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Harlem Speaks Begins 2006 with Bassist Buster Williams Thursday, January 12, 2006
December 20, 2005
To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected]
The Jazz Museum in Harlem 104 East 126th Street New York, NY 10035 212 348-8300 http://www.jazzmuseuminharlem.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/20/05
Harlem Speaks Begins 2006 with Bassist Buster Williams Buster Williams: January 12, 2006 Rudy Lawless: January 26, 2006 Howard Johnson: February 9, 2006 Paul Robeson, Jr.: February 23, 2006
New York, NY--The Jazz Museum in Harlem launches its Harlem Speaks series in 2006 with master bassist Buster Williamson January 12, 2006.
Born in Camden, NJ in 1942, Williams learned to play bass from his father, Charles Anthony “Cholly" Williams. “He would prepare my lessons for me ... It was an unwritten law that I had to play it right. I was going to be the best. I had no choice."
He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Lee Konitz, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, Sarah Vaughan, Mary Lou Williams, Hank Jones, Lee Morgan, Jimmy Rowles, Cedar Walton, Billy Taylor, Sonny Rollins, Count Basie, Errol Garner, Kenny Barron, Charlie Rouse, Dakota Staton, and Freddie Hubbard, to name only a few.
In the 1980s he performed with the renowned groups Sphere and The Timeless Allstars, and formed his own group, Something More, in 1990. “After working almost continuously for 30 years as a sideman," says Williams, “I decided it was time to take the plunge, step up to the front, play my music, and express my concept of a cohesive musical unit. I've served my apprenticeship under many great masters and feel that it's my honor and privilege to carry on the lineage that makes this music such an artistically rich art form." Drummer Rudy Lawless, 65, spent his early years in Harlem on 159th and Amsterdam Avenue, within blocks of fellow drummers Sid Catlett, Denzel Best, “Slick" Jones and Jimmy Crawford. He heard these artists and others as a young man at Harlem clubs such as Pop's, Lou's, Dexter's and the Amsterdam Caf. Alto sax legend Jackie McLean set up his first drum set; Art Blakey, one of his idols, even came to his home to give him drumming tips. At 16, he spent a summer touring cross country with Eddie Durham. In addition to leading his own ensembles, he's performed with Andy Kirk, Blue Mitchell, Hank Jones, Rex Stewart, Roy Eldridge, and bassist Addison Farmer. He's recorded with vibraphonist Freddie McCoy, vocalists Etta Jones and Betty Roche, and pianist Lenore Raphael, with whom he recently did a five- day gig at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola.
On January 26, 2006 come and hear his account of the above as well as his “giving back what was given to me" by hosting a jam session for the past three years at Local 802 for the Jazz Foundation of America. Howard Johnson, best known as a top tuba player in jazz, also plays the baritone sax, other reeds and trumpet. Now a Harlem resident, he moved to New York in 1963, where he worked with Charles Mingus (1964- 1966), Hank Crawford, and Archie Shepp. He started a 20-year association with Gil Evans in 1966. In the late '70s, he formed a tuba band called Gravity that has recorded two CDs on the Verve label. Howard Johnson has also recorded with Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, Jimmy Heath, Bob Moses, George Gruntz's Concert Jazz Band, and frequently with Evans' orchestra, among others. Johnson will be the Jazz Museum in Harlem's special guest on February 9, 2006.
Paul Robeson Jr. will discuss his father's legacy as an activist, actor, singer, and cultural theorist on February 23, 2006. Once the most famous black artist in America, Paul Robeson knew many of the giants of jazz, and even recorded a song with lyrics by Richard Wright about Joe Louis with the Count Basie Orchestra in 1941. With his wonderful bass voice, Paul Robeson was best known for singing Spirituals. He retired in Harlem in the early 60s.
* * * * On December 15th Bill Saxton talked about his career, and his new venue, “Bill's Place," located at 148 West 133rd Street. His long- time friend and college partner, Sinclair Acey, joined Saxton to explain the venture's connection to The Harlem Jazz Scene, Inc., for which he serves as Chief Operating Officer. With animation, Saxton told the audience how, after he launched his parlor, he discovered the great jazz history of the block ("the original Swing Street") as well as legends such as Fats Waller and Billie Holiday who used to perform there.
Recounting their days together growing up and helping to launch a jazz program at the New England Conservatory of Music, the two buddies also emphasized the importance of jazz education today. Saxton's wife, Dr. Theda Palmer, also shared her experience in the field of education, and volunteered to assist the museum in its effort to reach parents for its youth big band initiative, “Harmony in Harlem." The evening closed with Saxton playing a moving version of Waller's “Jitterbug Waltz."
The Harlem Speaks series is produced by the Jazz Museum in Harlem's Executive Director, Loren Schoenberg, Co-Director Christian McBride, and Greg Thomas Associates. The series occurs at the offices of the Jazz Museum in Harlem, located at 104 East 126th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues, from 6:30pm-8:00pm.
