Apollo/Harlem Stage/Jazzmobile Present NY's Newest Festival: Harlem Jazz Shrines

The Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile Join Forces to Present First Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival May 9 – 15, 2011
 
 
Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival
Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival
Jan. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- NEW YORK, NY – Three esteemed Harlem cultural organizations – the Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile – have joined forces to present the first Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival May 9–15, 2011.  Celebrating the unique legacy of jazz in the uptown community, the Festival will bring both established and emerging artists to some of the famed venues where jazz flourished in Harlem: Lenox Lounge, Showman’s Café, the Apollo Theater, Alhambra Ballroom, and Minton’s Playhouse. Other festival events will take place at Harlem Stage Gatehouse, Columbia University and a variety of locations throughout the Harlem area.  

Highlights of the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival include:

Wycliffe Gordon’s Jazz à la Carte – The Apollo’s variety shows of the 1930’s make a comeback under the direction of Wycliffe Gordon with the Temple University Big  Band, featuring vocalists Carla Cook and Nikki Yanofsky, tap savant Savion Glover, sax wunderkind Grace Kelly, Director/Choreographer Ken Roberson, and trombone prodigy Corey Wilcox, among others.

Fats Waller Dance Party: Small’s Paradise Tribute with Jason Moran & Meshell Ndegeocello – Harlem Stage presents two nights of Waller’s music taken to new heights in a social mixing dance party featuring 2010 MacArthur Genius pianist Jason Moran & dynamic singer/bassist Meshell Ndegeocello.

Late Night Jam Sessions & Conversations with Legends at Minton’s Playhouse – Jazzmobile re-creates Minton’s legendary “cutting contests” with emerging jazz talents and an all-star house band curated by T.S. Monk with Robert O’Meally leading provocative discussions.

Geri Allen Quartet Jam Session – During the 1940’s and ‘50’s, the Harlem jazz scene was famous for its after-hours “jam sessions.” Jazz pianist and producer Geri Allen "jams" with her quartet and special guests at the Apollo Music Cafe.

Blazing Tongues: The Singers & Writers of Lenox Lounge – Harlem Stage, in partnership with Columbia University’s Center for Jazz Studies and Institute for Research in African American Studies, curates two evenings of music and literature.

Battle of the Big Bands – Jazzmobile produces two nights of big bands featuring the Jimmy Heath Big Band and the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra at the Alhambra Ballroom.

The Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile have partnered specifically to create a resurgence of jazz opportunities in Harlem with this week-long festival. Jazz will be presented in all its various forms and diverse formats including jazz dance, concert, club, cabaret and dance events. Conceived as an annual offering, Harlem Jazz Shrines will enable the partners to create a dynamic range of programming, highlighting the role that local Harlem venues have played in the development of jazz.  

The three partners are also collaborating with Columbia University and its Center for Jazz Studies and Institute for Research in African American Studies to bring humanities programming that will further highlight the cultural significance of the Festival.

High-quality artistic performances and other events will all be offered at the affordable price of $10.  Events are designed to draw a diverse audience of neighborhood residents, New Yorkers, and tourists with a mix of programming appealing to both jazz novices and aficionados.  To generate attendance to multiple events and venues, Festival programming is arranged so that people have the option of attending several events each day.  On Friday and Saturday nights, the Festival will provide a shuttle bus to transport audience members to area venues.  

Tickets for many of the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival events are available now.  For tickets and more information on the Festival and its partners, visit the organizations’ websites at www.apollotheater.org, www.jazzmobile.org and www.harlemstage.org.   Log on to www.harlemjazzshrines.org  for the complete Festival schedule.

Harlem Jazz Shrines is made possible by generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts and The New York Community Trust – Elizabeth Meyer Lorentz Fund. This program is also supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Council Member Inez E. Dickens, and Speaker Christine Quinn.

Wycliffe Gordon’s Jazz à la Carte was commissioned with support from Meet the Composer’s National Commissioner’s Network.  

The Fats Waller Dance Party has been made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius.
End
Source: » Follow
Email:***@aol.com Email Verified
Tags:Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival, Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage, Jazzmobile
Industry:Entertainment, Music, Event
Location:United States
Account Email Address Verified     Account Phone Number Verified     Disclaimer     Report Abuse
Carolyn McClair Public Relations News
Trending
Most Viewed
Daily News



Like PRLog?
9K2K1K
Click to Share