26th October to take in the whole piece.

Live The Spirit Ensemble: Ernest Khabeer Dawkins – saxophones, Corey Wilkes- Trumpet, Steve Berry- Trombone, Kahari B- Spoken Word, Chris McBride- Alto Sax, Aaron Getsug- Baritone Sax, Willerm Delisfort- Piano, Isaiah Spencer- Drums, Junius Paul- Bass

Incredibly, Jazz Alive are giving away  100 FREE TICKETS to the UK premier of “A Deferred Dream or a Dream Come True?” and FREE ticket includes an exclusive Question & Answer session with the composer and Delmark recording artist, Ernest Khabeer Dawkins.

TO GET A TICKET please email to tickets@jazzalive.co.uk with the following details in order reserve your FREE tickets:
1. Full name 2. Email Address 3. Telephone number 4. Organisation (optional)

A Deferred Dream or a Dream Come True?  composed by Ernest Khabeer Dawkins  will be  performed by Live The Spirit Ensemble at THE TABERNACLE, 35 Powis Square, London, W11 2AY on Saturday 26th October. Doors 8pm.

ALSO check: https://ancienttofuture.com/2013/09/03/martin-luther-king-the-march-on-washington/