Orbert Davis concert: music from DuSable to Obama

Governors State University had the privilege of presenting trumpet virtuoso Orbert Davis and his outstanding orchestra, The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble, for a one evening only performance on March 10. The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic performed the Emmy-winning score from the WTTW documentary, "DuSable to Obama: Chicago's Black Metropolis."
The concert was brought to the Center for Performing Arts by One More Night Productions, which specializes in bringing the best in Chicago Theater, music, and dance to Chicago Southland audiences. This was the final One More Night production for the One More Night series for the 2012-13 season, and it was one to remember.
The 55-plus piece orchestra was in top form as they began their performance with the opening theme from DuSable to Obama. The theme was percussive, rhythmic, and Davis' trumpet was very reflective as video highlights were projected upon the screen. The second part of the theme was like a superhero call to attention as Davis' trumpet pierced through the auditorium, with two other horns following suite as if to called to the heavens 10 minutes into the performance.
After the performance, a free one hour panel discussion, "What is Next for Chicago's Black Metropolis?" began. The panelists, including Chicago Urban League CEO Andrea Zopp, and Michael Sykes, the pastor of Faith United Protestant Church in Park Forest among others, covered a wide range of expertise in their respective fields such as law, theology, and broadcast communications. Craig Gilmore, Director of multi-cultural markets for State Farm Insurance fell ill, so Will Davis filled in. The questions asked were chosen in advance, and a few members of the audience asked the panel questions. The discussion was mainly about how to improve failing schools, various aspects of education for the young black urban youth, and incarceration in the black community.
A spirited dialog was sparked when attorney James Montgomery spoke about what will happen to the young black youth now that Chicago Public Schools is closing more schools and funding has been slashed.
"It is being cut because the cost of the criminal justice system is rising. That means they build more prisons that house more people, most of whom are people who look like me. Part of that is a result of, in my opinion, the conditions in our communities that result in the fratricide- brothers killing brothers over a drug turf. And when you take all of that it's a trip straight to the penitentiary. Education becomes secondary if you have the opportunity to make $100 a day standing on the corner watching for the police than $10 an hour working for McDonalds," said Montgomery.
Andrea Zopp, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, said of educational resources, "We have too much of a focus on law enforcement as an answer to fixing some of our issues. We currently fund our schools in Illinois based on property taxes, and property taxes
fill in the gap that the state doesn't contribute. So every time that the state reduces their [money], it means that you have to fill that gap with
property taxes. And that falls of course, very hard and difficultly on poor communities and communities of color."
Melody Spann-Cooper, Chairman of Midway Broadcasting, and President of WVON Radio said of her interns, "We have so many interns here in the summer 'cause I don't tell any of them no- they wanna come and they wanna learn radio. We sat in a meeting one time, it had to be eight young men, and do you know not one of them came up in a household with a father?"
She also said of black ownership of music, "...back in the 60s and 70s, when we heard [Lift Every Voice] not only would we stand up, nothing stopped. We would never sit down for the National Anthem, but for that which is ours and we're losing that. And when we lose that, it's the reason why Lil' Wayne can put out a song about Emmet Till getting killed and it's ok. He does not know the Emmet Till story. He does not
know what he's doing."
Montgomery said of President Obama, "Why is it that we have not done better since Obama has been President? Hell, if he'd have done anything for black people they'd have tarred him and feathered him, and maybe assassinated him!"
Orbert Davis said of students, "I put my career on hold to start an education program that teaches reading and math. So we have two
programs...we're in eight public schools launching jazz bands and teaching... Music is such a powerful force; I mean, I've seen student
after student discovering themselves through the music. And what you just saw is the discovery, you know the looking at the film... Music is that aspect of connecting to our very souls. I would say that the one thing that is so important... is that we have to learn to turn the TV off. We have to turn off the images that students see, identify with, and then copy."
Indeed the concert and the panel discussion was quite an experience. From the lush musical ballad of "Good News for the Brown Bomber", to the up-tempo melody of "A Rag for Reginald", there's nothing quite like hearing an orchestra in a concert hall. And the insight gained from
the panel discussion was a great lesson on how we all can be smarter when it comes to tackling the challenges of our communities.