Celebrating the 20th anniversary of If You Can’t Dazzle Them With Your Brilliance, Then Baffle Them With Your Blisluth (2005), —which featured live performances from Bordeaux, FR, San Sebastián, SP, and NYC—we present Part Two, featuring live performances from Detroit, MI, and Lebanon, OH. (Sweetened by the mixing & mastering hands of Inna Most and V. Jeffrey Smith).
On a day guaranteed to be filled with Blisluth and Dazzle, we cordially invite you to join us for a digital listening party at 5pm EST on January 20.
Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber is thrilled that these brick & mortar record stores are carrying Angels Over Oakanda vinyl. Stop on by and ask for an in-store play, and get complimented for your sonic good taste.
Omega Music 318 East Fifth Street Dayton Ohio 45402 (937) 275-9949 omegamusicdayton.com
Tunes 225 Washington Street Hoboken NJ 07030 (201) 653-3355 tuneshoboken.com
Downtown Music Gallery (International Shipping) 13 Monroe Street New York N.Y. 10002-7351 (212) 473-0043 downtownmusicgallery.com
Extended Play 149 Rehoboth Avenue – Unit 8B Rehoboth Beach DE 19971 (302) 226-8469 Connect on Facebook
Dusty Groove Chicago Record Store & Warehouse 1120 North Ashland Avenue Chicago IL 60622 (773) 342-5800 dustygroove.com
Rocket Number Nine Records 50 North Font Street Kingston N.Y. 12401 (845) 331-8217 Connect on Facebook
Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber presents “The Nineteenth Letter” at Winter JazzFest 2024 Appearing: Brooklyn Marathon at Brooklyn Bowl Saturday, January 13 | Set time: 7:30pm Tickets & Information
Text: Nelson George | Recorded Narration: Cassandra Freeman | Conduction: Vernon Reid | Special Guest: DJ Logic | Musical Direction: V. Jeffrey Smith & Jared Michael Nickerson
“The Nineteenth Letter” was created by Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber in 2023 as a part of Lincoln Center’s full campus Juneteenth celebration curated by Carl Hancock Rux.
“Yes, the word “free” is in the very first sentence of the ordinance. But the freedom authorized here kept the newly freed in the employment of their previous owners and, implicit, is that that freedom will be policed. “Idleness,” which some would argue is the truest expression of personal freedom, would be, and has always been, monitored.
So yes, Juneteenth is a celebration, but also a testament to the limits of freedom in these United States, it means full freedom was then, and remains now, a dream deferred and what happens to a dream deferred and deferred and deferred…”
Nelson George
“In January 2023, when we were developing “The Nineteenth Letter”, Rux sent this missive: ‘Jared … bring me the fury of a Sly Stone meets Richie Havens meets Betty Davis meets Grace Jones meets James Brown “Freedom Now”, “Slaves No Mo”, “Wake Up Everybody and Be Free”, “Fight the Power” “Burn This Mother Down”, “Turn This Mother Out”, “Sick & Tired of Being Sick & Tired”, “Flower Power” soul set list this side of a citywide bonfire (those aren’t set list suggestions, just references for feeling).’
With Carl’s request in mind, I had a conversation with Nelson George as I’ve always been troubled in regard to the idea of “celebrating” American Negroes in Texas finding out they were free people two years after the fact. Then … duh … Nelson mentioned how slowly news traveled back in those times, if it traveled at all … And that it wasn’t just the knowledge of being free, but the arrival of federal troops to forcibly make it so. This made all the sense in the world and sparked the creation of this performance piece.”
Jared Michael Nickerson
The Significance of Nineteen
“The 19th letter of the alphabet is a dance of two curls that slides through history, a letter both sweet and sour. It is the starting letter of words soft, silly and sad. The 19th letter is the first in slavery that most sinister and savage institution that symbolizes the sickness in our national soul.”
Sizzlin Hot Deep In The ❤️ of Texas
Chorus: Fire Sizzlin’ hot Deep in the Heart of Texas Ready to Expire Cause it’s Sizz-I-Lin HoT Fire Sizzlin’ hot Deep in the Heart of Texas Surrounded by Colonizers makin It Sizz-I-Lin HoT
1st Verse The stars at night are big and bright (clap, clap, clap, clap) Deep in the heart of Texas. The prairie sky is wide and high (clap, clap, clap, clap) deep in the heart of Texas. The sage in bloom is like perfume (clap, clap, clap, clap) deep in the heart of Texas.
