After screenings in Miami, New York, Baltimore and Boston, the outdoor house music dance documentary HANDS TO THE SKY is ready for its Harlem debut this Saturday, May 25th at MIST Harlem Cinema.  If you’re familiar with DJ Stormin’ Norman’s thumpin’ Sundae Sermon dance parties in Morningside Park during the summer, you’ll understand the idea behind this film – to capture the vibe, and the feeling experienced when you bring together party people with beautiful House music outdoors.  “Hands to the Sky” executive producer Domingo Canate describes the film as “the uplifting and spirited experience of the outdoor House Music movement.”   Check out the preview video below.

Production company My House Rocs dedicated the last two years following the outdoor House music dance scene at parks and beaches, from Coney Island to Fort Greene Park to Harlem, and various public spaces in New York and New Jersey. The uplifting House music soundtrack for “Hands to the Sky” was scored and compiled by writer/arranger Erik Talbert, and the film features interviews with dancers, event promoters, DJs and performers who share their personal experience in the scene. I had the pleasure of co-writing the theme song for Hands To The Sky with Erik, as well as producing the Freedomsound “Harlem Late Night Dub” remix of the song for the film.

Come out and see “Hands to the Sky” this Saturday, May 25 at MIST Harlem Cinema, 46 West 116th Street, New York, NY.  Showtimes for “Hands to the Sky” are at 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM, and the after-party will feature Basement Boys producer Teddy Douglas (Crystal Waters “Gypsy Woman), Andre Collins and film producer/DJ Kervyn Mark.  Admission is $25.00 for the screening plus after-party or $15.00 for just the after-party. Tickets are available at www.MISTHarlem.com.

Hands to the Sky Production Credits

Domingo Canate        Executive Producer

Angelo Boyke             Director, Editor

Kervyn Mark              Producer

Erik Talbert                 Composer

Jean-Paul Noel          Co-Director,  Producer

Wendy Arimah           Associate/Literary Producer

Chris Hunt-Walker     Associate Producer

Hands to the Sky also features such House Music progressives as trailblazing vocalist Carolyn Harding; the British-born founder of Harlem’s Sundae Sermon dance party, DJ Stormin’ Norman; DJ Wayne Williams, noted for bringing disco to Chicago’s South Side and founder of Chicago’s Chosen Few (an elite corps of deejays) and Rican Vargas, a.k.a, “The Commander in Chief” of The Coney Island Dancers, a volunteer organization whose mission includes promoting tourism to Coney Island.

The new cut of “Hands to the Sky” adds an on-camera Interview with DJ Jeannie Hopper, whose enterprising “Liquid Sound Lounge” includes a long-running show on WBAI-FM and parties that transcended “no dancing allowed” policies in New York clubs in the 90’s by taking her beats to the water; and a discussion of the contributions of Newark, New Jersey (Mayor Cory Booker makes a brief cameo) to the house music scene with Anthony Smith, Project Manager of the Newark Municipal Council, who is instrumental in the annual Lincoln Park Music Festival – A Celebration of Spirit and Dance – an outdoor event that draws close to 50,000 visitors every summer.

The long awaited Harlem Shake restaurant is finally open to the public today, offering a tasty menu that includes griddled burgers, New York-style hot dogs, and hand-spun shakes.  Located on the corner of Lenox Avenue and 124^th street, Harlem Shake gets its inspiration from Harlem’s rich culture and energy, as well as the iconic “original” Harlem Shake dance. The idea for the restaurant was in fact developed before the recent Harlem Shake viral video craze, but all of that free publicity and awareness doesn’t hurt.

I was welcomed for a preview of Harlem Shake the other day by co-owner Jelena Pasic, who was very excited to show the interior which features a retro design by Dennis Decker. It definitely gave off an old school diner vibe, which will be unique to the area. I got a kick out of the eye-catching “Wall of Fame” which featured an impressive collection photographs signed by a bunch of well known stars,  as well as Harlem Shake’s restroom with walls that showcase vintage covers of JET magazine.

After scoping out the joint, I was ready to taste the goods. I went with the spicey “Hot Mess Burger” with hand-cut fries and a “Red Velvet Shake” which had bits of Red Velvet cake in it, and yes it was as delicious as it sounds. I sat in one of the comfortable booths right next to “Miss Harlem Shake,”  a life-sized lenticular photo of Harlem resident and fashion model Shannon Thornton. Harlem Shake is a great place to take a date, or eat with friends, but at about $8.00 a burger (without fries) it is a bit expensive to take the family and kids out to eat after a movie.

