Journeyism: New Release Championing Underrepresented Voices

CRD (Continental Record Distribution) presents Journeyism, a new album from the NYU Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Jonathan Haas, Director of the NYU Steinhardt Program in Percussion. The recording features four world-premiere compositions by two leading Black American composers: percussionist Timothy Kennedy Adams Jr. and Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer and NYU Jazz adjunct faculty member Lenny White.

For White, Journeyism marks the first recording of his classical works. Adams, meanwhile, weaves music, spoken word, and soundscape to immerse listeners in narratives of perseverance and persecution. Together, their works affirm music’s power to confront systemic injustice while inviting reflection and dialogue.

Following CRD’s recordings of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor—released during the composer’s 150th anniversary year—Journeyism extends the label’s commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and championing socially engaged projects. This collaboration with NYU’s students and faculty, guided by Haas, underscores the next generation’s role in shaping an inclusive musical future.

Jonathan Haas reflects: “This CRD collaboration with the NYU Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble represents a journey for me and for NYU students and faculty. My first commercial recording, 18th Century Concertos for Timpani and Orchestra, was realized with my late collaborator Graham Pauncefort. Forty years later, working with his successors, I feel that same adventurous spirit alive in this recording.

Journeyism embodies collaboration, exploration, and celebration. These works arose as a call to confront systemic injustice. In March 2022, I asked my dear friends Tim Adams and Lenny White how I could support their vision. The result is this album—one that amplifies their voices, secures their place in the canon, and reflects the kinship and resilience that bind us together."