Mark Your Calendars!
JOIN US!
As the year-long 30th anniversary continues, the Carr Center invites you to join us for the Grand Opening of our NEW Performance Studio with a series of private and press events on October 12th and 13th and Grand Opening public events on October 14th & 15th.
The Carr Center and its Artistic Director and Interdisciplinary Artist Terri Lyne Carrington will present her first-ever exhibition, New Standards, as the initial installment in the NEW Carr Center Performance Studio entitled, Shifting the Narrative: Jazz and Gender Justice in the NEW The Performance Studio will be located at 15 East Kirby, Detroit, MI 48202.
The Carr Center Performance Studio has been designed to be a place where arts and community come together.The 2,500 square feet will feature state-of-the-art digital video and sound production with exceptional acoustics.
“Opening the Performance Studio is the pinnacle of our anniversary celebration,” says Oliver Ragsdale, Jr. President and CEO of the Carr Center. “Due to the global pandemic with numerous delays and setbacks, we are thrilled that we will now be able to share the new space just in time for our new season. We are also honored to produce the first exhibition, curated by our Artistic Director, Terri Lyne Carrington, who is expanding her artistry with compelling publications, visual arts, and film.”
On Wednesday, October 12th, the private ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Performance Studio will feature an evening of art, dance, music, film, and spoken word featuring some of Detroit’s best talent. The evening line-up Grammy-nominated composer and multi-instrumentalist Patrice Rushen, who will lead her recently completed commissioned work, “The Resonate Suite” featuring The Carr Center’s own Gathering Orchestra Nonet also, three-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist Terri Lyne Carrington and Rushen will join forces in a special performance.
Acclaimed poet jessica Care moore will deliver a commemorative spoken word message, commissioned for the Carr Center’s 30th anniversary; opera artist Kisma Jordan will sing her signature soulful brand of classical music; dancer/choreographer Robin Wilson will deliver a solo performance, accompanied by acclaimed cellist Anthony Elliott; and Trinity International Film Festival will present, Derrick, a film short by Detroit filmmaker Arthur Cartwright.
On Thursday, October 13th, the Carr Center and Carrington will host a private Grand Opening of New Standards, the first part of Shifting the Narrative: Jazz and Gender Justice Exhibition,
Which will include live performances, public programs, educational curriculum, academic symposiums, workshops, and evening concert programs. The exhibition opens to the public starting Friday, October 14, and will run through Sunday, November 27, 2022.
Elements of the New Standards Exhibition features works created by multi-disciplinary jazz artists Cécile McClorin Salvant, Carmen Lundy, and Jazzmeia Horn – along with works by award-winning visual artists Monica Haslip, Joe Diggs, Yesmin Tosuner, and
Ramsess – ranging from print and sculpture, to collage, textiles, and multimedia. The exhibition will also feature a stunning portrait collection of thirty influential women instrumentalists by Sherry Rubel. Vocalist and culinary artist Lizz Wright will introduce a recipe inspired by the theme of New Standards, and several Detroit visual artists will be presented.
Also, Carrington’s first-ever children’s book, an illustrated poem, Three of a Kind will be introduced. The story centers around the musical partnership of the Allen, Carrington, Spalding (ACS) Trio – Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington, and esperanza spalding. Written by Carrington with illustrations by Ramsess, Three of a Kind is a book for all ages, yet is designed to inspire young women to play instruments. Additionally, the exhibition includes the documentary, New Standards which highlights women composers from both her forthcoming album and book.
New Standard: 101 Lead Sheets by Women Composers, curated and edited by Carrington includes compositions by Detroit’s own Alice Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby, Dianne Reeves, and Geri Allen, as well as the great Mary Lou Williams, Maria Schneider, esperanza spalding, Cécile McClorin Salvant, Cassandra Wilson, Nubya Garcia, Mary Halvorson, Nicole Mitchell, Jamie Branch, and a 1922 piece written by the pioneering composer Lil Hardin Armstrong. The book will be available at digital retail platforms on September 15th (Berklee Press/Hal Leonard).
The exhibition and New Standards: 101 Lead Sheets by Women Composers are companion pieces to Carrington’s new album, new STANDARDS vol. 1, scheduled for release on September 16th. The companion album project features bandmates Kris Davis, Linda May Han Oh, Matthew Stevens, and Nicholas Payton, and special guest artists Ambrose Akinmusire, Melanie Charles, Ravi Coltrane, Val Jeanty, Samara Joy, Julian Lage, Michael Mayo, Elena Pinderhughes, Dianne Reeves, Negah Santos, and Somi (Candid Records).
On Friday, October 14, the Carr Center will also present a panel discussion, “Jazz and Gender: Forging a New Legacy” with educator/scholar and cultural icon Angela Davis; and authors and educators Gina Dent and Robin D.G Kelly, along with Carrington.
The stunning Grand Opening weekend of celebration will culminate with a 13-part The Carr Center Presents concert Series, New Standards Jazz Crawl,in partnership with Midtown Detroit Inc. There will be 13 concerts at 8 different venues performed over 5 days , October 14, 15, 20, 21 & 28. The exciting new series will be curated by Carrington with performances at 8 Detroit cultural and educational institutions and museums including Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Public Library, The Wright Museum, Detroit Symphony Orchestra -The Cube, MOCAD, The Scarab Club, and the NEW Carr Center Performance Studio.