What started as a vision became a room full of love, rhythm, and community.

Our first Black Box Sessions was created to honor Black History Month, not just as a moment on the calendar, but as a living, breathing celebration of culture, voice, and creative expression. The energy in the room was powerful. It reminded me that when we gather with intention, something sacred happens. People show up open. Stories land deeper. Music heals in real time.

The love from that first night told me clearly: this wasn’t meant to be a one-time event. This was the beginning of a series.

So on April 19th, The Black Box Sessions returns with Poetry in Blues, in celebration of National Poetry Month. This next experience centers poetry and live music as a shared language; where spoken word meets soulful sound in an intimate space. There’s something special about hearing poetry wrapped in live instrumentation. It slows us down. It invites us to listen with our whole bodies, not just our ears.

I also realized something beautiful;  this gathering is happening right as we move toward International Jazz Day at the end of April. That feels aligned. Jazz, like poetry, is rooted in freedom, improvisation, and truth-telling. It holds joy and struggle at the same time. That spirit is exactly what The Black Box Sessions is about: honoring where we come from while creating space for what’s unfolding now.

My hope for this series is simple but deep. I want The Black Box Sessions to be a place where community is built, where artists feel seen, and where audiences feel held. Each session will continue to align with meaningful cultural moments, not just to mark time, but to mark intention. To say: we are here, we are present, and our stories matter.

Thank you to everyone who showed up for the first session and helped set the tone. If you’ve already supported this work, you are part of the foundation of what’s growing. If you’re joining us for the first time on April 19th, I can’t wait to welcome you into the room.

This is more than a show.
It’s a gathering.
It’s a listening.
It’s a remembering.

See you in the Black Box. Much love to you. 🐝💛 Hugs