Continuing its strand of 'Late Late Show' specials, Ronnie Scott’s presents a performance by Theaster Gates and The Black Monks of Mississippi, an ensemble of musicians that the artist writes for, directs and performs in.

The Black Monks of Mississippi practice an improvised and collaged style of music that incorporates such diverse traditions as Blues, Gospel, Buddhism and Zen chants. Mainly adhering to the blues form, which Gates believes to be the most important root in the American musical tradition, they strive to be holy, restrained, orderly and disciplined, while achieving a very human response to displaced spiritual ecstasy, particularly in the flavour of the black Church. Gates' performances are highly animated since, for him, sound only works in conjunction with movement of the body.

Theaster Gates originally trained as a ceramicist and urban planner and was raised in rural Mississippi and Illinois. As a child he joined the New Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church choir in Chicago and soon became its director at just 14 years of age.

Theaster Gates and the Black Monks of Mississippi 
Ronnie Scott’s
47 Frith Street
London W1

Reservations: +44 (0)20 7439 0747
Ticket Price: £10 

Wednesday 10 October 2012, 10.45pm

Theaster Gates and the Black Monks of Mississippi  12 Ballads for Huguenot House   Documenta 13   Kassell
Photo: Tanja Juergensen  Courtesy White Cube