Billings will be welcoming a unique musical duo Black Violin, to the Alberta Bair Theater next Thursday. The high-energy group is anything but common, and bridges the divide between hip-hop and classical music.
The Miami Herald says the musical duo Black Violin “upends cultural and musical stereotypes,” and these classically-trained string musicians will bring their inventive style to Billings next week.
“Like violins are not typically known as high energy shows. You typically go to a classical concert and it’s engaging but we… It’s almost like going to a rock concert to go to a Black Violin concert but instead of guitars there are violins,” said Will Baptiste of Black Violin. He says those people coming to their concert will be surprised by the energy.
Baptiste and long-time friend Kevin Marcus Sylvester are classically trained violist and violinist. What makes Black Violin unique is the hip-hop they bring to their performances.
Baptiste says that, “hip-hop is all about expression and just being who you are. And playing violin, playing viola was just what we did. So it was just natural to put the two together, and we express ourselves when it comes to hip hop it’s with violin and viola. For us it was just something that was very organic and natural for us.”
The group has a very distinct sound, a sound that skyrocketed their popularity when they accompanied Alecia Keys in a 2004 Billboards awards performance. The group is comprised of not only skilled performers, they are producers and writers for other popular musicians as well.
Black Violin is in the midst of their 30-city UNITY Tour. Black Violin’s Billings stop is Thursday, March 30, 2017. Tickets are on sale now at the Alberta Bair Theater.
