Uptown Nights: Queen Esther

UPTOWN NIGHTS

QUEEN ESTHER

Saturday, April 30, 2022, 7:30PM Harlem Stage Gatehouse Address: 150 Convent Avenue at West 135 Street, New York, NY 10031 Phone: 212.281.9240 ext. 19 | Website: www.harlemstage.org

@harlemstage

@myharlemstage

ABOUT THE EVENT Queen Esther exudes the Blackness that raised her. A daughter of the American South, she channels her Southern roots to sonically explore this country’s cultural mores and deconstruct historical narratives. Her “Black Americana” sound fuses country rock and Black soul.

We are excited to welcome her back to Harlem Stage and to have you with us tonight.

PERFORMERS Queen Esther Vocalist, Bandleader Sharp Radway Piano Jeff McLaughlin Guitar J. Walter Hawkes Ukulele Ben Rubin Bass Steve Williams Drums

ABOUT THE EVENT ARTIST STATEMENT I am driven by ideas that center the beauty, poignancy and historical resilience of Black American people — especially Black American women. I embrace whatever form an idea needs to take to more fully express itself. A one act play. A concept album.

A musical. A cabaret act. A series of monologues. A performance art piece. The process feels intuitive and brazen and somewhat compulsive. I am forever dancing on the head of a pin and honing my skills to bring an idea to life — because what I’m creating demands it.

I use lost American history and the bluing of the note as a kind of collective cultural evocation to make reclamation driven art from a Southern Black feminist perspective.

My creative practice began when I let my imagination — and my voice — roam in any direction. The bluing of the note extends itself thoroughly into everything I do. Even the things I casually say onstage are ensconced in Southern Gothic folklore, revealing an embodiment of the Americana aesthetic.

My creative foundation is embedded in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Country music drifted through my Southern childhood like cigarette smoke and seeped into every part of me, leaving a residue that reeked of a dissonance I easily recognized because of the church that raised me, awash in music created and sung

by African captives. Homesickness compelled me to remember everything that the world told me to forget. The sound of sacred steel in church. The sweetness of the dew on the grass, just as the sun begins to rise. Eating blackberries I find as I wander through the woods. The sound of my great-grandmother’s voice.

That peculiar shade of blue. The crepe myrtle in my grandmother’s front yard. The twang that reverberates all the way through me, no matter where I am in the world, like a living breathing thing.

Photo by Steven Rosen

BIOGRAPHIES QUEEN ESTHER VOCALIST, BANDLEADER

Raised in Atlanta, Georgia and wholly embedded in Charleston, South Carolina’s culturally rich and enigmatic Lowcountry — a region with African traditions and Black folkways that span centuries and continuously inform her work — Harlem-based vocalist, songwriter, musician, producer and solo performer Queen Esther uses her Southern roots as a touchstone to sonically explore cultural mores in America, deconstructing well-worn historical narratives and creating a reclamation-driven soundscape. Described as “...a Black Lucinda Williams…”

(Vanity Fair), and “...Aretha Franklin-esque…” (Feedback) critics have shifted their take on her vocals easily from Billie Holiday and Sly Stone to Melissa Etheridge and Nina Simone. Her self-released critically acclaimed Black Americana album Gild The Black Lily continues to make waves since its March 2021 release.

Recent highlights: A TED Talk about the Black roots of country and bluegrass; Queen Esther sings Billie Holiday: The Lost Classics at Dizzy’s in Lincoln Center; a Black Americana performance at the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago, Ill; showcases at Nashville’s Americanafest and Brooklyn Americana Music Festival in DUMBO; playwriting residencies at New Perspectives Theater Company and American Theater Group’s PlayLab; and principal work in the world premiere of Taylor Mac and Matt Ray’s jazz opera The Hang at HERE for the 2022 Prototype Festival.

BIOGRAPHIES SHARP RADWAY PIANIST

Pianist, Sharp Radway, is a native of Hartford, CT and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. He remains in demand throughout the country and abroad. Protégé of Dr. Randy Weston, Radway is a formidable and seasoned bandleader, heading various groups of his own such as his quintet, quartet, trio, Music Of The Streets, Sharp Radway’s Gospel Jazz Group, Sharp Radway’s Big Band, and various vocal and instrumental duos.

