Shawn Okpebholo
GRAMMY®-nominated for his latest solo album "Lord, How Come Me Here?"—a collection of reimagined Negro spirituals performed by Will Liverman, J'Nai Bridges, and Paul Sánchez—and named one of the 2023 Musical America Top 30 Professionals of the Year, Nigerian-American composer Shawn E. Okpebholo's music resonates globally, earning widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike. The press has described his music as "devastatingly beautiful" and "fresh and new and fearless" (Washington Post), "affecting" (New York Times), "lyrical, complex, singular" (The Guardian), "searing" (Chicago Tribune), "dreamy, sensual" (Boston Globe), and "powerful" (BBC Music Magazine). Okpebholo has garnered numerous accolades, including awards from The Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Prize in Composition, the Music Publishers Association, ASCAP, and was awarded the Inaugural honoree of the Leslie Adams-Robert Owens Composition Award.
In 2014, Will Liverman, J'Nai Bridges, and Paul Sánchez recorded Okpebholo: Steal Away, Shawn Okpebholo's first album of spirituals. Paul Sánchez and Will Liverman have performed and recorded many world-premiere performances of Shawn Okpebholo's music, including "Two Black Churches," which was featured on the GRAMMY®-nominated Dreams of a New Day: Songs by Black Composers.
“Performed with beauty, poise and conviction… a powerful tribute to a sea of talent too often neglected and sounds a call for social justice.”
— BBC Music Magazine
“The new album by the baritone Will Liverman… and pianist Paul Sánchez should be obligatory listening.”
— The Guardian
“Liverman and the pianist Paul Sánchez perform the diptych with clarity, sensitivity, and barely contained heartbreak.”
— The New Yorker
“...pianistic sensitivity and power.”
–– blogcritics.org
“Sánchez shines…”
— Blackgrooves.org
In 2024, Rhiannon Giddens, Will Liverman, Reginald Mobley, Karen Slack, and Paul Sánchez recorded Shawn Okpebholo's Songs in Flight for an upcoming release on Cedille Records.
Songs in Flight
Shawn Okpebholo's Songs in Flight is a song cycle in twelve movements for soprano, countertenor, baritone, and piano. In 2024, Rhiannon Giddens, Will Liverman, Reginald Mobley, Karen Slack, and Paul Sánchez recorded Songs in Flight for an upcoming release on Cedille Records.
Steal Away features spirituals as reimagined by composer Shawn Okpebholo, performed by Will Liverman, baritone; J'Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano; and Paul Sánchez, piano. With special guests Caen Thomason-Redus, flute; and Dorthy White-Okpebholo, viola.
Nominated for a GRAMMY® award in 2023, this album of Shawn Okpebholo's music features J'Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano; Will Liverman, baritone; and Paul Sánchez, piano; with special guests Leonardo Altino (cello) and Caen Thomason-Redus (flute).
Nominated for a GRAMMY® award in 2022, Dreams of a New Day – Songs by Black Composers features baritone Will Liverman and pianist Paul Sánchez performing music of Leslie Adams, Margaret Bonds, Henry Burleigh, Thomas Kerr, Shawn E. Okpebholo, Robert Owens, and Damien Sneed.
“Performed with beauty, poise and conviction… a powerful tribute to a sea of talent too often neglected and sounds a call for social justice.”
— BBC Music Magazine
“The new album by the baritone Will Liverman… and pianist Paul Sánchez should be obligatory listening.”
— The Guardian
“Liverman and the pianist Paul Sánchez perform the diptych with clarity, sensitivity, and barely contained heartbreak.”
— The New Yorker
“...pianistic sensitivity and power.”
–– blogcritics.org
“Sánchez shines…”
— Blackgrooves.org
