La Compagnie Nine Spirit
We Do Mildred’s Blues!
Jazz
Raphaël Imbert (FR), Kebbi Williams (US), Célia Kameni (FR), Annabelle Ambler (FR), Melissa Messina (US)
February 17 – October 31, 2026 | Atlanta, GA; Marseille, FR
In 2025, through the connection between American curator Melissa Messina and French journalist Annabelle Ambler, Raphaël Imbert visited the Mildred Thompson Estate in Atlanta and discovered the work of this extraordinary artist. Thompson’s art, music, and research resonate deeply with Imbert’s own practice, as both explore improvisation and abstraction, share political commitments, and embrace cross-disciplinary approaches.
The project will launch as a book-album—a book co-written by Imbert and Ambler, accompanied by a downloadable digital album featuring saxophonist Kebbi Williams and singer Célia Kameni. Its goal is to honor and introduce Mildred Thompson’s legacy to new audiences on both sides of the Atlantic through an interdisciplinary approach that includes music, writing, and visual art.
Dissemination will be rooted in transatlantic exchange, with concerts, exhibitions, and conferences focused on Thompson’s work, supported by partners in both France and the United States.
Photo by Siiri Männi