By Hailey Stangebye

Goosebumps.

When Evan Tyrone Martin took the stage at the Lincoln Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 9. to perform An Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas, I knew the audience (myself included) was in for a great show. What I didn’t expect was that this Christmas concert would actually be a heartfelt journey through the lives of both Nat King Cole and Evan Tyrone Martin. Like I said, goosebumps.

Not only did Evan Tyrone Martin capture the tonality and sentiment of Nat King Cole’s sound, but he also captured the story behind Cole’s voice through the lens of Martin’s life experiences.

Not only did Evan Tyrone Martin capture the tonality and sentiment of Nat King Cole’s sound, but he also captured the story behind Cole’s voice through the lens of Martin’s life experiences.

Growing up, Martin says that he spent hours in his grandmother’s basement listening to record after record. Among those many tunes were the silky sounds of Nat King Cole. And, like Cole, Martin grew up as the son of a preacher. 

In the middle of the show, Martin paused to share that his father, who had been his greatest cheerleader and inspiration, passed away earlier this year. The audience hung on the silence that swelled after the closing of that story until the band slowly began the next tune, which Martin dedicated to his father. It was a heartwarming rendition of “Unforgettable.”

As the show began to draw to a close, students from the Columbus Children’s Theatre stepped onto the stage to perform a few Christmas tunes. The entire production was orchestrated to help raise funds for the children’s theatre — a cause Martin wholeheartedly supports.

The Chicago Sun-Times called Martin “a golden-voiced actor of sweetness and grace.” That description certainly held true for Sunday’s production. Martin’s rendition of Nat King Cole’s classics was nothing short of a delight.

By Hailey Stangebye

Urban Strings Columbus joined forces with the New Albany High School Chamber Orchestra to perform a series of pieces inspired by the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance on Saturday, Oct. 6 at The Jeanne McCoy Center for the Arts.

The young musicians brought a wide range of music to life — from the iconic St. Louis Blues, to an original piece, “Sankofa,” by contemporary composer Mark Lomax, II, PhD. The final piece, “Reflections of a Rebirth” by Matthew Brazofsky, was also a modern composition.

Both composers attended to watch the students perform their respective pieces.

Bettye J. Stull, independent curator and Harlem Renaissance consultant, announces the “Journey to Harlem Exhibition” that immediately followed the orchestra performance.

Following the performance, the attendants were invited to a reception to mingle, eat and enjoy a gallery of artwork curated to honor the Harlem Renaissance. On display were photographs by Marshall Shorts and portraits carved out of wood by Percy King.

The event was a beautiful melody of music, art and community, all of which came together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance. Bravo!

Aaron Wilburn, director of orchestras at New Albany Local Schools, introduces the collaborative performance between Urban Strings and the New Albany High School Chamber Orchestra.

Students perform pieces inspired by the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance at The Jeanne McCoy Center for the Arts on Sat., Oct. 6.

Students perform pieces inspired by the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance at The Jeanne McCoy Center for the Arts on Sat., Oct. 6.

Dr. Mark Lomax, II talks about the inspiration for his piece, “Sankofa,” which was performed by the orchestra.

Students perform pieces inspired by the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance at The Jeanne McCoy Center for the Arts on Sat., Oct. 6.

Armond Wimberley conducts the orchestra for their performance of “Sankofa.”

Matthew Brazofsky announces his original work, “Reflections of a Rebirth,” at the performance on Sat. Oct., 6 at the Jeanne McCoy Center for The Arts.

Members of Urban Strings and the New Albany High School Chamber Orchestra stand to take a bow after performing “Reflections of a Rebirth,” by Matthew Brazofsky.

Jazz broke the established rules of the age. It’s characterized by syncopated beats and improvisation, which meant that every single live performance was a completely new experience. That’s why thousands of people flocked to clubs like the Cotton Club to hear their favorite artists night after night.

While scores of talented musicians and vocalists rose to notoriety during the Harlem Renaissance, a few names stick out as jazz legends who shaped the form.

Duke Ellington

Born April 29, 1899 in Washington D.C., Duke Ellington would grow to be one the most influential jazz songwriters, pianists and conductors. But Ellington didn’t consider himself a jazz musician. He called his music “American Music.” Here’s where you can listen to some of his most influential creations.

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday was an influential jazz vocalist who was famous for her ability to improvise. Holiday had a rough childhood. She had to drop out of school at the age of only 11. When she first moved to Harlem with her mother, she supported herself by working in a brothel; she was only a teenager at the time. Despite her hardships, Holiday continued to sing and perform, eventually headlining multiple sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall. Here’s where you can listen to some of her work.

Louis Armstrong

Born August 4, 1901 in New Orleans, Louis Armstrong grew up to be a legendary trumpeter, composer and singer. His vocal style was an iconic, warm, gravely tone and he was renowned for his trumpet solos. Throughout his life, Armstrong wrote more than fifty songs, many of which became jazz standards. You can listen to his characteristic trumpet solos and unique voice here.

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald was a remarkable popular jazz singer during the Harlem Renaissance. Throughout her life, she won 13 Grammys and sold tens of millions of albums. She was famous for the versatility and beauty of her voice. She also catered to a wide-ranging audience, no matter their wealth, race, religion or nationality. Listen to her iconic sound here.