REVIEW
“Made in Memphis” at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium (Photo – Amy Barach)
Old Pasadena harbors a series of historical landmarks, offering residents opportunities to marvel and commune with an enduring narrative. In much the same way, the musical preservationists at MUSE/IQUE reminded audiences at Caltech of another kind of landmark, equally worthy of reverence and reflection: Soulsville, U.S.A.
By Natalia Rose
Rachael Worby—a conductor I would follow into battle, let alone into a new key signature—founded the performing arts nonprofit MUSE/IQUE in 2011 with a mission to bring free live music to the L.A. community. For her, “live music is a basic human right.” Guided by that conviction, Worby has curated a season highlighting Rhythm & Blues artists whose work not only shaped the American sound but also carried the spirit of activism.
“Made in Memphis,” part of MUSE/IQUE’s 2025 season Make Some Noise: Music and Stories of American Defiance and Hope, brought the R&B songbook to life. The program featured vibrant arrangements of songs made famous by STAX Records icons like Memphis Minnie, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Otis Redding, and Elvis Presley. With her signature mix of energy and insight, Worby led a 13-piece orchestra while guiding the audience through the rich cultural history of Memphis, Tennessee, also known as the “Home of the Blues,” the “Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll,” and my personal favorite, “Soulsville U.S.A.”
Growing up with a blues musician for a father, I’m no stranger to the expressive vocals and powerful rhythm sections that make R&B so intoxicating to the ear. But what made the night unforgettable was the context, and the star performers. The headline vocalists, LaVance Colley, Chris Pierce, and Sy Smith, each brought a unique, expert level of storytelling.
Chris Pierce, in synergy with his harmonica, flooded the auditorium with a heart-thumping rendition of “When the Levee Breaks.” In partnership with CSArts, he even met with the MUSE/IQUE student performers to gain perspective on their artistic choices.
Sy Smith, a fashion icon and comedienne (@syberspace), made the audience laugh, cry, dream, and effortlessly engage with her take on Otis Redding’s “Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay.”
And LaVance Colley? He could sing just about any song, in any key, at any time, and it would be enthralling. With vibrato as gentle as a warm breeze and a belt as spellbinding as a firework, Colley navigated “There’ll Be Peace in the Valley” with the playful precision of a preacher.
At the heart of that history is Soulsville, the Memphis neighborhood that gave rise to Stax Records. More than a musical hub, Soulsville was a battleground of identity, resilience, and social change. The sounds born there weren’t just chart-toppers, they were anthems of defiance and hope, carrying forward the voices of a community fighting for dignity and equality.
By reviving this music, MUSE/IQUE doesn’t just preserve R&B’s artistic legacy; it reveals how rhythm and blues remain inseparable from the American struggle for justice, and the timeless human drive toward freedom.
“Made in Memphis: Stax Records, Soul, and The Black Artists Who Started A Sound Revolution!” at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium (Photo – Amy Barach)
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