According to Harlem Shake, other delights on the menu include the signature Harlem Classic – two 2-ounce custom blend Pat la Frieda beef patties ground fresh daily and griddled smashed-style for crisp browning and served on a toasted Martin’s Potato Roll with house-made condiments. Specialties also include the Pigskin Classic topped with crisp fried pork rinds and the Jerk Fry Burger topped with jerk-seasoned, triple-cooked fries and smoked jerk mayo, as well as juicy turkey burgers and house-made vegan burgers. Let’s not forget the New York-style all-beef hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheeses/melts, kale and legume salads, and fries hand cut from Kennebec or sweet potatoes.

Old-school, handcrafted milkshakes are said to be made with whole, all-natural ingredients, and local products like ice cream from Blue Marble, organic milk from New York Fresh Milk, and peanut butter from Peanut Butter & Co., as well as seasonal fruit and hand-spun additions like house-made salted caramel sauce and malt. Sticking with a vintage diner theme, Harlem Shake also has a nice selection of vintage real sugar sodas and regional specialty sodas including Cheerwine Cherry Soda, Vernor’s Detroit Ginger, Foxson Park Birch Beer, along with a selection of draft beers and house wines.

Harlem Shake’s Jelena Pasic also mentioned that they expect to open an outdoor seating area in the near future, which will make this a nice new spot in Harlem this summer.

 “Our aim is to celebrate the soul of the neighborhood and reinvigorate modern Harlem with a bit of nostalgia and a nod to pop culture,” explains Pasic. “Not to mention, bring residents and visitors high-quality, affordable offerings in a welcoming environment.”

Welcome to the neighborhood Harlem Shake!

On May 17th, 2013 the Jazz Foundation will once again present its annual “A Great Night in Harlem” gala concert to benefit the Jazz Musicians Emergency Fund at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. This is an important event that raises money to assist jazz and blues musicians who find themselves needing assistance in their senior years. This year, the 12th annual “A Great Night in Harlem” event seeks to to raise $2 million with a stellar lineup of jazz, blues, R&B and rock legends set to perform, and the legendary producer/musician Quincy Jones will also make a special appearance to pay homage to his mentor,  trumpeter Clark Terry, and to introduce a memorial musical tribute to Claude Nobs, founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival.
“A Great Night in Harlem” concert tickets are priced at $75, $150, $300, $500, and $1500 which includes the VIP cocktail party, orchestra seating and dinner.

“Destination Harlem TV appeals to Harlem locals, New Yorker’s visiting for a meal or show, tourists on vacation (holiday) and those who are just interested and intrigued by Harlem life.”

NYC Parks and the Walt Disney Company will host the 6th Annual Street Games at Thomas Jefferson Park at 114th Street and First Avenue in Harlem this Saturday, April 27, 2013.

Street Games celebrates the classic street games from the ’60s and ’70s and introduces them to a new generation of kids with a modern spin!  Pogo sticks, double-dutch, hula hoops, and yo-yos are just some of the activities that you and your family can try out at this popular annual event. With new activities being added each year, there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Visit our Classic Street Games zone and get moving with popular venues such as:

• Stickball
• Pogo Sticks
• Hula Hoops
• Double-Dutch
• Hippity Hop
• Yo-Yos
• Skateboarding Clinics with Uptown Skate School
• Red Bull Slaps Handball Clinic – open to all ages and all skill levels!

Take it to the street!  Street Games closes 114^th Street and Pleasant Avenue just north of the Park to vehicle traffic so kids can participate in the following activities:

• Soap Box Derby – located behind the main stage!

• Learn To Ride Your Bike (must bring your own bike)

• Street Hockey

• Jumbo Games

• Relay Races

• Arts & Crafts

It’s time for the 2nd annual Harlem FOOD & DRINK BOULEVARD evening of events on Frederick Douglass Boulevard, this year set to take place on Thursday, May 2nd at participating restaurants along FDB from 111^th to 123^rd streets, from 6pm-10pm.  Cost is $5 in advance and $10 at the door.

Frederick Douglas Boulevard Alliance Food & Drink Boulevard Event details:

The Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance Invites You To:

FOOD & DRINK BOULEVARD

Summer Kick-Off and Evening of Food, Cocktails, Music & Entertainment on Harlem’s Restaurant Row

Thursday, May 2, 2013

6:00PM-10:00PM

Frederick Douglass Blvd

From 111^th –  123rd Streets

Tickets:

Drink, appetizer & special promotions

$10.00 at the door

2-for-1 in advance

A portion of each purchase benefits the Food Bank of New York.

