Women's Jazz Month, Abyssinian Jazz, Monk Anniversary

Summary

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"The jazz series at Abyssinian Baptist Church is an exciting addition to the rebirth of quality, affordable live jazz showcases in Harlem," stated Ron West of the Men's Ministry. Recently, the ministry presented its second concert celebrating Black History Month and President Obama's inauguration. It was well attended by the Harlem community, including members of Abyssinian.

The first night, "The [Thelonious Monk] Orchestra at Town Hall, 1959: Reviving A Land- mark," featured the Charles Tolliver Orchestra. The repertoire was the same as Monk's original per- formance. Stanley Cowell was the pianist, and his performance was magnificent. No, he didn't try to play like Monk (that is an impossible feat), but his playing, along with that of the 10-piece all-star cast, was an exciting journey into the world of Monk. This performance was aired on WNYC radio. WNYC radio.

Tolliver, trumpeter and conductor, arranged the compositions with the integrity of Monk in mind, but gave the orchestra its own swinging identity. Tolliver, who attended the historic concert as a teenager, noted, "It was a daunting and then painstaking task working on this historic project, but it gave me great pleasure while doing it, reliving and remembering how I absorbed Monk during my formative years."

Women's History Month will get a big boost with its annual concert series of female artists at the Schomburg Center each Monday at 7 p.m. On March 9, vocalist Carmen Lundy will swing from up-tempo to smoky ballads; March 16 the Spelman Jazz Ensemble (of Spelman College) arrives in town; and on March 23, puff up your afros and get ready for some hardcore soul with the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra's tribute to Nina Simone. Performers included Grammy-nominated pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs, vocalists Charlotte Small (who is a member of Abyssinian's choir), singing R&B as well as jazz, and Eunice Newkirk, a regular on the Harlem scene who's performed to critical acclaim on the international touring circuit.

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Women's Jazz Month, Abyssinian Jazz, Monk Anniversary

Women's History Month will get a big boost with its annual concert series of female artists at the Schomburg Center each Monday at 7 p.m. On March 9, vocalist Carmen Lundy will swing from up-tempo to smoky ballads; March 16 the Spelman Jazz Ense...

See the full content of this document

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