By Kristal Raheem
Oakland Voices
Special to The Post

Living Jazz hosted its 21st Annual “In the Name of Love” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. concert on Jan. 18 at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre. The 2025 tribute honored the music and activism of the late Aretha Franklin.

“This year’s tribute feels like a call to action,” said Lyz Luke, executive director of Living Jazz. “We were very mindful about picking a strong Black woman for a show taking place during inauguration weekend. Aretha’s work as an artist and activist is a guiding light for us to remain bold, unapologetic, and rooted in love.”

The event showcased influential Oakland musicians and cultural figures, including performances by America’s Got Talent finalist Dee Dee Simon, singer-songwriter Lauren “SoLauren” Adams, and Colombian artist Chika Di.

Additional highlights included Destiny Muhammad, the “Harpist from the Hood,” Howard Wiley with Grammy-nominated artist RyanNicole as host and Kev Choice as musical director. The tribute also spotlighted Bay Area youth, including the San Francisco Jazz High School All Stars and the Living Jazz Children’s Choir.

Bryan Dyer, director of the Children’s Choir, emphasized the transformative power of arts programming for young people. “Knowing the power of music and the arts, it’s always a beautiful thing to see the impact of this program on so many students. Kids who are normally quiet in class can stand in front of everyone and sing a solo,” Dyer said. He added, “The very rights that Dr. King fought and laid ground for are being challenged. We must stand together in order for our voices to be heard.”

Oakland Youth Poet Laureate finalist Maya Raveneau-Bey also took the stage, delivering a powerful poem rooted in feminism and inspired by Franklin’s advocacy for women. Raveneau-Bey’s piece, “Water Bearers,” resonated with her as a Moorish-American artist performing days before Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration. “I wanted to remind the women of today, specifically coming into this daunting year, that we are more than child bearers—we are overflowing in life and power,” she said.

During the tribute, newly elected Congresswoman Lateefah Simon and her predecessor, former Congresswoman Barbara Lee presented the Oakland Citizen Humanitarian Award to Andrew Park, co-founder and executive director of Trybe.

The organization focuses on violence prevention and supporting youth and families in East Oakland. Instead of a traditional acceptance speech, Park invited his daughter, Isabel, onstage to sing alongside him as he recited a spoken word poem. Together, they honored Oakland’s culture and history, weaving in nods to Franklin’s iconic songs.

The evening concluded with all performers and organizers onstage singing, “We Shall Overcome,” a unifying finale connecting arts, culture, and activism.

Living Jazz, founded in 1984, has grown into a cultural and educational hub, offering classes, workshops, and camps for musicians of all ages and skill levels.

Currently serving 18 schools and 1,300 students across the East Bay, the organization remains committed to amplifying Black and Brown voices, nurturing community, and creating spaces for connection through the arts.

“Aretha’s legacy is one of empowering generations, and that’s exactly what we do,” Luke said. “In a place like Oakland, where history and activism thrive, connecting generations through the arts is how we honor our past and build our future.”

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Oakland Voices and was funded by a grant from the East Bay Fund for Artists.

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