“I read about the unearthing of these slaves who were convict leased and experienced a visceral explosion of emotions. As an African American, it is my responsibility to leverage my gifts to tell the stories of our history, heritage and legacy.”

— Kendrick Scott

DACAMERA Production | World Premiere

Kendrick Scott, composer/drums; Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, poet, Poet Laureate Emeritus of Houston; Robert Hodge, visual artist

Gerald Clayton, piano; Walter Smith III, saxophone; Joe Sanders, bass; Harlem String Quartet (Ilmar Gavilán, violin; Melissa White, violin; Jaime Amador, viola; Felix Umansky, cello)

A new DACAMERA production memorializing the Sugar Land 95, bringing together original music, poetry and visuals Unearthed pays tribute to the tragic history behind the recent discovery of the remains of 95 Black people in unmarked graves in Sugar Land, Texas. They were convict laborers, swept back into “slavery by another name” in the post-Civil War era, arrested for petty crimes like vagrancy and forced into back-breaking and often fatal labor in the sugar fields of Texas. Now, Houston native jazz artist Kendrick Scott explores this untold story in a new production, teaming up with outstanding Houston-based creative team including the former Houston poet laureate Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton and performed by the acclaimed Harlem String Quartet and a trio of first-call jazz musicians.

“I read about the unearthing of these slaves who were convict leased and experienced a visceral explosion of emotions. As an African American, it is my responsibility to leverage my gifts to tell the stories of our history, heritage and legacy.” – Kendrick Scott

“pulling together many lovely strands of American music…complex and compelling.” – Pop Matters