The Nectar Wine Bar was the backdrop for a string of jazz singers and vocalists this past Saturday night, one of the last performances for the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival 2011, celebrating the traditions of vocal jazz and paying homage to the legends by highlighting the new talent in town.
The bar was converted into ‘Count Basie’s Lounge’ for the evening, a Harlem joint where many jazz stars once frequented. Though Count Basie may have opted for whiskey, as was the drink of choice at his iconic lounge, Nectar instead prides itself on its wine list, which proved to be a fitting complement for the night’s entertainment. Sipping on malbec and cabernets and picking over cheese and olive plates, guests packed in from Frederick Douglass Boulevard.
The night was presented by Jazzmobile, a organization established in 1964 to promote live jazz shows around New York’s five boroughs. It is the oldest not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to promoting jazz, hosting concerts year-round.
Jazz veteran Cynthia Holiday sat at the helm of the night’s performances, proudly presenting each singer as if they were her own students. Her brief performance kick-started the night, a two-song set that also introduced the accompaniment band, comprised of Lafayette Harris on keys, Dwayne Broadnax on drums and Paul Beaudry on bass. The trio played solidly, adapting their dynamic to complement each singer with their respective style, where their certainly was no shortage.
Steve Cromity’s performance was smooth and swinging, and was followed by an illustrious Ty Stephens, who practically jumped onto the stage. Stephens, the 2006 winner of the Jazzmobile vocal competition, brought a broad sound with an unmatched energy. His breathy, soulful vocals quickly charmed the audience. Stephens moved through two slow ballads with a grace that left the crowd in awe.
Next to take the microphone was Queen Esther, a poised and petite singer who carried one of the most remarkable voices of the night. In her rendition of “God Bless the Child,” she almost leaned into each note, pulling every listener closer. It’s no wonder that she is another grand-prize winner of the Jazzmobile vocal competition, winning the prize in 2009.
Another highlight of the night came when Lynette Washington took the microphone and belted out “Fever.” She broke into her soulful version of the legendary song and heads turned for those five minutes, it was as if everyone’s hair was standing on end. Washington, a Grammy-nominated choral singer, was in her element during her performance and left no doubts to the audience of her skills.
Next up was Gregory Porter, a broad-shouldered tenor, who brought one of the most solid and articulate voices to the venue. As another jazz vocal veteran, he is featured weekly at Smoke, another New York jazz joint in the Upper West Side. He performed a chain gang lament with his expressive vocals, sharp and smooth at the same time.
“What you’re seeing right now is the spirit of jazz, and I couldn’t be happier,” Robin Bell-Stevens, the Jazzmobile event organizer, expressed about the evening. When asking about the comparison between the Jazz Shrines Festival with Jazz at Lincoln Center, which caters to a much more mainstream crowd quite literally down the street, she explained, “I understand what they do and that’s fine. But it’s not me. It’s not how I want to promote the music. What’s going on here tonight, and last night at Minton’s Playhouse, is something special.”
The night of jazz didn’t finish at Nectar, but it did staunch any doubts of a jazz presence in the emerging subculture blossoming once more in Harlem. The night proved the songs are still changing and the voices are stronger than ever.
Words by Alex Butler
The post (Count) Basie’s Lounge Re-created at Nectar Wine Bar Hosted by Cynthia Holiday appeared first on The Revivalist.