Last night, to a packed house, Billie Holiday and Zora Neale Hurston held the crowd in rapt attention. Channeled by the incredible talents of vocalist Queen Esther and actor Letitia Guillory, the less recognizable, though no less phenomenal, songs of Billie provided a lush counterpoint to the necer-before heard words of a Hurston piece from 1927 [...]
(MORE)Archive for the ‘Music’ Category
I Don’t Want the Song to End
Phoebe Snow passed away on Tuesday. Phoebe is one of those great singers who emerged like a lightning bolt during the age of the singer/songwriter – the 60s for you younger folks. When first hearing her voice, I was taken hostage and I spent many years wearing out needles on my turntable with “Poetry Man,” [...]
(MORE)And we’re off to another wonderful start…
In the spirit of St. Valentine, who was beheaded for daring to step outside the box, I salute us for pulling off a sexy, surprising, sweet and sold out launch to our spring season with an artist who exemplifies out of the box, Tamar-kali. Thanks to everyone for making Cabaret Chocolat such a great evening. [...]
(MORE)The Ripples of katrina’s Wake
I am reminded much this week of the fifth anniversary of hurricane Katrina. First and foremost, it is the devastating storm, and the growing despair it brought with it, that I watched unfold from afar. An immediate call to action followed. In the immediate wake of Katrina, my phone rang; it was Sekou Sundiata imploring [...]
(MORE)“Down here below” we hold space for Abbey Lincoln
Upon my return from vacation, I learned that Abbey Lincoln passed on Saturday. While I expected this news sooner or later, it touched me with a spark of sadness and a flood of memories of Ms. Lincoln at Harlem Stage. She was one of the great musicians of her generation and one of the more [...]
(MORE)Konbit Pou Ayiti – a beautiful coda to a symphony of successes
Konbit Pou Ayiti, our celebration for Haiti on Saturday July 17th, could not have been a more successful event on every level. Close to 2000 people came out to help us celebrate Haiti, its people, its culture and its artists; and to keep our awareness sharply focused on the country six months almost to the [...]
(MORE)HOLDING IT DOWN: THE VETERANS’ DREAMS PROJECT
ATTENTION YOUNG VETERANS OF COLOR: A call for experiences, a call for dreams VETERANS’ WORKSHOP MEETING JULY 21, 2010, 7:00 – 9:00 pm at THE HARLEM STAGE GATEHOUSE Our WaterWorks series is all about ENGAGING AUDIENCES IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS. As our signature series, the audience has an opportunity to participate in a number of [...]
(MORE)June: A Month of Milestones – Part 2
COMING UP THIS WEEKEND – HABANA/HARLEM™ We close out the month and the season, AND THE YEAR, with two nights of magnificent music from our sister cities Habana, Cuba and New Orleans, Louisiana – and of course NEW YORK CITY. On Friday night, presented as part of the George Wein CareFusion Jazz Festival New York, [...]
(MORE)Cultural Fusion: Past, Present, Future
A Habana | Harlem™ premiere at Harlem Stage George Wein’s CareFusion Jazz Festival June 25, 2010 Cultural Fusion: Past, Present, Future explores the parallels between Havana and New Orleans by celebrating the music of composers who set the tone for later generations of artists and thinkers. Tickets on sale now: www.harlemstage.org The period following the [...]
(MORE)Harlem Stage Remembers Hank Jones
Hank Jones only performed here once but it was an unforgettable event in spring of 2008 to have him alongside the 23-year-old Gerald Clayton, with special guest Roy Hargrove. Mr. Jones performed on our regular “Harlem Stride” series and for our “Harlem Rent Party” benefit that year. He was as gracious as he was brilliant [...]
(MORE)