Bryan Carter: Celebrating Bayard Rustin

Join us in The Appel Room for an unforgettable evening with 2024 Grammy and Tony Award winner Bryan Carter in Celebrating Bayard Rustin. The talented drummer, composer, and vocalist presents the world premiere of his new jazz oratorio "Rustin in Renaissance," a tribute to the influential Civil Rights activist and musician.

Leading the Jazz at Pride Orchestra, Carter takes us on a musical journey featuring powerhouse vocalists Vuyo Sotashe, J. Hoard, Shenel Johns, and Georgia Heers as they perform songs ranging from Billy Strayhorn to Shania Twain, blending various eras and styles in a performance that culminates in the world premiere of "Rustin in Renaissance.” Enjoy a night of vibrant music as we pay homage to an underappreciated figure in American history and celebrate Rustin's remarkable legacy!

Performance Lineup
Drummer, Arranger, Composer, Music Director, Conductor: Bryan Carter

Vocals: Vuyo Sotashe, J. Hoard, Shenel Johns, Georgia Heers
Piano: Joe Block
Guitar: Leo Larratt
Bass: Alexander Claffy
Percussionist(s): Cameron Macintosh, Will Hopkins

Concertmaster: Audrey Hayes
Associate Principal: Eli Bishop

Violin: Kevin Kuh, Tomo Akaboshi, Josh Henderson, Edward W. Hardy, Lavinia Pavlish, Daniel Constant, Maria Im
Viola: Tia Allen, Laura Sacks, Yumi Oshima
Cello: Kristine Kruta, Sasha Ono, Mitch Lyon

Reeds: Christopher McBride, Lucas Pino, Erica Von Kleist, Lauren Sevian
Trumpet: Bryan Davis, Anthony Hervey
Trombone: Jasim Perales, Mariel Bildsten

Special thanks to the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice and Robt Martin-Seda Schreiber for providing inspiration and access to research materials.

This evening’s program is co-produced, in part, by Jazz at Pride and Bandstand Presents.

This program is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Rustin in Renaissance is made possible with the support of Jazz Road Grants, a national initiative of South Arts, with additional support from the MAP Fund.

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