About this Event
Award-winning vocalist, composer, and flautist, Ruth Naomi Floyd, has been at the forefront of creating a discography of vocal jazz settings that express theology, history, and justice. Join us for an afternoon of distinctive jazz music blended with messages of endurance, faith, lament, defiant joy, and love.
This is a family-friendly event!
"Jazz speaks for life. The Blues tell the story of life's difficulties, and if you think for a moment, you will realize that they take the hardest realities of life and put them into music, only to come out with some new hope or sense of triumph. This is triumphant music." ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ruth Naomi Floyd, vocals & flute
Aaron Graves, piano
Abraham Burton, tenor saxophone
Lee Smith, double bass
Byron Landham, drums
About Ruth Naomi Floyd:
A vocalist and composer, Ruth Naomi Floyd has created a discography dedicated to a sacred jazz expression. She has been at the forefront of creating vocal jazz settings that express theology and justice for over 25 years. She leads her multi-faceted ensemble and her recordings consist primarily of original compositions. Blessed with a soaring mezzo-soprano voice, critics praise Ruth’s music for its distinctive sound of progressive ensemble jazz that is seamlessly blended with messages of hope, faith, redemption, and love. Ruth has recorded and performed with such notable instrumentalists as James Newton, James Weidman, Gary Thomas, John Patitucci, Terri Lyne Carrington, George Cables, Bobby Watson, Matthew Parrish, Aaron Graves, Mark Prince, Diane Monroe, Byron Lanham, Bryan Carrot, Keith Loftis, Uri Caine, Craig Handy, and many more.
Rooted and grounded in a faith ethos, Ruth has been a presence and worker in areas of the arts and justice throughout her career. Ruth has lectured on the intersection of beauty, theology, justice, culture, and the arts at numerous performance centers, academic settings and conferences around the world.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
First Presbyterian Church, 35 West Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia, United States
USD 7.18 to USD 17.85
