National Jazz Museum Host Free Events May 18 & 20

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem will host two free events May 18 and 20 at the Visitors Center (104 East 126th Street, Stuite 2C).  Special Guest New Orleans poet/performer Chuck Perkins will participate on Tuesday, May 18 for Jazz for Curious Listeners Tuning in to Treme: Hymns, Dirges and Misdemeanors starting at 7pm.  On Thursday, May 20 NJMH welcomes Dave Samuels, Vibraphonist, educatour and author will participate at 6:30pm.  On Friday, May 21 at the Dwyer Cultural Center "Take the A Train: A Big Band Swing Dance" featuring NJMH All Star Big Band directed by Loren Schoenberg. Tickets are $20. For more information email info@DwyerCC.org. For a full list of events visit http://www.jmih.org/.

Jazz for Curious Listeners
Tuning in to Tremé: Hymns, Dirges, and Misdemeanors
Special Guest: New Orleans poet/performer Chuck Perkins
7:00 - 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 2C)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300

Following the current HBO series, we note that perhaps more so than in any other American city, New Orleans represents the blending of African rhythms and forms with European harmonies and musical sensibility to transform our ideas about music and seed ongoing innovation. Looking at that lineage-from Congo Square to Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino to the Nevilles, Wynton Marsalis to Lil Wayne-and as portrayed in the series, Larry Blumenfeld and our live audience will consider what that mixture means.

Thursday, May 20, 2010
Harlem Speaks
Dave Samuels, Vibraphonist
6:30 - 8:30pm
Location: NJMH Visitors Center
(104 E. 126th Street, Suite 2C)
FREE | For more information: 212-348-8300

Veteran Dave Samuels is widely recognized for his fresh new sound and creative approach to both the vibraphone and marimba. Although he's best known for work with his current ensemble, The Caribbean Jazz Project as well as for his long tenure with Spyro Gyra, Samuels has also worked with a broad scope of artists ranging from Gerry Mulligan, Oscar Peterson, Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Carla Bley and Pat Metheny to the Yellowjackets, Bruce Hornsby, and Frank Zappa.

Samuels has been performing and recording with his group The Caribbean Jazz Project for over a decade; their most recent CD, Afro Bop Alliance, garnered a Latin Grammy and was also nominated for a Grammy. Some of his other recording projects include Remembrances, a percussion recording that features a commissioned marimba concerto for chamber orchestra and soloist composed by Jeff Beal, and Double Image-the vibe-marimba duo consisting of Dave Samuels & David Friedman-which is celebrating thirty years of performances. Double Image performs music which spans many styles - from jazz standards and original compositions to through-composed pieces and spontaneous improvisations, demonstrating Samuels deep versatility and spirit of collaboration.

In addition to his playing, Samuels is a respected educator and author and some of his new works can be found at MalletWorks.com and JazzBooks.com. Samuels has been voted "Best Vibes Player" in both Jazziz and Modern Drummer magazines, and was recently featured on the online jazz television show, Jazz it Up!

Friday, May 21, 2010
Jazz at the Dwyer
Take The A Train: A Big Band Swing Dance
7:00 - 11:00pm
Location: The Dwyer Cultural Center
(258 St. Nicholas Avenue at W. 123rd Street)
$20 | More information: info@DwyerCC.org , presented with Community Works and The Dywer Cultural Center.

Featuring the NJMH All Star Big Band directed by Loren Schoenberg

Last month, Jazz at the Dwyer featured a romping Caribbean band; this month we'll swing you into good health with the National Jazz Museum in Harlem All Star Big Band! The famed Big Band Swing era was full of dance bands that stomped and grooved with jitterbugging teens and adults following their every move. Tonight's show is much more than nostalgia, it's reclamation of an essential part of the dynamic that made jazz popular. Bring your dancing shoes!

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem
104 East 126th Street
New York, NY 10035
212 348-8300
http://www.jmih.org/