Black Bottom is a 25-minute, orchestral-vocal work for four soloists and orchestra, tracing the life and legacy of Detroit's historic Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods-once thriving centers of Black culture, music, worship, and entrepreneurship.

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Inspired by the social, musical, and spiritual fabric of Detroit's Black Bottom community, Black Bottom blends jazz, spirituals, gospel, African drumming, and operatic storytelling within a contemporary orchestral frame.

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Across nine movements, vivid musical scenes unfold along Hastings Street, honoring elders, churches, entrepreneurs, and civil rights figures through interwoven "sung stories" and tribute movements. Voices and instruments function interchangeably as storytellers, inviting listeners into an act of remembrance that reflects on loss, resilience, and the enduring resonance of a community erased by urban renewal.

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Music and lyrics by Nkeiru Okoye​​

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Duration: Approx 25 minutes​​

Ensemble: SOLI Soprano, Jazz Mezzo, Tenor, Baritone, and Orchestra

Themes: American History, Detroit​​​

Commissioner: Detroit Symphony Orchestra​​​​​​​​​

 

Status: Score and part available through Theodore Presser