Harlem on my Mind at the Bronx Museum

On July 11th, an interesting and historic event took place at the Bronx Museum, as part of the First Friday series. The event was entitled “Harlem on My Mind” and was a live tribute to the big band era. At 17-members, the Ray Abrams band that played at the event is truly a big band, with plenty of saxophones and a string bass. The Ray Abrams band performed jazz tunes, swing, and American classics like “Sweet Georgia Brown” and “Take the A-train.” Before the show, soundless movie shorts of big bands from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s played on the wall, to background music. Also, Dominican-style treats were served, such as pasteles. Over 200 people attended the event.

After an opening band number, the Master of Ceremonies, Ariel Fernandez introduced the event. Mr. Fernandez is the producer of the “First Fridays” program, and in turn introduced Ms. Rashida Bumbray, who heads the Hoofer’s House and is a leading NY area tap dancer. Another speaker was Ms. Maxine Gordon, who is the senior interviewer for the Bronx Afro-American History Project of Fordham University. Ms. Gordon is doing interviews of people who are familiar with the jazz clubs, not just of Harlem and the Manhattan clubs, but also of the Bronx. She talked of the band leader, Ray Abrams, now deceased, who led the band that appeared, and played with Dizzy Gillepsie. Many of the Jazz musicians were involved in Latin music as well. A member of the audience mentioned something about jazz in the Bronx, and a place called “the Blue Morocco.” Ms. Gordon asked him to let her get an interview from him later.

Rashida Bumbray then spoke on how she has been a curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem, and now leads, Hoofer’s House, for tap dancers. At this point, Ms. Bumbray brought out fellow dancers, Ms. Maud Arnold, see www.maudarnold.com, Delores Sanchez, and Mr. Tamango, and they all started to dance, in an acapella hoofers line. Tap dancing can be described as a nearly lost art, at least for public performance. It was very rhythmic and exciting to hear the beat produced by these four dancers with their feet. After ten minutes, the band joined in too, playing a number that had stopping points in the music, where the tap dancers could do a little solo. It really felt like a time warp to being live at a 1940s movie. For more, go to bronx museum.