Ear Expansion with Angel Bat Dawid

In this compelling episode of Ear Expansion, avant-garde clarinetist and composer Angel Bat Dawid shares her profound connection with music that began in her family's church and expanded during her childhood in Africa. The conversation navigates her musical journey through what she calls "Great Black Music" dispelling various industry imposed genres, including funk, jazz, classical, and gospel. Angel discusses her experiences with racial discrimination in music institutions, fueling her dedication to and building within the tradition of 'Great Black Music' all while  fostering community-focused music initiatives. Her commissioned piece 'Requiem for Jazz' honors the history of black music while offering an extension to Ed Bland's 1959 documentary Cry of Jazz. The discussion covers the spiritual and cultural significance of her work, her upbringing surrounded by esoteric religious teachings, and her role as an educator. Angel emphasizes the power of acknowledging ancestors, the importance of preserving cultural artifacts, and the impact of myth, spirit, and breath in creating new realities. The episode concludes with reflections on the transformative power of music in emotional healing and the deeper cultural narratives within Black music.