Ginny’s Supper Club (310 Lenox Ave.) boosts a conclave of live jazz on a weekly basis, primarily on weekends.
Their blast of upcoming shows starts with the great vocalist and pianist Johnny O’Neal, on Jan. 17. His repertoire from standards, to little known B-sides, and blues will keep your fingers snapping and foot-stomping. He can call off at least 1,000 tunes to play at any given time. ‘Neal has played all the late-night sets (at 12:30 or 1 a.m.) in Manhattan from Smoke to Small’s and through his talent, perseverance and cult following has managed to get prime time in some of the main rooms. Unfortunately, he is only greeted with one-nighters when someone of his caliber should have a three-day engagement at least.
Set at 8 p.m. for reservations call 212-421-3821 or visit the website info
@ginnyssupperclub.com.
Harlem’s American Legion (248 West 132nd St.) is a Sunday jazz happening every week from 7 p.m.-11 p.m. The Sunday serenade was started 30 years ago by the famed Hammond B-3 organist Seleno Clarke, who led the weekly congregation with his trusty B-3 preaching an intensified sermon that led to all out dancing. Clarke played in the Post 398 pulpit until his death in December 2008.
Following his death, the Sunday’s have continued under Clarke’s longtime saxophonist and friend David Lee Jones. “It was only fitting that I pick up the torch at the Legion,” stated Jones. “I started playing with Seleno, 30 years ago when we had a weekly gig at the old Showman’s.” Sunday’s continued to be packed under Jones’ direction with a loyal Harlem crew along with tourists from Germany to Texas.
“Since Seleno’s organ was the centerpiece that drew the big crowds I make sure we always have a fantastic Hammond B-3 player on the stage,” said Jones. Greg Lewis was burning up the stage recently with drummer Russell Carter and guitarist Mike Eskarnazi. Jones noted this has been his standing quartet for the last eight months although he says various guitarists come by and he allows cats to sit- in.
Most important there is no charge but please donate to the honey pot passed around for the musicians and offer a nice tip to Karen the barmaid and waitress Barbara. Fried chicken and fish served with collard greens and various veggies and drinks for a price.
Jones has played with the early hip hop group Digable Planets and Phyllis Hyman. He was a member of the band until the evening Hyman died. “It was June 30, 1995 at the Apollo Theater we were opening for the Whispers and Phyllis’ manager came into the dressing room and told us she wasn’t going to perform. He later appeared and told us she had died. Man, we were all in shock he didn’t give any details but told us we still had to perform so we went onstage and did two songs ‘Through the Fire’ and Phyllis’ ‘Old Friend,’” said Jones. “The Apollo management informed the audience and offered refunds. I will never forget that night.”
Jones also appears every Monday night with the Mingus Big Band at the Jazz Standard. He says with a big smile the Legion gig in memory of Clarke is the best. The Legion is currently attempting to get 132nd street named in Clarke’s honor.
Recently, it was announced vocalist Vanessa Rubin’s CD “The Dream Is You: Vanessa Rubin Sings Tadd Dameron” has been nominated for the 51st NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album. Released on February 22, 2019, “The Dream Is You” shines a light on the prolific and often overlooked jazz composer, pianist and arranger Tadd Dameron.
“This nomination is an honor. Tadd and his music have been an inspiration to me as an artist for many years. This nomination continues to confirm my belief in the power of his influence in jazz,” said Rubin. “I hope to do for Tadd’s music what Carmen McRae did for Monk’s music,” she said referring to “Carmen McRae Sings Monk,” Novus 1988.
Rubin assembled an impressive band of jazz luminaries including pianist John Cowherd, bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Carl Allen with trumpeter Eddie Allen, tenor saxophonist Patience Higgins, alto saxophonist Bruce Williams, trombonist Clifton Anderson and baritone saxophonist Alex Harding. Dameron contemporaries Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Frank Foster and Willie Smith, along with Bobby Watson contributed arrangements.
Early on Rubin was a regular at the famous but now defunct St. Nick’s Pub, along with Olu Dara, James Carter, Patience Higgins, Savion Glover, TC III and Leopolo. A music hotbed where many musicians went to sharpen their chops and work on new material, it was an all-star jam session. Rubin was in that elite category working on new material while receiving loud applauses.
Rubin’s most memorable moment for me remains her performance as Billie Holiday in the one-woman play “Yesterdays: An Evening with Billie Holiday,” written by Renee Upchurch and directed by Woodie King Jr. Her performance about the life and music of Billie Holiday netted her a 2011 nomination for a Kevin Klein Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical.
“The Dream Is You” has historical significance as it is the first all-vocal recording of the pianist’s music by an American artist.
Joining Rubin in the Outstanding Jazz Album category is “Carib” by David Sanchez, “Center of the Heart” by Najee, “SoulMate” by Nathan Mitchell and “Love & Liberation” by Jazzmeia Horn. The 51st NAACP Image Awards will take place on Feb. 22 and air live on BET at 8 p.m.
For the Winter JazzFest the two-day Manhattan Marathon was an outrageous jazz platform of creative expression. The young alto saxophonist and composer Lakecia Benjamin played with unbridled abandonment, a boundless force that spirited the souls at Le Poisson Rouge. It was Lakecia Benjamin Presents Pursuance: The Music of The Coltranes. Her all-star cast included; legendary bassist Reggie Workman (a bandmember of both Alice and John Coltrane) and Lonnie Plaxico, saxophonists Marcus Strickland and Greg Osby, violinist Regina Carter, Zaccai Curtis and drummer Darrell Green. The ensemble’s interpretation of Alice Coltrane’s “Mantra” and John Coltrane’s “Alabama” and “Love Supreme” that closed the show was amazing. “The music is supposed to bring us closer together,” said Benjamin.
The performance was a prelude to the upcoming CD due for release in March (Ropeadope label). That included most of her special guests plus Gary Bartz, Ron Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Last Poets, Meshell Ndegeocello, Steve Wilson, Marcus Gilmore, Jazzmeia Horn, Georgia Ann Muldrow, John Benitez, Marc Cary, Brandee Younger, Marcus Strickland, Keyon Harrold, and Bertha Hope.
“What Alice and John Coltrane represent and accomplished in music is something I strive every day to achieve,” said Benjamin. “I hope to one day be able to touch as many people musically and emotionally as they did. They have changed the way jazz is played forever.”
The concept of playing the Coltranes’ music started a while ago for Benjamin. “I started off wanting to pay tribute to the elders in jazz. The living legends that played with Miles Davis, John and Alice, and Art Blakey,” explained Benjamin. “I wanted to pay homage to them while they were alive and still touring the world. I thought it would be best to have three generations paying homage to each other through the music of John and Alice Coltrane. To me they represent the highest level of excellence both musically and spiritually.”
The noted South African pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini flew from his native land for his debut performances at the Winter JazzFest. He fit right in with Nasheet Waits’ “By Sea” with bassist Rashaan Carter, alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins playing inside out originals. The following evening Makhathini appeared at the Zurcher Gallery leading his own band that featured saxophonist Logan Richardson, bassist Rashaan Carter and drummer Damian Reid. The pianist played a few originals with South African beats swinging in full force and a vocalist with flowing rhythmic African chants so distinct you could hear trees shimmering in the wind.
Makhathini recently signed with Blue Note Records; his “Modes of Communication: Letters From the Underworlds” will be released in April.
He is a pianist with a cultural imprint from the homeland to Harlem, a sound that draws you in like a magnet. We will be seeing more of him in the city for sure.
