The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Cincinnati Music Hall have been selected by The Boundless Arts Foundation for the filming and live recording of a new, large-scale multimedia and multi-disciplinary presentation of composer Justin Morell’s jazz trumpet concerto, All Without Words Live, on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Composed as a tribute to Morell’s nonverbal autistic son, Loren Morell, and recorded and released as an album in 2021, All Without Words was inspired by Loren’s spontaneous vocalizations and evolved into a work for solo trumpet, orchestra, rhythm section, and chorus. The CSO presentation is an expanded production of the original concert version and will feature the CSO; original performers from the album, including Grammy Award-winning artist John Daversa on trumpet, Tal Cohen on piano, and David Chiverton on drum set; singers and instrumentalists from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music; dancers; and a gallery exhibition of art by artists from The Art of Autism created to represent the music. The entire audience experience will be filmed to be used in a feature-length video program.
“What began as a mission to celebrate neurodiversity became an opportunity for me to connect with my son and hear his voice in a way I had not before,” said Morell. “The music is born of intense emotion—sometimes painful and sometimes joyful—and of hope for a compassionate future where all people are loved and respected for their humanity.”
Morell, a genre-crossing composer, guitarist, and Associate Professor of Musical Composition at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, began writing a piece about his son Loren and his personal experiences loving someone on the autism spectrum before the COVID-19 pandemic. He listened to his son’s singing and vocalizations, recorded them, and later transcribed two different melody segments, ultimately becoming Loren’s theme. As the composition evolved, Morell created an artistic expression of Loren’s theme through soaring trumpet solos lines, with each of the resulting 11 variations on the theme reflecting a unique moment in Morell’s life with his son, the journey of learning how to connect with a child who has difficulty with aspects of communication, and the triumph of what may seem to others as the smallest of successes. John Daversa, multi-Grammy Award-winning artist, trumpeter, and Chair and Professor of Studio Music and Jazz at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music was quickly identified as a partner for the project.
The composition was recorded for the 2021 album All Without Words: Variations Inspired by Loren, released and presented as The John Daversa Jazz Orchestra featuring composer, guitarist, and music educator Justin Morell. To broaden awareness and involvement with the project, Morell and Daversa also connected with talented autistic artists from The Art of Autism in California, many of whom can see colors or symbols around music. The artists listened to the recording of All Without Words and created unique art pieces in response to the music. The interpretation by artist Angela Weddle later became the album cover art.
“John and I have been friends forever and have collaborated on countless projects, and I was honored to write this piece as a feature for him. There is no more sensitive, expressive, profound musician than John, and I knew he would bring unparalleled life to this music. I also know we shared a vision about the mission and how to expand its reach to include the larger autism community, including working with extraordinary visual artists from The Art of Autism—each of whom offered their beautiful interpretation of Loren’s theme,” said Morell.
“The mission and music of All Without Words continues to touch us all on deeper and deeper levels. What a gift it is to ‘sing’ this beautiful narrative through the voice of the trumpet, as this is a human story of unconditional love and deep compassion told directly from the heart,” said Daversa.
Transformed by award-winning director and video artist Milcho, the All Without Words Live experiential presentation with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on September 20, 2023, will be the world premiere of an expanded production that embraces staging, light, color, and multiple artistic disciplines. The CSO presentation will include the addition of dancers and a gallery exhibit by artists from The Art of Autism. The entire audience experience will be filmed, including foyer activations and performances in Cincinnati Music Hall’s Springer Auditorium.
“Having been involved with All Without Words from the recording stages of the album to the different multi-layered chapters of this heartwarming project, it’s a humbling honor to be given the opportunity to create this highly emotional, visually stimulating live concert experience. My goal is for all of us to ‘see’ the music, ‘be’ the music, and take those emotions with us after we leave Music Hall,” said Milcho.
“We are delighted to present All Without Words Live,” said Kent Savage, President of The Boundless Arts Foundation. “It’s an honor to support this collaboration between CSO, Justin Morell, trumpet soloist John Daversa, the Frost School of Music, and creative director Milcho as the musical work is transformed into a large-scale multi-disciplinary expression of parents’ love for their autistic son. The artistic elements—sound, light, dancing, and staging—converge to take the audience on a powerful and emotional journey while honoring the spirit of the son who cannot speak.”
“This project resonated with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on many levels,” reflected Jonathan Martin, President, and CEO of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. “The story of Justin Morell’s journey with his son is inspiring, and the organic collaboration between talented artists from different and important artistic disciplines for All Without Words aligns with our mission and vision. We are honored to partner with Justin Morell, John Daversa, and the Frost School of Music to present the live performance and filming of the piece for Cincinnati audiences.”
Tickets to All Without Words Live with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra are free and available beginning Thursday, July 20, 2023. Seating is general admission, and advance registration is highly encouraged. Seats can be reserved online at cincinnatisymphony.org, by phone at 513-381-3300, or in-person by visiting the Box Office at 1241 Elm Street, Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
