Sistas’ Place (456 Nostrand Avenue), where jazz takes a revolutionary stance — profound music soaring with passion and fury, interpreting moments of the now and beyond. On Oct. 10, the noted Brooklyn community mecca features organist Gregory Lewis’s Organ Monk trio with guitarist Kevin McNeal and drummer Russell Carter. Two shows, at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Lewis’s moniker Organ Monk took shape more than two decades ago when Thelonious Monk’s music became the core of his repertoire. Lewis’s Hammond B-3 organ delivers a vigorous harmonic style to the off-tempo bent notes of Monk. His sound is saturated in organ blues, flourishing melodic grooves that can only be captured by his amazing B-3, singing soul and jazz drifting back to Harlem’s organ bars in the tradition of Larry Young, Brother Jack McDuff, and Dr. Lonnie Smith.
Organ Monk may break the Monk tradition to play a few bars of “Happy Birthday” in honor of Omowale Clay — Sistas’ Place co-founder and music director, and co-founder of the December 12 Movement — when the house celebrates his 80th birthday.
Continuing the celebratory mood, this writer will present the Jazz Journalists Association 2026 Hero Award to Robert “Bob” Myers. For more than 30 years, Myers has been a dedicated jazz servant, ready to do whatever the job required, no matter how small or large. Although he has retired to Arizona due to health issues, he remains a resilient advocate for jazz in Brooklyn. For reservations, call 718-398-1766, and for more info visit sistasplace.org.
Some of the most creative music is performed by Craig Harris and Harlem NightSongs every Thursday (7–8:15 p.m.) from now through January 2027 at Mount Morris Ascension Presbyterian Church (15 Mt. Morris Park West at 122nd Street).
For more than three decades, Harris has been committed to the tradition of using art as an active cultural voice to comment on social injustice and inhumanity in an effort to promote change. The trombonist, composer, bandleader, community activist, and music instigator Harris has put together an intriguing large ensemble he calls Harlem NightSongs to play original music that stimulates movement — not just to swing, but ideally to inspire folks to stand up for the cause. Music heals, but in these desperate times, it hollas out. Some of his distinguished cohorts will include saxophonist, flautist, producer, and arranger Jay Rodriguez; pianist and composer Yoichi Uzeki; drummer and percussionist Damon Duewhite; and vocalists Milton Suggs and Zakiyyah Modeste, who can pull emotions while singing on the outskirts of jazz.
Community tickets are only $15/person and can be purchased at the door.
Harlem Jazz is in dire need of support. Jazz is a cultural legacy; the resilience to move forward with defiant intention. It’s not enough to say you like jazz — as the cliché says, actions speak louder than words. Abbey Lincoln’s song-titled album “You Gotta Pay the Band” (Verve, 1991) sums it up.
Harlem Nightsongs are playing to keep the music going, playing for now and the next generation — music to be witnessed and enjoyed; “rhythms of resistance.” Visit harlemjazzboxx.com for more info.
On a recent visit to Los Angeles, I learned that L.A. has more Black-owned jazz clubs than New York City, the hippest spot on the globe. It is most crucial for Black people to present this music called jazz in all forms in their own venues; New York and Harlem have to catch up.
L.A. boasts a number of Black-owned clubs in the community, such as World Stage Performance Gallery in Leimert Park Village, founded by legendary jazz drummer Billy Higgins and poet/arts activist Kamau Daáood. The World Stage was created to fill a cultural gap in the Los Angeles African American community. Somerville is an intimate/upscale restaurant on Slauson Corridor in Historic View Park-Windsor Hills (South Central), built for nights that need to feel like an occasion, featuring live jazz and delta blues in an upscale art deco supper club co-founded by South L.A. creators and actress/producer Issa Rae (from my favorite HBO series, “Insecure”). The Lavender Blue Sports Lounge is a lively neighborhood lounge and restaurant in Inglewood with live jazz and blues nights. Jiji Jazz Club has a grassroots monthly jazz and arts pop‑up series curated by multidisciplinary artist Tída Norasingh, blending live music, open jams, and community‑driven events in various Los Angeles venues with regular live jazz and R&B bands. Sam First Jazz Club & Bar’s swanky atmosphere features major touring and local jazz artists five nights a week in the listening room of a sleek mid-century environment. Contact venues for their specific schedules.
Blue Note LA, the latest addition to the franchise on the storied Sunset Blvd., is much more spacious than its New York City counterpart, the flagship and oldest of the Blue Note franchise. Ironically, the evening we attended the noted venue, R&B, rather than jazz, was on the menu.
Although I was totally oblivious to Baby Love’s reputation as a singer and songwriter, the audience was locked into her groove, singing along to every word as if they had seen her 1,000 times and memorized her every song — all originals. She was equipped with a six-piece ensemble, who were no strangers to the art of hardcore swing, R&B, soul, and blues, prompting folks to get on their feet to move and groove. Baby Love knew how to captivate a crowd. She said in her introduction, “I’m a yearner, yearning for love. Tonight, this is our safe space to talk and express our feelings.”
The room, with its mellow ambiance, wasn’t congested. The tables and chairs on the floor in the center of the club are surrounded by a long couch along the wall with tables and chairs; very comfy. The friendly waitress pointed out that extremely busy nights could necessitate extra chairs at tables, but added that the atmosphere is pretty much controllable.
What really caught my attention in driving around Los Angeles were those driver-less Waymo cars; actually cabs, like Uber or Lyft, but with no driver and folks just sitting in the back seat. No, I am not ready for AI to chauffeur me around town. Then one night, while sitting at the red light, this little wagon with bright blinking blue lights rolls across the street directly in front of us. “Hey, what’s that?” I asked, with a puzzled Octavia E. Butler-style sci-fi gaze. Without missing a beat, my friend said, “Oh, that’s a delivery cart.” More specifically, they are AI delivery carts from Serve Robotics and Coco Robotics, currently operating in 40 L.A. neighborhoods.
What’s next — AI operated jazz clubs with bartenders and live AI music? Now, that’s scary.
