» Jazz

Since its 1964 founding by Dr. Billy Taylor and Daphne Anstein, Jazzmobile has presented live jazz performances to over 4 million people residing in and/or visiting New York City. Musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Heath, Lou Donaldson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Pharoah Sanders, and Archie Shepp have all performed during the summer months in one of the city’s five boroughs.

From July 6 through Aug. 31 Jazzmobile’s Summerfest will continue the evolution of jazz as musicians offer their own interpretations of this music they continue to push to infinite spaces.

Trombonist, composer, arranger Craig Harris Harlem Night Sounds will appear on July 8, at Marcus Garvey Park (5th Avenue at 124th Street), 7 p.m. Harris will take you on a consuming journey with an opportunity to consume funk, dance, straight ahead jazz no chaser and the outer limits of avant garde. Harris is about good music so he plays it all, no categories no jazz police, stand, dance, shout; Harris discovered the indigenous Australian wind instrument the didgeridoo, which he may have with him.

Harris, who is a long-time music advocate, will be presented with the Jazz Journalists Association’s Jazz Hero Award by this writer. When Harris is not on tour, he is busy organizing a concert series (Harlem Jazz Boxx) in his community of Harlem from churches to a Harlem Parlor series in his brownstone.

On July 9 singer/songwriter Antoinette Montague and pianist Danny Mixon will perform in Brooklyn at 500 MacDonough St. (4 p.m. - 5 p.m.). Montague and Mixon have a musically intuitive relationship, there isn’t much talking, just sincere music offering magical possibilities; they swing hard from jazz standards to bebop and some blues. On July 13, Montague returns to Grant’s Tomb (Riverside Drive and 122nd Street) with her group The Antoinette Montague Experience (7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.).

This will be Montague’s debut performance on the Jazzmobile stage as a leader of her own group. The Experience will include pianist Danny Mixon, bassist Melissa Slocum, tenor/soprano Gene Ghee, tap dancer AC Lincoln, and student Mimi Block on vocals and violinist. “I like to support and encourage all young people,” said Montague. “We have to make this a multi-generational affair where we learn from each other.”

The vocalist has been working with this group she organized for some years touring in the U.S. and internationally. Her repertoire for Jazzmobile will cover, as she says, “music that I love straight from the Motherland. We are going to celebrate the music from New Orleans, standards, blues and jazz and civil rights songs like ‘Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round.’” She has released several CDs, her latest being “World Peace in the Key of Jazz” and a children’s CD, “Jazz Woman to the Rescue.” Montague is an entertainer, she understands the show and has the chops, vocals to sing you from blues and all around the sphere of jazz music. Check her website for upcoming gigs antoinettemongue.com.

On July 15, the pianist, composer, producer Marc Cary performs at Marcus Garvey Park, 7pm. Cary having grown up in Washington, D.C. on the go-go scene is an all-around musician. His concept of contemporary jazz is all about the funk, the soul and body movement keep it real keep it in the pocket. He was the music director for Betty Carter and also played with the other jazz diva Abbey Lincoln. He learned from Jackie McLean and Carlos Garnett and collaborated with Roy Hargrove. Cary’s contemporary jazz isn’t smooth, more James Brown, George Clinton funk.

For a complete Jazzmobile schedule visit their website Jazzmobile.org.

The Vision Jazz Festival is one of the most vibrant, engrossing festivals in New York City. The programming is strictly organic, the music grows from the deep roots of Africa in the American jazz tradition. It is still baffling why avant-garde jazz takes place downtown on the Lower East Side and straight-ahead jazz resides primarily in the West Village and Upper West Side. Regardless of such antics this year’s 2022 festival “A Light in Darkness” featured documentaries such as “The Black Artists’ Group: Creation Equals Movement” and a panel on Black Music/White Business—The Influence of Institutions in Jazz/Free Jazz.

This year, two of music’s most creative forces, trumpeter, composer and arranger Wadada Leo Smith and saxophonist, poet, artist and arranger Oliver Lake were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Smith opened the festival playing in varied configurations; duo with drummer Pheeroan akLaff; RedKoral Quartet, String Quartet No. 10 Angela Davis Into the Morning Sunlight; Thulani Davis (his first collaboration with the novelist, librettist, playwright, and poet) with RedKoral Quartet. Smith is a thinker of the 21st century, a Black man, who brings his experiences of truths into the fabric of his many compositions. His music plays within the realm of classical and cerebral introspection. He was one of three finalists for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Music for “Ten Freedom Summers,” released May 22, 2012.

“I work almost everyday, if I am not working, I am dreaming of what to create next either compositions or some other concept,” said Smith during a phone interview. “When you look at life it celebrates your whole life as an artist. The Vision Festival works very hard to be advocates for artists so if they give you an award it’s pretty impactful.” Smith recently celebrated his 80th birthday.

