The great 13th century Persian poet Jelaluddin Rumi uses the ruby as a symbol of transformation in a describing the spiritual process which transforms our opaque stoniness into a jewel—transparent, reflective, and rich with color. Tonight, the trio Ruby celebrates the new CD, On The Way of Love, with an evening of songs inspired by the wisdom of Rumi, expressing in music the great Sufi poet's earthy intimacy and sublime heart.

A truly inspired collaboration, Ruby features award-winning singer-songwriter and innovative guitarist, Erika Luckett, soulful, distinctive jazz vocalist Lisa Ferraro, and Kabir Helminski, a Rumi scholar, translator, and musician. Erika's virtuoso guitar, Lisa and Erika's vocal skills, and Kabir's many years of experience translating and interpreting Rumi gave birth to the songs the trio will spotlight in tonight's concert; together, they bring the poet's images and metaphors into a contemporary musical style and idiom.

Erika always brings a breath of fresh air to the Freight stage as she wraps her smoky voice around tunes that pull listeners in with their intelligent, heartfelt lyrics and worldly rhythms. Making its home in a rich musical crossing somewhere between flamenco and folk, jazz and pop, Latin and soul, her music is an open invitation to step into a world where melody, lyric, and groove transcend all genres and categories.