Predicted storms bypassed Black Violin’s Meijer Gardens concert Thursday, creating a picture-perfect evening of the renowned duo’s soulful, classical strings with a hip-hop twist. Review, photos.
‘Impossible is Possible’: Black Violin on stage with the Grand Rapids Symphony on Thursday. (Photo/Tricia Boot)
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It was nice timing for Black Violin to hit Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park at the same time the Summer Olympics have captivated audiences both globally and locally.
After all, the Olympics are when we comfortably watch in awe as the best of the best achieve the seemingly unachievable. Plus, there’s always that part of you that watches an athlete in absolute peak physical condition complete a triple-double in gymnastics and thinks, “Maybe I could do that?”
Similarly (at least for this writer/music lover), there’s something about watching top-tier musicians playing a stringed instrument — such as the viola or violin — that makes one think: “Maybe I should learn to play the violin?”
Passionate Accompaniment: Duo Shen leading the Grand Rapids Symphony. (Photo/Katy Batdorff)
(*An actual thing I said to my husband in 2022 when we last caught Black Violin at Meijer Garden. This, in spite of the fact that I haven’t played a musical instrument since absolutely butchering the cornet in junior high band and hating every last second of it. Needless to say, it did not come to pass.)
Call it aspirational appreciation. A professional can be so adept at their niche skill that they make it look easy, leaving spectators to wonder: Why couldn’t I do that? And while most of us never will do that particular thing (learn the violin, compete in gymnastics at the Olympic level), Black Violin certainly won’t be the ones to stand in the way of anyone’s dreams. In fact, quite the opposite.
Beyond treating audiences to their unique, rip-roaring, hip-swaying “classical boom” — as they did Thursday evening in a fast-paced, 60-minute set alongside hometown heroes the Grand Rapids Symphony — Black Violin are staunch believers in the power of determination, practice and dedication.
Classically trained violist Wil Baptiste and violinist Kev Marcus are passionate about connecting young, underserved students with music, and particularly “getting instruments in the hands of young BIPOC students,” as they’ve stated in previous interviews.
The Grammy-nominated act also is committed to challenging stereotypes, as evidenced with their genre-bending/genre-blending mix of hip hop, funk, jazz and classical.
Chasing Away the Rain: The evening scene at Meijer Gardens. (Photo/Tricia Boot)
In their final show of their summer tour (they’ll hit the road again this fall), Black Violin delighted with a mix of instrumentals, originals with vocals and twists on familiar classical motifs.
The uplifting “Dreamer” was among the show highlights, but the true crowd pleaser was an extended improvisational number that allowed Marcus, Baptiste — as well as their drummer, keyboardist and DJ — each an opportunity to flex his creative muscles and technical skills in the spotlight.
Motivational anthem “Impossible is Possible” was perhaps the most fitting way to close the evening, with its overt themes of pursuing one’s goals, in spite of the inner critics and outside naysayers: “You don’t gotta follow all their plans / It’s time to open up your hands / Don’t leave it up to chance / We can do anything.” Taking that teaching to heart…what could a violin lesson really hurt? Or that painting class? Or that short story competition?
The overwhelming takeaway of Black Violin’s stage output was that there is value in connection, exploration and curiosity — and what those qualities (plus a whole hell of a lot of practice, talent and hard work) can produce in a creative individual.
On the topic of talented individuals, Duo Shen, assistant conductor, led the Grand Rapids Symphony in a half-hour, crowd-warming sans-headliner set to open the evening.
Up Next at Meijer Gardens: Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Vertical Horizon perform at 6 p.m. Monday. The show is sold out.
PHOTO GALLERY: Black Violin, Grand Rapids Symphony at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Katy Batdorff and Tricia Boot
