| June 13, 2025 | |
| 12:00 pm | |
| Cheverly, MD | |
| Publick Playhouse |
A note from Sy:
Black people are more than our collective pain and trauma. And so is Black music.
Often though, Black music, when presented historically, is done so through the lens of struggle and suffering; and not often enough through the scope of optimism, hope and joy. And yes, Black music is created from both ends of this continuum – and all things in between. Black music (like many facets of Black culture) IS the rose that grows from concrete. That is to say, its rhythms, melodies, harmonies and riffs can sometimes betray the seemingly impossible circumstances Black people have had to (and continue to) face in America – and the global diaspora. It is with this framing in mind that we present – Black Music Heals – a Celebration of a Cathartic Black Canon. With this presentation, I hope to spark conversations around all of our households about songs that affirm jubilation as another form of revolution. – Love always, Sy
From PG Parks & Rec:
Sy Smith is heralded as one of the hardest working women in soul music. But she’s also one of the smartest… She has a career that spans two decades and now has 6 albums under her belt. She’s toured with some of the heaviest hitters in the industry (Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, and Chris Botti, to name a few). If you’ve never been to a Sy Smith show, prepare to be entertained – not only by her multi-layered vocal virtuosity, but also by her storytelling. Funk, glamour, soul, and jams. Sy brings it all to the stage and leaves it there.