By

Leticia Marie Sanchez

                       MUSE/IQUE delivered another transcendent program at the Huntington Botanical Gardens this month, transporting audiences back to the Cotton Club on a cool June evening under the starts. What makes this ensemble stand out from other performing artists is the rich interwoven tapestry of history, music, and poetry that imbues the evening. Rachel Worby, Artistic and Music Director of MUSE/IQUE,  knocks it out of the park with her engaging anecdotes, breadth and depth of historical knowledge, and her clear passion for the music.  The evening’s program included the works of such formidable artists as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, and yet the vibrant story-telling behind the compositions makes us feel as if we are listening to these remarkable works for the first time.

                       For instance, when Worby introduced the song “Ain’t Misbehavin’” by composer Fats Waller, she regaled the audience with true story that was cinematic. Apparently, gangster Al Capone ordered Mr. Waller to be tied up and kidnapped by his goons. The Reason? The mobster wanted Fatz Waller to perform for gangster birthday party extravaganza, which lasted three days. Capone paid Waller one hundred dollars an hour to perform, which was an astronomical sum at the time. The anecdote proved a thrilling introduction to a seductive rendition of the classic piece by MUSE/IQUE

                 Even beyond the performances, the history comes to life with the informative placards about the time period. For instance, I learned that Harlem artist Marian Anderson went on to perform at the New York Philharmonic and the Paris Opera House.

                 The most touching part of the evening was the inspiring poetry about Harlem read by Ms. Worby. The poems centered on those living in challenging conditions, and yet never giving up on their dreams. These musicians remind us that we too can transcend whatever darkness comes our way, and that the sun always rises anew.