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News :: Press Releases FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/03/07 National Jazz Museum in Harlem’s October Schedule • More Classes with Christian McBride • Interviews with Grachan Moncur III and Valerie Capers • Performances by Aaron Diehl and Chris Byers • An evening with Mercedes Ellington The National Jazz Museum in Harlem continues its fall 2007 schedule of jazz events, from several sessions with museum co-director Christian McBride for its weekly adult education classes, Jazz for Curious Listeners, its bi-weekly interview series Harlem Speaks, the new Jazz in the Parks program, to live performances at the Rubin Museum of Art for the Harlem in the Himalayas series. McBride is also the main instructor of the Harlem Speaks Education Initiative, a free jazz education course for middle and high school students. Except for the Harlem in the Himalayas performances at the Rubin Museum, every event below is free! Tuesday, October 2, 2007 JAZZ for CURIOUS LISTENERS 7:00 pm | At the Harlem School of the Arts Whether you’re an avid jazz fan or a new listener to America’s greatest musical art form, this is the free class to fulfill your interest. For instance, last Tuesday Christian McBride discussed the controversies surrounding Fusion, an experimental amalgam of musical styles that culled elements of jazz, rock, pop and soul music into a brew that inflamed the ire of traditional jazz critics. Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew signaled the beginnings of this style, but, as McBride explained, this recording could hardly be called an attempt at commercialism. McBride researched the most popular music of the late ‘60s and discovered that Miles’s recording didn’t fit into any of those categories. In addition to playing excerpts, McBride defended Davis’s right to follow his own musical bliss. He also admitted that a combination of low record sales and attendance at traditional jazz performances led some artists to venture into low quality electronic recordings that attempted to cash in on a trend. Yet much value could be found in the music of groups such as Weather Report, led by the late Joe Zawinul. In any given week, you may discover musical gems and new perspectives on jazz and society as presented by executive director Loren Schoenberg and special guest presenters, so don’t miss this free class while it lasts! Classes are Tuesdays, 7 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. The location is the Harlem School of the Arts, 645 St. Nicholas Avenue (just south of 145th Street). To register: http://www.jazzmuseuminharlem.org/curious.html. Directions to Harlem School of the Arts: B Y S U B W A Y B Y B U S B Y C A R From the West Bronx: take the Major Deegan to 155th Street. Turn right over the 155th Street Bridge and turn right again onto the 155th Street Viaduct. Stay in the left lane and make a left turn onto St. Nicholas Avenue. From the East Bronx: take the Bruckner Expressway to the Major Deegan North. Exit at 149th Street and go across the 149th Street Bridge. Follow 149th and make a left onto St. Nicholas Avenue. From New Jersey: come through the Lincoln Tunnel or across the George Washington Bridge. From the tunnel, take the West Side Highway to the 125th Street exit. Go east across 125th St. and make a left on St. Nicholas Avenue. From the bridge, go south on Riverside Drive and make a left on 145th Street, then a right on St. Nicholas Avenue. PARKING IS AVAILABLE ON THE STREET AND IN A NEARBY GARAGE ON ST. NICHOLAS AVE., SOUTH OF 145TH ST.
Saturday, October 6, 2007 Harlem Speaks Education Initiative 645 St. Nicholas Avenue Harlem Speaks Education Initiative is a jazz history program that The Jazz Museum in Harlem created to introduce high school students to the vibrancy of jazz and the achievements of its practitioners.
In this course, students learn about the vibrancy of jazz and the magnitude of the achievements of its practitioners. Through the method of Oral Histories students gather and preserve historical information through recorded interviews with the participants. Students make connections by gaining a larger understanding of the role of music and musicians by learning about the music of famous jazz musicians, different styles of jazz and by tracing the history by means of interviewing honorees, musicians and others connected to jazz, through independent and group research, deepening their historical and cultural understanding of music. Guest instructors this fall will include: Mercedes Ellington, Carl Allen, Tajah Murdock and others.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007 JAZZ for CURIOUS LISTENERS 7:00 pm | At the Harlem School of the Arts See above for directions. An evening dedicated to the current crisis in New Orleans, a city which not only gave birth to jazz but which now is suffering. Guest include: Stanley Crouch, Christopher McElroen, whose Classical Theater of Harlem is about to begin a New Orleans residency with Waiting For Godot, N.O. pianist Jonathan Batiste, and Loren Schoenberg.
