Tune in on Tuesday, May 13th at 4pm when Charley Varrick hosts filmmaker Maureen Gosling and musician Pablo Menendez for a sneak peek of what’s to come for the Barbara Dane Tribute on May 15th at La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley.
The tribute on the 15th begins with the U.S. Premiere of the concert film Barbara Dane at Casa de las Américas directed by Maureen Gosling and produced by Jed Riffe. The film has been shown to great acclaim all across Cuba, and this will be the first screening outside of the island, with director Maureen Gosling in attendance to introduce the film.
Immediately after the film will be a live concert with Pablo Menéndez and all-star musicians to pay homage to the life and legacy of Barbara Dane, on the heels of her ascension to another plane.
Barbara Dane, a jazz, blues and folk music giant who tirelessly championed social justice movements from around the world and has been praised for her rich voice, was known not only for singing with Louis Armstrong and Muddy Waters, but also for founding Paredon Records with her husband, music scholar and activist Irwin Silber.
From 1970 to 1985, the label put out over 50 albums that addressed racial justice, feminism and anti-imperialism, giving a platform to activist artists from Cuba, Palestine, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Greece, the United States and many other places. Their work is now archived in Smithsonian Folkways.