Radway has worked with several Jazz luminaries and forefathers of the genre. Among them are Yusef Lateef, Benny Golson, Red Holloway, Slide Hampton, Curtis Fuller, James Spaulding, Louis Hayes, Candido Camero, Benny Powell, Eddie Henderson, Hamiet Bluiett, Peewee Ellis, Steve Turre, Fred Wesley, Frank Lacy, Kiane Zawadi, Bucky Pizzarelli, Diane Schuur, Joe Lee Wilson, Kevin Mahogany, Nnenna Freelon, Greg Bandy, Ben Dixon, Winard Harper, Leopoldo Fleming, Russell Gunn, Nicolas Payton, and Randy Brecker and many more. He served as music director, pianist, and arranger for The Celebration of Lionel Hampton Big Band and The New York City Ska Orchestra. In addition to playing the piano he is also a prolific composer and arranger.

Sharp Radway’s roots can be found in The Church. He began playing in church as a child, first playing alto saxophone and later playing drums. As a teenager he played the piano and keyboard in church and it was also then that he first began working with choirs. Later on he gained experience playing the Hammond and pipe organs. Sharp has done extensive work in the church, serving as music director for Methodist, A.M.E., and Baptist Churches; and has served as pianist and/or organist for the Pentecostal Church and A.M.E. Zion Church.

He has also worked in Catholic, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Non-Denominational Churches. Sharp has done extensive work training choirs over his many years of service in the church. He has performed in concert opening for renowned Gospel artists Donnie McClurkin, J.C. White, Tramaine Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins, and others.

Sharp is the founder and director of The Sharp Radway Gospel Chorale.

JEFF MCLAUGHLIN GUITAR

Guitarist, Jeff McLaughlin, creates musical soundscapes filled with passion, depth, and a progressive spirit. His playing and composition are both steeped in tradition and focused on new directions in creative music.

McLaughlin has appeared in festivals, venues and workshops around the world including the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Banff Jazz Workshop, the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, the Brooklyn Americana Festival, the NAMM Bass Bash, the Indianapolis Jazz Festival, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. He has performed as a sideman and with his own projects in famed venues such as NYC’s Apollo Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 55 Bar, Blue Note, Minton’s Playhouse, Bar Next Door, City Winery, and LA’s Blue Whale.

McLaughlin has performed with artists such as Ari Hoenig, Drew Gress, Jill Sobule, Tom Kennedy, Rudy Royston, Tina Fabrique, Ralph Alessi, Jon Cowherd, Shane Endsley, Jonathan Finlayson, Jason Palmer, Michael Attias, Jerome Sabbaugh, Steve Houghton, Rachel Caswell, Chris Coleman, Brent Wallarab, and David Baker.

J. WALTER HAWKES UKULELE

J. Walter Hawkes is a musician and four time Emmy Award winning composer, arranger, and music producer for film and television including. Hawkes has worked with notable organizations and companies such as PBS, Nickelodeon, BBC, Disney, Cartoon Network and NBC. Having written, composed and played for Emmy-Award winning programs such as Blues Clues, Peg + Cat (PBS),

BIOGRAPHIES Clifford The Big Red Dog (PBS/Amazon/Scholastic), Wonder Pets (Nickelodeon), 3rd and Bird (BBC/Disney Channel), Bubble Guppies (Nickelodeon), Blue’s Clues (Nickelodeon), Doggity’s Diner (Sprout/NBC), Go, Baby! (Disney Channel), Oogloo and Anju (Cartoon Network) and many independent films and shorts.

BEN RUBIN BASS

Whether he’s blending hip-hop and jazz with Masta Ace and Donny McCaslin, playing rock ’n’ roll with singer/songwriter Marshall Crenshaw, or producing Peter Bernstein’s solo jazz guitar, 2x-Grammynominated producer, mixer, bassist and composer, Ben Rubin, is known for making music that is both genre-bending and pure.

A seven-time pick as a DownBeat International Critics’ Poll “Rising Star Producer,” he has also played upright bass at Newport Jazz Festival with Dred Scott Trio, remixed tracks for Killah Priest and Karsh Kale, and won an Independent Music Award with his electronica band Mudville.

Rubin has well over 100 recording credits in a diversity of genres, including many releases for the Ropeadope and SmallsLive labels.

