Bassist and educator Endea Owens is bringing her annual Community Cookout to Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park on August 17. The event, presented in partnership with the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem (NJMH), and the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, seeks to create “inclusive spaces that are accessible to anyone no matter their race, gender, or background. Through music, activism, and meals,” according to the NJMH website. “This event strives to make New York a better place.”
Owens, who is based in NYC but was raised in Detroit, has collaborated with industry giants that include Diana Ross, John Batiste, and Wynton Marsalis, and is a member of the Louis Cato-led band for “Stephen Colbert’s Late Show.” She studied at Julliard and was mentored by legendary bassists Ron Carter, Rodney Whitaker, and Marcus Belgrave, and has since appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk, and as a part of H.E.R.’s band for her 2021 Super Bowl halftime show performance. In 2020 Owens started the Community Cookout, a non-profit organization that aims to provide communal and cultural connection through music, meals, and education. The organization has hosted dozens of events including free concerts, and has community members in Harlem, Queens, Newark, NJ, and more.
The event, hosted in Marcus Garvey Park from 12p.m.-4 p.m., will feature free food on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as a performance by Owens’ group, The Cookout, who will bring their soulful blend of contemporary jazz to the Harlem park. The Community Cookout is only blocks away from the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, which features a variety of free and low-cost programming annually. The museum’s entry fee is donation based, making the institution a fun and accessible destination for the whole family. For more info about the Community Cookout, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, visit jmih.org.
Kudos to .
Ms. OWENS for her giving and loving spirit.