Ayanna Witter-Johnson voice and cello
Peter Edwards piano
Neil Charles double bass
Andy Chapman drums
The captivating composer, jazz vocalist and cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson has had a fantastic year, collaborating with Courtney Pine and recently appearing in Live at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. She leads a Festival-commissioned tribute to the great singer, songwriter, pianist and Civil Rights activist, Nina Simone, whose legacy lives on in a wealth of scorching protest songs – Mississippi Goddam, To Be Young, Gifted and Black, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free – as well as profoundly expressive versions of love songs like I Loves You, Porgy.
The afternoon opens with the film documentary Strange Fruit, charting the secret life of the song Billie Holiday made famous.
£16
(Concessions available)
G2
Watch Ayanna's award-winning performance at the Apollo Theatre, Harlem:
See Nina Simone perform here: