Jazzmobile in Full Effect

On June 23, 2008 by D. Bell
Jazzmobile unveiled its 45th Summer Festival schedule–a free summer mobile jazz concert series of nearly 60 performances across the five boroughs, Mount Vernon and Newark, New Jersey–with a concert Saturday at the Make Music New York Festival. The kick off, which included swing music by the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra with special guests Lou Donaldson, Ghanniyyah Green and Houston Person and introduced the winner of the Fifth Annual Jazzmobile Vocal Competition, took place on the plaza of the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (Harlem) State Office Building on 125th Street. The launch concert was a part of Make Music New York, a live, free musical celebration transforming public space throughout the five boroughs–sidewalks, parks, community gardens, and more–into impromptu musical stages and dance floors. The event, which takes place every June 21 to mark the first day of summer, brought professional and amateur musicians to outdoor venues across the city.

Queen Esther, the winner of the Fifth Annual Jazzmobile Vocal Competition, gave a special performance at the kick off as well. Chosen Thursday at the River Room Restaurant by judges Billy Taylor, Eunice Newkirk and T.S. Monk, the singer bested 86 fierce competitors for the 2008 “Best of the Best Jazz Vocalist” crown.

Gayle Jennings O’Bryne, vice president of JPMorgan Chase Foundation, presented a $75,000 check to Robin Bell-Stevens, Jazzmobile president & CEO, and Billy Taylor, founder and chairman emeritus of the first not-for-profit jazz education and performance organization for jazz.

“With the cool melodic sounds of the Billy Taylor Trio filling the air one hot summer day in July 45 years ago, a summer tradition was born: the Jazzmobile Summer Festival,” said Bell-Stevens. “Since then we have been bringing the best in jazz to audiences of all ages and helping to enrich our great city.”

The Festival begins on Monday, July 7. During July and August, Jazzmobile will be at Grant’s Tomb (122nd Street and Riverside Drive) every Wednesday and at Marcus Garvey Park (122nd and Fifth Avenue) on Fridays at 7:00 p.m., and it will produce numerous other concerts across Manhattan, the outer boroughs and beyond. Highlights of the Festival include flutist-saxophonist Frank Wess (Grant’s Tomb, August 6), pianist Geri Allen (Grant’s Tomb, September 10), trombonist Wycliffe Gordon (Grant’s Tomb, August 20) and Latin jazz great, Ray Mantilla (Marcus Garvey Park, August 15).

The summer season will include a “Jazzmobile vocal showcase” with tributes to three legends at the Gatehouse at Harlem Stage. On Thursday September 11, 2005 Jazzmobile Vocal Competition winner Lynette Washington will sing from the songbook of Nina Simone; on Friday, September 12, Ghanniyyah Green will sing songs made popular by Sarah Vaughan; and Joe Williams will be honored on Saturday, September 13 at a concert featuring award-winning vocalist Gregory Generet.

This year, on the invitation of Mayor Cory Booker, the Rev. Bill Howard (senior pastor of Bethany Church), the late bassist Earl May and his widow Lee May, Jazzmobile is presenting 10 concerts in Newark. The “Jazz It Up” free concert series launches on Thursday, July 10 at Lincoln Park and continues with one or two concerts each week through August. The concerts, held in conjunction with the City of Newark, will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

On Saturday, September 6, Jazzmobile, Inc. and the Central Park Conservancy will again join forces for the annual Great Jazz on the Great Hill, bringing an exciting line up of performers to the Peter Jay Sharp Children’s Glade and the Great Hill. Performers will include the Akiko, Wycliffe Gordon, Jimmy Heath Big Band, and others. The event will run from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and include a swing dance demonstration and performance by the children attending.

The Festival wraps up in grand style with “Jazz in the Key of Gospel in the Key of Jazz,” at Riverbank State Park at 145th and Riverside Drive on Sunday, September 14 from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

All events are free, with the exception of the September 11-13 tribute concerts at the Gatehouse at Harlem Stage, which each will cost $10.00 admission for general “nightclub” seating. For more information, go to jazzmobile.org. All performances are weather permitting and.subject to change.

Full schedule is after the jump.

2008 Jazzmobile Summer Festival ScheduleMon., Jul. 7 7:00 p.m.
Ghanniyya Green
111th Street & Lenox Avenue
Manhattan

Tues., Jul.8 7:00 p.m.
Ray Vega
34-56 107th Street (Corona)
Queens

Wed., Jul. 9 7:00 p.m.
Houston Person
Grant’s Tomb – 122nd Street & Riverside Drive
Manhattan

Thurs., Jul. 10 7:00 p.m.
Jann Parker
Claremont Park – Webster Avenue
Bronx

Fri., Jul. 11 7:00 p.m.
T.K. Blue “Follows the North Star”
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd Street & 5th Avenue
Manhattan

Sat., Jul. 12 3:00 p.m.
Lily White
MacDonough Street bet. Ralph & Patchen
Brooklyn

Mon., Jul. 14 7:00 p.m.
Teodross Avery
Morningside Park – 114th Street Entrance
Manhattan

Tues., Jul. 15 7:00 p.m.
Akiko Tsuruga Quartet
47th Street bet. 9th & 10th Avenues
Manhattan

Wed., Jul. 16 7:00 p.m.
Jeremy Pelt
Grant’s Tomb – 122nd Street & Riverside Drive
Manhattan

Thurs., Jul. 17 7:00 p.m.
Dave Gibson
Echo Park – Valentine Avenue. bet. Tremont & Burnside Avenues
Bronx

Fri., Jul. 18 7:00 p.m.
Lou Donaldson
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd Street & 5th Avenue
Manhattan

Mon., Jul. 21 7:00 p.m.
Eddie Allen
Macon Street bet. Ralph & Patchen Avenue
Brooklyn

Tues., Jul. 22 7:00 p.m.
Akiko Tsuruga Quartet
Good Shepherd Plaza (Roosevelt Island)
Queens

Wed., Jul. 23 7:00 p.m.
Onaje Allan Gumbs
Grant’s Tomb – 122nd Street & Riverside Drive
Manhattan

Thurs., Jul. 24 7:00 p.m.
 Danny Mixon
Clermont Avenue bet. Fulton & Greene
Brooklyn

Fri., Jul. 25 7:00 p.m.
Jazzberry Jam
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd Street & 5th Avenue
Manhattan

Mon., Jul. 28 6:00 p.m.
Junior Mance Trio & Antoinette Montague
City Hall Plaza
Mt. Vernon, NY

Tues., Jul. 29 7:00 p.m.
Vanessa Rubin
138th Street bet. 7th & Lenox Avenue
Manhattan

Wed., Jul. 30 7:00 p.m.
Winard Harper
Grant’s Tomb – 122nd Street & Riverside Drive
Manhattan

Thurs., Jul. 31 7:00 p.m.
Cynthia Scott
150th-155th Street & Edgecombe Avenue
Manhattan

Fri., Aug. 1 7:00 p.m.
Lonnie Youngblood
129th Street bet. 7th & 8th Avenue
Manhattan

Mon., Aug. 4 7:00 p.m.
TBA
Staten Island

Tues., Aug. 5 7:00 p.m.
Eunice Newkirk
135th Street bet. 7th & 8th Avenue
Manhattan

Wed., Aug. 6 7:00 p.m.
Frank Wess
Grant’s Tomb – 122nd Street & Riverside Drive
Manhattan

Thurs., Aug. 7 7:00 p.m.
Lonnie Youngblood
111-12 198th Street (Hollis)
Queens

Fri., Aug. 8 7:00 p.m.
Winard Harper
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd Street & 5th Avenue
Manhattan

Sat., Aug. 9 3:00 p.m.
Danny Mixon
64th Street between Amsterdam & West End Avenue
Manhattan

Mon., Aug. 11 7:00 p.m.
Barry Harris
118th Street between 7th & Lenox Avenue
Manhattan

Tues., Aug. 12 7:00 p.m.
Charles Davis Sextet
144th Street between 7th & 8th Avenue
Manhattan

Wed., Aug 13 7:00 p.m.
Benny Powell
Grant’s Tomb – 122nd Street & Riverside Drive
Manhattan

Thurs., Aug. 14 7:00 p.m.
Arturo O’Farrill
141st Street between Willis & Alexander Avenue
Bronx

Fri., Aug. 15 7:00 p.m.
Ray Mantilla & the Good Vibrations Band
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd Street & 5th Avenue
Manhattan

Mon., Aug. 18 7:00 p.m.
Elise Woods
139th Street between 8th & Edgecombe Avenues
Manhattan

Tues., Aug. 19 7:00 p.m.
Houston Person
Lyman Pl between Freeman & 169th Street
Bronx

Wed., Aug. 20 7:00 p.m.
Wycliffe Gordon
Grant’s Tomb – 122nd Street & Riverside Drive
Manhattan

Thurs., Aug. 21 7:00 p.m.
Lou Donaldson
Co-op City – Greenway at Section 5
Bronx

Fri., Aug. 22 7:00 p.m.
Larry Ridley & the Jazz Legacy Ensemble
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd Street & 5th Avenue
Manhattan

Mon., Aug. 25 7:00 p.m.
Harlem Renaissance Orchestra & Cynthia Holiday
106th Street (Duke Ellington Blvd.) betweenCentral Park West & Manhattan Avenue
Manhattan

Tues., Aug. 26 7:00 p.m.
Phil Young
122nd Street between 7th & Lenox Avenue
Manhattan

Wed., Aug. 27 7:00 p.m.
Jimmy Heath
Grant’s Tomb – 122nd Street & Riverside Drive
Manhattan

Thurs., Aug. 28 7:00 p.m.
Ray Schinnery
132nd Street bet. 7th & Lenox Avenue
Manhattan

Fri., Aug. 29 7:00 p.m.
Ghanniyya Green
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd Street & 5th Avenue
Manhattan

Sun., Sep. 6 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Jimmy Heath Big Band, Wycliffe Gordon Septet and others Great Jazz on the Great Hill
Central Park West & 106th Street
Manhattan

Wed., Sep. 10 7:00 p.m.
Geri Allen
Grant’s Tomb – 122nd Street & Riverside Drive
Manhattan

Thurs., Sep. 11 8:00 p.m.
Tribute to Nina Simone
The Gatehouse
Harlem Stage – Convent Avenue &135th Street (CUNY Campus)
Manhattan
$10.00 admission

Fri., Sep. 12 8:00 p.m.
Tribute to Sarah Vaughn
The Gatehouse
Harlem Stage – Convent Avenue &135th Street (CUNY Campus)
Manhattan
$10.00 admission

Sat., Sep. 13 8:00 p.m.
Tribute to Joe Williams
The Gatehouse
Harlem Stage – Convent Avenue &135th Street (CUNY Campus)
Manhattan
$10.00 admission

Sun., Sep. 14 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Jazz & Gospel Concert
Riverbank State Park – 145th Street & Riverside Drive
Manhattan

Check jazzmobile.org for updates, including the Newark concerts. Please note that all performances are weather permitting and subject to change.

Venue Subway Directions

  • 34-56 107th Street, Corona ( block north of 37th Avenue in front of Louis Armstrong House Museum)–Take the 7 to the 103rd Street-Corona Plaza.
  • 47th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues–Take the C, E or 1 trains to 50th Street or N, R or W to 49th Street.
  • 64th Street, between Amsterdam & West End Avenues–Take the 1 train to 66th Street/ Lincoln Center.
  • 106th Street, between Central Park West and Manhattan Avenue–Take the B or C to 103rd Street.
  • 111th Street & Lenox Avenue–Take the 2 or 3 subway to Central Park North/110th Street station.
  • 111-12 198th Street, Hollis–Take the F subway to 179th Street.
  • 112nd Street, between 7th and Lenox Avenues–Take the 2 or 3 train to 110th Street.
  • 118th Street, between 7th and Lenox Avenues–Take the B, C, 2 or 3 to 116th Street.
  • 129th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues–Take the A, B, C, D, 2 or 3 trains to 125th Street.
  • 132nd Street, between 7th & Lenox Avenues–Take the B, C, 2 or 3 subway to 135th Street.
  • 135th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues–Take the B, C, 2 or 3 to 135th Street.
  • 138th Street, between 7th and Lenox Avenues–Take the 2 or 3 subways to 135th Street.
  • 139th Street, between 8th and Edgecombe Avenues–Take the B or C train to 135th Street.
  • 143rd Street, between Willis and Alexander Avenues–Take the 5 subway to 3rd Avenue – 149th Street.
  • 144th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues–Take the A, B, C, D or 3 to 145th Street.
  • 150-155th Street & Edgecombe Avenue–Take the C train to 155th Street.
  • Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (Harlem) State Office Building–Take the A, B, C, D, 2 or 3 train to 125th Street.
  • Central Park, Great Hill–Take the B or C to 103rd Street. Enter the Park at 106th Street (Duke Ellington Blvd.) and Central Park West and walk up the stairs or ramp to The Great Hill.
  • Claremont Park, 1620 Webster Avenue, Bronx–Take the B subway to the 170th Street Station.
  • Clermont Avenue, bet. Fulton & Greene–Take the C to Clinton-Washington Avenues.
  • Co-op City, Greenway at Section 5–Take the 6 train to Pelham Bay Park, then take the QBx1 or the Bx12 or the Bx29 buses to Co-op City. Or, take the 2 or 5 train to Gun Hill Road, then take the Bx28 bus to Co-op City.
  • Echo Park, Valentine Avenue, bet. Tremont & Burnside Avenues–Take the D train to Tremont Avenue.
  • Gatehouse at Harlem Stage, 150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street–Take the 1 subway to 137th Street or the A, B, C, D to 125th Street.
  • Good Shepherd Plaza–Take the F train to Roosevelt Island or the Tramway Car at 59th Street & Second Avenue to Tramway Station on Roosevelt Island.
  • Grant’s Tomb, 122nd Street & Riverside Drive–Take the 1 subway to 125th Street.
  • Lyman Place between Freeman & 169th Street–Take the 2 to Freeman Street.
  • MacDonough Street, bet. Ralph & Patchen Avenues–Take the A train to Utica Avenue.
  • Macon Street, bet. Ralph & Patchen Avenues–Take the C subway to Ralph Avenue.
  • Marcus Garvey Park, 122nd Street & Fifth Avenue–Take the 4 train to 125th Street.
  • Morningside Park, 114th Street and Morningside Avenue–Take the B or C to 116th Street.
  • Riverbank State Park, 145th Street & Riverside Drive–Take the A, B, C or D to 145th Street.

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    SOURCE: Cheryl Duncan & Company


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