This October, 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, will feature singer/playwright Rome Neal and an evening for the legendary pianist Marian McPartland (who may attend if her health permits), with music from Karrin Allyson and talk with her biographer Paul de Barros.
This month’s Jazz For Curious Listeners will highlight jazz from across the globe. Live music will be interspersed with conversation with musicians spanning the globe. If you want to expand your horizons, this is the place to be.
Harlem in the Himalayas, our collaborative program with the Rubin Museum of Art will feature Cuban pianist, composer and bandleader Manuel Valera with The New Cuban Express.
Saturday Panels will feature an afternoon of music played by an international array of musicians meeting and jamming for the first time. We can’t emphasize what an amazing afternoon this will be.
We present a new NJMH ensemble, this one for players of pre-college age, led by the up and coming alto saxophonist Ryan Park-Chan. They will play alongside veterans from Wynton Marsalis’ Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra Ted Nash and Marcus Printup. You’ll see and hear the torch being passed to a new generation.
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, October 2, 2012
Jazz for Curious Listeners
Jazz Around The World
Asia
Guest: Sunny Jain
7:00 – 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
As early as the 1920’s jazz was traveling the world, influencing and being influenced by musical traditions on every continent. Join us as we explore each of these places individually, with a series of special guests who will play and talk about how their music is part of an international continuum.
Hailed as a leading voice in the South Asian-American jazz movement, innovative drummer, composer, and dhol player, Sunny Jain, will be joining the National Jazz Museum of Harlem this Tuesday, Oct 2nd, for a discussion and performance as part of this month’s Jazz Around the World series. Sunny has been voted a Rising Star Percussionist by Downbeat magazine's critic’s poll for his unique sound that blends his Punjabi roots with influences from all around the world. Sunny's work, inspired by India's musical sensibilities as well as Brazilian and West African rhythms, has found common ground in the syncopated jazz canon making him a pioneer in the Indian jazz scene. Sunny was designated a Jazz Ambassador by the U.S. Department of State and The Kennedy Center in 2002 amongst a slew of other accolades and currently tours with his 9-piece bhangra funk band, Red Baraat.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Harlem Speaks
Rome Neal, Singer/Playwright
6:30 – 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
Actor/Director/Producer/Jazz Vocalist Rome Neal is the Artistic Director of the Nuyorican Poets Café theatre program. Mr. Neal received an Obie Grant with Café founder Miguel Algarin for excellence in theatre. Over the years he has received five Audelco Awards for his direction of Pepe Carril’s "SHANGO de IMA" and Samuel Harp’s "Don't Explain." Mr. Neal also received two AUDELCOS for his acting: one for Lead Actor in Gabrielle N. Lane's "SIGNS," and one for Solo Performance in his critically acclaimed "MONK," by Laurence Holder. Neal also received the National Black Theatre Festival's coveted Lloyd Richards Director’s Award.
As a jazz vocalist, Rome has performed at Town Hall, The Metropolitan Room, The Museum Of The City Of New York, Jazzy Jazz Festival, Sister's Place, The Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival, Saint Nick's Pub, Lenox Lounge, 966Jazz, The Nuyroican Poets Cafe, The Jazz Spot, Creole's, and as the lead vocalist for the Bill Lee Mo' Betta Band. Mr. Neal has a CD entitled: “A Brighter Crooner” and his two DVDs, Rome Neal, “All in The Puddin’” and “Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ a Night to Remember”.
You might also have seen his daughter, Lia, as one of the celebrated members of this year’s Olympic Swimming team.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Harlem in the Himalayas
Manuel Valera/The New Cuban Express
7:00pm
Location: Rubin Museum of Art
(150 West 17th Street)
$20/Door $18/Advance | For more information: rmanyc.org
Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger Manuel Valera is at the forefront of contemporary modern jazz. He represents the next generation of great performers and composers. His sound is fresh, inviting, and evocative, and his goal is to forge innovative sounds that bring a vitality and newness to the idioms of jazz and Latin jazz. He is constantly workshopping musical ideas to develop new composition and arranging techniques that bring together Cuban, Puerto Rican, Brazilian, and various jazz styles and forms.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Jazz for Curious Listeners
Jazz Around The World
Africa
Guest: Yacouba Sissoko- Kora
7:00 – 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
As early as the 1920’s jazz was traveling the world, influencing and being influenced by musical traditions on every continent. Join us as we explore each of these places individually, with a series of special guests who will play and talk about how their music is part of an international continuum.
In demand as one of the best kora players in the world, Yacouba Sissoko, has been making waves not only as a master in the West African griot tradition but in the jazz world as well. Born and raised in Kita, Mali, Yacouba began learning the kora when he was 12 from his grandfather and went on to study at the Institut National des Arts du Mali in Bamako. Yacouba continues promoting his griot heritage as the leader of his own band, Siya, and as a member of the group Super Mande in addition to making a break into the jazz world with Regina Carter’s Reverse Thread Ensemble. The sound of the kora, a mix between a harp and blues guitar, combined with Yacouba’s emphasis on improvisation has illuminated the African threads that run through jazz music and the beautiful results of cross-cultural collaboration.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Jazz at The Players
Passing the Torch: The NJMH Youth All Stars meet Ted Nash and Marcus Printup 7:00pm
Location: The Players
(16 Gramercy Park South)
$20 | For more information: 212-475-6116
Our chamber jazz series at the elegant Players Club launches its third season with a special debut. The NJMH Youth All Stars, led by upcoming alto saxophonist Ryan Park-Chan, will welcome two outstanding jazz composer/bandleaders, Ted Nash and Marcus Printup. These two are known for their own projects as well as having been with Wynton Marsalis’ Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra for over a decade. Jazz is sometimes called the sound of surprise: hearing generations meet under the umbrella of jazz is always a joyous thing, and this evening promises to produce some exceptional music.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Jazz for Curious Listeners
Jazz Around The World: Israel
Guest: Anat Cohen
7:00 – 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
As early as the 1920’s jazz was traveling the world, influencing and being influenced by musical traditions on every continent. Join us as we explore each of these places individually, with a series of special guests who will play and talk about how their music is part of an international continuum.
