Sound as Liberation Sessions: Juneteenth Edition featuring Rod McGaha

Sound as Liberation Sessions: Juneteenth Edition

In the Spirit of Miles: Sounding the Future Through Improvisation Featuring Rod McGaha

Friday, June 19, 2026 | 7:30 PM | The Jazz Cave $35 | nashvillejazz.org

On Juneteenth, trumpeter, visual artist, and storyteller Rod McGaha presents the inaugural Sound as Liberation Sessions at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. An intimate evening of live music, visual art, and conversation that honors the holiday through the spirit of freedom, creativity, and collective expression.

Inspired by the fearless innovation of Miles Davis in his centennial year, McGaha and his ensemble explore what Miles's spirit of experimentation might sound like today. Not by recreating his compositions, but by embracing the same commitment to risk, invention, and transformation. The performance will be entirely improvised, created spontaneously in the moment through listening and collective interaction.

The evening will also feature original video projections created by McGaha, artwork displayed throughout the venue, and opportunities for audience members to engage directly with the artists.

"Sound as Liberation is both an artistic practice and a philosophy," says McGaha. "Through sound, image, and improvisation, I explore how art can help release tension, affirm identity, and create space for healing, imagination, and transformation."

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is both historical and ongoing. This music is not about looking backward. It is about creating in real time, trusting one another, and imagining what is possible through sound, image, and human connection.

Doors open at 7:00 PM. BYOB. Light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase.