Press talk and public discussion // Denys Baptiste

50 years ago – on September 13, 1964 – Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. held a speech in honor of the late John F. Kennedy at the Berlin Philharmonic. The Berliner Festspiele, in co-operation with ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und and Gerd Bucerius, celebrate this historical event in their special series ‘One Day for … Martin Luther King, Jr.’. Starting with guided tours that follow the African-American Civil Rights Movement leader’s footsteps through Berlin, Haus der Berliner Festspiele opens it’s doors at 3:30pm. A variegation of panel discussions and short performances in English and German will lead up to the grand finale with Denys Baptiste's multi-media concert ‘Now Is the Time – Let Freedom Ring!’.

“When I created the original commission I focused ‘Let Freedom Ring!’ around the most memorable, second half of Dr King’s speech and I used the rhythmic patterns of his speech as the foundation for the four-part suite. Now, with an entire evening to share with you, I can expand and complete the circle.

I am very honoured to be opening the Berlin Jazz festival on it’s landmark 50th anniversary. I feel that it is one of the most prestigious Jazz festivals in the world and I am looking forward to playing alongside world class musicians. Returning with Let Freedom Ring and Now is The Time to the festival will be a very significant moment for me coming 10 years after an enjoyable and memorable experience in 2004 that marked the 40th anniversary of the festival, celebrating Martin Luther King’s historic visit to Berlin in 1964. Dr King has been a great inspiration to my work as a musician and citizen of the world and I hope to inspire the people of Berlin make the the world a place of freedom justice and equality. Let Freedom Ring!”
Denys Baptiste

DenysBaptiste homepage