Скачать или смотреть First They Came: Jazz, Poetry & Protest – Reggie Watkins & Matt Parker (Live)

First They Came – A Performance in Three Movements
When trombonist Reggie Watkins took the stage at Carnegie Music Hall in Carnegie, PA, he brought something more than music—a response to the times we're living in. What unfolded were three distinct pieces: an improvised drone, a poem reading, and McCoy Tyner's "Contemplation."

What began as a moment meant for those in the room that night took on new life when James Prude captured a 4-minute video of the drone and poem segment. That footage revealed something powerful enough to warrant digging deeper—tracking down the full board recording to see what else had been preserved.

When the complete audio emerged, it became clear why Reggie had chosen to present these three pieces together that night. The way "Contemplation" followed the poem created a natural arc that demanded to be experienced as one continuous 14-minute journey.

The centerpiece features First They Came, the powerful poem by Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984), written in the aftermath of World War II as a reflection on personal responsibility and collective silence in the face of oppression. Reggie Watkins delivers the poem with a small but meaningful adaptation, bringing a deeper personal resonance to its timeless message.

The video honors this intention, playing much of the piece against a black screen, creating space for the words and sounds to land without distraction. In a world of constant visual noise, "First They Came" asks listeners to simply be present with what they're hearing—from beginning to end.

Performers
Reggie Watkins – Trombone & Recitation
Matt Parker – Tenor Saxophone
Michael Bernabe – Piano
Eli Naragon – Bass
Jason Washington Jr. – Drums

Poem
“First They Came” by Pastor Martin Niemöller

“Contemplation”
by McCoy Tyner

Video
Filmed by James Prude
Live recording by Jay Weaver
Mixed by Matt Parker
Performed live at Andrew Carnegie Music Hall, Carnegie, Pennsylvania,
March 29, 2025

Presented by BYNK Records
www.BYNKRecords.com
www.reggiewatkinsmusic.com
@mattparkermusic
@reggiewatkinsmusic

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0:00 Opening
0:40 Drone Improvisation
4:20 Poem
“First They Came” by Martin Niemöller
5:25 “Contemplation”
by McCoy Tyner
7:17 Matt Parker saxophone solo
9:30 Reggie Watkins trombone solo
11:42 Melody Out
13:05 Credits

#blackscreen