The Weary Blues: Celebrating Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance

In honor of Black History Month join us for a unique multimedia tribute to Langston Hughes on the 100th anniversary of his first poetry collection, The Weary Blues. This off-Broadway-style production brings together some of Portland’s top entertainers for an evening of jazz, performance poetry, and historic visual projections.

Headlined by award-winning poet Emmett Wheatfall and a jazz quartet led by drummer Christopher Brown featuring pianist Darrell Grant, trumpeter Noah Simpson, and bassist Garrett Baxter, the performance will feature iconic Hughes works including The Negro Speaks of Rivers, The Weary Blues, I, Too, Sing America, and The Dream Keeper.

Historic photographs and art from the Harlem Renaissance will provide an immersive backdrop, creating an evocative experience that will draw the audience into the era’s cultural richness and the lasting impact of Hughes’ work.

For those interested in learning in depth about the history of the era, Maude Hines, Professor of English and Chair of Black Studies at Portland State University, will offer a 30-minute pre-show talk, Jazz Rhythms in Harlem Renaissance Poetry.

Presented by Jerry Jazz Musician Experiences in partnership with the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, this production promises a thoughtful and unforgettable evening connecting music, poetry, and history.

The event is produced by Joseph Maita, former Board President of PDX Jazz and editor-in-chief of the website Jerry Jazz Musician (www.jerryjazzmusician.com), which celebrates the history and culture of jazz music. “I have always felt that understanding the complexity of Black history helps us all better understand American history, and ultimately ourselves,” he said, “and Portland lacks immersive theatrical experiences that focus on Black history and the figures central to the Harlem Renaissance, which is one of the most important artist movements in 20th Century America. This event will be the signature event of Black History Month in Portland, one that will raise awareness of Hughes - an historic Black American who made evergreen contributions to the arts – because it will provide an experience for Portland that demonstrates the complexity of life in the years prior to the civil rights movement. This is a show Portland is ready for.”

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Host or Publisher Alberta Abbey