Sacramento pianist changes plan for in-person, socially-distant fundraising concert

Pianist Lara Downes will give a virtual concert this Sunday, altering her plan to perform a concert for socially-distanced, in-person audience members in Sacramento. All proceeds from the donation-based event will go to the ACLU to support voter registration.

“With cases rising, a live audience doesn’t feel like the sensitive thing to do,” Downes said Monday in announcing the change.

The Sacramento-based pianist hoped to seat 20 audience members 10 feet apart from each other in the open-air courtyard of the Warehouse Artist Lofts. But after seeing coronavirus case counts go up in Sacramento last week, Downes nixed the live audience plan.

Downes said she will play versions of spirituals and freedom songs from her album “Some Of These Days” at Sunday’s online event.

“It’s been such an interesting experience because I put this project together about a year ago,” Downes said. “I never would have imagined that it would come out in the middle of a moment that is really focused on serious change. I think pulling people together to experience these songs gives us a perspective on our history.”

Downes’ paternal grandmother immigrated to Harlem from Jamaica while her maternal grandmother was born in Ukraine. Downes’ own musical style grew out of her classical piano training combined with the variety of genres she listened to, including jazz. She described her music as “genre fluid.”

In addition to planning Sunday’s virtual event, Downes has adapted to the pandemic by giving an NPR Tiny Desk concert and by holding casual, socially distanced concerts on her front lawn. She started opening her windows while playing at home to let neighbors come by to enjoy the music, she said.

“It’s just so nice for us all to see each other’s faces,” Downes said. “It’s a moment in the week when we feel peaceful and connected.”