Last year, friends Lucy Smith of the Lucy Smith Quintet and journalist Cheryl Corley came together to create a summertime experience titled “Chicago Bound” that melded Great Migration stories with the creation of Chicago blues and the musicians that fueled the genre. The tunes of notable musicians like Willie Dixon, Otis Rush, Koko Taylor, and Lillian “Lil” Green were featured while Corley narrated the stories behind the songs of the artists.
This year, the duo brings forth the work of the iconic Chicago poet Gwendolyn Brooks and musician Curtis Mayfield in a 90-minute program titled “Chicago’s Soul: The Words and Music of Gwendolyn Brooks and Curtis Mayfield.” Songs like “Move on Up,” “The Makings of You” and “(Don’t Worry) If There’s Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go” get air time, as does the Impressions’ “We’re a Winner,” alongside Brooks’ prose from poems such as “Speech to the Young. Speech to the Progress-Toward,” “Paul Robeson,” “Family Pictures,” and “To Those of My Sisters Who Kept Their Naturals,” among others. The themes of the concert touch on self-determination, pride, inspiration, patriotism, community engagement, perseverance and love.
“When Cheryl quotes from Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem ‘Paul Robeson,’ it serves as a mantra throughout the program,” Smith said. “’We are each other’s harvest: We are each other’s business: We are each other’s magnitude and bond.’ It was Cheryl’s idea to ask the audience to repeat that after her, it’s done at least four times throughout the show. It’s very moving and touching to be part of the call and response … particularly reminding Black folks that we are the winner. It really makes the program.”
Smith and Corley have worked together since 2013; the idea to pair Brooks and Mayfield began in 2017. Corley said Brooks’ work sent her to the dictionary lots of times while Smith said Mayfield’s orchestration was challenging for her band of six, but she said as a lifelong learner, she welcomed the challenge. The Chicago Park District Night Out in the Parks event previously took place at Sherman (John) Park and Warren (Laurence) Park in July and August.
“When we did the first concert at Sherman Park, a couple of blocks from where I grew up, there was one family there — multi-generational, the youngest one was maybe 10 — they came up afterwards to let us know that we did it right,” Smith said. “Some people have indicated that this might be the beginning of their journey … delving into the decades and decades of works that both of these artists did, that’s the highest compliment.”
“Chicago’s Soul: The Words and Music of Gwendolyn Brooks and Curtis Mayfield” will be 5 p.m., Sept. 13 at Garfield Park, 100 North Central Park Ave; free (all-ages), more information at chicagoparkdistrict.com/night-out-in-the-parks and lucysmithjazz.com
