ZEYBRAH & the SCHOMBURG CENTER for Research In Black Culture present:

A MOMENT IN TIME IV: PEACE SONG 4 MONGO

In the spirit of world peace and dedicated to the
memory of Ramon “Mongo" Santamaria,
Legendary Latin Jazz Pioneer

TIME: 3:00 p.m.
DATE: Sunday, 12/14/03
VENUE: Schomburg Center, 515 Malcolm X Blvd (at 135 St.)

FREE ADMISSION and open to the general public. Tickets available from 1:00 p.m.

SPECIAL GUEST ARTISTS:
Candido Camero, Sonny Fortune, Johnny Almendra, Andy Gonzalez, Victor Venegas, Louis Bauzo, Bobby Sanabria, Bobby Porcelli, Bob Quaranta, Chris Rogers, Ruben Rodriguez, Ray Vega, Valerie Capers, Ileana Santamaria, Senegalese dance company of Yakar Roots including, Ousmane Sall, Alioune 'Guido' Faye, Ris Faye, Pap Sow, Arkestra Tambou-Yambu & more!

This musical and theatrical production is dedicated to global peace and understanding. There will be noted speakers, videos of Mongo, former members of Mongo's band playing favorite tunes, exuberant traditional African and Cuban dance and music and a trilogy of songs written in honor of Mongo. Mongo's concept in music was universal. He used the heartbeat of the Cuban conga drum to give “soul" to all kinds of music!

Mongo's fans and friends represent an international family that extends across the globe. Performers and invited guests come from all parts of the United States, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and Senegal. Many of Mongo's dear friends and family will be there, and others who could not attend have sent their sentiments, which will be shared with those attending the event. Some very special speakers will talk about Mongo: noted jazz composer/arranger, Valerie Capers; Dario Rosandro, who is writing a biography about Mongo; and Marty Sheller, composer/arranger.

Excerpts of videos depicting Mongo and his band playing music will be shown as part of the program, including a clip from the Andy Williams show in the 50's. Another room at the Schomburg will show a loop of videos with various themes that relate to Mongo's work and also different styles of his band playing over a span of years. Film clips and Videos are courtesy of Collector & Archivist, Henry Medina.
Mongo Santamaria was born and raised in Havana, Cuba in 1917 and came to the U.S. in the 1950's. His musical genius carried him through the bands of Perez Prado, Cal Tjader, and Tito Puente. In the 60's he formed his own band, which evolved over the years. He has recorded over 40 albums and has had several songs in the number one charts. Mongo fans cover a wide spectrum from all walks of life and diverse ethnic backgrounds. Along with Cuban born Chano Pozo, Mongo was one of the first to introduce Afro-Cuban rhythms into jazz, joined by Dizzy Gillepsie, an African American Jazz innovator who was also influential at the inception of this movement.
We will come together and celebrate the healing effect that Mongo helped to initiate, in bringing the African drum back into the African American music! It is not well known that the (African) drum was outlawed in the U.S. during slavery times and its rhythms re-emerged through other forms such as jazz, gospel and tap. Mongo can be credited with making the “conga" drum re-emerge in music all over the world, and his contribution is as significant as that of the Beatles who revolutionized modern music in other ways.

The bata drum (a two headed drum deriving from Nigeria) will also be featured in an Afro/Cuban traditional Shango drum and dance number. In the Yoruba mythology that has been preserved for 400 years in Cuba, Shango is the “passionate protector" of the drum. Mongo represents a personification of the courageousness, vivacity and stamina represented by this mythological hero.

This event is part of the Schomburg Center's Holiday open house and is free and open to the public. The Schomburg Center, one of the New York Public Libraries, is the world's foremost resource center for Black Culture, with over 5,000,000 artifacts in its collection, including art, recorded music, film, video, books, periodicals and photographs. Those who attend will be sure to find their knowledge of West African, Latin and Jazz culture expanded and their spirits uplifted! We will share our love and appreciation of the work of Mongo, which will continue to live on through his music, its influences and events like this!

We all, on and off stage, will merge as a BIG family to pay tribute to a great father, master conguero: “Mongo."

Let's Celebrate Mongo Day on December 14th!

*Note: Immediately following the tribute performance at the Schomburg, attendees are urged to make their way to JIMMY'S UPTOWN restaurant located @ 2207 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., between 130th and 131st Streets, 212-491-4000 where Musicians, Friends & Fans will gather to continue celebrating the musical legacy left by Mongo Santamaria.

CONTACTS:
Basha Alade
Tel. & Fax: (732) 290-8073
E-mail: ZEYBRAH@aol.com

Richard Blondet
E-mail: rblonde@earthlink.net

Lisa Vives
E-mail: lvives@earthlink.net

or call Schomburg Center 212-491-2200

ZEYBRAH, a nonprofit organization, has been organizing cultural festivals in NYC and NJ since 1984. This will be the fourth in a series entitled A MOMENT IN TIME, but the 19th annual festival. Each year the event is dedicated to a different cultural hero. ZEYBRAH stands for: Zest for Youth Brings Rhythm Arts and Humanities. With an emphasis on African and Caribbean cultural expressions, ZEYBRAH seeks to bring diverse peoples together, emphasizing commonalities.

ZEYBRAH (Zest for Education of Youth Brings Rhythm Arts and Humanities)