The Makanda Project with Voices
The Makanda Project continues its summer concert series in Roxbury Heritage Park. For this performance, interaction between voices such as Pauline Jean’s and horns highlights the group’s arrangements of previously unrecorded Makanda Ken McIntyre compositions. The concert is free and open to the public.
Where: Roxbury Heritage State Park, 183 Roxbury Street, Roxbury, MA -
When: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
World-renowned multi-instrumentalist, composer, orchestrator and educator Makanda Ken McIntyre was a tireless musical innovator for nearly half a century, with 12 albums and more than 350 compositions and arrangements to his credit. His works include compositions for woodwind quartets, chamber ensembles, jazz bands, and full orchestra, as well as hundreds of lead sheets. He composed ballads, calypsos, bebop, avant-garde and the blues…
Makanda, whose given name was “Kenneth Arthur McIntyre,” was born on September 7, 1931 in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents, who were from Jamaica, raised him in the South End, a largely West Indian area. He picked up his first saxophone at the late age of 19 after being inspired by Charlie Parker. He made up for lost time through tireless practice and discipline...
Makanda was devoted to his family, and named many tunes after them, including his mother, Blanche, his father, Arthur Augustus, his sister, Eileen Mercedes (“Puunti”), his first wife, Charlotte (“Charshee”), his sons Kaijee and Kheil, and his second wife, Joy. His song titles reflect a deep pride in his Jamaican heritage, his commitment to African American struggles, his spiritual nature, and his love of good food!
Sources: Bay State Banner, Event Website, Makanda Ken McIntyre home
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