The idea that music is a common language that connects nations and individuals with each other, no matter what their linguistic differences was exemplified Tuesday as the Jeddah Literary Club held a poetry evening where the spotlight was on performing duo Charles Williams and Tom Teasley. The duo performed some poetry by American poet Langston Hughes that evening, fresh from giving similar performances in Dhahran and Riyadh. The two have also recently performed in Al-Quds. “It was a fascinating experience to perform amidst the Palestinian people,” remarked Teasley. “We performed in a refugee camp during Ramadan and I collaborated with Palestinian musicians and master drummers; we conducted workshops too.” They also collaborated with the Anasheed and other vocal performing groups. Prior to this first-ever visit to the Kingdom, the duo also performed at the Bahrain Music Festival. “We enjoyed meeting people and collaborating with Saudi musicians in Dharan and Riyadh,” said Teasley. “I collaborated with a musician in Dhahran who spoke no English and since I can't speak any Arabic, we had a 10-minute musical conversation and performed for a further 20 minutes without speaking a word to each other.” He added that he loved Saudi music and the instruments traditionally used. The duo chose Hughes' poems since he is widely regarded as one of the giants of the Harlem Renaissance movement and they both briefed the audience about the movement as well. “Back in the 1920s in the States, black performers, composers, writers and dancers, as well as other creative performers, all experienced a renaissance,” remarked Williams. “They wanted to tell America and the rest of the world about themselves and showcase their culture. Langston - via poetry - didn't just want to show the happy side of that culture, he wanted to show the full gamut of life.”