2nd Verse: The coyotes wail along the trail (clap, clap, clap, clap) deep in the heart of Texas. The rabbits rush around the brush (clap, clap, clap, clap) deep in the heart of Texas. The cowboys cry ki yippee yi (clap, clap, clap, clap) deep in the heart of Texas.
Outro: Sizzlin Hot Cause It’s Sizzlin Hot Deep in the Heart of Texas Sizzlin Hot Cause It’s Sizzlin Hot Deep in the Heart of Texas Sizzlin Hot Cause It’s Sizzlin Hot !!!
General Ordinance #3
“Today news is instantaneous — a bombing, a Presidential declaration, a new dance sensation — are posted, streamed and dissected in seconds just as the news blast of information enters your dome.
But in the 1860s news was a letter in a Pony Express pouch, a bag in a rail road coach or the ticking of a telegraph wire. News arrived by word of mouth, in crumpled newsprint or via an ordinance posted on a church door. So it was with General Order #3. Posted on the Negro Church of Galveston on the 19th of June 1865. General Ordinance #3 reads … “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”
No More Ridin Me Cause I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Ld: No More Chorus: Ridin Me Ld: No More Chorus: Ridin Me Ld: No More Chorus: Ridin Me Ld: Cause I Heard it Thru the Grapevine
Chorus: Ridin Me Ld: No More Chorus: Ridin Me Ld: No More Chorus: Ridin Me
1st Verse: Took me by surprise I must say When I found out yesterday I know grown folk ain’t supposed to cry But these tears I can’t hold inside I can’t help but be confused If it’s true please tell me dear
Chorus: Ld: Don’tcha know that I Chorus: Heard it through the grapevine Ld: Word on the grapevine took it’s damn sweet time Ld: Don’tcha know that I Chorus: Heard it through the grapevine Ld: And I’m not going to lose my mind No More Ridin Me
Chorus: No More No More
2nd Verse: People say, “Believe half of what you see Some and none of what you hear I can’t help but be confused If it’s true please tell me dear Now by law you must let me go As it’s been two years that I should have known
Chorus: Ld: Don’tcha know that I Chorus: Heard it through the grapevine Ld: Word on the grapevine took it’s damn sweet time Ld: Don’tcha know that I Chorus: Heard it through the grapevine Ld: And I’m not going to lose my mind No More Ridin Me
Outro: Ld: No More Chorus: Ridin Me Ld: No More Chorus: Ridin Me Ld: No More Chorus: Ridin Me Ld: Cause I Heard it Thru the Grapevine
Celebration Born of Delay
“For decades African-Americans in Texas celebrated liberation or, at least, the illusion of it that passes for freedom in many parts of this nation. That celebration, born of delay, has grown more powerful with time. So what we rejoice in here today is not information denied, but black folks ability to turn that denial into a party. We turned that 19th letter into Juneteenth.”
BSAC WJF January 13th, Brooklyn Bowl 2024 Edition
Vernon Reid: Conductor DJ Logic: Turntables & EFX Abby Dobson: Vocals Mikel “Spirithood” Banks: Vocals Shelley Nicole: Vocals Ms. Olithea: Vocals/Electronic Soundscapes Bruce Mack : Vocals Leon Gruenbaum : Keyboards/Samchillian/Vocoder JS Williams : Trumpet Lewis “Flip” Barnes: Trumpet V. Jeffrey Smith: Tenor & Soprano Saxes/Electric Guitar Jose Solares: Tenor Sax “Moist” Paula Henderson: Bari Sax Dave “Smoota” Smith: Trombone Ben Tyree: Electric Guitars Shawn Banks: Congas/Percussion Chris Eddleton: Drums & Electronics Jared Michael Nickerson: Electric Bubble Bass
BURNT SUGAR SMOKEHOUSE 2024 … where you come for an appetizer of being throughly entertained … a just-too-astonished entree with a sizzlin side of amazement … topped off with a whut a lovely after-glow feeling dessert !!
We’re kicking off a year of SmokeHouse festivities celebrating 25 years of never playing the same song once! Join us at David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center for 2 nights of performances featuring Burnt Sugar family members.
There are two ways to access this free event: 1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up! 2. Fast Track, (recommended!) opening the Monday before the event at noon. Click here to learn more and reserve.
