(light music) (upbeat music) - Musician Garland Nelson shares some local gospel music history.

Learn all about artistic planning at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center with Chris Shiley.

And catch a performance from A Joyful Noise.

It's all ahead on this episode of "aha, a house for arts".

- [Announcer] Funding for "aha" has been provided by your contribution, and by contributions to the WMHT Venture Fund.

Contributors include the Leo Cox Beach Philanthropic Foundation, Chet and Karen Opalka, Robert and Doris Fischer Malesardi, and The Robison Family Foundation.

- At M&T Bank, we understand that the vitality of our communities is crucial to our continued success.

That's why we take an active role in our community.

M&T Bank is pleased to support WMHT programming that highlights the arts, and we invite you to do the same.

(light music) - Hi, I'm Matt Rogowicz, and this is "aha, a house for arts," a place for all things creative.

WMHT's latest documentary is called "Echoes of Praise: Gospel Music "in New York's Capital Region".

Here's a clip from the program, featuring musician Garland Nelson, sharing some little known local history at Caffè Lena.

- Gospel to me is as I always say, soul music, as I've come to define it as being life in music.

Really, it's just about coming to a heritage of you know the African-American tradition, by way of (Garland clicks tongue) as I like to say, a troubled past, but still keeping their eyes on the prize.

That sense of hope, that sense of, there's a better glory beyond our current situation.

That is really the power of gospel music, powered with praise and worship for god and Jesus Christ.

But even for those who didn't believe, in having coming from a Christian background, you still can have that sense of hope, that power, that enthusiasm, that joy that just pretty much just gets an entire room charged up, that's gospel to me.

(upbeat music) A brother by the name of Joel Moss, who happens to be a multi award winning producer, he stepped to me one day in early 2018, and was like, "Hey you know, we need to do something.

"We need to do something musical "that would help raise the spirits of our community."

And him knowing that I had a gospel background, it was like, hey can we do something that would get everyone involved regardless of faith?

I said, "Absolutely."

So I reached out to my brother, Azzaam Hameed another, a fantastic gospel artist, and musician in his own right in the capital region, to be music directors to put together this vocal group.

- When Garland called me and told me what Joel Moss' vision was, I was immediately on board, and interested, because it also is a vision that I've had, songs of hope and inspiration with universal lyrics.

- We are sitting now in Caffè Lena.

When Joel asked us to be, to do something here, it was like, why here?

And it was like, "Well do you not know "what this, what happened here at Caffè Lena?"

I'm like, "Apparently not."

(light piano music) Miss Lena had this folk house going on for a little bit, where artists like Bob Dylan, and you know Richie Havens, they all kinda came through here.

But there was also another place in Saratoga Springs called Hattie's Chicken Shack.

A lot of brothers and sisters through the track and other summer activities, came up here.

So there was a woman by the name of Bernice Johnson who was from Georgia in the Civil Rights movement in 1962, who was waitressing at Hattie's, making some extra dough for the track season, everything is cool.

And while she was serving food, someone overheard her, I think of miss Lena, and said, "Hey, you know, "maybe you should come sing at Caffè Lena real quick?"

And she was like, "Well I don't really know."

So she came up, did the open mic, and realized that this was a great opportunity to do something.

So when she went back home back to Georgia, she went back and formed a four person singing group called The freedom Singers.

That literally did everything for in the Civil Rights movement, she they marched with MLK, things leading up to the march on Washington.

And periodically, they would come back up here to Saratoga and perform here at Caffè Lena.

And that is one of the earliest first gospel shows Caffè Lena has ever seen, The Freedom Singers.

So at the time, I didn't really, I said, "Why we should do it here at Caffè Lena?

"We can go to some church down the street."

This is the perfect home to start this kind of spirit choir here at Caffè Lena.

So after we did some evaluating, we realized that A Joyful Noise was the project that we were going to start.

And A Joyful Noise really is the capital region spirit choir.

So I kinda stripped the gospel out for a minute, because we wanted to make sure that this was clear.

