New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Harlem Stage) - Harlem Stage presents Habana|Harlem, two nights of stellar performances honoring the legacy of cross-cultural collaboration between the capital of Cuba and one of the world's most famous
Black communities. The first show, on Friday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m., features New Orleans legend Henry Butler with Osmany Paredes. The second show, on Saturday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m., features headliners the Pedro Martinez Project with guest vocalists De'Adre Aziza, Ihsan
Maria Isa and Nina Rodriguez. The two programs, co-presented as part of the CareFusion Jazz Festival New York and produced by jazz impresario
George Wein, were conceived and created by Neyda Martinez and musical director Onel Mulet.
In addition to being part of the CareFusion Jazz Festival, Habana|Harlem also closes out the Harlem Stage 2009-2010 season.
'We are thrilled to be part of a festival as large and important as CareFusion,' says Harlem Stage Executive Director Patricia Cruz, 'and we are proud to present two genre-blending shows that highlight the long, rich musical heritage of Cuba and New York. Through our lead support from the JPMorgan/Chase Foundation we bring these shows to our community and to new audiences at a very low cost, while also raising awareness and funding for an urgent, under-discussed issue.'
Both performances take place at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse, 150 Convent Avenue at 135th Street. Tickets for each show are $15, available at www.HarlemStage.org or by calling 212-281-9240 ext. 19 or 20. The two programs include:
Friday June 25, 7:30 pm
Cultural Fusion: Past, Present and Future
In the tradition of Harlem Stage's Harlem Stride program, Cultural Fusion features a musical dialog between two world-renowned pianists - New Orleans legend Henry Butler and Cuban sensation Osmany Paredes. The program begins with curated selections from the late 20th Century, including pieces from the early jazz period played alongside ragtime, danzones, and habaneras to reveal and celebrate historical parallels. Cultural Fusion is a Habana|Harlem premiere, curated by Onel Mulet. The Harlem Stride program celebrates the legacy of music that emanates from the community and offers a forum for its development.
Saturday, June 26, 7:30 pm pre-show DJ mixer; 8:30 pm performance; 10:30 pm DJ Dance Party
Uptown Nights at Harlem Stage presents The Pedro Martinez Project featuring guest vocalists De'Adre Aziza, Ihsan Maria Isa, Nina Rodriguez, and DJ Cato. This second installment of the CareFusion Jazz Festival at Harlem Stage introduces audiences to the singular vision and dynamic energy of Pedro Pablo Martinez's newly formed Pedro Martinez Project. In his new role as bandleader, Martinez (formerly part of the band Yerba Buena) infuses the project with unique Afro-Cuban funk that seamlessly incorporates hip-hop inflections. Uptown Nights at Harlem Stage is a music series designed to recall the days when Harlem was a destination for music patrons interested in 'the next big thing.'
