“The blues is not just music. It’s history wrapped in rhythm. The echoes of lives lived and lost. Heartache and hope all tangled together.”
There are certain voices that seem destined for narration, and Academy Award–winning actor Morgan Freeman’s unmistakable baritone is surely one of them. This fall, however, Freeman’s most recent project steps beyond the silver screen to strike an even deeper, more soulful note.
Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience begins its first tour this season, combining the power of orchestral arrangements, the soul of Delta blues, and Freeman’s unmistakable penchant for storytelling. Canadian fans will get a single chance to see the show live when it comes to Calgary’s Jack Singer Hall at the Werklund Centre on November 6.
Freeman’s roots in the Mississippi Delta run deep. He spent much of his childhood between Charleston and Greenwood, immersed in the region’s music and culture. In 2001, at the height of his Hollywood success, he co-founded the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale with entrepreneurs and blues enthusiasts Bill Luckett and Howard Stovall. Just a mile away from the fabled crossroads where Robert Johnson sold his soul, Ground Zero has become a mecca for blues fans, hosting performances by locals and legends alike.
Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience seeks to elevate the blues from the juke joint into the concert hall, and beyond. Created by Freeman, Howard Stovall, and Ground Zero co-owner Eric Meier, the show takes audiences on a powerful journey through the history of the blues. The show features narration recorded by Freeman, cinematic visuals, a powerhouse lineup of Delta blues artists, and orchestral arrangements by Vienna-based composer Martin Gellner. Together, these elements form a stirring tribute to the Delta’s rich musical and cultural roots.
Listen to Morgan Freeman and co-creator Eric Meier talk with host Lisa Wilton about Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience on Traffic Jams:
Catch Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience at the Jack Singer Concert Hall at Werklund Centre in Calgary on Thursday, November 6. Tickets available here.
