Afrofuturism Music Festival: Nicole Mitchell and Angel Bat Dawid
African-American and AfroFuturistic dynamic duos fused in one concert
As part of the this year’s Carnegie Hall Afrofuturism Music Festival, this show presented bandleaders Nicole Mitchell with her Black Earth Ensemble and Angel Bat Dawid leading Autophysiopsychic Millenium. The musical interpretations were at times challenging, often intriguing, but no less exciting.
There are few female bandleaders in the world of music. and then, there are even fewer female African-American bandleaders. So, it is extraordinary seeing, at one concert, two jazz-fusion groups led by African-American women.
To categorize this music as mainstream jazz would be inaccurate because both musical acts played music that was difficult to limit to a category. There were traces of freeform jazz sprinkled with spiritual and gospel elements. There were many other influences, too, African, world music (which is hard to pin down) and folk stylings. It’s noteworthy to hear this music coming to us from women bandleaders. It’s obvious that these women, with their musical presentations, are not playing it safe. They were push boundaries.
Bending Notes and Genres
The performances at Zankel Hall, showed that these two women and the musicians working with them were willing to take chances with their musical directions. This is no revelation, anyway, because it’s an integral part of jazz music — but, I think, they explored the genre even further. At times the result seemed jarring and discomforting and certainly not typical or standard.
Both ensembles went beyond just instrumental presentations. Included was spoken word, dance, and, in the case of Bat Dawid’s group, they set up items on the floor — they were integrating them into the music and movement.
Nicole Mitchell and the Black Earth Ensemble
Nicole Mitchell’s group was first to performed. Their focused work was the “Xenogenesis Suite”. Its inspiration was the late African-American science fiction writer Octavia Butler. The octet played music which at times had tinges of the blues and pensiveness folk. At other times, it was reminiscent of the Sun Ra Arkestra. Mitchell, flutist fronted a band consisting of two other women musicians, a male singer and four men instrumentalists. They played well together in a program that seemed mostly improvisational. There was no list of the tunes in the playbill.
Angel Bat Dawid and her musicians
Angel Bat Dawid’s performance began with her speaking to the audience in a beseeching manner For most of her performance she sat at a table covered with instruments of which she spoke about to the audience — she played them at various times. There was a small collection of clarinets and percussive instruments, and many of her bandmates were also capable multi-instrumentalists.
Her music often paid homage to the late Dr. Yusef Lateef. At times the music took on a new-age air, mixed with a few sub-genres of jazz. Bat Dawid also danced and sang while presenting some of her music.
My favorite tune was “We Are Starzz”. At the end of the show as I walked out, I found myself humming it. This song is at times brash and at other times gentle. It possesses an emotional tug to its experimental sound.
Role Models for Women’s History Month
This concert was held just a few days before Women’s History Month. Each year the National Women’s History Alliance promotes an uplifting theme for this celebrated month. I would also venture to say that promoting leadership roles of women in musical groups, ranging from jazz to rock ‘n roll, chamber music to gospel choirs is a worthy idea. There are a growing number of women involved ,not only, in performing music but in leadership positions. Nicole Mitchell and Angel Bat Dawid would be worthy role models for this endeavor.
Photos by: Jennifer Taylor