Press Releases

For Immediate Release: 06/28/04 | Click here for PDF version

The Jazz Museum In Harlem Continues Series Honoring Harlem Jazz Heroes

· Joe Wilder (July 1)
· Jacquie "Tajah" Murdock (July 15)
· Benny Carter Tribute (August 5)
· Clarence Atkins (August 19)

New York, NY (June 28, 2004) The Jazz Museum in Harlem's bi-weekly series, Harlem Speaks, continues on Thursday, July 1, 2004, featuring a talk with a jazz master, trumpeter Joe Wilder, a long-time resident of Harlem.

Wilder, 82, is a living repository of the jazz tradition. "The phrase 'musician's musician' is often a cliché; but Joe Wilder embodies its true meaning," says Loren Schoenberg, Executive Director of the museum. "He's played in some of the best big bands in jazz history-Jimmie Lunceford, Benny Goodman, and the Count Basie Orchestra in the '50s-is classically-trained, and is so superb that for decades he has been a first-call Broadway and studio musician." Wilder is also known in the jazz community for his deeply lyrical playing.

Former Apollo Theater dancer and historian of jazz-related dance "Tajah" Murdock will discuss her long career on July 15th; Benny Carter's widow, Hilma Carter, and Benny Carter biographer Ed Berger will discuss the legacy of one of the most acclaimed composer/arranger/instrumentalists (whose band opened the Apollo Theater in 1934) in the history of the jazz idiom on August 5th; and on August 19th, the indefatigable jazz journalist Clarence Atkins, 82, who writes for the Amsterdam News, The Black World Today (online), and the Daily Challenge, will tell his own tale, for a change.

During the months of May and June 2004, Harlem Speaks honored Joe Gayles, tenor saxophonist in Dizzy Gillespie's 1947 big band; Alvin Reed, Sr., owner of the acclaimed Harlem jazz club and restaurant, the Lenox Lounge; pianist Danny Mixon, pianist for Charles Mingus and musical director of the Lenox Lounge; and Harlem-based songstress Melba Joyce. "Each evening was very, very special," recalls Greg Thomas, co-producer of the series. "Ms. Joyce's warm spirit filled the space as she smiled, telling tales of her stellar career, Danny Mixon was a wonderful raconteur, Mr. Reed's integrity and support of musicians and the music was impressive, and Mr. Gayles, beamed as he shared remembrances with fellow musicians Jimmy Heath, Danny Moore, historian Phil Schaap, and all fortunate to be present on that special evening."

The series, co-produced by Loren Schoenberg and Greg Thomas Associates, will be held at the offices of the Jazz Museum in Harlem, located at 104 East 126th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues, from 6:30pm-8:00pm on alternating Thursdays, resuming on July 1st.

The series is free to the public. Please call for reservations: 212 348-8300.