09/18/2024
THE REVIEW:
Jazz is for the community, and it is to be danced!!
By Songbird TAeKO, Jazz Singer
It is great to go to famous Jazz clubs in midtown, Manhattan, but there are other fascinating Jazz scenes that only can be experienced in New York City, and I went with my 10 year-old daughter to a wonderful event in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn this afternoon because I used to be around the scene when I lived in New York, but I had been away from it since I relocated to Japan in late 2020, and I definitely felt I wanted to be there.
This is an event Brooklyn-native elderly gather for good Jazz music at a local cultural center. I wanted to go, and I wanted my half-Japanese half-Black daughter to experience it, too. It was a daytime event, so it was easier to take her while we were still jet-lagged. Arriving a few minutes late, we were welcomed by a great Brooklyn swing played by the band on the stage. A little later, a few elderly stood up from their seats and started to dance to the music.
Live Jazz & Dancing to the sounds of Marcus Persiani (p), Eric Lemons (b), Bernard Linnette (d) and Patience Higgins (s), followed by the documentary film ”966 JAZZ: FOREVER YOUNG” Saturday, August 17, 2024, 2-4pm at Herbert Von King Park in its Eubie Blake Theatre, Bed Stuy Brooklyn
The band swung even harder as the dancers joined in, and we the audience were bouncing with them at our seats. My daughter had a ball, seated next to Debbie Stevens, the owner of Brownstone Jazz who is like my family. The Brooklyn Jazz community was here, I even got called up and participated a little on the stage.
JAZZ966
There used to be a vibrant event called JAZZ966 every Friday night, September through June, at a senior center located at 966 Fulton Street, Brooklyn. JAZZ966 was launched in 1990 by the Fort Greene Council's Chairman, Sam Pinn (a serious Jazz enthusiast), as a cultural arts program for the agency's senior population. It presented a wide range of music including straight-ahead jazz, big band jazz, hard bop, cool jazz, the blues, classic soul, R&B, Afro-Caribbean and AfroLatin jazz. And most-importantly, people of all ages came to dance to the live music at an affordable price!
Unfortunately JAZZ966 was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and it hasn’t opened its door ever since.
The event today was to reminisce and celebrate JAZZ966, dance to live Jazz, and watch the documentary film about JAZZ966, titled “966 JAZZ: Forever Young” produced by Rome Neal who also produced this event today along with Age Friendly Central Brooklyn DW.
The film includes the comments by the director Sam Pinn, the dancers who used to go to JAZZ966 every Friday, and the musicians who used to perform for the dancing crowd. It also has multiple video footage of energetic JAZZ966 back in the days. �It's a powerful and very important work to preserve the memories of the acclaimed Jazz scene in Brooklyn.
“My friend begged me to come down to JAZZ966, I mean Fort Greene Senior Citizen Center... And I did and never stopped going there ever since” - Imani Parker
The film features the comments by Wynton Marsalis and the performance by him and his band as well the legendary pianist/composer Dr. Randy Weston.�
The event concluded with another performance by the band and this time with a soul-lifting voice of Rome Neal singing “Here’s to Life” joined by a renowned veteran pianist, Bertha Hope. �
After the event at the theater, Rome’s homemade and trademarked Banana Puddin’ was served to the participants at the courtyard. My daughter had a cup, and she loved it! Heart-warming sweet taste. It was delicious. It was a very soulful afternoon just as I needed. It was a great reminder of what Jazz is about; it is for the community, and it is to be danced. I loved the event today and JAZZ966 very much and will always keep this experience in my heart as I explore my Jazz career.
Your Donations Make a difference! Here is a link to make donations to Rome Neal’s future productions: https://www.romeneal.com/banana-puddin-jazz This is a current status of JAZZ966’s homepage. I pray that it will come back to life soon! https://www.fortgreenecouncil.org/jazz966
In Rome Neal’s amazing documentary about 966 Jazz! Those in the documentary who attended were emeritus City Council and Assemblywoman Annette Robinson, Jazz recording Artist Eric Frazier, Legendary dancer Etta Dixon and Jazz Vocalist Keisha St John. Pianist Bertha Hope and dance legend “Ice” are also in the photos far right and Rome is far left.:
- Songbird TAeKO Jazz Singer
