This December, The National Jazz Museum in Harlem continues to offer a wide range of top quality free programming and affordable concerts from jazz’s most celebrated musicians, educators and historians.
Harlem Speaks, our flagship public program of oral histories, offers in depth conversation with two pianists from different places and generations, but who both found an individual voice: Richard Wyands and Jean-Michel Pilc.
This month’s Jazz For Curious Listeners examines the museum’s world-renowned Savory Collection, a treasure trove of classic jazz recorded in the 1930’s that was never heard for over 70 years. We’ll hear Ellington, Basie, Holiday, Goodman, Hawkins, Waller and many more in sounds that can only be heard presently at our home.
Saturday Panels will feature 2012 jams on highlights from the Savory Collection, as well as a panel of jazz musicians listening to and reacting to the classic recordings for the first time.
Jazz Is: Now! has become the museum’s most popular program – hosted by Jonathan Batiste and is Stay Human band, it’s a must for people who want to feel the live buzz and electricity of jazz in the moment.
So, as you can see, it’s an action packed month for us, as usual. We hope to see you, your family and friends at as many of our events as you can make during this exciting month at The National Jazz Museum in Harlem. You’re bound to meet other similarly exciting, interesting and vital people – like yourselves!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Jazz for Curious Listeners
The Savory Collection: An Update
Basie/Ellington+: The Big Bands
7:00 – 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
The sounds of the big bands is an essential element in the story of America. Join us for music you have never heard before from Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Bob Crosby, Tommy Dorsey and others.
In 2010, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem made headlines across the country with the acquisition of the legendary Savory Collection, an extraordinary archive of live musical recordings from the Swing Era. Recorded between 1935 and 1941 by audio engineer and jazz enthusiast William Savory, the Savory Collection features never-before-heard live recordings of jazz legends at the height of their careers, including Billie Holiday, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Louis Armstrong. The Savory Collection expands the Museum’s archives of jazz artifacts, ephemera and recordings, which include its extensive Duke Ellington and Ralph Ellison collections. The Jazz Museum makes these holdings available to the general public through its jazz library, exhibitions, live performances, audio research stations, artist talks, workshops, and youth education programs.
With support from the Grammy Foundation, the New York Community Trust and other funders, the Jazz Museum has completed the first phase of a project to preserve these important recordings by transferring them to CD or DVD format. The digitization process has been completed to high standards, assuring that these recordings are no longer at risk but will be accessible in perpetuity. As we move forward, the next phases of this project will focus on working to restore these recordings to even higher audio standards; completing the discography to ensure the thoroughness and accuracy of the documentation for each recording; and making the recordings broadly available to the jazz scholars and aficionados who are eager to hear them – and to study, analyze and contextualize what they reveal about the jazz artists, music and culture of a historic era.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Harlem Speaks
Richard Wyands, Pianist
6:30 – 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
Richard Wyands made his first recordings in 1946, and three years later recorded with Charles Mingus. Over the intervening six decades he has remained at the top of his game, playing with elegance with many of the greatest musicians in the world. Wyands started working in local clubs when he was 16, graduated from San Francisco State College, and gained experience playing in the San Francisco Bay area. Wyands, who was a sideman on a few early dates for Fantasy, spent time accompanying Ella Fitzgerald (1956) and Carmen McRae. He moved to New York in 1958, where he played with Roy Haynes, Charles Mingus (1959), Gigi Gryce's quintet, Oliver Nelson, Etta Jones, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and Gene Ammons, among others.Wyands was associated with Kenny Burrell, with whom he toured extensively during 1964-1977, and has played with many other top musicians, including Freddie Hubbard, Zoot Sims, Frank Foster, the Illinois Jacquet Big Band, Benny Carter, Ernie Andrews, and Milt Hinton, among others. Richard Wyands has also headed his own trios, but has only had a handful of sessions as a leader thus far, including a 1978 date for Storyville and sessions for DIW (1992) and Criss Cross (1995). Join us for a rare night hearing from a jazz veteran whose story will fascinate you.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Jazz for Curious Listeners
The Savory Collection: An Update
Jam Sessions with Lester Young and Friends
7:00 – 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
Among the treasures of the Savory Collection are studio jam sessions that include Lester Young, Benny Goodman, Eddie Condon, Bobby Hackett, Charlie Shavers, Bunny Berigan, Chu Berry and many others. You can hear them during this rare opportunity to sample music unheard for several decades.
In 2010, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem made headlines across the country with the acquisition of the legendary Savory Collection, an extraordinary archive of live musical recordings from the Swing Era. Recorded between 1935 and 1941 by audio engineer and jazz enthusiast William Savory, the Savory Collection features never-before-heard live recordings of jazz legends at the height of their careers, including Billie Holiday, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Louis Armstrong. The Savory Collection expands the Museum’s archives of jazz artifacts, ephemera and recordings, which include its extensive Duke Ellington and Ralph Ellison collections. The Jazz Museum makes these holdings available to the general public through its jazz library, exhibitions, live performances, audio research stations, artist talks, workshops, and youth education programs.