The saxophonist, composer, big band arranger, poet and artist Oliver Lake celebrated his Lifetime Achievement on the closing night of the festival at The Clemente. Lake’s creative offerings included tenor saxophonist JD Parran Spirit Stage 2 performing the music of Oliver Lake, the large ensemble included his son, the drummer Gene Lake; “Justice: Vocal Works” by Oliver Lake which featured Sonic Liberation Voices and Sonic Liberation Front. “Justice” is a suite of compositions and poetry by Lake. As a long-time member and collaborator with Trio 3 (one of the most inventive trios in jazz history) with bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Andrew Cyrille, Lake offered flights of his wonderful poetry. The World Saxophone Quartet which Lake co-founded played some of his noted compositions.

“This was such a great honor to be given the Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Lake during a phone interview. “I was so happy my kids were there.” Lake is busy working on new music for an upcoming concert in Philadelphia. ‘I always have compositions in-progress, working on new music plus I have my painting and poetry,” says Lake. In the 1970s Lake started his own record label Passin’ Thru Records which recorded a few of his albums. His non-profit organization which has the same title is dedicated to fostering, promoting and advancing the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the arts. Lake performed at the first Vision Festival in 1996 and has returned regularly for a dozen or more featured performances with his Big Band, his Steel Quartet and his Trio. His compilation of poetry has been published in two books and his visual artwork has been exhibited internationally. Lake has proven to be an exceptional artist in all aspects. When he first arrived in New York in the early 1970s one of the first bands he joined was Smith’s group the New Dalta Ahkri, with members including Henry Threadgill, Anthony Davis.

It is difficult to understand why two creative musicians, composers and genius contributors to this music such as Smith and Lake are not NEA Jazz Masters. Something is very wrong. The only difference between straightahead jazz and avant-garde jazz is that the moans, groans and hollers of our ancestors are much louder and more pronounced.

Singer Antoinette Montague (Adjoajo (https://commons. wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antoinette_Montague_Jazz_ Singer_Artist.jpg), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-sa/4.0/legalcode) though his honor came from the Jazz Foundation of America, at the City Winery pier 57. Tolliver and pianist Stanley Cowell co-founded Strata-East Records. The label released over 50 albums in the 1970s. Gil Scott-Heron’s 1974 album “Winter in America” with Brian Jackson became the label’s best-selling recording. Tolliver is renowned for his big band arrangements such as “Emperor March” and “With Love,” the latter was nominated in 2007 for a Grammy award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble. Tolliver’s debut recording “Paper Man” featured Gary Bartz, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Joe Chambers recorded in 1968. The Tolliver with an allstar line-up recently celebrated the album’s 50th anniversary at Birdland jazz club and the jazz Museum in Harlem. Tolliver’s sound is riveting bold riffs and soft titillating whispers on ballads; some of his compositions have become jazz standards. “This award is a total surprise, said Tolliver. “I knew the Jazz Foundation of America helped many musicians but I didn’t know they gave out such awards, this is a great honor. “Man, I have been doing this for six decades and there is still so much to do, more composing more and playing. It’s a lifetime achievement just to stay up on that trumpet, it’s unforgiving, it’s totally a lifetime commitment.”

By CHARMAINE PATRICIA WARREN

Special to the AmNews

Add more tap dance to your dance calendar this month when Dormeshia returns to The Joyce Theater with the world premiere of “Rhythm is Life” which “celebrates both the art form she dominates and life itself.” This newest work of “…percussive perfection draws on the collective pulse of life to create a meditative voyage of music and dance,” according to the release. For the one-week run, July 26-31, Dormeshia will be joined by other favored tappers and a live band. For more information visit www.Joyce.org.

STILL RUNNING:

June 13-July 16 – American Ballet Theatre continues their return season at the Metropolitan Opera House with the New York Premieres of Alonzo King’s “Single Eye” (July 7) and many more new and repertory works. For more information visit www.abt.org ALSO THIS MONTH:

July 4-10 – Back to live and inperson events, the NYC Tap Festival, the American Tap Dance Foundation’s week-long tap festival returns with tap dance workshops, performances and special events including the “Copasetic” Boat Ride (July 6), Tap Future performances and ATDF Tap Dance Awards (July 8), Rhythm in Motion concert (July 9) and “Tap It Out” (July 10). For more information visit www. atdf.org

July 7&9 – jaamil olawale kosoko, the Nigerian American author, performance artist, and curator of Yoruba and Natchez descent will present their book “Black Body Amnesia: Poems and Other Speech Acts” within The Museum of Arts and Design’s exhibition, “Garmenting: Costume as Contemporary Art,” performing an excerpt from their new living artwork, “Black Body Amnesia” (July 7). On July 9, kosoko will perform “Black Body Amnesia” at BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance. For more information visit www.jaamil.com