Featuring:

1.     Savann Restaurant 

2280 Frederick Douglass Blvd

b/t 123^rd – 122^nd Sts

2.     Chocolat

2217-23 Frederick Douglass Blvdat 120^th St

3.     Bad Horse Pizza

2224 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 120^th St

4.     Vinateria

2211 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 119^th St

5.     Cédric

185 St. Nicholas Ave at 119^th St

6.     Lido

2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 117^th St

7.     Levain Bakery

2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd b/t 117^th & 116^th Sts

8.     Harlem Tavern

2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 116^th St

(Bracelet pick up)

9.     Melba’s

300 W 114^th St at 114^th St

10.  Harlem Food Bar

2131 Frederick Douglass Blvd b/t 114^th & 113^th Sts

11.  Bier International

2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd b/t 114^th & 113^th Sts

12.  67 Orange Street

2082 Frederick Douglass Blvd b/t 112^th & 113^h Sts

13.  5 & Diamond

2072 Frederick Douglass Blvd b/t 112^th & 113^h Sts

Spring Bank

2049 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 111^th St

(Bracelet pick up)

The Harlem Resonance Spring Festival is in full swing at Symphony Space on 95th Street and Broadway featuring music, literature, film, and stage/dance performances in April to May 11, 2013.  Check out the full schedule, or browse specific events of the festival which celebrates Harlem culture, past and present.

Harlem Resonance at Symphony Space

• From the classic music of Duke Ellington to the new sounds of Wycliffe Gordon;
• From the literary giant Langston Hughes to his compatriots Claude McKay, Georgia Douglas Johnson, and Ann Petry, as well as contemporaries Sapphire and Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts;
• From the world of Zora Neale Hurston in the 1920s to our world explored by Eisa Davis today;
• From the dynamic dancers from the Ailey and Dance Theatre of Harlem Schools to the dazzling Harlem Quartet and jazz ensembles from Harlem School of the Arts;

Press Release:

NEW YORK, NY: Renewing their partnership for the third year, the Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile, Inc., in collaboration with Columbia University, will join forces to present the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival from May 6-11, 2013. The three cultural organizations will present a series of concerts and events to celebrate the rich legacy of jazz in the uptown community while bringing both established and emerging artists to famed Harlem venues. This year, the festival will pay tribute to The Alhambra Ballroom, the Apollo Theater, The Baby Grand, Minton’s Playhouse, Clark Monroe’s Uptown House, Showman’s Jazz Club, the Sugar Cane Club and the Cotton Club. In addition to concerts at jazz shrines throughout Harlem, festival events will take place at Harlem Stage Gatehouse, Cowin Auditorium at Teacher’s College and Ginny’s Supper Club.

Designed to draw a diverse audience of neighborhood residents, New Yorkers and tourists, events are free or $10 and up. Concerts are scheduled to allow people the option of attending several events each day, continuing the tradition of non-stop jazz throughout Harlem.

Highlights of the 2013 Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival include:

Geri Allen & Friends Celebrate the Great Jazz Women of the Apollo – Under the musical direction of jazz pianist and composer Geri Allen, this concert production pays homage to the great women singers and instrumentalists who have performed at the Apollo. Staged by celebrated actress, and director/film maker, S. Epatha Merkerson and through the words and historical narrative of acclaimed author Farah Jasmin Griffin with a musical backdrop by Deejay Val Jeanty, the performance celebrates the legacy of Nina Simone, Betty Carter, Nancy Wilson, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and others. The performance will feature vocalist Dianne Reeves, Geri Allen’s The Timeline Tap Quartet, vocalist Lizz Wright, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, saxophonist Tia Fuller, comedian Karen Malina White, guitarist Marvin Sewell, tap dancer extraordinaire Dormeshia, and the vocal ensemble Afro Blue

Marc Cary’s Celebrates Abbey Lincoln with “Moseka House: The House That Abbey Built” – This two-night celebration of American jazz vocalist Abbey Lincoln by Harlem Stage favorite Marc Cary, who was Lincoln’s pianist and arranger, will be unforgettable. On night one Cary interprets Lincoln’s compositions in solo and with his Focus Trio; on the second night, Cary on piano accompanies vocalists Keith Ailer, Maggie Brown, Pyeng Threadgill, and Imani Uzuri as the performers pay homage to “Moseka House, the house that Abbey built, ” they’ll also celebrate Clark Monroe’s Uptown House, which played host to such greats as Billie Holiday and Max Roach.

