Walter’s World: Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival begins Monday

By Walter Rutledge

Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival begins Monday May 7. The six-day festival, which runs through Sunday May 13 will offer jazz music and related events at venues all over Harlem. The events will take place at; Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage Gatehouse, Lenox Lounge, Showman’s Cafe, Red Rooster, Columbia University, Abysinnian Baptist Church, Small’s Paradise, Minton’s Playhouse, Clark Monroe’s Uptown House, Club Harlem, Club Havana San Juan and Park Palace.

Some of the events are free, but most have an admission price of just $10. The festival is designed to celebrate the great American art form of jazz and what better place than the Mecca of African American cultural the village of Harlem. Below is a complete list of events.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Columbia University presents Jazz and the Spirit: The Arts of Harlem in the American Religious Imagination. A panel discussion led by Professor Josef Sorett, in collaboration with The Abyssinian Baptist Church and the Institute for Religion, Culture and Public Life, this program will focus on the connection of jazz to great religious institutions in Harlem and include a performance on the Abyssinian Baptist Church organ illustrating these deep connections to jazz and the American church musical tradition.. 6:00 – 8:00 pm. FREE.

Jazzmobile presents Small’s (Re)Created: Harlem After Dark. Curated by Revive Music. Small’s Paradise at Harlem USA. 9:00 pm-11:00 pm

Jazzmobile presents Late Night Jam Session at Small’s at Harlem USA. Midnight – 2:00 am.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Harlem Stage presents Blazing Tongues: The Singers & Writers of Lenox Lounge with Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch singing Ella Fitzgerald, plus actress Beareather Reddy reading author Paule Marshall. Part of the Harlem Stride series. Two drink minimum. Lenox Lounge. 7:00 pm.

Harlem Stage presents Celebrating Cecil: Tribute to Club Harlem, with Vijay Iyer, Craig Taborn, Amina Claudine Myers and Amiri Baraka. Part of the Harlem Stride series, in partnership with Issue Project Room and the Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University. Harlem Stage Gatehouse. 8:00 pm.

Apollo Theater presents Showman’s Late Night Jazz with organist Danny Mixon. Limited seating. Standing room available, Two drink minimum per set. Free soul food appetizers are available. Showman’s Café. 8:30 pm, 10:00 pm and 11:30 pm.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Jazzmobile presents Small’s Paradise Education and General Public Programs. Daniel Carlton: When Small’s Had It All. Free. Grades 6 – 12. Teachers: To Register, call (212) 866-4900, ext. 311. Small’s Paradise at Harlem USA. 10:00 am

Jazzmobile presents Small’s Paradise Education and General Public Programs.Film screening for senior citizens. Curated by Maysles Cinema. Free by Invitation. Small’s Paradise at Harlem USA. 1:00 pm.

Jazzmobile presents Minton’s Playhouse: Stanley Crouch with jazz drummers Charli Persip and Ben Riley. Minton’s Playhouse. 7:00 pm.

Harlem Stage presents Celebrating Cecil: Tribute to Club Harlem, with Vijay Iyer, Craig Taborn, Amina Claudine Myers and Amiri Baraka. Followed by “Decoding Cecil,” a discussion with George Lewis. Part of the Harlem Stride series, in partnership with Issue Project Room and the Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University. Harlem Stage Gatehouse. 8:00 pm.

Apollo presents Showman’s Late Night Jazz with Lonnie Youngblood and the Blood Brothers. Limited seating. Standing room available, Two drink minimum per set. Free soul food appetizers are available. Showman’s Café. 8:30 pm, 10:00 pm and 11:30 pm.

Jazzmobile presents Minton’s Playhouse: Legends on the Bandstand with T.K. Blue paying tribute to Charlie Parker. Minton’s Playhouse. 10:00 pm – 11:30 pm.

Jazzmobile presents Late Night Jam Session. Red Rooster. Midnight – 2:00 am.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Jazzmobile presents Small’s Paradise Education and General Public Programs. Daniel Carlton: When Small’s Had It All. Free. Grades 6 – 12. Teachers: To Register, call (212) 866-4900, ext. 311. Small’s Paradise at Harlem USA. 10:00 am.

Jazzmobile presents Small’s Paradise Education and General Public Programs. Senior Citizens Luncheon/Floor Show. Free by Invitation. Small’s Paradise at Harlem USA. 1:00 pm.

Jazzmobile presents Small’s Paradise Education and General Public Programs. After School Dance Demonstration. Free. Grades 6 – 12. Teachers: To Register, call (212) 866-4900, ext. 311. Small’s Paradise at Harlem USA. 4:00 pm.

Harlem Stage, celebrating Clark Monroe’s Uptown House, presents this year’s Grammy winner for Best Jazz Vocal Album The Mosaic Project with Terri Lyne Carrington featuring Lizz Wright, Nona Hendryx, Ingrid Jensen, Mimi Jones, Tia Fuller, Helen Sung, Nir Felder and more. Part of the Harlem Stride series. Harlem Stage Gatehouse. 7:30 pm.

