Violin virtuosity: Regina Carter fuses classical and modern style in tribute to Detroit neighborhood

How often do you get a chance to see a fusion of traditional classical and modern urban musical styles, augmented with poetic storytelling about one of Detroit's most historic neighborhoods? Not often enough, folks.

Black Bottom, an original work by composer and violinist Regina Carter with text by poet Leslie Reese, is a love letter to the historic African-American community on Detroit's Near East Side. Carter is a Detroit native and a former member of the Detroit Civic Symphony Orchestra and the pop-funk group, Brainstorm. Her sextet, vocalist Carla Cook and narrator Reese will present the Detroit premiere of this multi-faceted work in Orchestra Hall on Thursday, May 15 at 8 p.m. The performance is part of the Bank of America Paradise Jazz Series.

Black Bottom is a composition about the once-vibrant African-American Detroit neighborhood  that earned national fame for its thriving jazz scene, in part because the Paradise Theatre (later renamed Orchestra Hall) became a venue for some of the greatest Black musicians of the era.  

Jazz singer and songwriter Cook began singing as a child in her local Methodist church in Detroit. Her debut, It's All About Love, received a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Jazz Vocal Performance category and was awarded the AFIM Indie Award for Best Jazz Vocal in 2000. Reese's poetry is inspired by interviews with former residents of Black Bottom.

For tickets go here.