Minton’s Playhouse: Legends on the Bandstand – Jazzmobile pulls out all the stops to re-create the mood and legacy of the legendary Minton’s Playhouse, this year at Ginny’s Supper Club downstairs in Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster Harlem. Bringing the famed club on 118th Street back to life with a three-night celebration of Legends sharing the stage with New Titans of Jazz, the concerts shed new light on an old tradition of featuring the best of established and emerging artists. Hear how jazz swings across the generations when the bandstand lights up with the groups of Jimmy Heath and Antonio Hart, Paul West and Rashaan Carter and Junior Mance and Christian Sands. The popular Minton’s Monday Night Jam Session is back as well as a Conversation with Jimmy Heath and Stanley Crouch.

Tribute to the Baby Grand – The Apollo Music Café pays tribute to the Baby Grand Café. Located at 319 West 125th Street between St. Nicholas and 8th Avenue, Bill Potter’s Baby Grand Café served up some of the hottest stars of Jazz, as well as a 6- Course Sunday dinner. Ruth Brown, Jimmy Scott, Dakota Staton, Jimmy Smith, Etta James, Horace Silver, Charlie Mingus and other greats made the Baby Grand a go-to- late-night hot spot. This tribute concert features vocalist Lezlie Harrison, known for her burnished, soulful alto and distinctive blend of jazz, classic 70’s soul and original tunes.

ERIMAJ and Fabian Almazan – In keeping with the history of the Sugar Cane Club, which was the proving ground for many artists of yesteryear, this cutting-edge double bill features two exceptional rising young stars – drummer extraordinaire Jamire Williams, who is charting new territory with his ensemble ERIMAJ, hot off their critically-praised debut release, Conflict of a Man; and Cuban musician Fabian Almazan, considered one of the most thrilling young jazz pianists on the scene, who debuts at Harlem Stage with a string project.

The Alhambra Ballroom Revived – What would a jazz festival be without a big band? Jazzmobile is putting together A Night of Swinging with the Cab Calloway Orchestra at the beautiful Alhambra Ballroom. Dancing shoes are a plus, but the evening is not just for dancers. Bring a partner or find a mate to trip the light fantastic or take a seat and enjoy the show as the audience shares the floor with professional dancers. Food will be served, making it a perfect night to get lost in the “hi-dee-hi-dee-hi- dee-ho.”

Columbia University again collaborates with the three partners to bring humanities programming that will further highlight the cultural significance of Harlem and the Jazz Shrines Festival. The University’s programming includes Harlem Jazz Shrines Dialogues Cotton Club in Black & White and Ann Petry: The Street – Harlem in the 1940’s.

“We’re thrilled to once again partner with Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile to celebrate the incredible legacy of Jazz in Harlem, by looking back at the neighborhood’s unparalleled musical heritage and showcasing the artistic vitality of Harlem today, ” says Mikki Shepard, Executive Producer for the Apollo Theater. “This year, our focus during the festival will be to celebrate the incredible iconic women of jazz who have graced the Apollo stage through the years, from Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan to Betty Carter, Nancy Wilson, Dinah Washington, Nina Simone and others. Geri Allen and friends will pay tribute to these great ladies of jazz, and the Apollo’s signature shows, Amateur Night and Apollo Music Café, will be tied to the festival as well.”

Patricia Cruz, Executive Director of Harlem Stage, added, “The Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival provides an essential forum for us to claim and uphold the great musical traditions that were born and nurtured in Harlem and continue to thrive through the talent of both emerging and established artists. It enables the community and visitors to celebrate this dynamic art form and the institutions that have supported this music. In keeping with what we do, providing a showcase to rising or under- known artists, we’re happy to focus on the lesser known shrines, Clark Monroe’s Uptown House and the Sugar Cane Club. The Harlem Stage Gatehouse is a proud partner in this festival.”

“Following the mission and mentoring of our founder, the legendary Dr. Billy Taylor, Jazzmobile has presented legends and new titans of jazz throughout Harlem for 48 years. In our partnership with Harlem Stage and the Apollo, we once again enjoy the unique and special challenge of reimagining and remembering some of Harlem’s famed jazz shrines, ” said Robin Bell-Stevens, President & CEO of Jazzmobile. “Our venues are usually the fabulous City Parks and streets of Harlem, but during the festival, we take bold leaps to create the mood and memory of the jazz shrines inside the confines of four walls. Celebrating the legacy of The Alhambra Ballroom and Minton’s Playhouse will provide an exciting look at yesterday with a dynamic twist of today.”

Tickets for many of the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival events are available now. For tickets and more information on the Festival and its partners, visit the Harlem Jazz Shrines’ website at www.harlemjazzshrines.org and/or the organizations’ websites at www.apollotheater.org, www.harlemstage.org and www.jazzmobile.org.