If we're talking about the gospel, soul music, life in music, different artists that are not church have written amazingly moving songs that will just have that same gospel impact.

You know, "Blowing in the Wind" comes to mind.

It's the reason why Aretha Franklin did it, right?

There are artists like James Taylor that have written like "Shower the People" in terms of uplifting the spirit, and having our minds be hopeful towards something.

So we felt that if we can blend that kinda style with traditional gospel music, and modern gospel, then all a sudden, we can get that participatory interactivity, in addition to the energy needed.

That's A Joyful Noise.

- See the entire documentary any time at WMHT.org/echoesofpraise.

And, be sure to stick around to see a performance from A Joyful Noise at the end of today's episode.

But first, we're looking ahead to the spring season at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

Jade Warrick sat with SPAC's VP of Artistic Planning, Chris Shiley, to learn more about program at SPAC, and to see what we can look forward to this spring.

- Hey Chris, welcome to house of arts, I'm glad to have you today.

- Thank you, thanks for having me.

- Yeah, so before we dive into your position at SPAC, I wanna learn about you the artists.

So what's one of your, like main artistic passions and focuses you would say?

- Probably my main is music, in just in general, it's a broad obviously answer.

But specifically classical music, and that's a lotta my background.

I was a professional trumpet player for many years, and studied classical music as a performer.

But really beyond that, just music in general, any good music is really where a big passion of mine, and what drives me.

- And you say you focus on the trumpet, is that like your main instrument focus that you kinda play around with, is the trumpet?

- That was my main, yeah that's what I went to school for, that's what I studied, that's what I did, that was my all day every day for many years, you know four or five hours a day in a little room with me and a trumpet just practicing and working on it, so yeah-- - How'd your parents feel about that?

(Jade laughs) - Yeah, they were very supportive, I was very lucky 'cause the trumpet is not an easy instrument to start, it's pretty loud, and not very pretty in the initial phases, in particular.

So they were pretty supportive of just some loud honking noises coming from my room for a while while I figured it out so.

- Yeah, I can only imagine.

Why the trumpet for you?

- Well, it really wasn't my first choice in all honesty, my first choice was saxophone, I wanted to play jazz sax.

But as I was going through the process in band when I was maybe 12 or something, the band director needed trumpet players, and I was able to make a sound on the mouth piece, and so they wanted to have me try trumpet for a year, and if I didn't like it they would switch.

But obviously I took to it and kinda stuck with it from there.

I think it's a really versatile instrument through, as I learn more and more about it, you know you can play jazz, you can play Broadway, you can play pops music, you can play classical, and orchestral, you can do chamber music.

So there's a lotta things that you can do with it that make it really fun, and allow you to have like a really varied sort of career as you perform.

- Nice.

- So.

- Is that why you stuck with it?

- Yeah I think so, I think so.

I think it also like, you know for me art, it's just a self expression, and it became the medium by which I express myself.

So, I have a feeling, whatever instrument I end, if I'd gone with saxophone, or if I'd gone with cello, or French horn or something, like I probably would've stuck with it.

'Cause I think for me, it was more about just having a way to express myself so.

- And I know you did a lot of freelancing as a trumpeter, like how was that?

What was life as a freelance trumpeter?

If you could like paint that picture for us?

- Yeah, I mean the life of any freelance artist I think is a grind.

- [Jade] Yes it is.

- Yeah, as I'm sure you know.

So, it was, to my earlier point, it was varied.

It was, what was great about it was 'cause you can play so many different genres, and different styles, every day was a different gig and a different experience.

And I was one day playing in a Broadway pit, and then the next day playing in a band, and the next day playing with an orchestra, and then playing a chamber music, doing a recital.

So every day was something different, which was great, it was also exhausting and a grind.

And as you know as a freelancer, like there's a lotta time in the car, there's a lotta time by yourself just kinda goin' from gig to gig.

It's a tough job to have I think, as a freelancer, but what I loved about it as a trumpet player was just how much variety I could have.

