VZCZCXRO1268
PP RUEHBC RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHAM #0380/01 0421042
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111042Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6890
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 2043
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 5796

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 000380 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ECA/P/PE/CU; NEA/PPD AGNEW; NEA/PPD JACZYNKA; NEA/ELA 
GREGONIS 
 
E.O. 12958, as amended: N/A 
TAGS: SCUL KPAO JO OEXC OIIP SOCI
SUBJECT: Jordan: Amman Brings African-American History to Life 
Through Acclaimed Concert Series 
 
¶1.  Summary: Juilliard-trained, award-winning soprano Nicole Taylor 
opened PA Amman's celebration of African-American History Month with 
a highly-acclaimed series of concerts and workshops February 2-3. 
Explaining how "beautiful things come out of ugliness," Taylor 
performed African-American spirituals and folk songs for a variety 
of audiences, weaving in history and culture while introducing music 
new to most of her listeners. The highlight of her program was a 
spell-binding performance to almost 600 people at Amman's King 
Hussein Cultural Center, an event extensively and favorably covered 
in the local English- and Arabic-language press. Outgoing PDO Daniel 
Ernst, trained as a concert pianist, accompanied Ms. Taylor to great 
acclaim.  End Summary. 
 
-------------------------------- 
This Little Light of Mine . . . 
-------------------------------- 
¶2.  To open African-American History Month, Juilliard-trained, 
award-winning soprano Nicole Taylor visited Amman, Jordan, from 
February 2-3 for a series of concerts and workshops.  Taylor's 
program of African-American spiritual music was a new addition to 
the cultural menu of the Jordanian capital.  During each of her 
performances, she described how slavery was an ugly period during 
American history, but noted that sometimes "beautiful things can 
come out of ugliness."  At workshops for 300 private and public high 
school students at the King Hussein Cultural Center (KHCC) in Amman 
and 400 students at the private King's Academy in Madaba, Taylor 
gave background on slavery in the United States and explained how 
modern hip-hop and other American genres were rooted in 
African-American spirituals.  She also gave a soulful performance of 
classical opera and African-American spirituals for a high-level 
audience at the Ambassador's residence, laden with enough emotion to 
reduce the Jordanian Minister of Tourism to tears.  On February 3 
she gave a master class to voice students at the National Musical 
Conservatory. 
 
----------------------- 
. . . She Let it Shine 
----------------------- 
¶3.  The highlight of Taylor's short tour was her February 2 
performance at the KHCC.  PA extensively publicized the event 
through its Facebook site; advertisements in local print and radio 
outlets; a text message campaign; and a conference call with local 
media in the days prior to the concert.  A crowd of nearly 600 
(capacity is 530) filled KHCC's seats, balcony and aisles to hear 
Taylor sing "Joshua Fit De Battle of Jericho," "Lord, How Come Me 
Here?" and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hand."  Taylor also 
surprised the crowd - to thunderous applause - with a selection of 
three traditional Arabic songs she had prepared prior to her 
arrival.  Following the performance, veteran VOA/Radio Sawa 
correspondent Mahmoud Zawawi told us the program "was the best you 
ever organized and that I have ever attended," thanking PA Amman for 
bringing this "spot of American culture to Jordan." 
 
--------- 
Swan Song 
--------- 
¶4.  In his final program before departing for his next assignment, 
outgoing PDO Daniel Ernst accompanied Ms. Taylor throughout the 
program. Trained as a concert pianist, he wowed audiences with his 
masterful playing. 
 
--------------- 
Media Reaction 
--------------- 
¶5.  Jordanian Arabic- and English-language press extensively and 
favorably covered Taylor's KHCC performance.  Al-Ghad, Jordan's 
leading independent Arabic-language daily, ran a February 4 article 
with the headline "Nicole Taylor Ignites the Audience at Al-Hussein 
Cultural Center with African Spiritual Songs." One audience member, 
quoted on the Arabic-language news web site ammonnews.net, said "her 
performance of African-American spirituals relayed a greatness of a 
people, a culture, and a struggle that merits respect and 
appreciation. Her performance was phenomenal."  Jordan's official 
Petra News Agency covered the event and online news site 
Jordandays.tv uploaded segments of the concert during which Taylor 
sang Arabic songs. International news outlets Yahoo! News and AP 
also picked up the event.  Following the performance, Taylor gave 
exclusive interviews to Al-Arab al-Yawm, Al-Rai and Al-Ghad Arabic 
dailies, and to the Star English Weekly. 
 
¶6. Taylor's performance, photographically documented on the 
Embassy's Facebook page, was only the beginning of a full schedule 
of African-American History Month programs offered by PA Amman. 
These include a discussion, in Arabic, of the works of Toni 
Morrison; readings of the children's book "Black Women Freedom 
Fighters" to underprivileged and refugee schoolchildren in East 
Amman; performances in Amman and Irbid of the American hip-hop group 
 
AMMAN 00000380  002 OF 002 
 
 
Havikoro; a film screening at the Royal Film Commission; and a DVC 
with civil rights lawyer and professor Michael Meltsner. 
 
BEECROFT