JAZZMOBILE TO SELECT THE ‘BEST OF THE BEST’ JAZZ VOCALIST
Singers Battle as Jazz Vocal Competition Returns to New York on July 27
NEW YORK (July 17, 2009)—Up-and-coming jazz singers will duke it out for bragging rights and a place in the spotlight at the Jazzmobile Jazz Vocal Competition on Monday, July 27. Jazzmobile Inc., which presents New York’s oldest continuous summer Jazz festival reaching approximately 100,000 annually, will select the “best of the best” jazz vocalist at the contest at Harlem’s Gospel Uptown restaurant. The event, which begins at 6:30 p.m., is part of Jazzmobile’s 45th anniversary celebration.
Ninety vocalists from across the tri-state area and as far away as Detroit auditioned on July 2 and 3 at the Harlem School of the Arts. The group has been whittled down to eight contestants, who will vie for a grand prize of $2,000, the coveted Jazzy Vocal Award and an opportunity to perform at an upcoming Jazzmobile event. (The first runner up receives a prize of $1,000.) One of the eight contenders has studied at Jazzmobile’s Saturday Jazz Workshop, which trains the next generation of jazz artists. Another is a current college student. And the singer from Detroit made the finals and will be returning to New York for the competition.
The artists will be assessed on specific criteria—originality, phrasing, jazz style, intonation, improvisation and stage presence—by a panel of judges that include Jazzmobile founder Dr. Billy Taylor, legendary drummer turned vocalist Grady Tate, and jazz singer Charenee Wade. Past judges have included T.S. Monk and Gloria Lynne.
Competition emcee Cynthia Holiday, herself an acclaimed jazz vocalist, is the cofounder of the competition. Holiday brought the first sponsor, which was interested in pursuing a jazz marketing strategy, and asked Jazzmobile to produce the competition. Holiday continues as the director of the contest.
The event will be held at Gospel Uptown, one of the newest hot spots in Harlem, known for its fine dining and healthy soul fusion cuisine. There is a $20 minimum per person table charge for food and/or beverages. RSVP is required to 866-628-5052.
“The contestants this year are particularly fabulous and we are hoping people will come join us at a great new venue, Gospel Uptown,” said Jazzmobile President and CEO Robin Bell-Stevens. Bell-Stevens said that part of Jazzmobile’s strategy is to partner with local venues, some of whom are struggling in this economy, to introduce them to Jazzmobile’s loyal following.
Jazzmobile is in the throes of its Summerfest. Each Wednesday the group presents a concert at Grant’s Tomb and each Friday it holds a concert in Marcus Garvey Park—both shows at 7:00 p.m.; throughout the week Jazzmobile swings into neighborhoods across New York City. For more information go to
www.jazzmobile.org.
About Jazzmobile, Inc:
Jazzmobile, Inc., the oldest not for profit arts organization created just for jazz in the country, was founded in 1964 by jazz master Dr. Billy Taylor and Daphne Arnstein. Its mission is to present, preserve, promote, and propagate Jazz – “America’s classical music.” This mission is implemented through quality jazz education and performance programs: workshops, master classes, lecture demonstrations, arts enrichment programs, as well as out-of-doors mobile Jazz performances and those in clubs and major concert halls here and abroad. Jazzmobile,
www.jazzmobile.org, serves approximately 100,000 people in New York City and its outlying areas each year.
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2009 Jazzmobile Summer Concert Schedule
Schedule In Formation/Schedule Subject to Change
Jazzmobile Jazz Vocal Competition
Mon., July 27 6:30 PM
Finals, Winner Chosen
Gospel Uptown
2110 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.
Harlem
Admission applies, RSVP required: 866-628-5052
Harlem International Jazz Festival
Tues., 7 July 7:15 PM
Winard Harper/Dion Parson 21st Century Band with special guest appearance by Dr. Billy Taylor
Carl Schurz Park
Manhattan
Wed., 8 July 7:00 PM
Houston Person
Grant's Tomb – 122nd St. & Riverside Dr.
Harlem
Wed., 8 July 9:30 PM – 11PM
Dion Parson 21st Century Band
Shrine
2271 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. bet. 133rd & 134th St.
Harlem
RSVP Required: 212-866-3616
Thurs., 9 July 7:30 PM
Bobby Sanabria & Ascensión –
“Latin Swing Dance Party”
Harlem Stage/The Gatehouse
150 Convent Ave. at West 135th St.
Harlem
$15 admission
Harlem Stage Box Office or call 212 281-9240
Fri., 10 July 7:00 PM
Winard Harper/Craig Harris & the Nation of Imagination
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd St. & 5th Ave.
