On the occasion of Harlem Stage’s 40th Anniversary, pianist, composer, and educator Jason Moran — “an artist with an eye for connections among the past, present, and future” (The New York Times) — reimagines Pianos
For Duke, a Harlem Stage program dedicated to the music of Duke Ellington, first presented at our previous home Aaron Davis Hall in 1999. Moran performed in the ’99 program, at the time a young up-and-coming pianist, featured alongside superstars of the instrument.
Now, 25 years later — on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Ellington’s birth — Moran guest curates an intimate evening of Ellington’s music in the round, with a single piano in the center of the room, and invites legendary jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, and other acclaimed pianists, including Bertha Hope, Joanne Brackeen, and pianist Micah Thomas, to join him in the celebratory performance.
Pianos for Duke Reimagined BENEFIT CONCERT supports Harlem Stage at its 40th Anniversary! Tonight’s single piano will be played by pianist, composer, and educator Jason Moran; legendary jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim; Bertha Hope; Joanne Brackeen; and Matthew Whitaker
The all-star performance is followed by a riveting discussion on Ellington’s significance and a lively cocktail reception.
Jason Moran
Abdullah Ibrahim
Joanne Brackeen
Bertha Hope
Micah Thomas
Matthew Whitaker
Micah Thomas (April 26) /
Matthew Whitaker (April 27)
Jason Moran
Bertha Hope
Joanne Brackeen
Abdullah Ibrahim
This program is supported, in part, by the Mellon Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Diana King Memorial Fund presented by the Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation, and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Jazz pianist, composer, and performance artist Jason Moran was born in Houston, TX in 1975 and earned a degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Jaki Byard. He was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2010 and is the Artistic Director for Jazz at The Kennedy Center. Moran currently teaches at the New England Conservatory and was recently inducted into the Academy of Arts and Letters.
Moran has recorded 19 critically acclaimed solo recordings for Blue Note Records and his own label Yes Records. His activity stretches beyond the many recordings and performances with masters of the form including Charles Lloyd, Cassandra Wilson, Archie Shepp and the late Sam Rivers. The work with his trio, The Bandwagon (with drummer Nasheet Waits and bassist Tarus Mateen), has resulted in a profound discography over the past 25 years. He has released 18 critically acclaimed recordings and mined the histories of Thelonious Monk, Fats Waller, and James Reese Europe for his multi-media concerts. His collaborations with Alicia Hall Moran include Two Wings: The Music of Black America in Migration commissioned by Carnegie Hall, BLEED for the Whitney Biennial, and WORK SONGS for the Venice Biennial. The scope of Moran’s partnerships and music-making with venerated and iconic visual artists is extensive. He has collaborated with such major figures as Adrian Piper, Joan Jonas, Glenn Ligon, Kara Walker, Julie Mehretu, Adam Pendleton, and Kara Walker. He has scored Ava DuVerna’s films, SELMA and 13th. His collaborations with dance companies include Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, Martha Graham, Ronald K. Brown’s Evidence Dance Company, and the New York City Ballet.
Abdullah Ibrahim, South Africa’s most distinguished pianist and a worldrespected master musician, was born in 1934 in Cape Town and baptized Adolph Johannes Brand. His early musical memories were of traditional African Khoi-san songs and the Christian hymns, gospel tunes and spirituals that he heard from his grandmother, who was pianist for the local African Methodist Episcopalian church, and his mother, who led the choir. The Cape Town of his childhood was a melting-pot of cultural influences, and the young Dollar Brand, as he became known, was exposed to American jazz, township jive, CapeMalay music, as well as to classical music. Out of this blend of the secular and the religious, the traditional and the modern, developed the distinctive style, harmonies and musical vocabulary that are inimitably his own.
For more than a quarter-century he has toured the world extensively, appearing at major concert halls, clubs and festivals, giving sell-out performances, as solo artist or with other renowned artists (notably, Max Roach, Carlos Ward and Randy Weston). His collaborations with classical orchestras have resulted in acclaimed recordings, such as African Suite (1999, with members of the European Union Youth Orchestra) and the Munich Radio Philharmonic orchestra symphonic version, “African Symphony” (2001), which also featured the trio and the NDR Jazz Big Band..
Abdullah Ibrahim celebrated his seventieth birthday in October 2004, which occasion was marked by the release of two CDs by Enja Records (the Munich-based label with whom he has recorded for three decades): the compilation A Celebration, and Re:Brahim, his music remixed. His discography runs to well over a hundred album credits
When not touring, he now divides his time between Cape Town and New York. In addition to composing and performing, he has started a South African production company, Masingita (Miracle), and established a music academy, M7, offering courses in seven disciplines to educate young minds and bodies. Most recently, in 2006, he spearheaded the historic creation (backed by the South African Ministry of Arts and Culture) of the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra, an eighteen-piece big band, which is set to further strengthen the standing of South African music on the global stage.
“Joanne Brackeen is one of the greatest living pianists hands down; no footprints!” (Metroland). Whatever the musical setting—whether solo, duo, trio, quartet, or quintet, 2018 NEA Jazz Master (highest award given to US jazz musicians) and Yamaha Artist JoAnne Brackeen’s unique style of playing commands attention. For nearly a decade, JoAnne played with some of the world’s greatest musicians: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Stan Getz and Joe Henderson.
In addition to her captivating and complex improvisations, she has 26 albums as a leader and has written over 300 intricate, and rhythmically daring compositions; in a wide stylistic range. Ms. Brackeen appears on nearly 100 recordings. Honors include: The 2023 Jazz Gallery Lifetime Achievement Award as a “daring pioneer,” 2014 BNY Mellon Jazz Living Legacy Award, and 2011 Berklee Distinguished Professor Award.
JoAnne maintains an active worldwide touring calendar (46 different countries), headlining and playing to sold-out crowds; most recently at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Jazz Club. To witness NEA Jazz Master Joanne Brackeen live, is to be enchanted by the whole history and future of jazz; all with a contemporary edge.
Jazz pianist and educator, Bertha Hope, has performed nationally and internationally. As a 3-year artist-inresidence with “The New Jersey State Council on the Arts,” Hope performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Foster, Philly Joe Jones, and Chris White. At the invitation of Jason Moran, Artistic Director for Jazz at Kennedy Center, Hope performed there and at the Apollo Theater. Hope formed Jazzberry Jam! with Paula Hampton and the late Carline Ray, and also has her own quintet. Performance venues include Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Bradley’s, the Jazz Standard, and Birdland. Recognizing his centennial, Elmo@100 is a series of performances through June 2024 by Hope’s quintet, honoring the music of her late husband, the legendary jazz pianist and composer Elmo Hope.
Among others, Hope received the Mary Lou Williams Lifetime Achievement Award and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem’s Legends of Jazz Award. Hope’s 4 albums, and Hope-Full – the only one with her late husband Elmo – are available on Amazon.
Micah Thomas was born in 1997 in Columbus, Ohio. In 2015, Thomas was awarded the Jerome L. Greene Fellowship from the Juilliard School and received his Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree in 2019, followed by his Master of Music (M.M.) degree in 2020. His first album with his trio, “Tide”, was released in June 2020 and received positive reviews from The New Yorker, The New York Times, JazzTimes, and Financial Times, among others. In September 2022, Thomas released his first solo album “Piano Solo” and won the Grand Prix Award from Charles Cros Academy of France. He is now performing locally and internationally, both as a leader of his own trio and a steady member of the Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, alongside sideman appearances with Ambrose Akinmusire, Lage Lund, Billy Drummond, Zoh Amba, Giveton Gelin, Stacy Dillard, Joel Ross, Nicole Glover, Melissa Aldana, Etienne Charles, Harish Raghavan, and others.
Matthew Whitaker’s musical journey began at age 3 with a keyboard gift from his grandfather. He’s now an artist, captivating audiences globally and appearing on notable T.V. shows like Showtime at the Apollo, the Today Show, Ellen, and a feature on 60 Minutes.
Matthew is a versatile artist, starring, producing, and scoring the All-Arts Emmy-nominated documentary About Tomorrow and scoring the film Starkeisha, which is currently streaming on Hulu. He also appeared in and contributed music to the Emmy-winning Apple T.V. commercial The Greatest. Matthew made his musical director debut for the award winning Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For, a musical on the life of pianist and composer Billy Strayhorn, which premiered in Pittsburgh, PA in the fall of 2023. He’s had guest soloist appearances with orchestras and symphonies including Aspen Chamber Symphony, under the baton of guest conductor, Marin Alsop, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, CN, Alexander Shelley, conductor. He also composed a song for the 82-piece Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra, in Sofia, Bulgaria, which was included in the aforementioned All-Arts documentary, About Tomorrow
He is a three-time ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award winner, with three studio albums as a leader; Outta The Box, Now Hear This, and Connections. His fourth recording, On Their Shoulders: An Organ Tribute, an homage to some of Matthew’s heroes on the instrument, will debut in early Summer 2024. Matthew has collaborated with industry greats like bassist, composer, and producer Derrick Hodge; pianist, composer, and musical director Ray Chew; pianist, multiple Grammy-award winning composer, vocalist, and band leader Jon Batiste; Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride; and NEA Jazz Master, violinist Regina Carter.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council.
Harlem Stage’s Programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
ABDULLAH IBRAHIM · ADAM W. SADBERRY
ALEXANDER DAVIS · AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE
BERTHA HOPE · BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE COMPANY
BOBBY MORGAN · BORA YOON · CAMILLE A. BROWN
CARL HANCOCK RUX · CHLOE DAVIS · CRAIG HARRIS
DAFNIS PRIETO · DANIEL FETECUA · DAVID VALBUENA
DJ SABINE BLAIZIN (OYASOUND) · FEI-FEI
FLOR DE TOLOACHE · GEORGE EMILIO SANCHEZ
HANNAH LEMMONS AKA LEMMONS · IAN ISIAH
JAMES BLASZKO · JASON MORAN · JOANNE BRACKEEN
JOSÉ JAMES · JOYA POWELL · JUEL D. LANE
KALÍ RODRÍGUEZ-PEÑA · KIMBERLY NICHOLE
LUCIANA SOUZA · MALEEK WASHINGTON
MARY PRESCOTT · MATTHEW WHITAKER
MAYTE NATALIO · MICAH THOMAS · NORA CHIPAUMIRE
PABLO MAYOR’S FOLKLORE URBANO ORCHESTRA
PATTY ORTIZ · RICKEY TRIPP · RODERICK GEORGE
RONALD K. BROWN/EVIDENCE
SHANTELLE COURVOISIER JACKSON · STEW
SUN HAN GUILD · TAMAR-KALI · URBAN BUSH WOMEN
VIJAY IYER · YASSER TEJEDA · YUNIYA EDI KWON
Friday, May 3 –
Saturday, May 4 | 7:30PM
WaterWorks Established Artist Commission Tamar-kali—
Carl Hancock Rux, Libretto
Composer, vocalist, and performing and recording artist Tamar-kali presents performance excerpts from The Swann — an opera she is developing about the life and times of William Dorsey Swann, the first known person to identify as a “queen of drag.”
On the occasion of Harlem Stage’s 40th Anniversary milestone season, we are pleased to offer a series of livestream performances this Winter/Spring 2024, available to our donors. As part of our $40 for 40 campaign, your donation of at least $40 to Harlem Stage will give you access to livestream these amazing performances. Learn more at harlemstage.org/40for40
WaterWorks Established Artist Commission
Tamar-kali—The Swann
Carl Hancock Rux, Libretto
Saturday, May 4 | 7:30PM
SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
ON & ON: JOSÉ JAMES
SINGS BADU
SEPTEMBER 22, 2023
UPTOWN NIGHTS
LATIN MUSIC SERIES
PABLO MAYOR’S FOLKLORE
URBANO ORCHESTRA
OCTOBER 13 – 14, 2023
E-MOVES
RONALD K. BROWN/ EVIDENCE
OCTOBER 20 – 21, 2023
CRAIG HARRIS
TONGUES OF FIRE (in a harlem state of mind)
OCTOBER 27, 2023
UPTOWN NIGHTS
LATIN MUSIC SERIES
DAFNIS PRIETO
FEATURING LUCIANA SOUZA
CANTAR
NOVEMBER 3, 2023 IN THE COURT OF THE CONQUEROR BY GEORGE EMILIO
SANCHEZ IN
COLLABORATION WITH VISUAL ARTIST PATTY ORTIZ
NOVEMBER 10, 2023
UPTOWN NIGHTS
LATIN MUSIC SERIES + CARNEGIE HALL CITYWIDE
FLOR DE TOLOACHE
DECEMBER 1, 2023
UPTOWN NIGHTS
LATIN MUSIC SERIES
YASSER TEJEDA & DJ SABINE BLAIZIN (OYASOUND)
DECEMBER 9, 2023
WATERWORKS EMERGING
ARTISTS SHOWCASE
FEATURING SHANTELLE
COURVOISIER JACKSON, HANNAH LEMMONS AKA
LEMMONS, BOBBY MORGAN, MARY PRESCOTT & KALÍ RODRÍGUEZ-PEÑA
JANUARY 11–13, 2024
E-MOVES
URBAN BUSH WOMEN’S HAINT BLU
JANUARY 26, 2024
UPTOWN NIGHTS
IAN ISIAH + KIMBERLY NICHOLE
FEBRUARY 16, 2024
UPTOWN NIGHTS:
CONVENT TO WYTHE
yuniya edi kwon + SUN HAN GUILD
MARCH 1 – 2, 2024
ETERNAL SPIRIT:
VIJAY IYER & FRIENDS
CELEBRATE THE MUSIC OF ANDREW HILL
MARCH 8, 2024
UPTOWN NIGHTS
AN EVENING OF CHAMBER
MUSIC PRESENTED WITH SUGAR HILL SALON & CONCERT ARTISTS GUILD
MARCH 9, 2024
UPTOWN NIGHTS:
CONVENT TO WYTHE
BORA YOON & R. LUKE DUBOIS AT NATIONAL SAWDUST
MARCH 22 – 23, 2024
STEW
HIGH SUBSTITUTE FOR THE DREAD LECTURER:
BARAKA JONES IN DUB
MARCH 29 – 30, 2024
WATERWORKS ESTABLISHED ARTIST COMMISSION
AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE
banyan seed
APRIL 19 – 20, 2024
E-MOVES
BILL T. JONES/
ARNIE ZANE COMPANY
APRIL 26, 2024
PIANOS FOR DUKE
REIMAGINED: FEATURING
JASON MORAN, ABDULLAH
IBRAHIM & FRIENDS
APRIL 27, 2024
PIANOS FOR DUKE
REIMAGINED: FEATURING
JASON MORAN, ABDULLAH
IBRAHIM & FRIENDS
BENEFIT CONCERT
MAY 3 – 4, 2024
WATERWORKS ESTABLISHED ARTIST COMMISSION
TAMAR-KALI
THE SWANN
MAY 17 – 18, 2024
E-MOVES
nora chipaumire
ShebeenDUB
JUNE 3, 2024
HARLEM STAGE
40TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
JUNE 14 – 15, 2024
E-MOVES
CAMILLE A. BROWN & GUESTS: BLACK JOY
FEATURING WORKS BY
CAMILLE A. BROWN, CHLOE DAVIS, JUEL D. LANE, MAYTE NATALIO, RICKEY TRIPP & MALEEK WASHINGTON
Lead support for Harlem Stage’s 40th Anniversary Season is provided by the Mellon Foundation.
Harlem Stage is the performing arts center that bridges Harlem’s cultural legacy to contemporary artists of color and dares to provide the artistic freedom that gives birth to new ideas.
For 40 years our singular mission has been to perpetuate and celebrate the unique and diverse artistic legacy of Harlem and the indelible impression it has made on American culture. We provide opportunity, commissioning, and support for artists of color, make performances easily accessible to all audiences, and introduce children to the rich diversity, excitement, and inspiration of the performing arts.
We fulfill our mission through commissioning, incubating, and presenting innovative and vital work that responds to the historical and contemporary conditions that shape our lives and the communities we serve.
Courtney F. Lee-Mitchell, President
Jamie Cannon, Vice President
Michael Young, Secretary
Mark Thomas, Treasurer
Angela Glover Blackwell
Jenna Bond
Jamila Ponton Bragg
JoAnn K. Chase
Staff
Patricia Cruz, Artistic Director & CEO
Eric Oberstein, Managing Director
Shamar Hill, Director of Development
Shanté Skyers, Associate Director of Development
Julianna Friedman, Development Manager
Carl Hancock Rux, Associate Artistic Director/ Curator-in-Residence
Sarah McCaffery, Programming Manager and Associate Curator
Maurice Ivy, Programming Associate
Deirdre May, Senior Director of Digital Content and Marketing
Andre Padayhag, Marketing Manager and Graphic Designer
Adrienne Gomez, Box Office Manager
Jordan Carter, Education & Community Engagement Manager
Bethany Cintron, Education & Community Engagement Associate
Amanda K. Ringger, Director of Production
Clarence Taylor, Lighting Operator
Orlando Alvarado, Audio Engineer
Saul Ulerio, Lighting / Deck Crew
Julio Collado, Audio / Deck Crew
David Barrett, Deck Crew
LaChanze
Patricia Cruz
Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes
Jenette Kahn
Channing Martin
Rebecca Robertson
Tamara Tunie
Blair Washington
Rodney Bissessar, Director of Operations
Lamont Askins, Operations Associate
Acey Anderson Sr., Maintenance
NCheng LLC, Accountants/Advisors
Jake Lee, Partner
Aaron Lam, Supervising Senior Accountant
Aon/Albert G. Ruben Company (NY)/ Claudia Kaufman, Insurance
Arts Education Consultants: Sobha Kavanakudiyil, Sierra Ray & Wendy Rojas
Blake Zidell & Associates, Public Relations
Briguel, Digital Video Services
DAS, IT Consultant
Derrick Saint Pierre/Snugg Studios, Digital Video Services
Intrepid Digital, SEO Services
JCA, Inc.: Database Consulting
Jess Medenbach, Digital Video Services
LCM/247, Digital Video Services
Lutz & Carr/Chris Bellando, Accountants
Madison Consulting Group, Matthew Laurence
Manchester Benefits, Greg Martin
Marc Millman, Photography
Robyn L. Stein, Rl Stein Group, Development Consultant
Charles Whelan, The Whelan Group Incorporated
Toma Carthens, Andy Garcia, Miriam Hernandez, Nobar De Leon, Julian Norales, Brenda Hernandez