“This weekend, some of Shreveport’s great musicians will put their all out on the stage in an ambitious effort to merge the worlds of gospel, jazz and classical music,” writes Tiana Kennell in Thursday’s (4/6) Shreveport Times (Louisiana). “Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Pastor Brady L. Blade, Sr. and The Hallelujah Train and Brian Blade and the Fellowship will collaborate for … ‘An Evening with the Blades and SSO.’ … ‘Music is universal and to me the kind of joy you get from Beethoven—that kind of elation is the same kind you get from a rapturous gospel tune or a rock ballad,’ said Michael Butterman, SSO’s conductor.… The legendary Shreveport music family…. made Shreveport history with The Hallelujah Train, a popular gospel television show on air in the 1970s and ’80s.… The Shreveport Symphony Orchestra … has become known for shaking up the traditional formula to incorporate differing performing arts styles—from aerial dancers to rock cover song tributes…. ‘It’s important for orchestras to reflect the communities in which they exist,’ … Butterman said. ‘The entire Blade family is known not just in Shreveport, but all around the world…. A collaboration … really appealed to me.’ ”
Posted April 7, 2017