Harlem
Fri, 10 July 9:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Enrico Granafei
Dwyer Cultural Center
258 St. Nicholas Ave. & 123rd St.
Harlem
RSVP Required: 212-866-3616
Sat., 11 July 2:00 PM
George Gee Big Band /
Arturo O’Farrill Big Band/Akiko Tsuruga
Great Jazz on the Great Hill –
106th St. & CPW
Manhattan
Sat., 11 July 7:00 PM
Tessa Souter
Faison Firehouse Theater
6 Hancock Place (124th St.) bet. St. Nicholas & Morningside
Harlem
Mon., 13 July 7:00 PM
Buyu Ambroise and the Blues in Red Band/
The Afro-Semitic Experience
Morningside Park – 114th St. Entrance
Harlem
Mon, 13 July 9:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Jocelyn Medina Trio
Nectar Wine Bar
2235 Frederick Douglass Blvd.
Harlem
RSVP required: 212-866-3616
Tues., 14 July 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sathima Bea Benjamin, T.K. Blue, Kendra Shank
Jam Session & Panel Discussion—Music & Migration: Paris Reflections
Temple M
555 W. 141st St. at Broadway
Harlem
RSVP required: 212-866-3616
Jazzmobile Summerfest
Sat., 11 July 3:00 PM
Danny Mixon
McDonough St. bet. Ralph & Patchen
Brooklyn
Wed., 15 July 7:00 PM
Frank Foster Big Band
“Happy 80th Birthday Frank!”
Grant's Tomb – 122nd St. & Riverside Dr.
Harlem
Thurs., 16 July 7:00 PM
Lou Donaldson
Echo Park – Valentine Ave.
bet. Tremont & Burnside
Bronx
Fri., 17 July 7:00 PM
Vanessa Rubin
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd St. & 5th Ave.
Harlem
Mon., 20 July 7:00 PM
Vanessa Rubin
Macon St. bet. Ralph & Patchen Aves.
Brooklyn
Tues., 21 July 7:00 PM
Danny Mixon
47th St. bet. 9th & 10th Aves.
Manhattan
Wed., 22 July 7:00 PM
Akiko Tsuruga
Grant's Tomb – 122nd St. & Riverside Dr.
Harlem
Thurs., 23 July 7:00 PM
Ghanniyya Green
150-155th St. & Edgecombe Ave.
Harlem
Fri., 24 July 7:00 PM
Jimmy Owens Plus
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd St. & 5th Ave.
Harlem
*Sun., 26 July 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
“A Great Day in Harlem” Jazz in the Key of Gospel featuring Eunice Newkirk & Brandon McCune
Grant’s Tomb
Harlem
Mon., 27 July 7:00 PM
Antoinette Montague
143-22 109th Ave. – Jamaica
Queens
Tues., 28 July 7:00 PM
Eunice Newkirk
138th St. bet. 7th & Lenox Aves.
Harlem
Wed., 29 July 7:00 PM
Wycliffe Gordon
Grant's Tomb – 122nd St. & Riverside Dr.
Harlem
Thurs., 30 July 7:00 PM
Lily White
Roosevelt Island – Good Shepherd Plaza
Manhattan
Fri., 31 July 7:00 PM
Lonnie Youngblood
129th St. bet. 7th & 8th Aves.
Harlem
Sat., 1 August 3:00 PM
Annette A. Aguilar & Stringbeans
Bennerson Park – 64th St. & Amsterdam Ave.
Manhattan
Mon., 3 August 7:00 PM
Lou Donaldson
Co-op City – Greenway at Section 5
Bronx
*Tues., 4 August 7:00 PM
Houston Person
32nd Precinct National Night Out
135th St. bet. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
& Frederick Douglass Blvds.
Harlem
Wed., 5 August 7:00 PM
Benny Powell
Grant's Tomb – 122nd St. & Riverside Dr.
Harlem
Thurs., 6 August 7:00 PM
Lonnie Youngblood
111-34 198th St. – Hollis
Queens
Fri., 7 August 7:00 PM
Jeremy Pelt
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd St. & 5th Ave.
Harlem
Wear Your Jazzmobile 2009 SummerFest
T-shirt Day and Photo Op!
Mon., 10 August 7:00 PM
Annette A. Aguilar & Stringbeans
Tappen Park
Staten Island
Tues., 11 August 7:00 PM
Arturo O'Farrill
34-56 107th St. – Corona
Queens
Wed., 12 August 7:00 PM
Jimmy Heath
Grant's Tomb – 122nd St. & Riverside Dr.
Harlem
Wear Your Jazzmobile 2009 SummerFest
T-shirt Day and Photo Op!
