Harlem Stage, the legendary uptown venue that for over 35 years has promoted the creative legacy of Harlem and artists of color from around the corner and across the globe, is proud to present its Fall 2018 season of performances. The season is curated by Monique Martin, recently appointed director of programming for Harlem Stage and features artists who #Disrupt and take creative risk. The performances feature a range of artistic genres, offering audiences the chance to experience legendary performers, as well as rising stars.
Harlem Stage’s 2018 fall season feature a variety of performances, which speak to the creative and uplifting ways in which the performing arts confront and transform the difficult realities of current times.
Harlem Stage will present critically acclaimed vocalist Sarah Elizabeth Charles and her band SCOPE as they play hits from their newest album, “Free of Form.” The melodic music delivers socially referential messages, allowing the audience to both reflect and engage as Charles touches on issues surrounding mass incarceration, political ideology, social media, police brutality, addiction, war and historical context, while retaining colors of jazz, soul, indie rock, R&B and electronic experimentation.
Grammy-nominated Cuban pianist Elio Villafranca and his Afro Caribbean Trio will offer up an evening of Jazz infused with Afro Caribbean rhythms. Born in the Pinar del Río province of Cuba and trained in percussion and composition at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba, Elio Villafranca is at the forefront of the latest generation of pianists, composers and bandleaders that has been making major creative contributions to the international development of modern jazz.
Harlem Stage and Christian Scott aTunde Adjuahpresent a free special pop up concert featuring Braxton Cook and his quintet at Harlem’s own Silvana’s restaurant. One of this generation’s emerging voices on the alto saxophone Braxton is also a talented vocalist and songwriter whose sounds blends Soul, R&B, and Jazz. A Juilliard graduate, he has toured with Grammy Award-nominated trumpeter Christian Scott, Marquis Hill, and The New Century Jazz Quintet, among others.
Closing out the season, catch Weedie Braimah and The Hands of Timewith special guests Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah and Pedrito Martinez. Weedie Braimah’s percussive orchestra will surely awaken the rhythmic senses and soul of anyone present, as Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah stretches jazz music’s rhythmic, melodic and harmonic conventions to encompass a range of cultural influences from his native New Orleans to West Africa and the Caribbean.
“During a time in America and the world in which many of us feel impotent against the oppressive forces of the state, art enables us to respond, to speak truth to power, to resist and to attempt to transform. The time is now and the doors to the Harlem Stage Gatehouse are open,” said Patricia Cruz, executive director of Harlem Stage.
Monique Martin, director of programming, said “This season, Harlem Stage will continue to be a ‘Sanctuary Space’ for dialogue, bridge building and transcendent theater, music and dance. Artists from down the block, around the way and across the globe will present bespoke programs to ignite our imaginations, pose disrupting questions and ground us in our collective commitment to a world that honors everyone. We look forward to holding space with you and honoring our collective humanity.”
