President Jimmy Carter instituted June as Black Music Month in 1979, although it took the perseverance of journalist and radio host Dyana Williams and music industry executives Kenny Gamble, Ed Wright, and the help of Congressman Chaka Fattah to finally push the legislation through in 2000 during President Bill Clinton’s term.
“Black Music Month was originally created to promote, protect, and perpetuate the business of Black music, not just to celebrate Black music,” said Naima Cochrane, former board member of the Black Music Action Coalition.
Now celebrating its 47th anniversary, the month remains an opportunity to recognize Black music’s undeniable influence across the globe. To honor and celebrate Black artists’ contributions to music on U.S. soil, where shouts of call and response came from toiling ancestors in the burning sun-drenched cotton fields, grunts and hollas; cries, hand-clapping, foot stomping, and that rhythmic cadence flowing from Baptist ministers.
Black Music Month was renamed African-American Music Appreciation Month in 2009 by President Barack Obama. For a portion of the population, the word Black conjures up fear; Black Power, Black Arts Movement, Black Lives Matter, Black Studies, Black thought, Black power gonna git yo momma. These terms connotate defiance and resilience; fortunately, in 2023, President Biden restored the original Black Music Month. Hooray, power to the people!
June acknowledges music warriors’ many sacrifices, jovially entertaining all the time while recording a soundtrack of life experiences of America’s constant inhumanity — lynchings, segregation, Jim Crow, and disenfranchisement. Ironically, the Chitlin’ Circuit is long gone but no such Black touring circuit ever replaced it. At this very moment, Black musicians across the country are in dire need of work; unfortunately, there are not enough venues to support everyone as great as they are, suggesting alternatives for this 21st-century music business have to be addressed. Black Music Month is commendable, but let’s not be complacent. “Come celebrate with me / that everyday / something has tried to kill me / and has failed,” lines from Lucille Clifton’s poem “Won’t You Celebrate with Me.”
Upon entering the Jazzcultural (349 West 46th Street) music room, the huge portrait of Barry Harris — a nod to his Jazz Cultural Theater — immediately catches your attention; he is presiding over the lively goings on; be assured the celestial bebop artist is glowing with a magnificent smile.
As Jazzcultural swings into summer, be prepared for an intoxicating evening with singer Lezlie Harrison on June 10. Two shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. To call her a jazz singer limits her creativity as a song stylist. Whether she’s going all out on Abbey Lincoln’s iconic jazz tune “Throw It Away,” or the well-traveled “People Make the World Go-Round,” a song that has been adopted by a wide variety of genres, Harrison’s mesmerizing mid-range smoky timbre leaves a lasting impression along with imaginative arrangements that add to her bright reconstruction. “I’m looking forward to making my debut as part of Akiko Tsuruga’s Organ Night series, at this beautiful new club created by my dear friend Spike Wilner,” said Harrison. She will be joined by guitarist Matt Chertkoff, organist Greg “Organ Monk” Lewis, and drummer Bruce Cox.
Trombonist, arranger, composer Steve Turre with his unique bag of shells and trombone makes his way to Jazzcultural on June 12-14. The imaginative pioneer, who turned seashells into actual instruments, will swing with an impressive repertoire spanning over five decades from straight-ahead to Latin jazz. The trombonist who has been a member of the Saturday Night Band since 1985 will be joined by an intergenerational all-star group: trumpeter Wallace Roney Jr., tenor sax James Carter, pianist Eric Lewis, bassist Kenny Davis, and drummer Orion Turre. Two shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Late-night Jazzcultural June 12-13 (10:30 p.m.-midnight) presents Justin Robinson Quartet featuring the resourceful artists: pianist, composer Sharp Radway, bassist Danton Boller, and drummer Willie Jones III. For tickets visit jazzcultural.com.