Thurs., 13 August 7:00 PM
Arturo O'Farrill
141st St. bet. Willis and Alexander Aves.
Bronx
Fri., 14 August 7:00 PM
Jazzberry Jam
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd St. & 5th Ave.
Harlem
Sat., 15 August 3:00 PM
Ray Schinnery
153rd St. bet. Convent & Amsterdam Aves.
Harlem
*Sun., 16 August 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Bill Saxton
Harlem Day
The Main Stage at 135th St. & Fifth Ave.
Mon., 17 August 7:00 PM
Elise Wood
139th St. bet. 8th and Edgecombe Aves.
Harlem
Tues., 18 August 7:00 PM
Lou Donaldson
City Hall Plaza
Mt. Vernon
Wed., 19 August 7:00 PM
Winard Harper
Grant's Tomb – 122nd St. & Riverside Dr.
Harlem
Thurs., 20 August 7:00 PM
Dave Gibson
Lyman Pl. bet. Freeman & 169th St.
Bronx
Fri., 21 August 7:00 PM
Antoinette Montague
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd St. & 5th Ave.
Harlem
*Sat., 22 August
Ray Mantilla
NY Family “Health Walk-a-thon”
St. Nicholas Park
135th St. & St. Nicholas Ave.
Harlem
Sat. 22 Aug 3:00PM
Arturo O’Farrill
J. Hood Wright Park
Fort Washington Ave., bet. W. 174th & 175th St
Washington Heights
Mon., 24 August 7:00 PM
The Duke Ellington Legacy Band, featuring Edward Ellington II
106th St. bet. Central Park West & Manhattan Ave.
Manhattan
Tues., 25 August 7:00 PM
Cecil Bridgewater & the Jazzmobile All-Stars
122nd St. bet. 7th & Lenox Aves.
Harlem
Wed., 26 August 7:00 PM
Frank Wess
Grant's Tomb – 122nd St. & Riverside Dr.
Harlem
*Wed., 26 August 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
(3 Sets)
Boncella Lewis
“The Joints are Jumpin’”
Londell’s
2620 8th Ave. at 140th St.
Thurs., 27 August 7:00 PM
Lynette Washington
132nd St. bet. 7th & Lenox Aves.
Harlem
Fri., 28 August 7:00 PM
Ghanniyya Green
Marcus Garvey Park – 122nd St. & 5th Ave.
Harlem
*Note: As part of Harlem Week 2009
Please note that all performances are weather permitting and subject to change.
Jazzmobile, Inc.
154 West 127th Street
Harlem, New York 10027
Tel: 212-866-4900
Fax: 212-866-3613
www.jazzmobile.org
www.twitter.com/JazzmobileNYC
Facebook: bit.ly/Jazzmobile
Venue Subway Directions
2271 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd., bet. 133rd and 134th Street—Take the 2 or 3 to 135th Street.
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, bet. 9th and 10th Avenues—Take the C, E or 1 trains to 50th Street or N, R or W to 49th Street.
106th Street, bet. Central Park West and Manhattan Avenue—Take the B or C to 103rd Street.
111-34 198th Street, Hollis—Take the F subway to 179th Street.
122nd Street, bet. 7th and Lenox Avenues—Take the A, B, C, 2 or 3 to 125th Street.
129th Street, bet. 7th and 8th Avenues—Take the A, B, C, D, 2 or 3 trains to 125th Street.
132nd Street, bet. 7th & Lenox Avenues—Take the B, C, 2 or 3 subway to 135th Street.
135th Street & St. Nicholas Avenue—Take B to 135th Street.
135th Street, bet. Adam Clayton Powell and Frederick Douglass Blvds.—Take the A, B, C, 2 or 3 to 135th Street.
138th Street, bet. 7th and Lenox Avenues—Take the 2 or 3 subways to 135th Street.
139th Street, bet. 8th and Edgecombe Avenues—Take the B or C train to 135th Street.
141st Street, bet. Willis & Alexander Avenues—Take the 6 to 3 Avenue.
143-22 109th Avenue, Jamaica—Take the E to Sutphin Blvd - Archer Avenue.
150-155th Street & Edgecombe Avenue—Take the C train to 155th Street.
153rd Street, bet. Convent & Amsterdam Avenues—Take the C to 155th Street.
Bennerson Park, 64th Street, bet. Amsterdam & West End Avenues—Take the 1 train to 66th Street/
Lincoln Center.
Carl Schurz Park, 84th and East End Avenue—Take the 4, 5 or 6 to 86th 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.
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.
Dwyer Cultural center, 258 St. Nicholas Avenue & 123th Street—Take A or C to 125th Street.
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