This discussion series is free to the public. To view the photo archives of Harlem Speaks go to: http://www.jazzmuseuminharlem.org/ hs_photos.html
To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected]
The Jazz Museum in Harlem 104 East 126th Street New York, NY 10035 212 348-8300 http://www.jazzmuseuminharlem.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/20/05
Harlem Speaks Begins 2006 with Bassist Buster Williams Buster Williams: January 12, 2006 Rudy Lawless: January 26, 2006 Howard Johnson: February 9, 2006 Paul Robeson, Jr.: February 23, 2006
New York, NY--The Jazz Museum in Harlem launches its Harlem Speaks series in 2006 with master bassist Buster Williamson January 12, 2006.
Born in Camden, NJ in 1942, Williams learned to play bass from his father, Charles Anthony “Cholly" Williams. “He would prepare my lessons for me ... It was an unwritten law that I had to play it right. I was going to be the best. I had no choice."
He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Lee Konitz, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, Sarah Vaughan, Mary Lou Williams, Hank Jones, Lee Morgan, Jimmy Rowles, Cedar Walton, Billy Taylor, Sonny Rollins, Count Basie, Errol Garner, Kenny Barron, Charlie Rouse, Dakota Staton, and Freddie Hubbard, to name only a few.
In the 1980s he performed with the renowned groups Sphere and The Timeless Allstars, and formed his own group, Something More, in 1990. “After working almost continuously for 30 years as a sideman," says Williams, “I decided it was time to take the plunge, step up to the front, play my music, and express my concept of a cohesive musical unit. I've served my apprenticeship under many great masters and feel that it's my honor and privilege to carry on the lineage that makes this music such an artistically rich art form." Drummer Rudy Lawless, 65, spent his early years in Harlem on 159th and Amsterdam Avenue, within blocks of fellow drummers Sid Catlett, Denzel Best, “Slick" Jones and Jimmy Crawford. He heard these artists and others as a young man at Harlem clubs such as Pop's, Lou's, Dexter's and the Amsterdam Caf. Alto sax legend Jackie McLean set up his first drum set; Art Blakey, one of his idols, even came to his home to give him drumming tips. At 16, he spent a summer touring cross country with Eddie Durham. In addition to leading his own ensembles, he's performed with Andy Kirk, Blue Mitchell, Hank Jones, Rex Stewart, Roy Eldridge, and bassist Addison Farmer. He's recorded with vibraphonist Freddie McCoy, vocalists Etta Jones and Betty Roche, and pianist Lenore Raphael, with whom he recently did a five- day gig at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola.
On January 26, 2006 come and hear his account of the above as well as his “giving back what was given to me" by hosting a jam session for the past three years at Local 802 for the Jazz Foundation of America. Howard Johnson, best known as a top tuba player in jazz, also plays the baritone sax, other reeds and trumpet. Now a Harlem resident, he moved to New York in 1963, where he worked with Charles Mingus (1964- 1966), Hank Crawford, and Archie Shepp. He started a 20-year association with Gil Evans in 1966. In the late '70s, he formed a tuba band called Gravity that has recorded two CDs on the Verve label. Howard Johnson has also recorded with Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, Jimmy Heath, Bob Moses, George Gruntz's Concert Jazz Band, and frequently with Evans' orchestra, among others. Johnson will be the Jazz Museum in Harlem's special guest on February 9, 2006.
Paul Robeson Jr. will discuss his father's legacy as an activist, actor, singer, and cultural theorist on February 23, 2006. Once the most famous black artist in America, Paul Robeson knew many of the giants of jazz, and even recorded a song with lyrics by Richard Wright about Joe Louis with the Count Basie Orchestra in 1941. With his wonderful bass voice, Paul Robeson was best known for singing Spirituals. He retired in Harlem in the early 60s.
* * * * On December 15th Bill Saxton talked about his career, and his new venue, “Bill's Place," located at 148 West 133rd Street. His long- time friend and college partner, Sinclair Acey, joined Saxton to explain the venture's connection to The Harlem Jazz Scene, Inc., for which he serves as Chief Operating Officer. With animation, Saxton told the audience how, after he launched his parlor, he discovered the great jazz history of the block ("the original Swing Street") as well as legends such as Fats Waller and Billie Holiday who used to perform there.
Recounting their days together growing up and helping to launch a jazz program at the New England Conservatory of Music, the two buddies also emphasized the importance of jazz education today. Saxton's wife, Dr. Theda Palmer, also shared her experience in the field of education, and volunteered to assist the museum in its effort to reach parents for its youth big band initiative, “Harmony in Harlem." The evening closed with Saxton playing a moving version of Waller's “Jitterbug Waltz."
The Harlem Speaks series is produced by the Jazz Museum in Harlem's Executive Director, Loren Schoenberg, Co-Director Christian McBride, and Greg Thomas Associates. The series occurs at the offices of the Jazz Museum in Harlem, located at 104 East 126th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues, from 6:30pm-8:00pm.
This discussion series is free to the public. To view the photo archives of Harlem Speaks go to: http://www.jazzmuseuminharlem.org/ hs_photos.html
For more information contact All About Jazz.
