A
R T S
THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS & E N T E R T A I N
M
E
N
T
February 3, 2022 - February 9, 2022 • 21
BAJC, RAVI COLTRANE RESIDENCE, TRIO 3, HSA JAZZ
dence at Symphony Space on Manhattan’s Upper West Side (2537 Broadway at 95th Street), on February 3-5. He will appear in a night of Duos one set with pianist James Carney and second set with drummer/percussionist Allan The Black Art Jazz Collective made Mednard; a performance by Ravi’s their debut performance at Dizzy’s Freedom Trio with bassist Nick Jozwiin 2013. They will return February 3 ak and drummer Savannah Harris; and for two shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The group consists of founding members trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery along with pianist Victor Gould, trombonist James Burton, III, bassist Rashaan Carter and drummer Mark Whitfield Jr. (drummer Jonathan Blake, no longer in the group, was also a founding member). Since its inception the BAJC members have been a force in the forefront of the instrumental global jazz community, both as leaders and as invaluable members of ensembles lead by Tom Harrell, Bobby Hutcherson, Kenny Barron, Wayne Shorter, Wallace Roney and Ron Carter. For this performance, the BAJC will perform from their latest album, “Ascen- TRIO3 (Courtesy photo) sion” (HighNote Records). The two sets will showcase close with a world premiere concert compositions celebrating jazz war- “Cosmic Music” exploring the mystical, riors Harold Mabern, Larry Willis and intoxicating spiritual music of his parJackie McLean. ents John & Alice Coltrane. These will The name Black Art Jazz Collective be jazz-memorable moments. reflects this art (music) created by For tickets call 212-864-5400 or visit Black people in a creative space. “It is the website symphonyspace.org. more a meeting of the minds where As individuals the members of our ideas come together for indi- TRIO3 (bassist Reggie Workman, vidual and collaborative compo- mult-reeds Oliver Lake and drumsitions, there is no leader, our music mer Andrew Cyrille) are innovative, reflects who we are,” explained Pelt. improvisational elder musicians, The name also embodies their respect whose compositions, recordings and and emotional roots to the music, as entire jazz vocabulary are for eterwell as their revolutionary perspec- nity embedded in the jazz panthetive, the fiery beacon inherited from on. Together with their 130 years of their conscientious elders includ- combined musicianship, the pianing; Max Roach, John Coltrane, Oscar no-less TRIO3 have effectively tran-Brown Jr. and Randy Weston. scended the sound of jazz to a greater s Two compositions “Tulsa Race creative space for the last 33 years. Massacre of 1921” and “Thirteenth TRIO3, who found an infinite Amendment” are two of the pieces number of ways to express themselves, ethey will perform from the CD. The will make their final appearance totitles represent horrendous and defin- gether as an ensemble at Dizzy’s jazz eitive events in Black history that con- club (60th Street and Broadway) on tinue to spark flaming concern and February 4-6. They will be joined by -dismay in this turbulent 21st century. saxophonist Bruce Williams and spey Two shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. cial guest pianist Vijay Iyer, Lake will yFor reservations visit the website jazz. also read some of his published poetry. .org. Live streaming tickets are also In their unique tradition, the collabdavailable. Call 212-258-9595. orative leaderless trio turn each pere Saxophonist and composer Ravi formance into an adventurous journey .Coltrane will appear in a debut resi- taking uncharted flights mixing origi-
nal compositions with avant garde, traditional blues, bebop and everything in between. These jazz veterans describe their sound as “futuristic music within the idiomatic continuum of jazz. Like musical alchemists, TRIO3 boldly carries the music forward spinning 3-dimensional jazz, reconfiguring jazz conventions of compositions, harmo-
ny, meter and melody,” said Lake. The trio as inventive musicians, band leaders, composers and educators have played and recorded with such music visionaries as John Coltrane, Mary Lou Williams, Herbie Mann, Art Blakey, The World Saxophone Quartet, Lou Reed, Richard Muhal Abrams and Cecil Taylor among others. “It’s regrettable that life starts and stops. Life says it’s time to move on,” said Cyrille. “We had a great time playing our music and other composers, it was a good business venture with our three names and experience we were able to get more gigs. It was very rewarding for us.” In TRIO3’s later years, they invited various pianists to join them such as Jason Moran, David Virelles, Marc Cary, Ethan Iverson, and Geri Allen. The trio recorded at least a dozen albums, many of which are now collector’s items. “I filled the space that was needed from the decibel of the bass,” says Workman. “We were each one/third of the music contribution in the moment. Everyone brought their own shape and flavor and feelings to the music. The music was the leader.” Aside from the live performance a livestream will be available on Feb. 6 for both shows. For tickets visit the
website jazz.org or call 212-258-9595. Jazz is Harlem’s DNA, the way folks move, how they groove, their cadence that strut the fashion styles shout out jazz cats from the past whose rhythms float like butterflies in the sky. That traditional ancestral flow lives in The Harlem School of the Arts, where on Feb. 5, their Afternoon Jazz @ HSA series will debut (3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.). In honor of Black History Month, the featured artist will be drummer and composer T.S. Monk, his deliberate genre-crossing Black music dancing in the bosom of jazz has earned him accolades throughout the world. He is the founder of Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and the son of the genius pianist and composer Thelonious Monk. The Grammy nominee, pianist/composer Adegoke Steve Colson will lead this new series and the organization’s Jazz Program as HSA’s jazz master and artisteducator artist in residence. Colson was an early member of the Association for Advanced Creative Musicians (AACM) where he explored various paths of music from straightahead to avant garde playing both piano and saxophone. The musicians’ collective totally expanded the concept of music in the 20th and 21st century. A significant part of the residency project includes Mr. Colson writing, rehearsing, and performing a newly commissioned piece––an extended work for octet that celebrates the Harlem School of the Arts. The premiere date for this piece will be announced shortly. His solo piano recording “Tones For”––which reflects on the lives and work of Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglass––is his most recent release on Silver Sphinx, the label he co-owns with his wife and musical partner, Iqua Colson. “The Harlem School of the Arts and our students are extremely fortunate to have Adegoke, as artist in residence. This project complements our founder’s mission of enriching the lives of our young people, by engaging artists who reflect the community to provide excellence in arts training. This is in keeping with plans to build our curriculum around Harlem’s rich cultur al history, with jazz as a critical part of that legacy,” said Lee Hogans, HSA chief education officer. This event is free to the public, RSVP is required visit website hsanyc.org.
