Upcoming Events
February 2024
“Iliumpta”
Iliumpta is a retelling of Homer’s Iliad set in the Southernmost bayous of Mississippi. Named after the county the story takes place in, Iliumpta draws comparisons between masculinity in the American South and the sandaled heroes of yore, often pointing out the weakness in a regional outlook that insists on staying put during hurricanes.
“The Earthworm and the Hawk”
The Earthworm and the Hawk is the overlap between two states of being.
In the private and non-verbal world of Melissa Dunn’s sketchbook, she burrows deep, generating drawings intuitively from her imagination. As the pages fill up, she steps back and shifts perspective, becoming more objective. The lay of the land comes into sharp focus. Here she maps out, poses questions, and acts decisively.
“What Were You Meant For?”
“What were you meant for?” is an art exhibition that delves deep into the world of film to uncover the seldom-seen layers of Black male identity. It navigates a tapestry of scenes that bring to the forefront the poignant battles between vulnerability and societal expectations, challenging the confining boxes of toxic masculinity. Through curated cinematic moments, the exhibition forces viewers to confront their own biases and question ingrained beliefs about strength, resilience, and emotional depth.
April 2024
The Crosstown Arts Film Series presents ENNIO
Giuseppe Tornatore, director of the beloved Cinema Paradiso, turns his camera on his longtime collaborator Ennio Morricone (1928-2020) in a moving and comprehensive profile of an indefatigable composer. Tornatore’s documentary portrait explores the breadth of the maestro’s career, from his early Italian pop songs to the fistful of unforgettable film scores that he wrote, including The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, The Thing, Days of Heaven, and hundreds of others. The examination thoughtfully captures insightful commentary from Morricone’s closest collaborators and contemporaries, featuring testimonies from artists and directors such as Bernardo Bertolucci, Marco Bellocchio, Giuliano Montaldo, Dario Argento, Clint Eastwood, Joan Baez, Quentin Tarantino, and more. Ennio affords the master one last chance to recount his career and deconstruct the artistic process that led him to win two Academy Awards and author over 500 unforgettable soundtracks.
Jeff Hulett and the Hand Me Down’s
From the outside, Jeff Hulett might seem like a late-blooming guitarist and songwriter. But if you ask any of his fellow musicians they’ll tell you he was writing songs and playing music long before he put pen to paper or strummed a chord.
From his work with Me & Leah to Snowglobe, from solo shows and soundtrack work to the Hand Me Down’s, Jeff Hulett is a Memphis music mainstay, with a talent for warm and honest songwriting.
Amina Figarova Sextet and the Matsiko World Orphan Choir
Hailing from Azerbaijan, the New York-based Amina Figarova is an internationally influenced—and recognized—composer, pianist, and bandleader. Those three roles come to the forefront in Figarova’s sextets, bands with a remarkable chemistry that brings her detailed arrangements to life. Every member of the group stands out as a first-rate individual, but their dedication to Figarova’s eclectic and powerful compositions gives this group its depth of feeling and elite status. The Amina Figarova Sextet has been a hit at major festivals like the Newport Jazz Festival and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
May 2024
Folk All Y’all: Gaby Moreno
Since moving to Los Angeles from her native Guatemala, singer-songwriter-producer Gaby Moreno has released eight albums and earned 4 GRAMMY nominations for her albums “Illusion” (Best Latin Pop Album, 2017) , “Alegoría” (Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album, 2022), “X Mí (Vol. 1)” (Best Latin Pop Album – 2023) and for producing legendary cuban singer Omara Portuondo’s album “Vida” (Best Latin Tropical Album – 2023). She is also a 5-time nominee and winner of a Latin GRAMMY for “Best New Artist” (2013).
The Alex Upton Quintet
Memphis-based saxophonist Alex Upton will bring their original modern, straightahead jazz compositions to The Green Room at Crosstown Arts. The second half of the performance will be the premiere of a brand-new, five-movement suite for jazz combo entitled “In Retrospect”.
Ben Nichols and Rick Steff (of Lucero)
Memphis music legends Lucero’s Ben Nichols and Rick Steff are teaming up to play a very special performance in The Green Room at Crosstown Arts.
Modern Masters Jazz Series: Jim Snidero and The Ted Ludwig Trio
Described in a recent 5-star review in DownBeat magazine as having “incredible prowess and tender musicality,” New York saxophonist and composer Jim Snidero encapsulates what is both unique and compelling about jazz, reflected in over 10 million plays on Spotify. Hailed as having a sound “at the highest level among his fellow alto saxophonists of the 21st century” (All About Jazz), and improvisation that is “mind-boggling and, at the same time, hugely enjoyable” (The Guardian), Snidero is a veteran recording artist placing in both DownBeat critic and reader polls (EMI, Milestone, Savant …) and sideman (Mingus big band, Jack McDuff, Eddie Palmieri, Frank Sinatra …) who can truly say “been there, done that.”