July 13-17 – At Gibney, the 18th annual Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival brings the hip hop dance community to New York City for a five-day festival with a panel discussion, workshops, and performances. For more information visit www.gibneydance.org

July 15 – Les Ballet Afrik and Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company share the stage for Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. For more information visit www.nycgovparks.org

July 16 – The 2nd edition of Dance Films returns to The Invisible Dog Art Center featuring films from French and international artists. Featured will be: O Samba do Crioulo Doido: “Ruler and Compass” (2020, 15mn) by Calixto Neto (Brazil); “Nioun Rec” (2021, 9mn) by Amala Dianor and Grégoire Korganow (France); and “A Young Girl in Her Nineties” (Une jeune fille de 90 ans) (2016, 85mn) by Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Yann Coridian. For more information visit www.theinvisibledog.org

July 20-31 – Little Island’s Music & Dance Festival, co-curated by Ayodele Casel, Michael McElroy and Torya Beard will celebrate blues, jazz, hip hop, soul, Broadway and more. Guests include Brinae Ali, Luke Hickey, Barkha Patel, Max Pollak, Soles of Duende; Generation Dance! Featuring Laraine Goodman, Kevin Iega Jeff, Earl Mosley; Soul to Soul: Black Women in Music featuring Capathia Jenkins, Lillias White, Melonie Daniels and hosted by Phylicia Rashad and Michael McElroy; and Maurice Chestnut’s Beats, Rhymes, and Tap Shoes and more. For more information visit www.littleisland.org

July 22 – Ragamala Dance Company will present Sacred Earth as part of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! At the Lena Horne Bandshell. For more information visit www.bricartsmedia.org

July 28-30 – At JACK, the choreographer/dancer Kensaku Shinohara shares a solo that reflects on sexuality, objectification, intimacy, dominance and boundaries. The series is curated by Stacy Grossfield as part of her Images // Landscapes. For more information visit www.jacny.org

The Harlem Chamber Players perform ‘The Chevalier’ at Caramoor’s Summer Festival

By JORDANNAH ELIZABETH

Special to the AmNews

New York’s Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is set to present the unique story of the Black 18th century composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges on July 10.

Lost in history until the 21st century, Joseph Bologne was a “virtuoso violinist, abolitionist, general of Europe’s first Black regiment, acquaintance of both Mozart and Marie Antoinette and the finest fencer in Europe.” Though he has gone unknown until recently, Bologne made an impact on the musical and aristocratic world of his time and is nothing less than a fascinating historical figure who deserves musical and artistic exploration that Caramoor is offering this summer.

The piece, entitled “The Chevalier,” was written and directed by Bill Barclay and highlights acting performances by R.J. Foster and violinist Brendon Elliott who plays Bologne, and the music is performed by the Harlem Chamber Players.

“We are so thrilled to tread the boards at this summer’s Caramoor festival and to bring Bologne’s neglected story and music to one of New York’s most iconic and exciting outdoor stages. Performing ‘The Chevalier’ with the Harlem Chamber Players will be a particular thrill as they have long advocated for highlighting marginalized voices and programming composers of color. Concert Theatre Works commends Caramoor for their deep commitment to supporting musicians of color. The march for equity goes on,” says Barclay.

There has been an important trend of intelligent and creative storytellers choosing to share the stories of Black classical composers who have been lost in history. The whitewashing of classical music has done a disservice to the world by silencing and burying the Black contributors of the art and the attempt to face this wrongdoing head on by offering diverse works to the world is a powerful step forward in building inclusiveness for actors, directors and the theatrical Western community.

“‘The Chevalier’ is a play with orchestra based on the remarkable life of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799), particularly his relationships to Mozart, with whom he lived under the same roof for some months in 1778, and Marie Antoinette, to whom he taught music at Versailles. Bologne produced a considerable body of work as a composer, and served as conductor of the Concert de la Loge Olympique—considered one of the finest orchestras in Europe—under the auspices of which he commissioned Haydn’s rapturously received ‘Paris Symphonies.’ Bologne’s high profile was not restricted to music: besides being the finest fencer in Europe and general of Europe’s first Black regiment, he also crusaded for the abolition of slavery.”

Getting to Caramoor by train from Grand Central Station, take the Harlem Division Line of the Metro-North Railroad heading to Southeast, and exit at Katonah. Caramoor is a 3.5-mile drive from the Katonah station. A free shuttle from Metro North’s Katonah station runs before and after every concert.

For more information visit www. caramoor.org.