New Opera: Migrant Liberation Movement Suite

MIRROR BUTTERFLY: a migrant liberation movement suite is an epic jazz opera commissioned by the Afro Yaqui Music Collective devised from interviews with former Black Panther Mama C exiled in Tanzania, Wanlove a kubolor from Ghana, and Azize Aslan an activist working with Syrian Rojava and Mexican Zapatistas. Premiered at New Hazlett Theater (Pittsburgh) Oct 11-12, 2018 dir Cynthia Croot, conductor Federico Garcia-De Castro in dialogue with Indigenous People's Day. We brought it to the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage November 23, 2018 (Washington DC); developed: Nov 4, 2018 w/National Ensemble Theater conference (Tucson); NPN showcase Dec 14-15, 2018 (Pittsburgh); 1st Mesopotamian Water Forum Apr 6-8, 2019 (Kurdistan, Iraq); and then released it on Innova Records at  Red Rooster/Ginny's Supper Club (Harlem) Aug 3, 2019.  Excerpts have been featured on howlround, New Sounds playlist, 91.3 WYEP Aug 27, 2019 with interview on the revolutionary responsibility of being an artist in partnership with the Yaqui Námakasia Radio, which receives all CD sales. Launched at National Jazz Museum in Harlem on October 3, 2019 as part of a Jazz and Social Justice salon.