Robinson / Rhodes / Sibley Where Freedom Rings CD

Cambria Master Recordings is pleased to announce Where Freedom Rings - the title of AACI's new album showcasing compositions by four contemporary African American composers: Regina Baiocchi, Valerie Capers, Joshua McGhee, and John Robinson. Included are new works by Valerie Capers: Ruby, a "docu-cycle" and two songs to texts of Abbey Lincoln; three new chamber works by Joshua McGhee; a new piano trio and newly arranged piano duets by John Robinson; and solo piano and vocal/chamber music by Regina Baiocchi. The works by Capers, McGhee, and Robinson are AACI commissions, new additions to the chamber music repertoire. Performers on the album are soprano Yolanda Rhodes, pianists Josephine Gandolfi, LaDoris Cordell, and Deanne Tucker, Picasso Ensemble: violinist Susan C. Brown, cellist Victoria Ehrlich, pianist Josephine Gandolfi; flutist Stephanie McNab, bassoonist Douglas Brown, clarinetist Carol Somersille, trumpeter John Worley, trombonist John Monroe, bassist John Robinson, percussionist Jim Kassis, and vocalist LaDoris Cordell. The musicians are all members of the African American Composer Initiative (AACI), a group of classical and jazz singers and instrumentalists of the San Francisco Bay Area, and distinguished guest artists. AACI is dedicated to preserving the rich bounty of music by African American composers, historical and contemporary. Through live concerts of piano, vocal, and chamber music and an extensive website of video performances and publication information, AACI strives to increase awareness of this vast repertoire among the listening public and performing musicians alike, with the hope of sparking further explorations and performances.