Music crept into their souls when they were just kids.

At the Paul Robeson House & Museum on Sunday, each of the musicians spoke of their affinity for their chosen instruments and their love of jazz.

Some came from musical families and took up their instruments through a historical bond, while others chose theirs while in grade school. None has ever looked back. Lucky for us because they shared the best of themselves on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, at the last home of a man whose artistic talents were both vast and varied. They participated in our Arts in the Parlor series, which embraces art in all its forms and serves as a vehicle to showcase talented artists.

Kevin Valentine sings as Jordan Berger (left) accompanies him on bass and Greg Snyder on guitar. The Velvet Swing Trio performed at the Paul Robeson House & Museum on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. Photos by Sherry L. Howard.
Kevin Valentine sings as Jordan Berger (left) accompanies him on bass and Greg Snyder on guitar. The Velvet Swing Trio performed at the Paul Robeson House & Museum on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. Photos by Sherry L. Howard.

Returning to the Robeson House was a homecoming for jazz singer Kevin Valentine and violinist Jack Drummond. Each recalled earlier experiences with Frances P. Aulston, founder of the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance/Paul Robeson House & Museum.

Valentine and Drummond brought along some marvelous musicians to help celebrate their return. The Velvet Swing Trio featured Valentine, Greg Snyder on guitar and Jordan Berger on bass. Valentine paid homage to Nat King Cole and other Black performers of the early 20th century whose voices were loved even if they were not.

Drummond and Tauhida Smith wowed us with violin interpretations of some of the most popular singers and musicians. The violin, they both noted, is not an instrument readily taken up by many African Americans. Among those who have adopted it are Regina Carter, Karen Briggs and Philadelphia’s Diane Monroe.

Tauhida Smith (left) and Jack Drummond interpret the tunes of Anita Baker, Stevie Wonder and Minnie Ripperton. They founded the Stroke Swings Trio 10 years ago along with a cellist.
Tauhida Smith (left) and Jack Drummond interpret the tunes of Anita Baker, Stevie Wonder and Minnie Ripperton. They founded the Stroke Swings Trio 10 years ago along with a cellist.

The performers soothed and stroked us, interspersing their performances with history and culture, and telling us a little about themselves.

You can listen to both performances here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzdSmc0QGZs

PLEASE NOTE: This was our final Arts in the Parlor event. Our Nov. 6, 2022, event with Chef Omar Tate of Philadelphia has been postponed until next year.

Jazz singer Kevin Valentine paid tribute to Nat King Cole with several songs, including "Route 66" and "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons." Black singers such as Cole and Billy Eckstine lived and performed during a time when they had to conform to societal rules about what Black people could and could not be. "We love your music, not so crazy about you," Valentine says, noting the thinking of record companies at the time.
Jazz singer Kevin Valentine paid tribute to Nat King Cole with several songs, including “Route 66” and “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons.” Black singers such as Cole and Billy Eckstine lived and performed during a time when they had to conform to societal rules about what Black people could and could not be. “We love your music, not so crazy about you,” Valentine says, noting the thinking of record companies at the time.

 

 

"You've been stroked," Jack Drummond announced to the audience. "We stroke our instruments. We don’t strum. We don’t tickle keys. We don’t bang. That’s what stroke comes from. We believe that everyone is an artist. Every portion of our life and our experiences have some artistic quality. When we meet you, you present us with something ... and we create an organic sound with you and we create a moment in life, a memory. That’s called a stroking."
“You’ve been stroked,” Jack Drummond announced to the audience. “We stroke our instruments. We don’t strum. We don’t tickle keys. We don’t bang. That’s what stroke comes from. We believe that everyone is an artist. Every portion of our life and our experiences have some artistic quality. When we meet you, you present us with something … and we create an organic sound with you and we create a moment in life, a memory. That’s called a stroking.”