History of Jazz

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Comment by HARLEM JAZZ NOTES on October 13, 2009 at 6:36pm

Take Notes

Comment by HARLEM JAZZ NOTES on October 13, 2009 at 6:34pm

Take Notes

Comment by Marlana-Patrice on October 9, 2009 at 11:59am

Almost show time here in Phoenix 10/15-18. I have supporting roles and am a background singer for this Donny Hathaway Tribute, a BlackPoet Ventures Production. Go to www.blackpoetventures.com for details. Here's the official flier. I am on the left in the top right inserted photo.

Comment by Von Babasin on September 17, 2009 at 11:29am

I have been in touch with such jazz journalists and historians as Phil Schaap, Scott Willis, Marc Myers, Ted Gioia, John Tynan, Mark Cantor, Chet Hanley, Jason Crane, and a host of others, concerning a documentary I'm producing about my father, bassist Harry Babasin - please visit the link below -

New York Foundation for the Arts
Read and re-read Von Babasin's interview at: http://www.nyfa.org/level3.asp?id=694&fid=5&sid=156

Comment by Bv Photography on August 29, 2009 at 6:21pm

I enjoyed spending time with Sam Rivers last year in his home to conduct this interview: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/community_altamonte_blog/2008/09/sam-rivers---po.html

Comment by Crutch D. Louis on August 19, 2009 at 11:18am

Leon Sealey you do your thang and celebrate Jazz artist all around NYC!
I'll catch up to you when we plan our "Ultimate Jam Session" in NYC.
I'm thinking about spreading some love by bringing NYC to Orlando, Florida or Jacksonville, Florida one day.

I'll talk to you so you can cover!

Comment by Leon (Sealey2k) Sealey on August 11, 2009 at 2:51pm

JAZZMOBILE & ITS FOUNDER, DR. BILLY TAYLOR, PLAN REUNION
TO CELEBRATE ORGANIZATION’S 45TH ANNIVERSARY

Jazzmobile Artists to Recreate Famous ‘Great Day in Harlem’ Photo
Before August 12 Grant’s Tomb Concert Featuring Veteran Jazz Musician Jimmy Heath



NEW YORK (August 5, 2009)—In honor of Jazzmobile Inc.’s 45th anniversary, an array of musicians will come out for a reunion before the group’s Wednesday, August 12, free concert featuring veteran jazz instrumentalist and composer Jimmy Heath being held at 7:00 pm. The artists, who have performed for Jazzmobile at concert halls, clubs and in its renowned Summerfest mobile concerts since the group’s 1964 founding, will join the organization's founder Dr. Billy Taylor in recreating the famous 1958 Art Kane “Great Day in Harlem” photo, a group portrait of legendary jazz musicians. The photo will be taken at 5:30 pm. Jazzmobile presents New York’s oldest continuous summer Jazz festival reaching approximately 100,000 annually.



Heath, who has not only been a Jazzmobile artist but has helped to create the next generation of jazz performers as an instructor since the 1970s, will take the stage at 7:00 pm and perform until 8:30 p.m. Having led his own ensembles and big band, Heath has performed with nearly all the jazz greats of the last 50 years, from Howard McGhee, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis to Wynton Marsalis, Heath has long been recognized as a brilliant instrumentalist and a magnificent composer and arranger. He is the middle brother of the legendary Heath Brothers (Percy Heath/bass and Tootie Heath/drums) and the father of urban contemporary and funk musician and producer Mtume, known for his 1970s/80s band of the same name. Over the course of his career Heath has performed on more than 100 record albums, including seven with The Heath Brothers and 12 as a leader. Many of Heath’s more than 125 compositions have become jazz standards.



All of Jazzmobile’s audience will be invited to join in a second photo if they are wearing the 2009 Jazzmobile Summerfest T-shirt! Everyone is invited to dine and enjoy all of the items for sale at the merchandise bazaar.



WHO: Jazzmobile artists; Jazzmobile Founder Dr. Billy Taylor; President & CEO Robin Bell-Stevens

WHAT: Recreation of Art Kane “Great Day in Harlem” photo with Jazzmobile artists in honor of the organization's 45th Anniversary

WHEN: Wednesday, August 12
5:30 pm Photo with Jazzmobile jazz artists
7:00 pm Jimmy Heath Concert

WHERE: Grant’s Tomb, West 122nd Street & Riverside Drive, Harlem—west of the Riverside Church (New York City)

Comment by MILTON E. RUSS II / NANTAMBU on July 30, 2009 at 5:42am

HELLO GOOD PEOPLE
SIR " EDDIE DURHAM " WAS A MASTER OF MASTERS AND IT'S JUST FANTASTIC THAT HIS TALENT IS BEING SHARED STILL TO THE WORLD ! I'M HONORED TO HAVE KNOWN HIM AND MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY !
GOD BLESS
PERCUSSIONIST
NANTAMBU MILTON ELIJAH RUSS II

Comment by Topsy M. Durham on July 29, 2009 at 6:18am

...on EDDIE DURHAM 1920's in Texas USA:
After the Dramatic Show ended, Eddie joined the 101 Ranch Rodeo Circus which he says "was like the Ringling Brothers Show, only they had a bigger ring, because in some of the acts they had 3 - 4 tribes of Indians. Chief White Horse, Chief White Cloud and they'd perform just like they do in a movie. It was a Wild West show...yeah, and sometimes rifles... with blanks, all in the tent. They had a parade, then later on, the minstrel band would be further back in the parade playing jazz type stuff and the comedians on the wagon. But I arranged for the nine-piece minstrel show when we would break at 9PM, we'd go someplace where you could give a dance, charge 50 cents and I would write for them...and that's when I used the guitar and that's how I learned to voice above [triad] 3-part harmony. I would rehearse 4 trombones together and for the piano, I would get 2-3 French horns, voice 2-3 part harmony for them, giving a piano sound. Later we added in clarinets. I was experimenting in voicing. My brother was teaching me to read music." It was rehearsing with this traveling Circus show, and the jam sessions after the shows, where Eddie began developing multiple-part harmony.

"The last show that I was with them, they were at Yankee Stadium in New York and then they tore down [the Stadium] that year after and the show went to Europe." Eddie and his brothers joined "Edgar Battles Dixie Ramblers", a larger band..

Comment by Topsy M. Durham on July 29, 2009 at 6:16am

Joseph Durham, Jr. (eldest brother to Eddie) played bass, trumpet, violin/cello, guitar, trombone - played with Blanche Calloway and Nat King Cole. He also served in WW-1 in the 24th Infantry which merged with the Tenth Cavalry Guards for Teddy Roosevelt. He was musical director for the homecoming party of this Calvary Band. Joe, Jr. subscribed to Correspondence Lessons from the U.S. School of Music and taught his siblings (including Eddie Durham) to read and write music. He formed The Durham Brother's Orchestra, which became the 'house band' to Mamie Smiths 711 Show around 1924. The four brothers travelled with Doug Morgan's dramatic show where Eddie played trombone and 4-string guitar. Earl played clarinet and Sax. Roosevelt played piano and violin. Their cousins later joined them. They were Allen, a trombonist and engineer who recorded with Les Hite, T-Bone Walker and Lionel Hampton; Clyde played bass/tuba; and the infamous alto saxophonist Herschel Evans.

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