Three-time Grammy-winner, pianist, composer, and arranger Sullivan Fortner was so nice he’s back twice with his dynamic piano duos The Jazz Gallery’s (TJG) Signature Series on June 12-13. Fortner will be joined by different innovative pianists for each set at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Oooops, the Kenny Barron duo is already sold out, so we begin with the 9 p.m. set on June 12 featuring the Venezuelan Luis Perdomo, influenced by Bud Powell, Albert Ayler, and Oscar Peterson. June 13, 7 p.m. features one of the genre’s most underrated pianists, Bertha Hope, an imaginative artist who earned a reputation leading her own groups, as well as her extended collaborations with Elmo Hope and Walter Booker.
At 9 p.m., the daring pianist Orrin Evans joins Fortner, bringing his exploratory range of big band sounds to fusion, soul, and spoken word. For tickets, best be quick for this one, and visit jazzgallery.org.
Arnie Perez has been in the jazz game for over 30 years, promoting this music throughout Manhattan and the Bronx, paying tribute to creative jazz artists who keep our feet tapping and fingers snapping. For the past dozen years, he’s successfully sold out a variety of venues in Manhattan for his monthly Sunday Serenade series.
On June 14, the series returns to its old haunt, the historic Zinc Bar (82 West 3rd Street) from 3 p.m.-5:45 p.m. — paying tribute to alto saxophonist Ernie Henry. Many may not be familiar with the Brooklyn native, who died far too soon at the age of 31, in 1957.
As a leader, Henry recorded only four albums for Riverside Records (one a collaboration with Kenny Dorham “2 Horns/ 2 Rhythm”), his most popular being “Last Chorus” (1957) with Lee Morgan, Benny Golson, Kenny Dorham, and Thelonious Monk. Just to hear the quintet swing on Monk’s tune “Ba-Lue Boliver Ba-Lues-Are,” is well worth the price of the album, stretching out with Henry’s bluesy soul sax and Monk’s outrageous solo; or the horns trading boppin’ notes on “Sposin’.”
Henry is best known for stints with Tadd Dameron, Max Roach, Illinois Jacquet, and Fats Navarro. He recorded five albums with Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band, and appeared on Monk’s album “Brilliant Corners” (Riverside 1957) with such jazz dignitaries as Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, Clark Terry, Oscar Pettiford, and Paul Chambers.
Henry’s tribute features the able pianist Sharp Radway, alto saxophonist Justin Robinson, bassist Danton Boller, and drummer Willie Jones III. For reservations, call 917-882-9539.
Juneteenth refers to June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the Civil War. It was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.
One of the many Juneteenth celebrations in the works will be the Sistas’ Place Annual Street Festival (456 Jefferson Ave) in Brooklyn. The all-day celebration will hit from noon to 6 p.m. This year’s theme is “We are not Free Yet.”
At 12:30 p.m., Dr. Gerald Horne, the renowned American historian and Moores Professor of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston and author of over 40 books, will give a lecture on the history of Juneteenth, followed by a book signing. I had the pleasure of briefly speaking with Dr. Horne about his upcoming New York visit.
Although it was just a phone call, I was extremely nervous, having such a prestigious reputation preceding him. He pointed out it is always a pleasure returning to the city where he once lived. “I have known Sistas’ Place for years and have participated in a few of their Juneteenth celebrations. There is so much misinformation on Juneteenth; it’s an honor to share my information on this important celebration,” said Dr. Horne. Part of the lecture will come from his book “The Counter-Revolution of 1836: Texas Slavery & Jim Crow and the Roots of U.S. Fascism” (International Publishers 2022). The event takes place at 102 Jefferson Avenue, donation $10.
Other activities include: at 2 p.m. Jason Clotter Jazz Quartet and LonDon, teen jazz vocalist. The fashion show, always a crowd pleaser, starts at 3 p.m. featuring Our Tribal Truth Models and renowned Grandassa Models (pioneers of the Black is Beautiful movement started by Kwame Brathwaite and Elombe Brath (which centered on natural Black beauty during 1962-1979). For more information, call 718-398-1766.
“Money don’t matter tonight/it sure didn’t matter yesterday/just when you think you got more than you need/that’s when it all up and flies away/that’s when you find out you’re better off making sure your soul is alright.” Lyrics by Prince, “Money Don’t Matter 2 Night.”
Enjoy Black Music Month, Happy Juneteenth.