January 26th
BS-Smk-Hs MC LaRonda Davis BS-Smk-Hs Stage Manager Aalics Bronson BS-Smk-Hs DJ DJ Sugarfree BK (Honeychild Coleman/The 1865) w Jared Michael Nickerson’s Bubble BaSS on da BoTToM
7:30 – 7:45 The Smoota Těte-A-Těte Dave “Smoota” Smith – Trombone Tony Jarvis – Bass Clarinet/Flute Morgan Price – Bass Clarinet/Flute Yusuke Yamamoto – Vibraphone Jason DiMatteo – Acoustic Bass Dylan Fusillo – Percussion
7:55 – 8:10 Paradigm Shift V. Jeffrey Smith – Vocals/Electric Guitar Lisala Beatty – Vocals Marcus Machado – Electric Guitar Christopher Paultre – Vocals/Keyboards Melanie Athena – Vocals/Electric Bass James “Biscuit” Rouse – Vocals/Drums
8:40 – 8:55 JS & The Squadron JS – Trumpet Charmel Rogers – Electric Guitar Christopher Paultre – Keyboards Gary Foote – Electric Bass Tony Lewis – Drums
9:05 – 9:20 Shelley Nicole’s blaKbüshe Shelley Nicole – Vocals Ernie D’Amaso – Vocals/Electric Bass Jerome Jordan – Vocals/Electric Guitar Leon Gruenbaum – Keyboards/Samchillian V. Jeffrey Smith – Soprano & Tenor Saxes Matsu – Drums
January 27th
BS-Smk-Hs MC LaRonda Davis BS-Smk-Hs Stage Manager Aalics Bronson BS-Smk-Hs DJ DJ Sugarfree BK (Honeychild Coleman/The 1865) w Jared Michael Nickerson’s Bubble BaSS on da BoTToM
7:30 – 7:45 Shrine For The Black Madonna Brian Tate – Electric Vocals Jared Hassan-Foles – Electric Guitar Jarius B. Odom – Electric Bass Gintas Janusonis – Drums
7:55 – 8:05 Mazz Muse Mazz Swift – Vocals/Violin/Compositions
8:15 – 8:30 A.S.T.R.O vs Rivers On Mars Avram Fefer – Tenor Sax/Compositions Graham Haynes – Trumpet Anders Nilsson – Electric Guitar Luke Haynes – Acoustic Bass Chad Taylor Drums
8:40 – 8:55 Ben Tyree’s Activator Trio Ben Tyree – Electric Guitar/Compositions Leon Gruenbaum – Samchillian/Keyboards Chris Eddleton – Drums
9:05 – 9:15 Atomik FreaQuency Sharrif Simmons – Spoken Word André Lassalle – Electric Guitar/Programming
9:25 – 9:40 Moisturizer “Moist” Paula – Bari Sax “Moist” Gina – Electric Bass Chris Eddleton – Drums
Burnt Sugar is honored to be making our Carnegie Hall debut as a part of the inaugural Afrofuturism Festival.
This performance will be the culmination of a one-of-a-kind workshop for six rising musicians who will be featured alongside our ever-changing band that prides itself on “never playing anything the same way once.”
Sunday, April 3, 2022 7:30 PM Zankel Hall @ Carnegie Hall NYC Seventh Avenue between 56th and 57th streets
Shelley Nicole, Vocals, Percussion and Conduction Lisala Beatty, Vocals Sequoyah Murray, Vocals Bruce Mack, Vocals and Synthesizer Julia Kent, Cello JS Williams, Trumpet Lewis “Flip” Barnes, Trumpet V. Jeffrey Smith, Saxophones Avram Fefer, Saxophones Dave “Smoota” Smith, Trombone Leon Gruenbaum, Piano and Samchillian Ben Tyree, Electric Guitar Keith Witty, Bass LaFrae Sci, Trap Drums, Electronics and Conduction Marque Gilmore tha’ Inna•Most, Trap Drums, Electronics and Conduction Jared Michael Nickerson, Electric Bass and Conduction + Special Guest
Workshop Participants
Lauren Hayes, Harp Miss Olithea, Vocals Julian Terrell Otis, Vocals Jose F. Solares, Saxophones Oliver Tuttle, Trombone
Beloveds, We’re broken hearted to confirm that this mourning, the morning of Tuesday, December 7th, 2021, Gregory Stephen Ionman Tate passed on to the next life.
At this time, out of respect for his sister Geri, his brother Brian, his daughter Chinara, and his “Grand Sun“ Nile, The Burnt Sugar Arkestra Family will refrain from further comment till the Tate Family has officially spoken.
The BSAC Family greatly appreciates the outpouring of love and reverent reflection expressed towards Greg on this very, very sad day.
