CCMusic.com

Rising is the title of Lawrence Brownlee's inspiring project for which he has commissioned six of today's leading African-American composers to set poetry from the Harlem Renaissance to song. Rising showcases new works from African-American composers Damien Sneed, Brandon Spencer, Jasmine Barnes, Joel Thompson, and Shawn E. Okpebholo. Inspired by poetry of the great African-American writers of the Harlem Renaissance - such as Alice Dunbar Nelson, Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, and James Weldon Johnson - the compositions revolve around themes of joy, empowerment, faith, love, and strength in the face of challenge. Brownlee also collaborated closely with Dr. Louise Toppin, soprano and vocal professor at the University of Michigan, to revive select works by famed composers Margaret Bonds and Robert Owen, in addition to works by composer Jeremiah Evans. He is accompanied by the American pianist Kevin J. Miller on the album and on tour. Lawrence Brownlee: "These past years have been a trial, both for humanity as a whole, and the African-American population here in the United States. But through all these many challenges we have faced, I have also seen moments of strength, inspiration, hope, and great beauty. It is those themes of uplift, elevation, and rebirth that we have tried to focus on with this new project Rising, taking poems from the giants of the Harlem Renaissance, and working with some of today's most talented African-American composers, to create something that speaks not just to our struggles, but to our triumphs."