Harlem in the Himalayas: January 2007 Line-up

Press release
Source: Jazz Promo Services

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he started on trumpet when he was 14 and moved to Europe in 1949. While based in England (1954-1959), Reece achieved recognition through a series of recordings with top English musicians, plus a 1958 date with fellow trumpeter Donald Byrd. His big, brilliant tone, personal way of phrasing and highly original modern compositions immediately attracted the attention of American artists like Miles Davis who became an early champion.

He’s also performed with the legendary Don Byas, Kenny Clarke, Frank Foster, and Thad Jones. He played in Dizzy Gillespie’s Orchestra in 1968, and the Paris Reunion Band in 1985. In 2004 the Mosaic Select label reissued a CD containing gems Reece recorded throughout his illustrious, but underrated career. Reece will be premiering some pieces from his latest release, Nirvana. (Dizzy Reece, trumpet; Mike Longo, piano; Lee Hudson, bass; James Worth, drums)

Joel Harrison, an exciting, eclectic jazz guitarist, will front an acoustic combo focusing on innovative interpretations of the music of the Beatles’ lead guitarist, the late George Harrison on January 12th (David Binney, saxophone; Steven Crump, bass; Gary Versace, piano; Ben Wittman, drums), followed on January 19th by woodwind virtuoso Andrew Sterman’s ensemble (as part of RMA’s World Music Weekend- Todd Reynolds, violin; Mick Rossi, piano; Kermit Driscoll, bass; Tim Horner. The renowned trombonist Wycliffe Gordon premieres a new score to D.W. Griffith’s epic film Intolerance with his group on Wednesday, January 24th; soulful trumpet veteran Warren Vaché will swing with his ensemble on January 26th (with Vincent Corrao, guitar; Nicki Parrott, bass).

In 2006, the Harlem in the Himalayas series presented a wide range of instrumentalists, from traditionalists Ken Peplowski and acknowledged jazz idiom masters Frank Wess, Howard Johnson and Gene Bertoncini, to younger lights of jazz, Lewis Nash, Marcus Strickland, Russell Gunn, Ted Nash, Jonathan Batiste, and Russell Malone as well as performers whose styles edge on the avant garde, such as Vijay Iyer and Scott Robinson.

The unamplified concerts are held Friday nights at 7pm (with the exception of the coming Wycliffe Gordon performance on Wednesday, January 24th) and are part of an array of activities centered around RMA’s hip K2 Lounge.

The series is curated by Executive Director of the Jazz Museum in Harlem, Loren Schoenberg and Tim McHenry, Director of Programming of the Rubin Museum of Art. Happy Hour is offered from 6-7 pm in the K2 Lounge.

Rubin Museum of Art 150 West 17th Street (corner of 7th Ave.) For more information, please visit: www.rmanyc.org.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and include admission to the Museum’s galleries. The special premiere of Wycliff Gordon’s score to Intolerance is $25. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 212.620.5000 ext. 344, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

RMA is dedicated to the art of the Himalayas; the Jazz Museum is five years into its community and educational programs, and is in the process of acquiring a permanent home in Harlem. Their very successful HARLEM SPEAKS series is held bi-weekly in their Harlem offices.