The eleventh annual Great Night in Harlem takes place May 17 at the Apollo with another all-star lineup
Apollo Theater
253 West 125th St.
Thursday, May 17, $55-$1500, 7:00
212-245-3999 ext10
jazzfoundation.org
www.apollotheater.org
On August 12, 1958, fifty-seven jazz musicians and singers posed for what became an iconic photograph taken by Art Kane for Esquire. Among the legends gathered in front of 17 East 126th St. were Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Marian McPartland, Milt Hinton, Maxine Sullivan, Lester Young, Charles Mingus, and Thelonius Monk. For the last ten years, that austere occasion has been honored at the annual Great Night in Harlem concert, a gala fundraiser for the Jazz Foundation of America’s Jazz Musicians Emergency Fund, which is dedicated to helping older jazz and blues musicians in crisis. The eleventh annual Great Night in Harlem takes place May 17 at the Apollo Theater with another fabulous all-star lineup produced by Hal Willner, with live performances by Macy Gray. Dr. John, Randy Weston, Bono, Bettye LaVette, Paquito D’Rivera, George Wein, the Rebirth Brass Band, the Treme Brass Band, David Johansen, Stanley Jordan, Sweet Georgia Brown, Essie Mae, John D. Holeman, Lakecia Benjamin, Grace Kelly, Bill Saxton, Steven Bernstein, Curtis Fowlkes, Don Byron, James Carter, Craig Handy, Victor Lewis, Geri Allen, Mark Whitfield, Art Baron, Jerry Dodgien, Kenny Davis, Ambrose Akinmusire, Frank Greene, Ray Anderson, and many others. In addition, Darrell Hammond will provide the comic relief; don’t be surprised if he turns in a “Bill Clinton at the Apollo” routine. This year’s gala, which seeks to raise $1.6 million, is presenting the Dr. Billy Taylor Humanitarian Award to Claude Nobs, one of the founders of the Montreux Jazz Festival.