From movements focused on the Freedom Riders and the Vietnam War to women’s suffrage and marriage equality, the fight for social and political justice has long found its voice in song. Natalie Douglas has frequently inserted such selections into her appearances, but, she told Cabaret Scenes, “I have always wanted to do a full show that shed light on the particular fusion of music and equality.” Her newest show, Freedom Songs, was it – triumphantly.

Powerful and driving, with rich arrangements featuring a four-piece band and two back-up singers, the show was riveting from start to finish. The songs, sixteen in all, were all ones that have been used to sustain fights for equality in such areas as women’s rights, voting rights and, predominantly in this show, racial equality. With Douglas front and center all the way, frequently introducing the songs and their contexts, she delivered them sweet and strong.

The numbers ranged from traditional to contemporary. The former included “Oh Freedom,” “We Shall Not Be Moved,” and “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Take Me Down,” while the more contemporary numbers were those by Bob Dylan (“The Death of Emmett Till”), Pete Seeger and Lee Hays (“If I Had a Hammer”), Paul McCartney (“Blackbird”), Joni Mitchell (“Woodstock”) and others, even the Broadway-famed combination of Jule Styne, Adolph Green and Betty Comden with “Now,” written to the tune of “Hava Nagilah.” A spirited finale was Douglas’s leading the room in a thrilling “This Little Light of Mine.”

The band was exciting in itself. At the piano was Musical Director Mark Hartman, with Sean Harkness featured on guitar, Joe Choroszewski on drums, Saadi Zain on bass and Brian Nash on keyboard and vocals – all contributing both as instrumentalists and a sometime-chorus. Adding smooth back-up vocals throughout were Tanya Holt and Kimberly Marable.

The show – combining history lesson, food for thought and rich, rousing entertainment – was, alas, booked as a one-time event. However, Natalie Douglas is hoping to tour with it. Be sure to catch it should that happen.

Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
April 16, 2012
www.cabaretscenes.org