- Oh yeah, I bet so much, as you just mention.

So that kinda just leads us into your position at SPAC.

So why don't you give us a little bit of this, the non freelancer.

(Jade laughs) - Yeah, so as I mention, you know freelancing is just a grind.

And after doing that for a while, I was kinda thinking about like my future, and did I wanna keep doing that, or did I wanna try to do something else.

And I had always had an eye for like logistics and operations as well.

And as a freelancer, you actually have to do a lotta that stuff yourself anyways, contracts and things, kind of end up you know, unless you have a management team which is way down the road you're doing a lotta that yourself.

So I kinda got more interested in that side of things, and started to pursue opportunities with some different organizations, focused really on operations and logistics.

I did that for many years as well, and got to travel the world doing different logistical you know gigs so-to-speak.

And then when it came to SPAC, there was this opportunity to take over the role of artistic planning, and that's my title there, I'm VP of Artistic Planning.

Which is really kinda combining both, it's combining that sort of creative artistic side of performing, and that self expression, and then also balancing it with all the logistics that it takes to actually execute all the shows that we do at SPAC.

So.

- So is that how you would define artistic planning?

- Yeah, I think so, I think it's a mix.

It's understanding the repertoire, it's curating a season in collaboration with several partners, and having a sort of artistic voice, but then also, once that side of it is done, sitting down and going, "Okay, now how are we going to actually do all of this?"

You know.

- Oh wow, yeah big position there.

(Jade laughs) - Yeah, it's a lot.

- So in your opinion, what makes a great artistic planner?

(Christopher sighs) - I think you have to, first of all you have to be able to manage just a lot of details, and really think in a broad picture, I think that's important.

You know you've gotta think about from a curating side, you've gotta think about a whole season, not just one show, but how that show impacts the next show, and the next show, and the next show.

So I think that's an important component of the job.

I think you also work closely with a lotta different people.

I work with a lotta different be it musicians, artists, administrators from the organizations that we work with, like Philadelphia Orchestra, and New York City Ballet.

You know we have these great partners, and I have to work very closely with them, so I think a good artistic administrator and artistic planner has to sort of be able to hear everyone's concerns, and hear everyone's viewpoints, and kinda balance those, and work towards the result that in the end is best for SPAC and best for Saratoga.

So it's a bit of a balancing act, and I think that's a big part of the job.

- Yeah, I can see that, (Jade laughs) 100%.

You're basically curating the whole energy and connection piece of these concerts, performances, and programs, correct?

- Yeah, I mean we're really trying to think at SPAC, with our partners as I just mentioned at the ballet, and the orchestra, and chamber music, we're really trying to think about what is the arc of their season when they come?

We're fortunate to have these great companies every summer, and we really want each summer to feel unique.

And so we think about, what's it like when they arrive, and the excitement there, and how do they start their residency?

And how does it sort of arc to the end of their residency when they're finished and leaving?

And how do we end in a way that feels like we've kind of book ended the season, but also leave with some excitement, and get people excited to wanna come back again next year?

- So how do you build that excitement, and build that uniqueness?

- There's a lotta different ways that we do it.

I mean we do it through the repertoire, obviously, through the soloists that we bring to the stage, through presenting classic works that people know, and love, and are excited to see.

Presenting new works that maybe people are completely unfamiliar with, but get to experience something they've never thought imaginable before.

So there's like a lotta ways that we try to generate excitement in the season.

And I think variety is key in that process.

You know you wanna make sure that you try to have something for everybody, that's one of our sort of slogans behind the scenes at SPAC.

That we really want somebody, everybody to find something for themselves on the season.

And that's hard to do, because there's a lotta people, and a lotta different feelings and opinions out there.

But we really try to make sure we cast a wide net with our programming and what we're bringing.

- Yeah, and New York is such a like, artistically artistic and culturally diverse area too, so I know that can be a challenge, but you guys are really hitting the nail on the head with it though.

- Yeah, thank you, well it's an ongoing process, for sure.

- I wanna talk about, was it Spa Little Theater, is that what it's called?

Give us a background on that, and I wanna know the type of programming and events you guys have coming up.

- Yeah, oh it's been, that's a relatively new space to us at SPAC.

And I think you know, a lotta people hear SPAC, and they think the amphitheater, and that's the you know amazing space, and a huge space, and obviously we do a lotta great programming there.

But it's also a limiting space because it's so big, right, you have over 5,000 seats, a capacity of over 20,000 people at the amphitheater.

You have to have huge shows to do events in that space.

And there's a lotta great artists out there with really unique viewpoints, and really interesting things to say, who maybe don't have shows or productions that fit in a stage that is 90 feet wide you know?

- [Jade] Yeah, 5,000 seats yeah.

- And 5,000 seats.

And so, a couple years ago we were given the opportunity to start to program the Spa Little Theater, which is a 500 seat venue, it's a great acoustic, it's a really intimate space.

And it's great, it's 500 seats but it feels like it's about 200 seats.

So it's got this really great energy in there, and it's given us the opportunity at SPAC, to bring a lotta artists to the region who haven't been here before, and who have something unique to share, and artists that we've had our eye on for a long time but we've been unable to bring because we were kinda limited by just the vastness of the amphitheater.

So to now have those two spaces kind of running in tandem is just a great opportunity, and it means SPAC really is a year round performing arts center now.

We don't get any time off anymore.

We-- - Oh wow.

(Jade laughs) - Yeah, we start, the Spa Little Theater is kind of October to May, and then summer is May to September, and maybe there's three weeks in September, and then we start all over again so.

- Busy busy busy.

- It is busy, but it's exciting to also be able to connect with the community around now, and not feel like we just kinda go away for nine months a year like it was in the summer you know.

- Bring people in, create access.

And so, what type of future programing and events is the spa little theater gonna have, and SPAC as well, you know just overall, just some things that people should look forward to?

- Yeah, well we've got a great spring season starting in March in the Spa Little Theater.

And we are presenting Ballet X, which is a modern dance company in there.

They have an incredible commitment to new work, and to contemporary voices, and modern voices.

And so we're really excited to have them, they are just a phenomenal company, and I think are gonna blow people away.

Dance in that space is really amazing, just cause it is so intimate.

We have Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, they've been our partner for a long time.

And we've now gone to a year round format with them since we now have the Spa Little Theater, which has been fantastic.

We have Zakir Hussain, one of the greatest percussionists to ever live coming to play in that space.

And again, to get to hear someone of his stature and reputation in such an intimate space I think is gonna be amazing.

So you know we have an incredible spring season in the little theater that we're very excited about.

And then we have our summer season with New York City Ballet, Philadelphia Orchestra.

All those programs we're so excited to be bringing this summer, they're gonna be incredible residencies.

There's so much variety on each season that we're just really excited to kinda continue to grow and build those residencies in that programming as well.

And that'll start in you know June and July for us.

And we also have our jazz fest as well, which is always just an incredible incredibly fun event so.

- Yeah I can't wait to go to that one, it's gonna be great.

And thank you Chris for giving us a little glimpse into your world.

And I appreciate you for taking the time to talk to us today.

- Yeah absolutely, thanks so much for having me.

- Thank you.

- Please welcome A Joyful Noise.

(drum sticks clicking) (upbeat jazzy music) ♪ Blessed assurance ♪ - Go ahead go ahead.

♪ Jesus is mine ♪ ♪ Oh what a foretaste ♪ ♪ Of glory divine ♪ ♪ I'm an heir of salvation ♪ ♪ Oh yeah purchased by god ♪ ♪ Born of his spirit ♪ ♪ Washed in his blood ♪ ♪ Blessed assurance ♪ ♪ Jesus is mine ♪ ♪ Oh what a foretaste of glory divine ♪ ♪ Come in there ♪ ♪ I'm an heir of salvation ♪ Go ahead, go ahead.

