George Brandon founded the Blue Unity Ensemble in 1983 in Baltimore where the group worked closely with the Maryland Center for Creative Music, and with Baltimore Artists Against Apartheid. The Blue Unity Orchestra gave its first performance in May 1989 at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Blue Unity Orchestra (2 trpts, 2 trombones, 2(3) saxophones, piano, bass, drums, African percussionists(2), vocalist(s). Plays large ensemble works from jazz tradition, classical and new music by African, Caribbean and African American composers arranged for the ensemble or commissioned for performance by it. Does three different kinds of concerts:
(1) legacy concerts focusing on African and African diasporic history and tradition as conveyed through music or music presentations that are contextualized culturally and historically through lecture, dialogue or interaction between performers and audience;
(2) new music concerts in which old, neglected or little known music of composers is presented in period style or in contemporary arrangements, along with pieces by living or emerging composers, including commissioned works;
(3) spiritual concerts that draw on the religious and spiritual traditions of the African diaspora in an interfaith ecumenical way for the purpose of promoting peace, unity and spiritual values in service to all people. Personnel: Josh Evans, Duane Eubanks (trpts); Jorge Sylvester, Salim Washington (saxes); Dick Griffin, Aaron Johnson (trbs); Joshua Wolff (p); Calvin Hill (b); Mark Johnson (dr); Elemi Richard Byrd (per); Neil Clarke(per); Nora McCarthy(voc)
The Blue Unity Ensemble (trumpet, trombone, alto or tenor saxophone, piano, bass, drums, percussion, vocalist, plus other personnel as needed.) Smaller ensemble which is the main outlet for compositions by George Brandon. Also will do more experimental work including collaborations with dancers, visual artists, computers and multimedia. Personnel: Josh Evans(trpt), Jorge Sylvester(sax), George Brandon (trb), Joshua Wolff(p), Calvin Hill (b),
Mark Johnson(dr), Nora McCarthy (voc)
