Wil B and Kev Marcus of Black Violin will be performing their one-of-kind style of string music at Cheney University, Sept. 9.
THORNBURY —Two classically trained musicians – violinist Kev Marcus and violist Will B, aka Black Violin – will fill Cheyney University’s Marian Anderson Music Center with music on Wednesday Sept. 9 at 7 pm.
A perennial favorite at the University, they describe their sound as “a hard-hitting beat with lush string sounds. Something you can listen to if you don’t listen to hip hop, or if you don’t listen to classical music.”
Black Violin breaks the conventional mold of what you’d expect a couple of violinists to sound like. To be more specific, Marcus plays the violin and Baptiste is on viola and vocals and combines influences ranging from S.A.S. and Jay Z to Shostakovich and Bach.
Wil B and Kev Marcus first met playing in their Fort Lauderdale, FL high school orchestra. After graduating college, they joined up as hip-hop studio rats in South Florida, working with several different acts before returning to their roots by fusing the two genres, classical and hip hop. Named after an album by pre-eminent Africa-American swing era jazz violinist Stuff Smith, Black Violin started a decade ago.
Black Violin’s latest LP and major label debut, Stereotypes, is due out Sept. 18 on Universal Music Classics. According to Black Violin’s Wil Baptiste in a recent interview about touring, music education and their new album, Stereotypes is the perfect name for the album, “We’re two big black guys playing the violin. I mean, we’re breaking stereotypes every time we step on stage.” Produced by Eli Wolf, the album features special guests MCs Pharoahe Monche and Black Thought, along with singers Melanie Fiona and Kandace Springs, guitarist Eric Krasno (Soulive), pianist Robert Glasper, drummer Daru Jones (Jack White), and string arranger Rob Moose.
The program is sponsored by the Arts and Lectures Series and admission to the program is free to Cheyney students. There is no charge for Cheyney University students and staff members. General admission tickets cost $25 and must be purchased in advance online Cheyney University Ticketleap link
The 2015-2016 Schedule for the Arts and Lectures Series at Cheyney University features a variety of speakers, musicians, singers and dancers from throughout the US and abroad. All programs are held on the Cheyney University campus and are open to the public. Questions about the Arts and Lectures series may be directed to scannon@cheyney.edu or 610-399-2057.
