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Stax Lives

By Editorial

Millions of words have been written and spoken in tribute to Stax’s contribution to Memphis music, but none of them were more eloquent than the Stax Music Academy’s winter concert last Saturday at Lausanne Collegiate School.

The auditorium was full, and more than 100 people stood in the aisles throughout the 90-minute program. They saw one of the best Christmas programs of the season, even though there were only a few Christmas songs and they were done Stax-style.

More than 100 students from the academy performed in the symphony, swing band, drum line, rhythm section, and street-corner harmonies. With a terrific assist from guest artist (and future artist-in-residence) Kirk Whalum and the arrangements of artistic director Ashley K. Davis and other members of the staff, they brought Stax, Motown, Duke Ellington, and John Coltrane to life. The "Premier Percussionists" and the young sax players who went one-on-one with Whalum had the crowd roaring and on its feet.

The staff of Soulsville, its foundation, and the Stanford Wealth Management underwriters who produced the free concert deserve our thanks. Future performances should be at the Cannon Center or bigger venues. It was that good.