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CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
X-WR-CALNAME:CONCERT:  No Tears Project  (Presented by the UA Multicultural
  Center)
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Central Time (US & Canada)
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260914T144736Z
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_48844784317462
DTSTART:20250221T013000Z
DTEND:20250221T033000Z
DESCRIPTION:The University of Arkansas Multicultural Center invites the UA 
 campus community and Northwest Arkansas community at-large for an exciting
  concert featuring No Tears Project at Faulkner Performing Arts Center on 
 campus.  The free concert is a part of the MC's Arts & Culture program and
  invites the entire community together to share and engage in dynamic cult
 ural experiences throughout the academic year.\n\n \n\nSpecial thanks to o
 ur promotional partners\, UA Jazz and Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society\n\nA
 bout The Multicultural Center\n\n\nThe Multicultural Center is a student-c
 entered\, multicultural\, and intersectional space dedicated to welcoming 
 all students and valuing their unique identities. Through cultural celebra
 tions\, intercultural public events\, arts-based community outreach\, educ
 ational forums\, and partnerships\, we promote cultural understanding and 
 ensure access to opportunities. Our mission is to engage and empower stude
 nts\, fostering an inclusive environment where every individual can achiev
 e their full potential and explore their shared humanity.\n\n \n\nABOUT NO
  TEARS PROJECT\nNo Tears Project is a jazz-inflected collective whose repe
 rtoire is inspired by civil rights history and themes of social equality. 
 Join us for this special concert celebrating the release of their newest r
 ecord\, Humanitics\, out February 25\, 2025 from Mahakala Music. Led by vo
 calist-songwriter Kelley Hurt and pianist-composer Christopher Parker\, No
  Tears Project strives to create recognition as a precursor to reconciliat
 ion. Joining Parker and Hurt for the performance will be Rodney Jordan (ba
 ss)\, Darrian Douglas (drums)\, Bobby LaVell (tenor sax)\, Marc Franklin (
 trumpet)\, Chad Fowler (alto sax)\, and special guests spoken word artist 
 and author Treasure Shields Redmond\, plus choreographer/researcher\, Ashl
 ey Tate. Humanitics features 8 tracks\, including a suite of 5 new songs w
 ritten by jazz luminary and Arkansas-born composer Oliver Lake (World Saxo
 phone Quartet\; Black Artist Group). For more information\, visit notearsp
 roject.com.\n\n \n\nABOUT THE NEW NO TEARS PROJECT ALBUM:  Humanitics \nNo
  Tears Project\, the ensemble renowned for blending disparate styles of ja
 zz\, spoken word\, and dance into a tapestry of socially conscious artistr
 y\, proudly announces the release of their new album\, Humanitics\, on Feb
 ruary 25\, 2025 from Mahakala Music. Led by pianist Christopher Parker and
  vocalist Kelley Hurt\, No Tears Project’s deeply evocative collection
 –which includes new works by composer Oliver Lake and a fresh arrangemen
 t of a Donald Brown tune\, among other original songs–will be available 
 on Spotify\, Bandcamp\, and Apple Music\, and as a CD. Pre-order from Maha
 kala Music  https://mahakalamusic.bandcamp.com/album/humanitics. \;\n \nHu
 manitics reflects the human spirit\, resilience\, and the enduring pursuit
  of justice. Aptly for this theme\, amongst eight tracks\, the album promi
 nently features a collection of five poignant pieces composed by jazz lumi
 nary Oliver Lake (World Saxophone Quartet\; Black Artist Group). These son
 gs\, inspired by five of Lake’s poems\, satirically mock the inhumane tr
 eatment of Black men in the United States by reinterpreting the murders of
  Trayvon Martin\, Eric Garner\, Ahmaud Arbery\, George Floyd\, and Amadou 
 Diallo. Lake’s creative influence extends beyond the music to the album'
 s visual identity\, with provocative cover art featuring his painting Home
 boy Kente.  \n \n“I am very excited for the release of Humanitics\,” s
 aid Oliver Lake. “Even though the pieces deal with heavy subject matter\
 , I find the music inspirational. No Tears Project was an excellent group 
 for this collaboration. Their attention to detail and their high level of 
 improvisation and musicianship made this partnership a moving experience.
 ”\n\nIn addition to Lake’s contributions\, Parker and Hurt tapped the 
 robust talent within No Tears Project to write new work for Humanitics. Th
 e ensemble’s trumpeter Marc Franklin worked collaboratively with esteeme
 d pianist and composer Donald Brown to create a fresh arrangement of Brown
 ’s tune “A Poem for Martin\,” while tenor saxophonist Bobby LaVell p
 enned “My Spirit Is Stronger Than Your Persecution.” Special guest poe
 t and author Treasure Shields Redmond also contributed a brilliant longfor
 m poem\, “Who Is Sam Blow?” that the band transformed into a compellin
 g improvised groove\, which caps the album. The poem explores the story of
  Dred and Harriet Scott–two enslaved people who\, in the 1850s sued in p
 ursuit of their freedom\, culminating in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court c
 ase\, Dred Scott v. Sandford. \n \n“Humanitics includes some of the most
  brilliant originals and arrangements I've heard…and the band is smoking
 \,” said Donald Brown. “I was excited to work with my good friends Chr
 istopher Parker and Kelley Hurt to keep the light on social causes–the m
 usic was just the icing.”\n\n"This music allows us to honor our heroes\,
  our history\, and our shared humanity\," said Christopher Parker\, pianis
 t and co-producer of the album. "We aren't trying to preach with this albu
 m. It isn’t about politics—it’s humanitics. These tunes and stories 
 belong to everyone\, and we hope they inspire listeners as they have inspi
 red us."\n \nHumanitics features eight tracks that explore themes of equal
 ity\, resilience\, and truth:\nA Poem for Martin\nStanding Your Ground\nAl
 leged Choke Hold\nLDT - Long Dirty Toenails\nPre-Existing Conditions\nWe'r
 e Too Tall\nMy Spirit Is Stronger Than Your Persecution\nWho Is Sam Blow?\
 n\n\nPersonnel for No Tears Project’s Humanitics includes:\nChristopher 
 Parker – Piano\nKelley Hurt – Vocals and Spoken Word\nMarc Franklin 
 – Trumpet and Flugelhorn\nBobby LaVell – Tenor Saxophone\nChad Fowler 
 – Alto Saxophone\nRodney Jordan – Bass\nDarrian Douglas – Drums and 
 Percussion
GEO:36.069723;-94.176095
LOCATION:(FPAC) Faulkner Performing Arts Center
SUMMARY:CONCERT:  No Tears Project  (Presented by the UA Multicultural Cent
 er)
URL;VALUE=URI:https://calendars.uark.edu/event/concert-no-tears-project-pre
 sented-by-the-ua-multicultural-center
CATEGORIES:Performances
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