Black History Month in Music

In music class this month we have been learning about Esperanza Spalding, an amazing bassist, vocalist, and songwriter who was the first jazz artist to win Best New Artist at the Grammys.

We have also been learning songs from the African American repertoire of the Georgia Sea Island singers, as well as artists such as Bessie Jones and Ella Jenkins.

The music of Black artists is not a focus for just one month out of the year, however. Early in the year we studied Louis Armstrong and engaged in student-led discussion about power dynamics in the recording industry and the experience of Black artists with segregated performance spaces.

Below are some examples of the music.

Thanks!

Mr. Saraydarian