10.29.18: Philadelphia – (Culture): Mr. Wilner Baptiste and Mr. Kevin Sylvester are virtuosos who fully understand and rightfully own their place in the world.
As the dynamic duo who animate the Black Violin brand, the gentlemen purposefully shatter stereotypes with an avant-garde repertoire that fuses classical music with current hip-hop hits from artist like Cardi B and Bruno Mars.
“We recognize that we don’t look like your normal stereotypical violinists up here … that’s why this whole thing works,” said Mr. Sylvester, whose stage name is Kev Marcus, in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Black Violin over the weekend packed out the city’s ornate Merriam Theater on the Avenue of the Arts. Their adoring audience ran the gamut.
“We make music that brings people together,” touted the casually-dressed Mr. Sylvester.
Mr. Sylvester and Mr. Baptiste, whose stage name is Wil B, met 21 years ago while in a Florida high-school orchestra class. They have since graced the most exclusive of platforms, including a performance on NPR and playing at President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
Saturday’s performance on the Kimmel Center’s campus was their 94th show this year.
It’s not hard to understand why Black Violin is successful. Beyond the evident practice regiment that the group sustains – in addition to the violinists, performances also feature DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes – Black Violin offers their audience a sublime experience rather than a traditional recital.
For example, the violinists aren’t tethered to a music stand eyeballing the score. And the show’s lighting is, in itself, a spectacle that’s often synched with Mr. Stokes’ flawlessly articulated rudiments.
On Saturday, Mr. Baptiste – whose violin, which he characterized as the love of his life – was synced to an effects pedal. He discarded the bow and cradled his instrument as if it were a ukulele.
What came next was a quasi-electric-guitar solo. And how appropriate it was, given that Black Violin is made up of rock-stars.
In particular, Mr. Baptiste and Mr. Stokes are incredibly versatile. The wowing drummer seamlessly transitioned to the Cajon during Saturday’s performance to accompany Mr. Baptiste, who himself had transitioned to behind the keyboard while also performing vocals.
Black Violin’s most recent album, Stereotypes, topped the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart and No. 4 on Billboard’s R&B Chart. The group is black excellence personified and are certainly worth seeing live.
Mr. Sylvester said Black Violin aims to show their audience something they’ve never seen before. In that respect, they’ve succeeded. Indeed, incomparable they are.
Thanks for reading! Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® and I’m Drumming for Justice!™
Author’s bio: Christopher “Flood the Drummer®” Norris is an award-winning journalist, online content producer and professional drummer currently serving as the CEO of Techbook Online, a Philadelphia-based news and event company, and the host of the Drumming for Justice podcast. Subscribe here.
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Photo Credit: C. Norris – ©2018