Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist Godwin Louis is headed to Newark for his album release celebration on Wednesday, August 21, for two concerts that are part of the WBGO After Work Jazz Series.

Louis’s sophomore album Psalms and Proverbs on Blue Room Music, a jazzy deep dive into religious traditions across the world, is being released globally on Friday, August 23. The concerts, which are made possible with the support of Audible and the Newark Public Library (where they will be held), will take place at 4:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.

Born in Harlem of Haitian heritage and raised in the Port-au-Prince and Bridgeport, Connecticut, Louis was a saxophone protégé. Then came his meteoric rise to stages across the globe, with studies or performances with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Al Foster, Billy Preston, Patti LaBelle, Toni Braxton, Prince, Babyface, Madonna, Barry Harris, Howard Shore, Mulatu Astatke, Wynton Marsalis and more. In addition to being a top performer, he is also an assistant professor at the Berklee College of Music and at the forefront of bringing music education to Haiti and Africa as a music ambassador and humanitarian.

GODWIN LOUIS TO HEADLINE WBGO AFTER WORK JAZZ SERIES CONCERT

The August 21 event celebrates the international release of the Grammy nominee’s sophomore album, Psalms and Proverbs, on Blue Room Music 

NEW YORK (August 12, 2024) — Grammy-nominated saxophonist Godwin Louis heads to Newark for the next installment of the WBGO After Work Jazz Series, part of the powerhouse jazz station’s 45th anniversary celebration. Louis will perform two concerts on Wednesday, August 21 — at 4:45 p.m. and at 6:15 p.m. — in the courtyard of the Newark Main Library. The appearance also marks the release of Louis’ sophomore album, Psalms and Proverbs, an exploration of the universality and joy of sacred music available internationally on August 23 on the Blue Room Music label. The concerts are made possible with the support of Audible and the Newark Public Library.

Born into a musical family in Harlem of Haitian heritage and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Louis has gone on to grace stages across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. A favorite in New York, Boston and beyond, Louis is a composer-arranger-virtuoso soloist who began as a saxophone prodigy at nine, becoming a Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Saxophone competition finalist. A graduate of Berklee College of Music and the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, Louis has studied and performed with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Al Foster, Toni Braxton, Prince, Babyface, Madonna, Wynton Marsalis and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, among many others. He is a 2024 Grammy nominee (for arrangements on singer Cécile McLorin Salvant's Mélusine) and a professor at Berklee College of Music.

He is also a humanitarian and businessman, having founded Experience Ayiti, a nonprofit educational, multidisciplinary arts organization in Haiti and The Godwin Louis Rooftop Club in Togo, which is dedicated to performances and educational programs that promote music education in Africa.

In Psalms and Proverbs, Louis draws on religious musical traditions around the world, including his Haitian roots — Haiti being where European, African and Native traditions converged to create the roots of jazz. The album showcases Godwin’s unique originality, deeply rooted in spirituals and gospel hymns, blending sophisticated harmonies, memorable melodies and infectious grooves. His music embodies the diverse sounds of the Afro-diaspora, incorporating elements from West Africa, Haiti, the Americas and Europe. The result is a harmonious tapestry that spans continents.

Performing will be Louis (saxophone); Philip Dizack (trumpet); Axel Tosca Laugart (piano); Johnny Mercier (organ); Savannah Harris (drums); and Or Baréquette (bass).“I’m looking forward to being a part of WBGO’s After Work Jazz Series and bringing praise to the people of Newark,” said Louis. “Let’s have church.”

Psalms and Proverbs is produced by Louis, Calvaire and Chan Jung.

The event at the Newark Public Library (5 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102) is free and open to the public with registration via Eventbrite. In the event of inclement weather, the event will happen indoors, in the Library.

 6Psalms and Proverbs can be preordered now at https://orcd.co/godwinlouis or on August 23 at Spotify, iTunes, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon and more. For more information on Louis, visit https://www.godwinlouis.com.

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