The Muse of the Melting Pot:

Soundscape is a non-profit organization that has been producing innovative multicultural programming for over 20 years.

Soundscape was founded in 1979 as a performance space on West 52nd street by Verna Gillis, who was described by Samuel Freedman of the New York Times Magazine as the “muse of the melting pot.” Soundscape created a space based on experimentation, innovation and cultural cross-pollination. Soundscape’s critically acclaimed programming offered a unique mix of Jazz, African and Latin Music. Concerts were also produced throughout the city at other venues including the 1983 American premier performance of King Sunny Ade from Nigeria. This concert marked the beginning of African Pop in the United States and was hailed by Robert Palmer of The New York Times as "...the pop event of the decade." Many other African premieres followed and Soundscape turned its focus to the career development and management of world class African, Caribbean, and Latin American artists, among them Youssou N’dour, Yomo Toro, Salif Keita and Carlinhos Brown.

“Soundscape today stands as something of a beacon on the New York scene,” wrote The Wire (London).

“Few innovators are themselves this generous, but Soundscape is possibly the most important club in the free-music world and it deserves such accolades.”

A CD “Live in Soundscape” series documents some of Soundscape’s most memorable programs.