mardi, août 21, 2007

It's Our Anniversary!

Abbey Lincoln
(Abbey Lincoln back in the day)

52 jazz listening group took a little hiatus in July after hearing Cassandra Wilson's Summerstage concert in June and is back just in time to close out the summer by checking out the inimitable Abbey Lincoln this Saturday at the 15th annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Marcus Garvey Park. (As some of you may recall our jazz listening group's inaugural outing was to last year's Charlie Parker Jazz Festival.)

The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival is a free production of the City Parks Foundation, and it should be fun, not to mention it's a wonderful opportunity to hear the 77 year old Lincoln who took ill not too long ago, even undergoing triple bypass surgery in March. On this her post-surgery debut she will be joined by the great Cedar Walton who served as her accompanist in the mid-sixties. The bill also includes NEA Jazz Master Chico Hamilton (who took ill last year and couldn't perform), inventive pianist Marc Cary and Lezlie Harrison. As always if you plan to attend, drop me an e-mail.

The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival is set to take place on Saturday, August 25th at the bandshell at Marcus Garvey Park (124th and 5th Ave.) in Harlem. The festival begins at 3:00 pm. I will be there no later than 2:30 pm. Take the #2, #3, #4, #5 or #6 trains to 125 Street. Check the festival website for more information. And check the K. Leander Williams-penned Abbey Lincoln profile in last week's TONY.

I posted a selection from We Insist! - Freedom Now Suite (1960) at Hello, Babar the other day. Here's a treat from Lincoln's That's Him! (1957), where she was joined by Sonny Rollins, Kenny Dorham, Wynton Kelly (whose playing I love), Paul Chambers, and the late Max Roach. This song was written by the late Oscar Brown, Jr. and, notably, is one of Mark Anthony Neal's favs.: "Strong Man" [MP3]

--
52 is a Jazz listening group that aims to cultivate a friendly community of open-minded jazz fans. Each month 52 coordinates outings to free or low cost venues in New York City.