Bill Cole, an 84 year old Black citizen of Vermont, is presenting a series of FREE Outdoor concerts with his talented all-BIPOC ensemble of musicians Saturday September 10th at 1:00 pm and Tuesday October 11th at 1:00 pm on the South Royalton Green.

The line up includes… The 88 year old percussion legend Warren Smith whose career spans 50 years of accompanying stars like Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin and Van Morrison as well as Joseph Daly (Brass), Ras Moshe (Sax), Taylor Ho Bynum, (Cornet, Trombone. and Conch), Althea SullyCole (Senagalese Kora), Mali Obomsawin (Bass) and Olivia Shortt (Baritone Sax).

The group, known as The Untempered Ensemble, has performed throughout the region and uses their highly developed, culturally enriched, instrumental skills to create spontaneous, never-before-heard improvisations.

“The Untempered Ensemble…continues a tradition started nearly twenty years ago by Cole, putting together performers both young and old, established and up-and-coming, to forge music representing Bill Coles’ singular vision of Eastern, Indigenous and African enhanced Jazz.” S. Victor Aaron (co-founder and publisher @ something else)

On October 11th, audiences will get the opportunity to hear the World Premier of Bill Cole’s improvisations based on the proverbs of the Yoruba of Nigeria.

These performances are funded by a grant from the Vermont Arts Council, The National Endowment for the Arts, the Vermont Community Foundation and support from BALE (Building A Local Economy) in South Royalton. Rain accommodations will be available.