Apollo Theater presents Showman’s Late Night Jazz with guitarist Lou Volpe Trio. Limited seating. Standing room available, Two drink minimum per set. Free soul food appetizers are available. Showman’s Café. 8:30 pm, 10:00 pm and 11:30 pm.

Jazzmobile presents Minton’s Playhouse: Legends on the Bandstand: Jeremy Pelt Group with a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie. Minton’s Playhouse. 10:00 pm – 11:30 pm.

Jazzmobile presents Late Night Jam Session. Red Rooster. Midnight – 2:00 am.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Jazzmobile presents Small’s Paradise Education and General Public Programs. Daniel Carlton: When Small’s Had It All. Free. Grades 6 – 12. Teachers: To Register, call (212) 866-4900, ext. 311. Small’s Paradise at Harlem USA. 10:00 am

Jazzmobile presents Small’s Paradise Education and General Public Programs. Film screening for senior citizens. Curated by Maysles Cinema. Free by Invitation. Small’s Paradise at Harlem USA. 1:00 pm.

Columbia University presents The Savoy King, a feature documentary on Swing-era drummer/bandleader Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald and the Savoy Ballroom, written, directed and produced by Jeff Kaufman; Co-executive Producers Jamal Joseph and Voza Rivers and The New Heritage Film Group. Teachers College, Cowin Auditorium. 6:00 – 8:00 pm.

Harlem Stage presents Blazing Tongues: The Singers & Writers of Lenox Lounge featuring Gregory Generet singing Johnny Hartman, and author Ralph Ellison’s writings on jazz. Directed by Tamara Tunie. Part of the Harlem Stride series. Two drink minimum. Lenox Lounge. 7:00 pm.

Jazzmobile presents Small’s (Re)Created: A Harlem Hotspot. Co-curated by Monique Martin. Celebrating the innovation that the legendary Small’s Paradise was known for, featuring genre-defying drummer Will Calhoun and cellist Marika Hughes and her band Bottom Heavy in an evening of spirited music, movement and a bit of mayhem to keep it fresh. You never know who might sit in during the jam session that follows the set. Small’s Paradise at Harlem USA. 7:00 pm-9:00 pm.

Apollo Theater presents Showman’s Late Night with vocalist Cynthia Holiday. Limited seating. Standing room available. Two drink minimum per set. Free soul food appetizers are available. Showman’s Café. 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm.

Apollo Theater presents Apollo Music Café, Jazz Night. Kellylee Evans, Canadian jazz and soul vocalist and a 2004 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal competition winner. Apollo Theater – Soundstage. Performance at 10:00 pm/Doors at 9:00 pm.

Jazzmobile presents Minton’s Playhouse: Legends on the Bandstand with Barry Harris paying tribute to Thelonious Monk. Minton’s Playhouse. 10:00 pm – 11:30 pm.

Jazzmobile presents Late Night Jam Session. Red Rooster. Midnight – 2:00 am.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Apollo Theater presents Wycliffe Gordon’s Jazz a la Carte, a variety show of big band music, song, and dance. Music Director Wycliffe Gordon, Director/Choreographer Kenneth L. Roberson, hosted by Maurice Hines featuring Savion Glover, the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Theresa Thomason, Aaron Diehl, Philip Dizack, Natalie Cressman and the Apollo Dancers.. Apollo Theater. 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

Harlem Stage presents Tribute to Club Havana San Juan featuring The Havana San Juan Orchestra led by Louis Bauzo plus other featured artists. Curator/Producer: Geno Chaviano. Harlem Stage Gatehouse. 8:00pm and 10:00pm.

Apollo Theater presents Apollo Music Café, Jazz Night. Pianist Marc Cary and his group, Cosmic Indigenous. Apollo Theater – Sound Stage. Doors at 9:00 pm, Performance at 10:00 pm.

Apollo Theater presents Showman’s Late Night Jazz with organist Sarah McLawler and Les Femmes Jazz. Limited seating. Standing room available, Two drink minimum per set. Free soul food appetizers are available. Showman’s Café. 9:00pm and 11:00pm.

Jazzmobile presents Minton’s Playhouse: Legends on the Bandstand with Winard Harper – Jeli Posse in a tribute to Max Roach. Minton’s Playhouse. 10:00 pm – 2:00 am.

Jazzmobile presents Late Night Jam Session. Red Rooster. Midnight – 2:00 am.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Jazzmobile celebrates Park Palace Live!, the true temple for authentic mambo.

Jazzmobile, in collaboration with the Museum for African Art, will present Dancing Mambo/Park Palace Live!, a re-creation of the Sunday matinee dances featuring a multi-generational Afro-Cuban Jazz Band led by Bobby Sanabria with special guest artists and the legendary Candido. The Museum for African Art. 4:00 – 7:00 pm.

Images by Romare Bearden 1) Jazz Village 2)  Jammin At The Savoy 3) Out Chorus 4) One Night Stand 5) Showtime 6) Jazz II 7) Of The Blues 8) Trombone Solo