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| Harlem Jazz Shrines: Wycliffe Gordon's Jazz a la Carte  From the age of the New Negro of the Harlem Renaissance of the 30s and the soulful 60s, to today's hip-hop era at the change of the 20th Century, the world-famous Apollo Theater has been the premiere venue for presenting the best and brightest stars of African-American music. Jazz à la Carte, a variety show featuring Ralph Cooper, the Benny Carter Orchestra and many other exciting acts, was the Apollo's first show and became the blueprint for many popular programs over the following decades. The Georgia-born, jazz trombonist/composer/arranger Wycliffe Gordon revives that legendary Apollo show with his 21st Century version of Jazz à la Carte, featuring the music of Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie and Cab Calloway, as part of the inaugural Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival on May 13 at 8:00 pm and May 14 at 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Along with the multi-talented Gordon – who was discovered by Wynton Marsalis and a was a former member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra – this event features Philadelphia's Temple University Big Band with vocalists Carla Cook of Detroit and the Canadian teenage sensation Nikki Yanofsky; the impossibly-gifted tap master Savion Glover; the twenty-something, Asian-American, alto sax/vocalist wunderkind Grace Kelly; the ebullient Floridian trombone prodigy Corey Wilcox; and the award-winning director/choreographer Ken Roberson, among others.A master of all of the inventions of his instrument – from the tailgating tempos of the New Orleans second line to the infinite vibrations and varieties of the plunger mute – Gordon has recorded 13 CDs as a leader, currently serves on the faculty of the Jazz Arts Program at Manhattan School of Music, and will publish a book entitled Trombone Majesty this year. He received the Jazz Journalists Association 2008, 2007, 2006, 2002 and 2001 Award for Trombonist of the Year, and the Jazz Journalists Association 2000 Critics Choice Award for Best Trombone. With the trombonist's impressive pedigree of musicianship and accomplishments, Wycliffe Gordon's Jazz à la Carte is poised to "bring the swing" to the one of most famous bandstands in the world. 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. Wycliffe Gordon's Jazz à la Carte was commissioned with partial support through Meet the Composer's National Commissioner's Network. Other Harlem Jazz Shrines highlights include: • 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. All tickets for Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival events are affordably priced at just $10 or free. 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.com. for updates and additional information. 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. Apollo Music Café is made possible by generous support from Heineken, the Official Imported Beer Sponsor of the Apollo Theater's 2010-11 Season. 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 Wycliffe Gordon's Jazz à la Carte was commissioned with partial support through Meet the Composer's National Commissioner's Network and the Baisley Powell Elebash Fund. 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. About the Apollo Theater The Apollo Theater is one of Harlem's, New York City's, and America's most iconic and enduring cultural institutions. Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has played a major role in cultivating artists and in the emergence of innovative musical genres including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis, Jr., James Brown, Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, D'Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and countless others began their road to stardom on the Apollo's stage. Based on its cultural significance and architecture, the Apollo Theater received state and city landmark designation in 1983 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This winter, the non-profit Theater will introduce new programming building on its rich legacy and supporting presentations of forward looking, contemporary music, dance, theater and performance art events. About Harlem Stage Since 1979, Harlem Stage has been one of the nation's leading arts organizations devoted to the creation and development of new works by performing artists of color. Harlem Stage supports artists and organizations around the corner and across the globe. And it provides children and adults with engaging and interactive education programs. Harlem Stage is a performing arts center that celebrates and perpetuates the unique and diverse artistic legacy of Harlem and the indelible impression it has made on American culture. It provides opportunity, commissioning and support for diverse artists, makes performances accessible to all audiences, and introduces children to the rich diversity, excitement and inspiration of the performing arts. write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Jazz News :: home page |