BIG NEWS: The Whiting Foundation will match your gift of $1,000 or more, doubling your contribution. Help us reach our $20,000 goal. Your generosity today ensures the South’s vibrant voices have a place to call home for generations to come.
No Tears Project
The Oxford American, National Park Service, and Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, are excited to announce No Tears Project Jackson: Be Heard in 2024, a series of civil rights and arts education programs featuring the No Tears Project ensemble taking place in Jackson, Mississippi in September 2024. More details to come.
The No Tears Project is a jazz-inflected collective formed in 2017 and led by vocalist Kelley Hurt, and pianist Christopher Parker.
The group’s repertoire is inspired by explorations into social equality and strives to create recognition as a precursor to reconciliation.
Born from a musical composition, No Tears Suite, written by Hurt and Parker and commissioned by the nonprofit Oxford American magazine to honor the civil rights heroes the Little Rock Nine, No Tears has evolved into a touring group and outreach program that brings conversations and healing to communities through music.
Learn more at NoTearsProject.com.
HISTORY
-
-
Co-presented in partnership with the Central High School National Historic Site, National Park Service, and the City of Little Rock in honor of the Little Rock Nine, commemorating the 66th anniversary of their desegregation of Central High School.
-
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. made a proclaimation at the event, naming September 25th, “Little Rock Nine Day” in the City of Little Rock.
-
Five members of the Little Rock Nine were in attendance, including Minijean Brown Trickey, Terrence Roberts, Elizabeth Eckford, Carlotta Walls Lanier, and Thelma Mothershed Weir.
-
-
-
Multi-day residency with concerts, a masterclass, and panel discussions
-
In partnership with the National Park Service, Memphis Public Libraries, Memphis Library Foundation, and Memphis Jazz Workshop.
-
Premiere of new commissions including music by trumpeter / arranger Marc Franklin, in collaboration with composer Donald Brown, and music by Memphis native Robert "Bobby LaVell" Garner.
-
-
Premiere of new commissions including music and poetry by luminary saxophonist Oliver Lake, as well as new work by author and poet Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond, new dance by Ashley Tate, and a new song by singer Brian Owens
-
Multi-day residency with concerts, a masterclass, and panel discussions
-
In partnership with Gateway Arch National Park, Jefferson National Parks Assocation, Oxford American, Jazz St. Louis, and Dred Scott Heritage Foundation.
-
Greenwood Avenue at the historic Vernon AME Church on what was Black Wall Street. Vernon AME Church was under construction and burned to its basement during the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, but later rebuilt and thriving by the 1930s and 1940s.
-
Presented in partnership with Woody Guthrie Center and Fayetteville Roots Festival.
Special guests included Tulsa resident singer-songwriter John Fullbright, playing a newly restored Hammond C-3 organ. Guitarist Bryan Hembree and singer Bernice Hembree joined for an encore.
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS (2021)
-
At Fayetteville Public Library
-
Collaborations with the band Smokey & The Mirror
-
In partnership with Fayetteville ROOTS Festival, University of Arkansas Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education, National Park Service, Little Rock Central High School National Historical Site, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and Episcopal Collegiate School.
-
Performance included resident singer-songwriter John Fullbright, guitarist Bryan Hembree, and singer Bernice Hembree
-
Performance, panel, and masterclass
-
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, events that were originally scheduled to be live and in-person were streamed online instead from Marigny Studios in New Orleans.
-
Collaborations with saxophonist Kidd Jordan
-
In partnership with National Park Service, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, and University of New Orleans
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS (2019)
-
At Mosiac Templars Cultural Center and Little Rock Central High School
-
Premiere of expanded symphonic arrangements written by and featuring GRAMMY-nominated bassist Rufus Reid, conducted by Geoffrey Robson and featuring Arkansas Symphony Orchestra members.
The symphonic version of No Tears Suite was recorded live in March 2019 at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, and is available to stream on Spotify, iTunes, and Amazon Music.
CONTACT
BOOKING
Ryan Harris | ryan@rde-consulting.net
314.479.3001
THE BAND
team@notearsproject.com
PARTNERS & SPONSORS