Thursday, October 11, 2007 Harlem Speaks Trombonist/Composer Grachan Moncur III 6:30 pm | at the Harlem School of the Arts Grachan Moncur III (born June 3, 1937) is one of the few real free jazz trombonists, as well as a prolific composer. He is the son of jazz bassist Grachan Moncur II and the nephew of jazz saxophonist Al Cooper. The guest of Harlem Speaks on October 11th was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, and began playing the cello at age nine, and switched to the trombone at eleven. In high school he attended the Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina, the private school where Dizzy Gillespie had studied. While still in school he began sitting in with touring jazz musicians on their way through town, such as Art Blakey and Jackie McLean, with whom he formed a lasting friendship. After high school he toured with Ray Charles (1959-1962), Art Farmer's and Benny Golson's Jazztet (1962), and Sonny Rollins. He took part in two classic Jackie McLean albums in the early 1960s, One Step Beyond and Destination Out, to which he also contributed the bulk of compositions and which led to two influential albums of his own for Blue Note Records, Evolution (1963) with Jackie McLean and Lee Morgan, and Some Other Stuff (1964) with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. After leaving Blue Note, Grachan joined Archie Shepp's ensemble and recorded with other avant-garde players such as Marion Brown, Beaver Harris and Roswell Rudd (the other big name in free jazz trombone). During a stay in Paris in the summer of 1969, he recorded two albums as a leader for the famous BYG Actuel label, New Africa and Aco Dei de Madrugada, as well as appearing as a sideman on numerous other releases of the label. In 1974, the Jazz Composers' Orchestra of America commissioned him to write Echoes of Prayer (1974), a jazz symphony featuring a full orchestra plus vocalists and jazz soloists. His sixth album as a leader, Shadows (1977) was released only in Japan. Unfortunately, he was subsequently plagued by health problems and copyright disputes and recorded only rarely. Through the 1980s he recorded with Cassandra Wilson (1985), played occasionally with the Paris Reunion Band and Frank Lowe, appeared on John Patton's Soul Connection (1983), but mostly concentrated on teaching. In 2004 he re-emerged with a new album (Exploration) on Capri Records featuring Grachan's compositions arranged by Mark Masters for an octet including Tim Hagans and Gary Bartz. Come listen to Moncur discuss his life and career, which traversed the lines between free jazz and hard bop with ease.
Friday, October 12, 2007 HARLEM IN THE HIMALAYAS The Aaron Diehl Trio Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as “The most promising discovery that [Wynton] Marsalis has made since Eric Reed,” Aaron Diehl has been an upcoming force in jazz, dazzling audiences with his brilliant technique, sensitive touch, and interpretations of the music of such great composers as Scott Joplin, Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton, Art Tatum, and Duke Ellington, among others. Mr. Diehl has performed with the Wynton Marsalis Septet, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, The Boston Symphony Orchestra, Wycliffe Gordon, Wessell Anderson, Benny Golson, and Hank Jones. He released his first CD as a leader, Mozart Jazz, on Pony Canyon, a major label in Japan. The Japanese television station NHK made a documentary on Mr. Diehl and Jazz at Juilliard, which was broadcast to over 5,000,000 people. In 2002 he was recognized as one of the outstanding soloists at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Competition. The following year, Wynton Marsalis invited him to tour with his Septet on their summer European tour. Mr. Diehl is the 2004 recipient of the Martin E. Segal award for Jazz at Lincoln Center. He will soon be featured on Marian McPartland’s NPR radio show “Piano Jazz.” Mr. Diehl studies at The Juilliard School under Eric Reed, and Oxana Yablonskaya in the classical division. The Rubin Museum of Art is located at 150 West 17th Street Transportation:
Saturday, October 13, 2007 HARLEM SPEAKS EDUCATION INITIATIVE Harlem Speaks Education Initiative is a jazz history program that The Jazz Museum in Harlem created to introduce high school students to the vibrancy of jazz and the achievements of its practitioners.
In this course, students learn about the vibrancy of jazz and the magnitude of the achievements of its practitioners. Through the method of Oral Histories students gather and preserve historical information through recorded interviews with the participants. Students make connections by gaining a larger understanding of the role of music and musicians by learning about the music of famous jazz musicians, different styles of jazz and by tracing the history by means of interviewing honorees, musicians and others connected to jazz, through independent and group research, deepening their historical and cultural understanding of music. Guest instructors this fall will include: Mercedes Ellington, Carl Allen, Tajah Murdock and others.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 JAZZ for CURIOUS LISTENERS 7:00 pm | At the Harlem School of the Arts Free Hosted by Christian McBride Not only is co-director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem Christian McBride one of the best bassists in the world—he was chosen by the legendary Sonny Rollins to perform in a trio with him and Roy Haynes at a historic 50th anniversary concert at Carnegie Hall on Sept. 18, 2007—he is also extremely well-informed on the history of jazz and other American styles of music. He brings his downhome eloquence to the Harlem School of the Arts on this day off of his tour with Pat Metheny Trio.
