Uptown Nights: Joel Ross

HARLEM STAGE & THE JAZZ GALLERY PRESENT

UPTOWN NIGHTS

JOEL ROSS BEING A YOUNG BLACK MAN

Friday–Saturday, September 16–17, 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

Photo by Lauren Desberg

ABOUT THE EVENT

ABOUT THE EVENT Tonight, in collaboration with The Jazz Gallery, Harlem Stage presents accomplished vibraphonist-composer Joel Ross and his project, Being A Young Black Man. Commissioned by and originally presented at The Jazz Gallery in 2017 as part of its Residency Commission series, the work is a suite of compositions that examine two main themes: family and faith.

Ross will take us on a journey to explore the experiences with friends and family, the discovery and questioning of faith and beliefs, and witnessing the different events that have taken place throughout the country and world regarding young Black men and women in recent years.

Thank you for joining us, Harlem Stage

PERFORMERS Joel Ross Vibes Patrick Bartley Alto saxophone Tivon Pennicott Tenor saxophone Jeremy Corren Piano Junius Paul Bass Marcus Gilmore Drums Carl Hancock Rux Poetry *Visuals created by Immanuel Wilkins

Photo by Lauren Desberg

BIOGRAPHIES

JOES ROSS VIBES

Joel Ross continues refining an expression that’s true to his sound and his generation. In 2019, the vibraphonist-composer issued his anticipated Blue Note debut, Edison Award-winning record KingMaker to eruptive critical acclaim, followed by his 2020 release Who Are You? which features his band Good Vibes at their most synchronous. New York Times critic Giovanni Russonello praised the album for the ways it “speaks to a new level of group cohesion…more tangle, more sharing, more possibility.”

Ross has topped the DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star category for vibraphone — then graduating beyond the Rising Star to wellhoned artist in 2021 — as well as the Jazz Journalists Association Critics Poll for Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year in 2020 and 2021.

He recently became one of the youngest artists to earn a coveted

Residency Commission from The Jazz Gallery and a spot in The Jazz Gallery All Stars band, through which he performed live at The Kennedy Center. In 2020, he received a Jazz Coalition Commission for Praise in the Midst of The Storm, a performance suite featuring Brandee Younger, Marquis Hill, Craig Weinrib, Dezron Douglas and longtime friend and collaborator Immanuel Wilkins, with whom he recently performed a three-night duo program live at The Village Vanguard as part of the storied venue’s streaming series. In 2021, Ross enjoyed a residency at Roulette Intermedium for Jazzfest Berlin, premiering original work She Walks in the Spirit alongside Gabrielle Garo, Brandee Younger, Mimi Jones, Savannah Harris and Nappy Nina, and 4nette alongside Immanuel Wilkins, Thomas Morgan and Craig Weinrib, in January and May, respectively. He has performed multiple residencies at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn.

Folkloric resonance incubates Ross’ artistry. Improvising melodies or composing at the piano, he leaves space for a theme to emerge and evolve, always inviting creative response. Nimble, virtuosic lines approximate speech. He often transitions among the roles of storyteller, protagonist and supporting character. Inspired by mentor, Stefon Harris’ empathetic, whole-self approach to articulation, Ross has adopted an entire ethos dependent on truthful and ongoing communication. Honesty persists throughout his sets. And with each release, he reaffirms a commitment to authentic discourse.

The Parable of the Poet, Ross’ third release for Blue Note Records, explores feelings self-awareness — confidence, doubt, regret and forgiveness — through storytelling and retellings. Using collaborative improvising, collective melody and instrumental features, the intuitive band leader spotlights unique attributes of fellow artists Immanuel Wilkins, Maria Grand, Marquis Hill, Kalia Vandever, Sean Mason, Rick Rosato, Craig Weinrib and returning special guest Gabrielle Garo. JazzTrail praises the new gesture as “a frontline with four horns and a sharply focused rhythm section where piano and vibes coexist harmoniously together, [resulting] in glittering, polished surfaces that bring together emotion and devotion. Ross is a serious bandleader, and this album is a combination of his creativity, skill, and generosity.”

