The final project is revealed in the world premiere.
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The Sounds of Social Justice [Post-show chatback]
Moderated By WURD Radio’s Stephanie Renee
With Luke Carlos O’Reilly, Colton Weatherston, and Doug Hirlinger
Billing
Luke Carlos O’Reilly, composer, piano
Sanchel Brown, choreographer and dancer
Pannan Hewitt, lyricist and vocalist
Jazz Residency Project: Luke Carlos O’Reilly, a composer specializing in piano, is focusing on the Black Lives Matter movement with choreographer Sanchel Brown and lyricist Pannan Hewitt. Beginning with his personal encounters with law enforcement, O’Reilly plans to channel fear, passion, sadness, and anger to inspire new music.
Luke Carlos O’Reilly is an award winning pianist who has always had a passion for music. Whether it is Jazz, Soul, R&B, Gospel, Latin Jazz, Classical or any other genre, Luke has been drawn to good music since the early age of four. After a Boston upbringing, Luke moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to attend Esther Boyer School of Music at Temple University on an academic and music scholarship. It was in Philadelphia where he had the opportunity to tour with artists such as Curtis Fuller, Bobby Watson, Randy Brecker, Wycliffe Gordon, Dave Valentin, Billy Paul, Slide Hampton, Nicholas Payton, Fred Wesley, Red Holloway, Steve Turre, Chico Freeman, Roy Ayers, Musiq Soulchild, Bilal, Carol Riddick, K’naan and many others. Luke has 2 independently released solo albums; ‘Living In The Now’ (2011) and '3 Suites' (2013). Both albums contain original compositions as well as covers from Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Cedar Walton, Mulgrew Miller, Janet Jackson, SWV and many more eclectic artists. At this time, Luke plans to continue writing, performing, recording, and continue to further his work as an educator with young people.
Sanchel Brown is a dancer/choreographer/actress originally from Baltimore, MD. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and has also studied dances of the Diaspora at L'Ecole De Sable in West Africa. She is the 2015 receipient of the Barrymore Award for "Best Ensemble" and nominee for "Best Lead Actress in A Musical" for her performance as 'Mary' in Langston Hughe's 'Black Nativity'. Sanchel's performance credits include: Urban Bush Women, New Freedom Theatre, Theatre Horizon and many more. Her most recent choreographic creations include Ntozake Shange's 'For Colored Girls', Lynn Nottage's 'One More River To Cross', New Freedom Theatre's production of Black Nativity, Yale University dramatic production of 'Dreamgirls' and her self produced show 'Ode To Black Wombman'. She is ecstatic to join the Kimmel Center's Jazz Residency with Luke Carlos O'Reilly in the Spring of 2018, giving the voice of dance to "Black Lives Matter"!
Pannan Hewitt is a vocalist, songwriter, musician, and music educator. Born and raised in Nigeria, West Africa, Pannan has been singing since childhood. In 1998 she moved to the U.S. in order to further her music education and to start her professional singing career. Pannan attended Esther Boyer College of music with a Jazz Vocal Performance major at Temple University in Philadelphia. In her singing, Pannan brings energy, passion, power, and a soulful feeling to every single performance. Her voice has proven to be quite versatile, enabling her to bring uniqueness in her performance in multiple genres (Jazz, Rock, Metal, Blues, Gospel). Pannan is currently a worship leader at Freedom Church of Philadelphia and is also one of the vocalists and songwriters in her church's band, Freedom Movement. She also dedicates time to her own original band, Talitha Koum.
The Jazz Residency Program is generously supported by the Apgar-Black Foundation and the Presser Foundation.
Luke Carlos O'Reilly Performance Schedule
Residency Kick-Off: Tuesday, December 5, 8:00 PM
Public Workshop: Thursday, February 15, 6:00 PM
Work in Progress: Thursday, April 5, 8:00 PM
World Premiere: Thursday, May 3, 8:00 PM