Saturday, October 20, 2007 HARLEM SPEAKS EDUCATION INITIATIVE
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 JAZZ for CURIOUS LISTENERS 7:00 pm | At the Harlem School of the Arts Host: Loren Schoenberg Wednesday, October 24, 2007 JAZZ IN THE PARKS 7:00 pm | Hansborough Recreation Center 35 W. 134 Street An Evening with Mercedes Ellington Mercedes Ellington has innovated in many ways over her distinguished career, first as a dancer and then as a choreographer. Join her for a rare evening as she tells the story of her life, including her reflections on her grandfather, Duke Ellington. Mercedes Ellington is a renowned director, choreographer and model whose work is seen throughout the United States and abroad. Shortly after graduating from the Juilliard School of Music, Ellington became a June Taylor Dancer on the "Jackie Gleason Show," the first and only woman of color to fill that position. In her native New York she has been involved with more than 10 Broadway shows, including "No, No, Nanette," "Hello Dolly!" and "Sophisticated Ladies" in which she performed as the feature dancer, assistant choreographer and dance captain. Her latest project, which opened on Broadway, is “Play On." It is an original adaptation of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," set in 1940s Harlem. This new musical features a score comprised of the music of Duke Ellington. Its West Coast premiere, prior to its Broadway opening garnered Ms. Ellington the prestigious Dramalogue Award for Best Choreography. Through Ellington's varied career she has worked with many show business legends including Jerry Lewis, Dom DeLuise, Phyllis Diller, Della Reese and Eartha Kitt. Working with such great dance artists as Maurice and Gregory Hines, "Honi" Coles and Graciela Daniele inspired Ellington to form her own theatrical tap dance company, DancEllington. The company was well-received around the world and provided Ellington with a career transition from full-time performing to directing and choreographing. Other recent credits include co-directing "Music AIDS Harlem" at Lincoln Center and choreographing "Duke Ellington's Sacred Concert Music" at the Manhattan School of Music, featuring Wynton Marsalis. She has also directed and choreographed "Sonheim & Company," "Tuxedo Junction," "The Wizard of Oz," "L'Histoire Du Soldat" with the New York City Opera and "Yuletide Celebration" with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. HANSBOROUGH RECREATION CENTER Transportation: Subways – 2, 3 to 135th Street For more information, contact Christina Dookwah at 212-408-0296
Thursday, October 25, 2007 HARLEM SPEAKS Dr. Valerie Capers is a pianist, educator, composer and performer of superior acumen. Despite the fact that throughout her career she has been recognized for her innovative approach to education, received critical acclaim from peers about her composing and arranging skills, Capers has not received the kind of notoriety that her talent truly deserves. Capers was born in The Bronx, New York. Her father has musical ties to the great east coast stride jazz pianist Thomas “Fats” Waller. Her brother Bobby Capers played flute, tenor and alto saxophones most notably with the great Latino conguero Mongo Santamaria. Capers lost her sight at the age of six and attended the New York Institute for the Education of The Blind as a youngster. She went on to study classical music at the Juilliard School of Music and became the first blind person to graduate (B.S., M.S.). After years of professorial work at Bronx Community College of the City University Of New York, she was elected Chairman of the Department of Music and Art. During her tenure at BCC, Capers introduced the jazz program into the music curriculum. Over the years Capers has worked with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Marian McPartland, Tito Puente, Max Roach, James Moody among others. Capers was the first recipient of Essence magazine’s Women of Essence Award in Music (1987). Today Dr. Capers holds the title of professor emeritus from BCC. She also has a doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Susquehannah in Pennsylvania. She conducts workshops and clinics around the country for students, teachers and aspiring musicians. She recently performed at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and is excited about the chance to discuss her life’s work with executive director Loren Schoenberg.
Friday, October 26, 2007 HARLEM IN THE HIMALAYAS Chris Byars will unveil a suite of works featuring his new quartet, relying on melodic and rhythmic interplay in this chordless setting. A backdrop of classic Himalayan art will serve as inspiration for composers, performers and audience. Chris Byars – alto saxophone/flute (+ composer); John Mosca - trombone ; Ari Roland – bass ; Stefan Schatz – drums. Chris Byars was born in New York City on Nov. 2, 1970 into a family of Juilliard-trained musicians. The artistic resources of NYC were made accessible to the youngster, who soon found himself in musical situations with the top talents of the world. Throughout his childhood, he was granted private study with the great teachers in the area, devoting much effort to learning drums, voice, saxophone, musicianship and ballet technique. From age 6 to 14, Chris enjoyed a successful career as an opera singer, performing, touring, and appearing on television with the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera and New York City Ballet. At age 14 he devoted himself exclusively to the idiom of jazz.
October 29, 2007 HARLEM SPEAKS EDUCATION INITIATIVE
October 30, 2007 JAZZ FOR CURIOUS LISTENERS Hosted by Christian McBride This press release was composed and edited by Greg Thomas. The National Jazz Museum in Harlem has been ensconced in its Harlem offices for over five and ½ years now; its public programs now attract several thousand people a year as they continue their efforts to obtain a permanent home. If you would like to receive updates on our progress or further information, please contact us online at http://www.jazzmuseuminharlem.org/contact.html or by phone at 212-348-8300. To find video clips, event summaries, program updates and photographs galore from our previous programs, venture here: www.jazzmuseuminharlem.org
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