BIOGRAPHIES PATRICK BARTLEY, JR

ALTO SAXOPHONE

Patrick Bartley, Jr. is GRAMMYnominated saxophonist, multiinstrumentalist, and bandleader from Hollywood, Florida who is known for his boundless versatility, virtuosic technique and expressive vocal-like sound. Since moving to New York City, Bartley has performed and recorded with some of the greatest musical masters in the world, including Wynton Marsalis, Jon Batiste, Steve Miller, Herbie Hancock, Louis Hayes, Carole King, The Coasters, Marquis Hill, Bobby Sanabria, Marcus Printup, and many others. After studying at the Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Steve Miller and Joe Temperley, Bartley set out to make his own name as a leader and has led his own original projects across several countries to critical acclaim. His most notable recent project, the J-MUSIC Ensemble, is a band dedicated to examining the world of modern Japanese music through the lens of jazz. Since its inception, J-MUSIC has garnered millions of views and hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide and has led to Bartley connecting and working with some of the greatest names in modern Japanese music, such as Sayaka Yamamoto, sasakure.UK, and Donna Burke. Originally wanting to pursue visual art in childhood, Bartley was exposed to the vast artistic avenues that Japanese culture had to offer, and greatly influenced the way he would later see, hear, and perform music from then on. Bartley now resides in South Florida, where he plans to continue building his community through music performance and educational efforts.

TIVON PENNICOTT TENOR SAXOPHONE

Tivon Pennicott has been transporting audiences to a higher level of consciousness.The highly sought saxophone player, composer and multi-instrumentalist is a three-time GRAMMY Award winner, appears on Esperanza Spalding’s Radio Music Society (Heads Up International, 2012) and Gregory Porter’s Liquid Spirit (Blue Note, 2013). He has collaborated with such visionaries as Stevie Wonder, Roy Hargrove, Maria Schneider and Wynton Marsalis. Also having performed at The Royal Albert Hall, the Berliner Philharmonie and Carnegie Hall, among other iconic venues. On screen, Pennicott has also appeared regularly on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as a member of the Stay Human Band with Jon Batiste. A Georgia native living in New York, Pennicott earned his B.A. from the University of Miami.

His evolving sound is the result of a soulful, sophisticated foundation for groove he honed in the church, and a penchant for unbound harmonic exploration. In 2014, he released his first recording Lover of Nature on New Phrase Records, and his quartet has appeared at the Atlanta Jazz Festival and Spivey Hall, as well as Smalls Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club Coca-cola and The Jazz Gallery in New York City.

BIOGRAPHIES JEREMY CORREN PIANO

Jeremy Corren is a New York-based pianist and composer. He performs throughout the United States as well as internationally, with prior appearances at the North Sea and Umbria Jazz Festivals, the Blue Note (Tokyo), Duc Des Lombards (Paris), Porgy and Bess (Vienna), and many more. He has toured and recorded extensively with Joel Ross, appearing on Blue Note releases KingMaker (2019) and Who Are You? (2020), and most recently featured on Or Bareket’s latest project for Enja Records, Sahar (2022). A composer of piano and chamber music, Corren has had his compositions performed by some of New York’s finest chamber players, including the Mivos Quartet, the Wet Ink Ensemble, and the TAK Ensemble.

JUNIUS PAUL BASS

Junius Paul, composer, bandleader & acoustic and electric bassist, born and raised in the Chicago area, is a graduate of St. Xavier University (Chicago). An internationally established bassist, some of Junius’ performances and/or recording credits include The Art Ensemble Of Chicago, numerous configurations of ensembles led by Roscoe Mitchell, Famoudou Don Moye Sun Percussion Summit, AACM Small Ensemble & Big Band, Kahil El’Zabar, Makaya McCraven, The Fred Anderson Trio, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Vincent Davis & Percussion Plus, Dee Alexander, The Curtis Fuller Quintet, Oliver Lake, Donald Harrison, Willie Pickens, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Marquis Hill, KRS-One and Donald Byrd among others.

In 2013-14, Junius served as music department faculty for Trinity Christian College (Palos Heights, IL). Junius’ debut album, Ism, was released in November 2019 via International Anthem Recording Company to 4-Star acclaim in Downbeat Magazine. Junius is currently working on his second album, set to be released in 2023.