In 2020 & 2021, as a member of Analog Players Society, Ben released two records (one cut-up hip-hop and one jazz) and a single (Home in America, featuring legendary Brooklyn MC Masta Ace) derived from one three-hour recording session featuring jazz masters Donny McCaslin, Orrin Evans, Dezron Douglas, and Eric McPherson.

In 2018, Ben produced the album Freebird, by Walking Distance ft. Jason Moran. This Charlie Parker-inspired jazz epic, highlighting expansive production choices, garnered critical acclaim and landed on that year’s The New York Times Top Jazz Records list. Four

years earlier, with Argentinian composer/pianist Emilio Solla, Rubin co-produced the Grammy-nominated Second Half, a large-ensemble tango-jazz masterpiece. His producing and mixing work for SmallsLive, where he released over 30 records featuring many jazz greats like Louis Hayes and Harold Mabern, was lauded by The New York Times as “beyond reproach.”

Rubin has played and recorded both upright and electric bass with a diversity of artists, including James Maddock, Marshall Crenshaw, Queen Esther, Steve Conte, Dred Scott Trio, Chris Brown & Kate Fenner, Lower Power, Patti Rothberg, Courtney Love, Patti Smith, Moby and Bill Frisell. Jazz Times has applauded and described Ben Rubin’s upright bass playing as “deep, exploratory tone.” Having also composed the scores for director, Nelson Kim’s feature film debut, Someone Else, and acclaimed graphic novelist Paul Pope’s space-western short “7x6x2.”

STEVE WILLIAMS

DRUMS

Drummer Steve Williams, has toured, performed and recorded with major artists around the world, including Sade, David Byrne, Ivan Neville, Keith Richards, Rich Robinson, Digable Planets, PM Dawn, De La Soul, Vanilla Ice, Chocolate Genius, Will Downing, Mica Paris, Peabo Bryson and many others. When not on the road, Steve has had a busy career programming, composing and producing various music projects for TV, film and recording artists.

OUR SUPPORTERS

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.

ABOUT HARLEM STAGE 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 nearly 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.

Board of Directors Courtney F. Lee-Mitchell, President Jamie Cannon, Vice President Michael Young, Secretary Mark Thomas, Treasurer Stefany Bergson Angela Glover Blackwell Jamila Ponton Bragg

JoAnn K. Chase Patricia Cruz Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes Trevor Gale Jenette Kahn LaChanze Sapp-Gooding Tamara Tunie

Administration Staff Patricia Cruz, Artistic Director & CEO MANAGEMENT Eric Oberstein, Managing Director DEVELOPMENT Shamar Hill, Director of Development Shanté Skyers, Associate Director of Development Julia Marrero, Development Associate PROGRAMMING Carl Hancock Rux, Associate Artistic Director/Curator-in-Residence Yunie Mojica, Programming Manager MARKETING Deirdre May, Senior Director of Digital Content and Marketing Andre Padayhag, Marketing Manager and Graphic Designer BOX OFFICE Daniel Im, Box Office Manager PRODUCTION Amanda K. Ringger, Director of Production Yolanda Royster, Stage Coordinator Clarence Taylor, Lighting Operator Orlando Alvarado, House Audio Engineer David Barrett, Julio Collado, Lighting & Audio Deck Crew OPERATIONS Rodney Bissessar, Director of Operations Lamont Askins, Operations Assistant Acey Anderson Sr., Maintenance

ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE Ncheng LLC, Accountants/Advisors Michelle Blankenship, Principal Aaron Lam, Supervising Senior Accountant CONSULTANTS Aon/Albert G. Rubin Company (NY) Claudia Kaufman, Insurance Digital Video Services—BriGuel Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, P.C. —Lisa Davis Itelagen, IT Consultant Lutz & Carr/Chris Bellando, Accountants Madison Consulting Group, —Matt Laurence Manchester Benefits—Greg Martin Marc Millman Photography Digital Video Services —Jess Medenbach PR Canvas Public Relations & Marketing RL Stein Group—Robyn L. Stein Development Consultant The Whelan Group Incorporated —Charles Whelan USHERS Miriam Hernandez, Chloe Wilson, Brenda Hernandez, Nobar Deleon, Toma Carthens, Robert Gibbons