DELBERT ANDERSON'S "Sounds in Place"
DELBERT ANDERSON'S "Sounds in Place"
鈥淪ounds in Place鈥� is a master class of storytelling. Through musical melodies, archival materials, and autobiographical features, Delbert Anderson intertwines the personal narratives of Native band leaders and jazz artists with the history of the Navajo people, demonstrating how, generation after generation, art has been born out of relationships with the land and community. The entire experience is a crescendo, building to a culminating performance that blew me away but also made me feel the history and heritage beneath my feet.鈥� 鈥� Rose Eason, gallupARTS Executive Director
Sounds in Place consists of trumpeter Delbert Anderson and keyboard player Robert Muller (keys). Anderson, a Din茅 jazz trumpet artist, composer, and educator, stands at the forefront of a vibrant Native American jazz scene. His work, deeply rooted in his Din茅 heritage, seamlessly integrates Navajo 鈥渟pinning songs鈥� of love, healing, and courtship with jazz, funk and hip-hop. His compositions are inspired by Navajo Nation landscapes, historical events, and the desire to preserve and educate about Din茅 history. Anderson鈥檚 notable projects include 鈥淭he Long Walk: 1,674 Days,鈥� a poignant composition reflecting on a critical period in Navajo history, and 鈥淢anitou,鈥� which fuses ancient Native American melodies with jazz and funk. The Delbert Anderson Trio (DAT) showcases DAT jazz standards and original tunes, capturing the essence of his musical beginnings. His commitment to community and education is evident through his 鈥淏uild A Band鈥� educational program, which teaches jazz improvisation to young students through a Din茅 and family curriculum, wellness programs, and community outreach initiatives aimed at evoking change for the well-being of all humans. Anderson鈥檚 achievements have garnered awards from Chamber Music America, the Cultural Capital Fellowship from the First Peoples Fund, and the Jazz Road Program at South Arts. His contributions to music and culture have been featured in prominent outlets like The New York Times, JazzTimes, Grammy.com, and NPR.