Sarah Jones first came to my attention around 2000 when I worked as a DJ at my university's radio station. She was one of the artist on Giles Peterson's compilation 'INCredible Sound of Gilles Peterson'. There were were so many hot tracks on the album and I played most of them over and over-on my show, in the car, at the gym, at home, and every other place I could. Jones' track [with DJ Vadim providing the beats], 'Your Revolution', was a proclamation of independence, freedom, and above all a strong stance against misogyny. Strangely enough the FCC didn't quite get the message and relegated it along with the very songs it spoke out against and subsequently banned it from the airwaves.
Jones has gone on to star in a one woman play 'Bridge & Tunnel', where she plays diverse characters that cut across a broad spectrum of life. Additionally, she's won Tony awards for her work and become a UNICEF spokeswoman. I've not seen Jones in person, but listening to her on the radio and watching her on video, it feels as if she transforms herself and embodies characters including their accent, language, and thoughts.
Recently a segment with Jones from PRI's Studio 360 was awarded a Gracie Award. Jones speaks with Professor John McWhorter about 'blaccent' and how accents and speech patterns are viewed by society. You have to hear it for yourself. The woman is brilliant. Stop by her website as well!
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