BAG II announce spring concerts

The Black Arts Guild aka BAG II has announced a series of free performances this spring at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site. From their news release:

As promised BAG II (Black Arts Guild) has confirmed its lineup and proudly presents the spring season April 6 – June 20th with a dynamic lineup of creative artists – mark your calendars now!

Friday, April 6th: The Group* featuring Thomasina Clarke- the spontaNubian/vocals
Friday, April 20th: Poetry Month Celebration – host Shirley LeFlore
Saturday, May 12th: The Group featuring poet Michael Castro
Saturday, May 26th: The Group featuring Ariel Kenyatta, tenor saxophone
Friday, June 1st: The Group and an exhibit of visual art featuring paintings and collages
Saturday, June 30th: The Group and Open Mike – Express Yourself Night!

* The Group features Zimbabwe Nkenya/Bass & Mbira; Jerome “Jay Dubz” Williams/ Saxophones, and Glen “Papa” Wright/ drums.

All events are from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the Scott Joplin House Rosebud Cafe, 2658 Delmar Blvd , St. Louis and admission is free.

Zimbabwe Nkenya is back in the St. Louis area following a 20-year career in New York and the southwest where he became known as New Mexico ’s foremost jazz bassist. Glenn ‘Papa’ Wright tours throughout the country as an artist-in-residence presenting percussion and multi-media performance work for school and community audiences. J-Dubbs is one of the St. Louis area’s premiere saxophonists, long known for his ability to produce the big sound and tone, with a blues edge and beyond...

...Shirley Leflore is considered to be the queen mother of performance poetry in St. Louis. From her work with BAG in the 1960’s and 70’s Shirley went on to present her work at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, on tour in Europe, and as a successful performance artist on the New York scene. Shirley is putting together a line-up of stellar poets that will truly honor and celebrate National Poetry Month. Included will be a reunion reading by Blue-Mashibini, a duo active in St. Louis in the early 1980’s, reunited and in the process of putting together a collection of their work for print.

For more information call Scott Joplin House at 314-340-5790; Thomasina Clarke at 314-535-8824; or email: bag_blackartistsgroup@yahoo.com