An outstanding ensemble of Beareather Reddy, Madame Pat Tandy, and Gina Coleman vocals; Charlie Apicella, guitar/tenor banjo; Avery Sharp, bass; and Steve Johns, drums, will take the audience on Rainey’s amazing musical journey.

The concert features an exploration of Ma Rainey’s classics, designed to entertain and educate. Audience members journey through her repertoire while discovering the musical, historical, and cultural significance of her work. The performance includes vibrant renditions of well-known tunes that showcased Rainey’s mastery of the blues, with themes of struggle and resilience.

The interactive show encourages the audience to participate in meaningful discussions about the evolution of American music, exploring everything from call-and-response to swing and soul, allowing for rich conversations that brought the music’s history to life.

The concert builds to a powerful finale featuring Dr. Billy Taylor’s poignant piece — “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free.”

Gertrude Pritchett — a.k.a. Ma Rainey — was a trail-blazing American composer and band leader.

Rainey, known as the “Mother of the Blues,” significantly shaped the blues genre by blending vaudeville and authentic Southern blues traditions. She was a trailblazer, popularizing blues music through her powerful vocals, stage presence, and storytelling, influencing generations of musicians.

Her music captured the experiences of Black life during segregation, and her bold, independent personality resonated with audiences.