Voted Clarinetist of the Year six years in a row by the Jazz Journalists Association and a regular at the top of Downbeats critics and reader’s polls, Israeli multi-reeds player Anat Cohen, is at the forefront of a truly global musical style. Anat is fluent in creolized New Orleans chanson, swing, African grooves, Brazilian choro and samba mixed with a tint of her Israeli heritage. A virtuoso at the clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor and soprano saxophones, Anat began her music education in her home of Tel Aviv and continued her education at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Anat has recorded several albums, toured with bands ranging from an Afro-Cuban ensemble to a klezmer group, and graced all of the best known jazz clubs around the world. She has won the praise of great jazz sages as well with Dan Morgenstern admiring her “gutsy, swinging style” and Gary Giddins remarking that her musicality “bristles with invention” and will bring all of this and more to the National Jazz Museum of Harlem on Tuesday, October 16th.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Jazz for Curious Listeners
Jazz Around The World: South America
Guest: Gian-Carla Tisera
7:00 – 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
As early as the 1920’s jazz was traveling the world, influencing and being influenced by musical traditions on every continent. Join us as we explore each of these places individually, with a series of special guests who will play and talk about how their music is part of an international continuum.
Born to a Bolivian mother and Italo-Argentinian father, opera and jazz virtuoso Gian-Carla Tisera has a voice that will knock you off your feet and simultaneously bring you to tears. As a conservatory-trained opera singer Gian-Carla has found jazz to be the most effective space to use what she has learned as a classical musician to express her South American heritage via Afro-Latin rhythms and vocal improvisation. She eloquently states that jazz is the reason she is able to fuse her Bolivian roots, socio-political commentary, and classical training. Gian-Carla is extremely knowledgeable of the South American jazz scene and will speak to the exchange going on between New York and South American jazz music. She is also intrigued by the indigenous elements present in the music of leading South American jazz artists. Join us Tuesday, October 23rd, for this inspiring discussion and performance!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Harlem Speaks
An Evening for Marian McPartland
Guests: Vocalist Karrin Allyson, biographer Paul de Barros, pianist Jon Weber
6:30 – 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
Shall we play that one together?" How often have you heard Marian McPartland say that to the many illustrious guests who have appeared over the years on her National Public Radio show, Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz? McPartland's familiar invitation is the title of the first-ever biography of McPartland, due from St. Martin's Press Oct. 16, 2012. Author Paul de Barros, a longtime contributor to Down Beat magazine, was given unprecedented access to McPartland's personal archive. He reads excerpts from Shall We Play That One Together? The Life and Art of Jazz Piano Legend Marian McPartland at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 25. After the reading, de Barros chats with pianist "Piano Jazz" guest host Jon Weber, who will play and talk about McPartland's approach to composing and improvising. Vocalist Karrin Allyson caps the program with performances of two Marian's tunes.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Saturday Panels
An International Jam Session
12:00 – 4:00pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
This is a very special occasion: musicians from around the world playing together for the first time, in which the music and the conversation that will result will be something to remember. Languages/cultures/musical styles will all merge in an afternoon of discovery and joy. This is something you don’t want to miss if you enjoy the true spontaneity at the root of jazz. Look for our weekly announcements/web site for updates as to who our guests will be.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Jazz for Curious Listeners
Jazz Around The World: Scandinavia
Guest: Soren Moller
7:00 – 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 4D)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300
As early as the 1920’s jazz was traveling the world, influencing and being influenced by musical traditions on every continent. Join us as we explore each of these places individually, with a series of special guests who will play and talk about how their music is part of an international continuum.
Danish-born pianist and composer, Soren Moller, is at the vanguard of the Scandinavia jazz scene but his music has stretched far beyond that. Moller is a huge proponent of collaborating with musicians from other backgrounds and musical sensibilities and has played with artists from locales ranging from Mexico, Zimbabwe, New Orleans, and China to give his music a “global glow.” Concern his latest release, Christian X variations, that involves musicians from Puerto Rico to Brooklyn, Soren remarks “I feel my Danish roots while composing, but I like the idea of people from all over the world interpreting the music I have composed. It creates a special sound that you can’t really find anywhere else, since it’s no longer attached to any geographical context.” Together with trombonist Chris Washburn and saxophonist Ole Mathisen, Soren founded the NYNDK Jazz Collective an ensemble of established musicians from New York and Scandinavia. Soren is also a part of a duo with saxophone player Dick Oatts. Come out on Tuesday, Oct 30th to hear Soren discuss the Scandinavia-New York jazz dialogue and his personal philosophy of global collaboration!
