Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience

Anthony Parnther is in his fifth season as music director of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. He has worked with artists including Joshua Bell, Jessye Norman, Frederica von Stade, Imagine Dragons, Wu-Tang Clan, Metro Boomin, and Rihanna. He also led LA Opera’s world premiere of Tamar-kali’s oratorio We Hold These Truths, Long Beach Opera’s revival of Anthony Davis’s The Central Park Five, and the world premiere of I Can by Jon Batiste with Gateways Music Festival Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. As a conductor for film and television, Parnther has helmed recording sessions for Avatar: The Way of Water, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Encanto, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Nope, Creed III, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Tenet, American Dad!, Oppenheimer, Turning Red, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and League of Legends. He made his San Francisco Symphony debut in March 2023.

Morgan Freeman, a proud son of the Mississippi Delta, is renowned not only as an Academy Award-winning actor and narrator of unforgettable gravitas, but also as a tireless champion of the music and culture that shaped his upbringing. Raised amid the soulful rhythms and storytelling traditions of the Delta, Freeman’s lifelong love for the blues runs as deep as his iconic voice. Beyond his legendary film career, he has dedicated himself to preserving this musical heritage, most notably as co-founder of the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a lively sanctuary for authentic Delta blues and a launchpad for local talent. 

As co-producer of Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience, he brings his vision and unmistakable presence to the stage, blending cinematic flair with the heart of the blues. As Freeman likes to say, “If you want to understand the blues, you don’t just listen—you feel it. And if you’re lucky, you get to narrate it too.”

Anthony “Big A” Sherrod is a multi-instrumentalist and international touring artist who personifies the living legacy of Delta Blues. A native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, Sherrod’s journey began at just five years old when he picked up the bass under the guidance of his mentor, Johnnie Billington. As the godson of blues icon Big Jack Johnson and a proud graduate of the Delta Blues Museum’s educational program, Sherrod embodies a direct line to the greats who shaped the genre. His performances carry the soul of the Delta in every note, keeping the tradition alive while inspiring the next generation of blues artists.

Jacqueline “Jaxx” Nassar is a powerhouse guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter hailing from Clarksdale, Mississippi—the very heart of the Delta Blues. A former standout of the Delta Blues Museum’s education program, Jaxx was personally awarded the inaugural Robert Johnson Award for Youth Excellence by Morgan Freeman. Over the years, she has taken the stage alongside legends like B.B. King and Paul Simon. Jaxx brings a raw, soulful energy to every performance, channeling the spirit of the Delta with each note.

Keith Johnson is an accomplished guitarist, vocalist, harmonica player, and songwriter. He has amassed a songwriting catalog, with multiple songs released on his debut album, Come to Mississippi. The great-nephew of blues icon Muddy Waters, Johnson is also the grandson of the late Texcellar Fields, a gospel singer and radio host. Born in Glen Allen, Mississippi, he graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi.

Lady Adrena’s music is making waves across the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, blending life stories into powerful blues tunes. From 2015 to 2016, she lit up stages alongside legends like Anthony Hamilton, Betty Wright, The Bar-Kays, and Lakeside. In 2018, she took second place at the Vicksburg International Blues Challenge, which inspired her return to her gospel roots and a deeper dive into traditional blues. Her latest album, Better Days, recorded at Memphis’ iconic Royal Studios and produced by Boo Mitchell, reflects her mission to bring healing through music. 

Adrian Miles Forrest, better known as Rev Slim, was born and raised in Grenada, Mississippi, where he grew up surrounded by gospel quartet music. After graduating from Grenada High, Slim studied music education at Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi. Forrest’s career has taken him across genres, from hip-hop and gospel to Southern soul and traditional blues. He has worked with artists including Ice-T, Bootsy Collins, Kierra Sheard, Eminem, Willie Clayton, and more. In 2022, he earned Grammy recognition for his work with Sir the Baptist and Tennessee State University. He has also been recognized at home, earning honors from the City of Grenada and the Grenada Baptist District.

Mark Yacovone is a Mississippi-based keyboardist and recording artist best known for his soulful work on piano, organ, accordion, and for a brief cameo on the reality series Gene Simmons: Family Jewels. A longtime member of the Thacker Mountain Radio Hour house band, he has shared stages and studios with artists like Mojo Nixon, Jody Williams, Joe Osborn, Buddy Cage, Maria Muldaur, and Jack Sonni of Dire Straits. Yacovone brings decades of groove, grit, and musical range to every performance.

Lee Williams was born and raised in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He got his start banging on buckets in the street at eight years old, until his cousin, Anthony Sherrod, brought him into Johnny Billington’s School of Blues. Over the years, Williams has played in bands like Big A & The All Stars, Heavy Suga’ & The SweeTones, Razorblade & The Deep Cuts with Josh “Razorblade” Stewart, Dr. Mike and Big T, The Family with Terry “Big T” Williams, and he has shared the stage with blues legends like Charlie Musselwhite and Bob Margolin. Williams teaches drums at the Delta Blues Museum’s Music Education Program and the Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshop.

Martin Gellner is an acclaimed Austrian composer, conductor, and orchestrator. Trained at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Gellner has collaborated with the Vienna Philharmonic and the Prague Philharmonic, among others. He most recently served as arranger for Hans Zimmer Live. With Symphonic Blues, Gellner lends his mastery to reimagining Delta classics with sweeping orchestral power, creating a sound that’s both rooted and revelatory.