Album insights
Randall Goosby, an emerging star violinist, has released his debut album "Roots" as a tribute to music pioneers who paved his way, drawing inspiration from African American culture and musicians. The album features music by renowned composer Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, along with world premiere recordings of pieces by Florence Price, the first African American woman whose music was performed by a major US orchestra in 1933. Highlights of the repertoire include a fresh arrangement of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" by Jascha Heifetz, as well as the "Sonatina" by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák, influenced by spirituals and Native American melodies. Also making its debut is "Shelter Island," a Bluegrass and R&B-inspired piece composed by Goosby's longtime friend Xavier Foley based on their trip to Shelter Island, New York. Through his infectious passion for the violin, Goosby aims to demonstrate to young people that music can be inspiring regardless of its origins. "Roots" serves as a tribute to the significant impact of works by black and female composers in the past century, honoring their lives, experiences, and dedication to creating art.