OF POWER | CLASSICAL POST

VIOLINIST CURTIS STEWART DISCUSSES HIS NEW ALBUM “OF POWER,” PERFORMING FROM A PERSONAL AND POLITICAL PLACE, AND PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL MUSIC WITH A WORLD OF INFLUENCES.

New York-based violinist Curtis J Stewart released his post-classical coming of age album “Of Power” on June 18. Inspired by Black Lives Matter and featuring songs of resistance and resilience for violin, voice, and electronics. “Of Power” features original compositions as well as reimagined works by Charlie Parker, J.S. Bach, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Childish Gambino, John Coltrane, Paganini, Elektra Kurtis, Ysaÿe, and Stevie Wonder. Created entirely during the COVID-19 lockdown releasing on the Bright Shiny Things label with five tracks mastered by Prince’s sound engineer Derek Linzy from Paisley Park.

Colleen Kennedy: Congratulations on your new album “Of Power”!

Curtis Stewart: Thanks! “Of Power” just came out Friday, June 18th, the day before Juneteenth so I was so proud to be able to celebrate that holiday that way. It's funny that there is a national kind of commotion, a backlash against the proposal of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. And I had planned on releasing this album on that date back in August or September 2020. I just wanted to celebrate that holiday by being myself and presenting this music in a very personal and heartfelt way.