International Jazz Day in Harlem
Saturday, April 30, 2016, 7pm-11pm
The Dwyer Cultural Center
123rd Street
(between Frederick Douglas Blvd. & St. Nicholas Avenue)
Harlem
On the 3rd annual “International Jazz Day in Harlem”, the Dwyer Cultural Center is honoring the 30th Anniversary of Harlem’s own radio station, WHCR 90.3FM, and its Jazz Hosts’ for their contributions to the life and language of Jazz—“Americas Classical Music.”
WHCR and whcr.org have become very popular thanks to their live streaming over the website at whcr.org and the presence in chat rooms, where listeners and viewers from all around the world tune in for great music, enlightened conversation, local happenings, and live in-studio performances.
International Jazz Day, an annual event (April 30th), was founded by UNESCO in concert with the Theolonius Monk Institute for Jazz in 2011—simultaneously celebrated on the five continents. The initial stage celebration was held in New York at the United Nations General Assembly. One hundred of the most accomplished artists performed including Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Chaka Khan, Hugh Masekela, Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spaulding. They were enormously successful in creating a magical joyful night.
This year, the IJDH opens with a CD release and listening event for Gregory Porter, an art exhibition, a panel discussion “The History and Future of Jazz in Harlem” and a live music concert by the internationally acclaimed pianist, Ms. Bertha Hope.
Awardees
- Angela Harden has served, since April 2002, as General Manager and Program Director of WHCR 90.3 FM, the City College of New York’s community radio station. Ms. Harden Graduated Summa Cum Laude from CCNY with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and has also been an Adjunct professor in City College’s Media Communication Arts Department since 2000. Under her leadership WHCR has expanded from 850 square feet to a 4,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility broadcasting worldwide over the internet.
- Lamon Faruq Fenner, host of “Lamon’s Jazz Break at 8”. The longest running Jazz show on WHCR includes jazz, blues and music influenced by Jazz. Dedicated to “Jazz Music and all other pretty concepts that make your Divine Soul SWING.”
- Qadir Perez “Nutmeg Jazz in the Middle” Alternate Wednesdays 6-8pm” An eclectic mixture of Jazz and other forgotten tunes of expressionistic work that captures the zeitgeist of “American classical music”.
- Tammy Shoji “Jazz of Harlem” Alternate Wednesdays 6-8pm presents Bop, Cool Jazz and Hard Bop, Modern Mainstream and Progressive Jazz with a touch of Avant-Garde thrown-in on a journey with Jazz Giants. Listeners enjoy her sophisticated music selection, commentary and interviews with Jazz musicians including Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Louis Hayes, Jeremy Pelt and Marcus Printup from The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
- Nelson Radhames Rodriquez, host of “Essence and Rhythm”, a unique music program specializing in Latin American music and Afro Cuban Jazz. E&R is dedicated to building community through informative cultural education and comprehensive music programs, increasing exposure and access to the vast and rich musical heritage of strong traditional and folkloric roots as well as most modern tendencies.
- Ramon Abad, Co-host of “Essence and Rhythm,” has contributed, for the last 15 years, his talents to programming at WHCR. Ramon is also the vice president of the NY branch of ACROARTE, an arts awards ceremony that presents and promotes the art and culture of the Dominican Republic and Latin America.
- Daa’iya Lomax Sanusi “Gardens of Tranquility and Contemplation & First Light Meditation” Saturdays 6-11am, a talented, creative and enthusiastic Producer/Broadcaster with over 20 years experience in radio programming; hosting, selecting music, scheduling, scriptwriting and engineering. Sister Daa’iya has gifted interpersonal and communication skills that work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community because she loves what she does.
Special Recognition
- Mas’ud Tariq Towe is a Sufi teacher and retired Public High School teacher, he is also a jazz aficionado and musician. Tariq’s distinguished career includes the founding of one of Jazz radio’s rising stars in eclectic Jazz programming the “Gardens of Tranquility and Contemplation,” which he founded 27 years ago on WHCR 90.3FM. As producer/ host and engineer of “Gardens of Tranquility and Contemplation” for more than 15 years he established a unique mix of Jazz scores, soundtracks and eastern sounds and thought. “The greatest gift I’ve ever received, beside my parents, has been receiving the show to shepherd into the 21st century pantheon of great music.” – Daa’iya El-Sanusi
- Victoria Horsford – vhorsford@aol.com
- Deirdre Scott – dscott@bronxarts.org
- Don Thomas – dont1942@hotmail.com
- Nate Chinen – Facebook
- amnewspress@aol.com
- blacknewswatch@aol.com
- harlemnewsinc@aol.com
- jean@thepositivecommunity.com
- karudaniels05@aol.com
- lindamarmstrong@yahoo.com,
- Ron Scott – rscott4f@aol.com
- saundra.p.thomas@abc.com
- Audrey Adams – theadamsreport@aol.com
- uptown@harlemonestop.com
- Adrian Council – acouncil21@hotmail.com
- hboyd@vincyweb.com
The “International Jazz Day in Harlem” tickets are available on the website dwyercc.org or call (212.222.3060) for more information.
–Daa’iya L. Sanusi