Sweet Honey in the Rock

Founded by the indomitable Bernice Johnson Reagon in 1973, this Grammy-winning ensemble has consistently combined contemporary rhythms and narratives with a musical style rooted in the gospel music, spirituals, and hymns of the African American church but wholly their own, creating rousing vocal cascades on subject that range from motherhood to urban challenges to issues of human justice.  And they continue to stretch their boundaries as live performers, incorporating aspects of blues, jazz, and even hip hop as they keep the music fresh and innervating deep into their fifth decade.