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Crosscurrents

KALW's preview of Living Jazz's tribute to Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

KALW | By Jeneé Darden,
Ben Trefny
Published January 16, 2025 at 6:00 AM PST
Destiny Muhammad performing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" on her harp at KALW's preview of Living Jazz's "In the Name of Love" tribute to Dr MLK Jr.
Ben Trefny
Destiny Muhammad performing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" on her harp at KALW's preview of Living Jazz's "In the Name of Love" tribute to Dr MLK Jr.

This story aired in the January 16, 2025 episode of Crosscurrents.

Click the link above to listen!

This weekend we celebrate Martin Luther King, Junior. His vision, his impact, and his lasting legacy.

One of the many events happening around the Bay Area, is a musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., put on by Living Jazz at the Paramount Theater in Oakland.

It’s been happening for over two decades. And this year a dazzling collection of local artists will be performing the music of Aretha Franklin, who was a good friend of Dr. King and his family.

Last week, KALW hosted a preview concert and panel conversation with the team behind the annual event. It was hosted at our live event space at 220 Montgomery in Downtown San Francisco.

Hosted by Jenee Darden, it featured musicians, Chica Di and Destiny Mohammed, Poet Maya Raveneau-Bey, and Living Jazz music director, Kev Choice and Executive Director, Liz Luke.

Performers from the Living Jazz tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Ben Trefny
Performers from the Living Jazz tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Crosscurrents
Jeneé Darden
Jeneé Darden is an award-winning journalist, author, public speaker and proud Oakland native. She is the executive producer and host of the weekly arts segment Sights & Sounds as well as the series Sights + Sounds Magazine. Jeneé also covers East Oakland for KALW. Jeneé has reported for NPR, Marketplace, KQED, KPCC, The Los Angeles Times, Ebony magazine, Refinery29 and other outlets. In 2005, she reported on the London transit bombings for Time magazine. Prior to coming to KALW, she hosted the podcast Mental Health and Wellness Radio.
See stories by Jeneé Darden
Ben Trefny
Ben joined KALW in 2004. As Executive News Editor and then News Director, he helped the news department win numerous regional and national awards for long- and short-form journalism. He also helped teach hundreds of audio producers, many of whom work with him at KALW, today.
See stories by Ben Trefny