Maurice White’s Lost Song ‘Passages’ Debuts in LA

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The premiere of Passages turned a tribute concert into something deeper: a rare chance to hear an unfinished dream from Maurice White finally brought to life. Presented by the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, the evening honored the Earth, Wind & Fire founder not just through familiar classics, but through a newly reconstructed work that reflected his personal musical journey.

Originally developed in 2003 by White and composer-arranger Bill Meyers, the piece had been left behind as other projects took priority. After White’s passing in 2016, it seemed destined to remain unheard. That changed when video footage documenting the composition process resurfaced, giving Meyers enough material to rebuild the work. Under the direction of Mitch Glickman, the orchestra premiered the piece as the emotional centerpiece of a full program built around White’s legacy.

The concert also featured orchestral treatments of Earth, Wind & Fire favorites and music connected to George Duke, another giant whose spirit shaped the night. Guest artists Chanté Moore and Lakecia Benjamin brought vocal warmth and instrumental fire, adding fresh texture to songs that already hold deep meaning for generations of listeners. Benjamin’s saxophone work especially gave the evening a jazz-forward edge, while Moore delivered the kind of uplifting soul that fit the moment.

What made the debut of Passages so compelling was its intimacy. It wasn’t polished into spectacle for spectacle’s sake. Instead, it offered a softer, more reflective side of Maurice White, one rooted in discovery, memory, and musical evolution. For a Black audience that understands how legacy lives through preservation, reinterpretation, and community, that kind of moment hits differently.

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