With support from the Grammy Foundation, the New York Community Trust and other funders, the Jazz Museum has completed the first phase of a project to preserve these important recordings by transferring them to CD or DVD format. The digitization process has been completed to high standards, assuring that these recordings are no longer at risk but will be accessible in perpetuity. As we move forward, the next phases of this project will focus on working to restore these recordings to even higher audio standards; completing the discography to ensure the thoroughness and accuracy of the documentation for each recording; and making the recordings broadly available to the jazz scholars and aficionados who are eager to hear them – and to study, analyze and contextualize what they reveal about the jazz artists, music and culture of a historic era.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Jazz Is: Now! * note new location
Hosted by Jonathan Batiste and the STAY HUMAN band
7:00 – 8:30pm
Location: Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church,
NE Corner of 126th Street and Madison Avenue, enter on 126th
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
Jazz Is: Now has evolved into a tremendously successful and totally original program headed by NJMH Associate Artistic Director Jonathan Batiste. Audience members participate throughout the evening, playing/singing/dancing/
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Harlem Speaks
Jean-Michel Pilc, Pianist
6:30 – 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
Born in 1960 in Paris, and now an American citizen, self-taught Jean-Michel Pilc has performed with numerous giants in the music field such as: Roy Haynes, Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Jean Toussaint, Rick Margitza, Martial Solal, Michel Portal, Daniel Humair, Marcus Miller, Kenny Garrett, Lenny White, Chris Potter, John Abercrombie, Mingus Dynasty & Big Band, Lew Soloff and Richard Bona. He has also worked with Harry Belafonte, as his musical director and pianist. Jean-Michel Pilc moved to New York City in 1995. There, he formed a trio with François Moutin (bass) and Ari Hoenig (drums). They recorded a one-week engagement at the legendary jazz club Sweet Basil and, in 2000, released two CDs: Jean-Michel Pilc Trio - Together - Live at Sweet Basil, NYC - Vol. 1 & 2 (A- Records). In 2004, Jean- Michel released his first solo album, Follow Me (Dreyfus). Jean-Michel Pilc then went back to trio format to record Live at Iridium, NYC, in 2004, New Dreams in 2006,and True Story in 2009, all three for Dreyfus Jazz. Since 2006, Pilc has been a NYU Steinhardt faculty member. There, he is giving private lessons (piano and other instruments), ensemble classes and improvisation workshops. He was also co-director of NYU Summer Jazz Improv Workshop in 2010. Jean-Michel is also teaching for the New School in NYC, as well as privately. Pilc is also currently working on a pedagogical book and on educational videos about jazz, improvisation and piano playing. Join us for a special evening of conversation with a unique artist.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Saturday Panels
Savory Jam – Contemporary reactions to the glories of the Savory Collection
12:00 – 4:00pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
A rare chance to hear musicians listen to, comment on, and play creative new music based on the treasures of the Savory Collection.
In 2010, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem made headlines across the country with the acquisition of the legendary Savory Collection, an extraordinary archive of live musical recordings from the Swing Era. Recorded between 1935 and 1941 by audio engineer and jazz enthusiast William Savory, the Savory Collection features never-before-heard live recordings of jazz legends at the height of their careers, including Billie Holiday, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Louis Armstrong. The Savory Collection expands the Museum’s archives of jazz artifacts, ephemera and recordings, which include its extensive Duke Ellington and Ralph Ellison collections. The Jazz Museum makes these holdings available to the general public through its jazz library, exhibitions, live performances, audio research stations, artist talks, workshops, and youth education programs.
With support from the Grammy Foundation, the New York Community Trust and other funders, the Jazz Museum has completed the first phase of a project to preserve these important recordings by transferring them to CD or DVD format. The digitization process has been completed to high standards, assuring that these recordings are no longer at risk but will be accessible in perpetuity. As we move forward, the next phases of this project will focus on working to restore these recordings to even higher audio standards; completing the discography to ensure the thoroughness and accuracy of the documentation for each recording; and making the recordings broadly available to the jazz scholars and aficionados who are eager to hear them – and to study, analyze and contextualize what they reveal about the jazz artists, music and culture of a historic era.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Jazz for Curious Listeners
The Savory Collection: An Update
Odds and Ends: Louis Jordan+
7:00 – 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
Some of the items in the Savory Collection don’t fall into easy categories – like the very first broadcasts of the little known Louis Jordan band broadcasting from Harlem, or out takes of Dinah Shore, or an all night jam session with the pianist Joe Sullivan. You’ll hear them tonight!
In 2010, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem made headlines across the country with the acquisition of the legendary Savory Collection, an extraordinary archive of live musical recordings from the Swing Era. Recorded between 1935 and 1941 by audio engineer and jazz enthusiast William Savory, the Savory Collection features never-before-heard live recordings of jazz legends at the height of their careers, including Billie Holiday, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Louis Armstrong. The Savory Collection expands the Museum’s archives of jazz artifacts, ephemera and recordings, which include its extensive Duke Ellington and Ralph Ellison collections. The Jazz Museum makes these holdings available to the general public through its jazz library, exhibitions, live performances, audio research stations, artist talks, workshops, and youth education programs.
With support from the Grammy Foundation, the New York Community Trust and other funders, the Jazz Museum has completed the first phase of a project to preserve these important recordings by transferring them to CD or DVD format. The digitization process has been completed to high standards, assuring that these recordings are no longer at risk but will be accessible in perpetuity. As we move forward, the next phases of this project will focus on working to restore these recordings to even higher audio standards; completing the discography to ensure the thoroughness and accuracy of the documentation for each recording; and making the recordings broadly available to the jazz scholars and aficionados who are eager to hear them – and to study, analyze and contextualize what they reveal about the jazz artists, music and culture of a historic era.
