By Walter Rutledge
This weekend has a varied offering of arts events happening around the city and neighboring communities. Dance, art, and music abound. Here are a few of the events taking place in our community and around the city.
The Essie Green Galleries located at 419A Convent Avenue in the historic Sugar Hill district of Harlem will hold an opening reception for artist Barbara Bullock on Saturday May 12 from 4 to 6pm. The exhibition of her work runs from May 12 through June 16. Bullock has been described as a “maker of art”. She creates works in the abstract, some of which lie between paintings and sculptures. Her media include painted paper constructions, various acrylic materials, mixed media, and watercolor paper. She creates a personal form of story telling drawn from African American culture and spirit.
RIOULT, an American modern dance will present their 2012 New York City season in The Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, located at 524 West 59th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues. The four-day season will run from Thursday May 10 through Sunday May 13. Artistic Director/Choreographer Pascal Rioult will offer three works including the world premiere of The Violet Hour inspired by T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land. The work will feature a commissioned score by Grammy-Winning composer Joan Tower. The Violet Hour will be performed at each evening performance to live musical accompaniment with Joan Tower at the piano, and cellist Raman Ramakrishnan.
The program also includes RIOULT’s Firebird (2003) and Celestial Tides, which premiered at The Joyce Theater in 2011. Set to Stravinsky’s 1947 suite Firebird has a constructivist-inspired set, a new narrative of redemption and reawakening. Celestial Tides is a full-company piece set to J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg concerto # 6. Bach’s contrapuntal music lent itself well to the concept of bodies (celestial or human) creating a mysterious balance as they move in time and space. Tickets can be purchased at Ticket Central’s Box Office, or by calling (212) 279-4200, you can also purchase online at www.ticketcentral.com. Prices for performances range from $10 to $49.
For those who missed the Tuesday May 8th a one-night-only Ailey benefit event at the world-famous Apollo Theater, which featured performances by artists of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Ailey School and young AileyCampers, can get another chance to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater this weekend at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The schedule of performance on Friday May 11 and Saturday May 12, 8pm: Arden Court, Minus 16, and Revelations and Sunday May 13 3pm: Streams, Home and Revelations. For tickets and more information call toll-free at 1-888-GO-NJPAC or email ticketservices@njpac.org.
The New York season of Igal Perry’s Peridance Contemporary Dance Company continues this weekend with performances on Saturday May 12 at 8:30 PM, and Sunday May 13 at 7:30 PM. In the Capezio Theater at Peridance, 126 East 13th Street (bet. 3rd & 4th Avenues). The program will consist of world premieres by Perry, Sidra Bell, and Kristin Sudeikis, along with the NY premiere of Perry’s “El Amor Brujo.” Music will be live at all performances: a String Quartet will play the Henryk Gorecki composition for Perry’s new work, and “El Amor Brujo” will be performed by the PostClassical Ensemble of Washington D.C., conducted by Angel Gil-Ordonez joined by Flamenco singer Marija Temo. For more information visit www.peridance.com.
Folk Feet Females: Brooklyn Women in Traditional Dance is an evening featuring Rita Silva – Afro-Brazilian Candomble; Annie and Taseen Ferdous -Bangladeshi Dance; Polish American Folk Dance Co.; KowTeff African Dance Co.; Kaina Quenga – Hawaiian hula dance; Tamara Chernyakhovsky – Ukrainian wedding dance; Najmat Falasteen- Palestinian social dance, Debkah Troupe and performing Indian classical and contemporary dance – Parijat Desai Dance. The performance will take place on Saturday May 12, 7:30pm at the Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts: LIU Brooklyn Campus located on On Flatbush Ave. between DeKalb and Willoughby Street. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. For more information contact the box office by call 718- 488- 1624.
Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival runs through Sunday May 13. The festival 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.
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.
As always thank you for letting me share my world with you
Photos and Images 1) Outchorus 2) Healing Feeling 3) Kiren James Boyd 4) Lauren Jaeger and Zach Thomas 5) Rita Silva 6) Jazz II
Photo and Image credits: 1&5) Romare Bearden 2) Barbara Bullock 3) Andrew Eccles 4) Julienne Schaer 5) Meems Images/Melissa Birnbaum
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