Harry Belafonte’s life is a compilation of artistic and political channels that has affected America and the world—from his days of being dubbed “the king of calypso,” with a string of hits including his signature “Day-O” renamed “The Banana Boat Song” before its 1950s release.
In the ’50s and ’60s Belafonte was a strong supporter of the Civil Rights Movement and one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s confidants, who assisted in organizing the 1963 March on Washington. Like many other civil rights activists, Belafonte was blacklisted, along with his mentor Paul Robeson, during the McCarthy era. Belafonte was active in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement,
In March 2014, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in Boston. He is an honorary co-chair of the Women’s March on Washington, which took place Jan. 21, 2017, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as president.
March 1, at 7:30 p.m. The “Turn the World Around: The Music and Legacy of Harry Belafonte” will be celebrated at Aaron Davis Hall, presented by City College Center for the Arts at West 135th Street and Convent Avenue (129 Convent Ave.).
The tribute concert will allow audiences to experience a multimedia event that includes songs from the Belafonte catalog performed by the Belafonte Alumni Group, those who know him best as they share anecdotes of their time with the three-time Grammy winner both onstage and off. They include Ty Stephens and Branice McKenzie with La Tanya Hall, Sam McKelton, Sharon Brooks, Gabrielle Lee, Deborah Sharpe-Taylor and Roumel Reaux.
The ensemble will feature Emanuel “Chulo” Gatewood (bass), Damon DueWhite (drums), Gregg Fine (electric guitar), Paul Ricci (acoustic guitar), Neil Clarke (percussion) and John F. Adams (keyboard), under the musical direction of Richard Cummings Jr. (musical director for Belafonte).
“This production is part of the development of an ongoing tour of this material designed to expose audiences everywhere to Harry’s music and to his amazing life,” stated event organizer Stephens. “There is no one carrying his musical legacy forward, thus far. It’s up to us.”
This musical journey, which falls on Belafonte’s 91st birthday, will feature the music of the Harlem-born singer/songwriter, including his hit songs such as “Jamaica Farewell,” “Matilda,” and “Mama Look at Boo Boo.” There might be a few songs from the groundbreaking film musical “Carmen Jones” (1954) that starred Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge.
Other film credits include two with his good friend Sidney Poitier, “Buck and the Preacher” (1972) and “Uptown Saturday Night” (1974). In 1984, Belafonte produced and scored the musical film “Beat Street,” highlighting the rise of hip-hop culture. He received the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor in Robert Altman’s jazz-age drama, “Kansas City” (1996).
In the 1940s, Belafonte started his music career as a club singer in New York to pay for his acting classes. During one of his early performances, he was accompanied by Charlie Parker with Max Roach, and Miles Davis.
After developing a strong interest in folk music, he eventually opened at the legendary jazz club Village Vanguard, which originally catered to folk singers.
In 1977, he released the album “Turn the World Around” (Columbia Records). The album had a strong focus on world music. The following year, 1978, he sang the spiritual title track on an episode of “The Muppet Show,” which he performed with specially made Muppets that resembled African tribal masks. “Turn the World Around” was also included in the 2005 official hymnal supplement of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Tickets are $30 general admission and are available for purchase online at www.citycollegecenterforthearts.org or by calling the box office at 212-650-6900.
Taylor Ho Bynum, the multi-instrumentalist who favors the cornet, has been known to travel to gigs on his bicycle. Each of his recordings and live performances are new adventures into the deep sea of jazz.
March 1 (tonight) experience Taylor Ho Bynum ninetette at the Jazz Gallery (1160 Broadway) as he takes creative liberties with his nine-piece ensemble.
Some of the like-minded musicians playing are Jim Hobbs, alto saxophone; Ingrid Laubrock, tenor saxophone; Bill Lowe, bass trombone and tuba; Mary Halvorson, electric guitar; Tomeka Reid, cello; and Tomas Fujiwara, his longtime drummer.
In 2007, Bynum co-founded the record label Firehouse 12, with engineer Nick Lloyd. The label’s first release was saxophonist Anthony Braxton’s “9 Compositions” (consisting of nine CDs and one DVD), followed by Bynum’s “The Middle Picture.”
Bynum released “Navigation” (2013), which featured four performances of a single piece, with two released on LP and two on CD. “I want to ask listeners to consider the composition as a set of possibilities rather than a fixed document, to encourage them to enjoy the mutable nature of the music in multiple realizations rather than focusing on one particular performance,” explained Bynum.
Shows are at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and $10 for members. Reserved table seating is $30. For reservations, visit the website info@jazzgallery.org.
The 1982 Pulitzer Prize winning play, “A Soldier’s Play,” by Charles Fuller, directed by Charles Weldon and produced by the Negro Ensemble Company, was one of the most significant Black productions of the 20th century.
Adolph Caesar, Denzel Washington and Larry B. Riley starred in the premiere season of the production.
The play is now running at the Gene Frankel Theatre in Lower Manhattan at 24 Bond St., now through March 4.
The psychological murder mystery, drenched in racism with conflicts and divisiveness between Black soldiers and the white military hierarchy during World War II (1944), is skillfully played by a new generation of wonderful actors. Some of the actors are Derek Dean, Jimmy Gary Jr., Fulton C. Hodges, Aaron Lloyd, Chaz Reuben and Adrain Washington.
Showtimes are 7 p.m., with 3 p.m. weekend matinees. General admission is $35. For tickets, visit the website NECINC.ORG or call 866-811-4111.
On a personal note, I thank my family, friends, musicians, readers and the AmNews editors for their calls of well wishes and inspiration, the visits and the daily assistance. You are truly my spiritual healers. Words will never express my deep gratitude. I am forever appreciative for your compassion. And a special shoutout to my doctors and nurses.