♪ Purchased by god ♪ ♪ Born of his spirit ♪ ♪ Washed in his blood ♪ ♪ This is my story ♪ ♪ This is my song ♪ ♪ Praising my savior ♪ ♪ All the day long ♪ This is my story.

♪ This is my story ♪ ♪ This is my song ♪ ♪ Praising my savior ♪ ♪ All the day long ♪ This is mine this is mine sing along y'all.

♪ This is my story ♪ ♪ This is my song ♪ ♪ Praising my savior ♪ ♪ All the day long ♪ This is my what?

♪ This is my story ♪ ♪ This is my song ♪ ♪ Praising my savior ♪ ♪ All the day long ♪ Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead, woo!

(upbeat jazzy music continues) - Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.

Go, go, go.

♪ I want I wanna know ♪ ♪ I oh ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ Yeah sing it ♪ ♪ What a blessed assurance ♪ ♪ Oh what a blessed assurance ♪ ♪ Oh what a blessed assurance ♪ ♪ This is my song ♪ ♪ Oh what a blessed assurance ♪ Come on!

♪ This is my song ♪ ♪ Oh what a blessed assurance Jesus is mine ♪ ♪ This is my song oh what a blessed assurance Jesus is mine ♪ ♪ This is my song oh what a blessed assurance Jesus is mine ♪ ♪ This is my song oh what a blessed assurance Jesus is mine ♪ ♪ This is my story this is my story ♪ ♪ This is my story this is the story ♪ ♪ This is the story this is the story ♪ ♪ This is the story this is the story ♪ ♪ Whoa this is my story hey this is my song ♪ ♪ Praising my savior all the day long ♪ Come on y'all.

(people clapping) Hey.

(jazzy music playing) (jazzy music continues) ♪ I don't know what you come to do ♪ ♪ I don't know what you come to do ♪ ♪ I don't know what you come to do yeah ♪ ♪ I don't know what you come to do ♪ ♪ I gonna walk walk walk ♪ ♪ Walk walk walk ♪ ♪ Come on I come to walk walk walk ♪ ♪ Walk walk walk ♪ ♪ I don't know what you come to do ♪ ♪ I don't know what you come to do ♪ ♪ Hey I don't know what you come to do yeah ♪ ♪ I don't know what you come to do ♪ ♪ I came to clap my hands my hands ♪ ♪ I came to clap my hands my hands ♪ ♪ I came to clap my hands my hands ♪ ♪ I came to clap my hands my hands ♪ (jazzy music continues) (Garland shouting) Come on!

Hey!

♪ I don't know what you come to do ♪ ♪ I don't know what you come to do ♪ ♪ I don't know what I don't know what you come to do yeah ♪ ♪ I don't know what you come to do ♪ ♪ I came to praise his name his name ♪ ♪ I came to praise his name his name ♪ ♪ I came to praise his name his name ♪ ♪ I came to praise his name his name ♪ ♪ I don't know what y'all come to do ♪ ♪ I don't know what you come to do ♪ ♪ Come on we gonna walk walk walk walk walk ♪ ♪ Walk walk walk ♪ ♪ We gonna walk walk walk walk walk ♪ ♪ Walk walk walk ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I don't know what y'all come to do ♪ ♪ I don't know what you come to do ♪ (light music) - Thanks for joining us.

For more arts, visit WMHT.org/AHA, and be sure to connect with us on social.

I'm Matt Rogowicz, thanks for watching.

(light music continues) (light music continues) - [Announcer] Funding for "aha" has been provided by your contribution, and by contributions to the WMHT Venture Fund.

Contributors include the Leo Cox Beach Philanthropic Foundation, Chet and Karen Opalka, Robert and Doris Fischer Malescardi, and The Robison Family Foundation.

- At M&T Bank we understand that the vitality of our communities is crucial to our continued success.

That's why we take an active role in our community.

M&T Bank is pleased to support WMHT programing that highlights the arts, and we invite you to do the same.