Upon my return from vacation, I learned that Abbey Lincoln passed on Saturday. While I expected this news sooner or later, it touched me with a spark of sadness and a flood of memories of Ms. Lincoln at Harlem Stage. She was one of the great musicians of her generation and one of the more outspoken as well when it came to social justice and politics. We had the honor of presenting her on several occasions. I consider it one of the great blessings of this job to have been in contact with great people like Ms. Lincoln, Max Roach, Betty Carter, Lionel Hampton and Tito Puente, to name just a few, who have gracaed our stages, blessed the world and left behind a legacy that is unmatched and constantly drawn from.
Ms. Lincoln, we “down here below” will be forever touched by your voice.