An Evening with Acclaimed Musician Jake Blount

Canton, NY (10/16/2023) — St. Lawrence University and the Ken Okoth '01 Black American Music Project will welcome acclaimed artist Jake Blount for an evening concert on Wednesday, October 25 at 7 p.m. in Peterson-Kermani Performance Hall. This event is free and open to the public.

A live stream of this event can be accessed at https://www.stlawu.edu/offices/music/livestream.

A powerfully gifted musician and a scholar of Black American music, Jake Blount speaks ardently about the African roots of the banjo and the subtle, yet profound ways African Americans have shaped and defined the amorphous categories of roots music and Americana.

Blount's musical journey began at Hamilton College in 2013, where he delved into the roots of traditional music within Black communities. Guided by luminaries like Bruce Molsky and Rhiannon Giddens, he honed his craft in string band music. His debut solo album, "Spider Tales," which was released in 2020, garnered praise, with The Guardian lauding it as an "instant classic."

Blount's latest album, "The New Faith," released through Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, exemplifies his Afrofuturist exploration of traditional Black religious music in a post-climate crisis context. The album's acclaim solidified Blount's status as a visionary in the musical landscape.

Blount's upcoming visit to St. Lawrence University is set to ignite conversations and experiences centered on respect and empathy, including in his engagement with students during class visits. As a representative of respect-driven transformation, Blount's presence resonates with the University's commitment to diversity and inclusive artistic celebration.

The program is supported by the Ken Okoth '01 Black American Music Project, which brings to campus a series of visual displays, lectures, seminars, and live performances that explore the history and origins of Black music and the influence of Black American musical traditions on the world. Generously funded by an anonymous donor, the Project honors the legacy of Ken Okoth '01, a beloved friend of many Laurentians whose love of music was exemplified in his performances with the Laurentian Singers and the Singing Saints.

Learn more about the Ken Okoth Black American Music Project

About St. Lawrence University

Founded in 1856, St. Lawrence University is a private, independent liberal arts institution of about 2,250 students located in Canton, New York. The educational opportunities at St. Lawrence inspire students and prepare them to be critical and creative thinkers, to find a compass for their lives and careers, and to pursue knowledge and understanding for the benefit of themselves, humanity and the planet. Through its focus on active engagement with ideas in and beyond the classroom, a St. Lawrence education leads students to make connections that transform lives and communities, from the local to the global. Visit www.stlawu.edu.