February 4, 2013 ( New York, NY) SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, the venerable and
Grammy Award-nominated a cappella ensemble that is currently celebrating its’
39th performance season will bid farewell to one of its’ most tenured
and revered member’s Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell, when she officially exits the group
the at end of May this year to pursue several of her own career endeavors.
Barnwell’s inimitable and
distinctive bass tones were added to the DC based a cappella quartet in 1979
after being scouted and invited by the ensemble’s founder/ creator Dr. Bernice
Reagon. Reagon (who retired in 2004)
formed the group in 1973 along with Louise Robinson, Carol Maillard and Mie,
while teaching a vocal workshop at the legendary D.C. Black Repertory Theatre
Company. Both Maillard and Robinson took
a sabbatical from the group in 1976, returning in1992 and 2004, respectively. The
current line-up comprises Maillard, Barnwell, Robinson, Aisha Kahlil (who
joined in 1981), Nitanju Bolade Casel (who joined in 1985) and Shirley
Childress Saxton, an American Sign Language interpreter who has been performing
ASL with the group since 1981.
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK’S sterling legacy as songwriters, activists,
inspirational performers, and musical innovators has endured and weathered twenty-three personnel changes since its’
inception. In the light of the various
configurations, their patented and
unique five-part harmonized fusion of African chants, blues, jazz, soul,
gospel, and rhythm & blues has built a worldwide following and generated 23
original and revered recordings.
"We are very sad to see Ysaye go," says Carol Maillard,
"but we know she's embarking on a wonderful world of projects and
accomplishments that she'll undoubtedly achieve. She will always be a part of us
and who knows when we might see her on the Sweet Honey stage again!"
“I have loved and deeply
appreciated being a part of and contributing to the ensemble and legacy of
Sweet Honey over the past 34 years,” stated Barnwell.
“The women of Sweet Honey will be my sisters forever, but I’ve felt a
sense of calling to devote more of my personal and professional time to other projects
that I’m very passionate about and have been nurturing for some time.”
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK has revealed plans to
eventually add a new member, and will be holding auditions over the next
several months in preparation for their,
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK 40th
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: FORTY AND FIERCE, which will be launched and presented
from late October 2013 – October 2014.
The group is currently developing an entirely new theatrical production
and show to commemorate their four decades of history- making music.
Barnwell
will continue to be an integral part of all the ensemble’s live performances
thru mid-May, 2013, including a series of international performances in Gent,
Belgium, London, England, Muscat, Oman, and several cities in Australia in late
March and early April.
Barnwell’s last recording with SWEET HONEY IN
THE ROCK will be released by Appleseed Recordings on February 26, 2012. The
album entitled, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK: A TRIBUTE, LIVE! JAZZ AT LINCOLN
CENTER pays homage to the songs of several legendary jazz icons including Abbey
Lincoln, Miriam Makeba, Odetta and Nina Simone. The double-CD is a live
recording of their sold out performances at JALC’s Rose Theatre in April 2011
which also featured a contemporary jazz trio. They will perform several of
songs from their new CD in all their forthcoming dates, and will reprise the
full live Tribute show at the Kimmel Theater
in Philadelphia, February 28; the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, March
1; NJPAC in Newark, March 2; BB Kings in New
York. March 5; and the Howard Theater in Washington, DC, March 7.
Upon her departure from Sweet Honey, Dr. Barnwell
plans to devote more of her time to her other career interests which include
presenting vocal community workshops, conducting, composing, and further
developing several major projects. Among them, THE FORTUNE’S BONES project that
was commissioned and presented by the University of Maryland at the Clarice
Smith Center in February 2012.
Artist
Official Website:
www.sweethoneyintherock.org
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