MARCUS GILMORE DRUMS

Marcus Gilmore is a Grammy Award winning American drummer/ composer. New York Times critic Ben Ratliff included Gilmore in his list of drummers who are “finding new ways to look at the drum set, and at jazz itself”, stating, “he created that pleasant citywide buzz when someone new and special blows through New York clubs and jam sessions”.

While Gilmore can be found performing and recording with a diverse array of the finest musicians in the world such as Chick Corea, Pharoah Sanders, Savion Glover, Pat Metheny & Ravi Coltrane. Gilmore is known for his own group Actions Speak, and new special project, Silouhwav.

Gilmore, in all of his playing, integrates a unique style where he is musically expanding rhythm, while supporting the great musicians with whom he plays. He has also performed/recorded with Mulatu Astatke, Common, Steve Coleman, Vijay Iyer, Christian Scott, Cassandra Wilson, Jill Scott, Talib Kweli, Queen Latifah, Black Thought, Zakir Hussain, Roy Hargrove, Robert Glasper and Taylor Mcferrin.

BIOGRAPHIES CARL HANCOCK RUX

POETRY (ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/ CURATOR-IN-RESIDENCE)

Carl Hancock Rux is an American poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, recording artist, senior-level arts administrator, and educator. He is the author of several books including the Village Voice Literary Prize-winning collection of poetry, Pagan Operetta, the novel, Asphalt, and the Obie Award-winning play, Talk; five albums, and appears as a frequent collaborating artist, most notably Gerald Clayton’s album Life Forum (Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album); co-author of the staged incarnation of Steel Hammer by Julia Wolfe, the 2010 Pulitzer Prize-nominated work, created with Anne Bogart; as well as the author/performer of the Lincoln Center commissioned experimental short poetic film The Baptism, a tribute to civil rights activists John Lewis and C. T. Vivian, directed by Carrie Mae Weems (an official selection in the 2022 Segal Center Film Festival on Theater and Performance). Mr. Rux is the inaugural curator/ director of Lincoln Center’s annual Juneteenth Celebration, I Dream a Dream That Dreams Back at Me, which he has expanded to include as an arts installation at the Park Avenue Armory, as well as a Humanities panel at Harlem Stage. Mr. Rux is co-Artistic Director and Board member of Mabou Mines; Board member of 122LCC (formerly known as Performance Space 122); Associate Artistic Director/Curator in Residence of Harlem Stage/The Gate House); and the Multidisciplinary Editor at The Massachusetts Review.

Over the course of the 2022/2023 season, Harlem Stage examines the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s to the 1970s, and its relationship to race, gender, sexuality, music, photography, film, poetry, theater, and dance, as well as its intersectionality with the larger Black Power Movement.

Learn more and buy tickets at

harlemstage.org/black-arts-movement-examined

Photos by Kwame Brathwaite

BIOGRAPHIES

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 Angela Glover Blackwell Carrie Bloxson Jenna Bond

Jamila Ponton Bragg JoAnn K. Chase Patricia Cruz Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes 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 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 Harrison Weinstein, Photographer BOX OFFICE Eddy Perez, Box Office Manager PRODUCTION Amanda K. Ringger, Director of Production Jeff Davolt, Stage Director Clarence Taylor, Lighting Op Orlando Alvarado, Audio Engineer Saul Ulerio, Video Op David Barrett, Julio Collado, Lighting & Audio Deck Crew

OPERATIONS Rodney Bissessar, Director of Operations Lamont Askins, Operations Associate Acey Anderson Sr., Maintenance ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE NCheng LLC, Accountants/Advisors Michelle Blankenship, Principal Aaron Lam, Supervising Senior Accountant CONSULTANTS Aon/Albert G. Ruben Company (NY) —Claudia Kaufman, Insurance DAS Services, IT Consultant Digital Video Services—BriGuel Lutz & Carr/Chris Bellando, Accountants Madison Consulting Group, —Matt Laurence Manchester Benefits—Greg Martin Marc Millman Photography Digital Video Services —Jess Medenbach RL Stein Group—Robyn L. Stein Snugg Studios—Derrick Saint Pierre Development Consultant The Whelan Group Incorporated —Charles Whelan Blake Zidell & Associates, Public Relations & Marketing USHERS Nobar Deleon, Chloe Wilson, Toma Carthens, Brenda Hernandez, Andy Garcia, Miriam Hernandez