Anderson@Large

Broad, Germantown, Erie Percent For Art Project

Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods. Legendary trumpeter Lee Morgan grew up on Madison Street in the Nicetown/Tioga neighborhood in North Philly. Lee’s block is a 20-minute walk from the intersection of Broad, Germantown and Erie (BGE).

In conjunction with traffic safety and beautification improvements to the iconic intersection, the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy (OACCE) issued a Call for Artists to compete for a site-specific public artwork. During an information meeting, Rachel Schwartzman, Percent for Art Rebuild Project Manager, shared the goals of the BGE Public Art Project.

In the 1960s Sonny “The Mighty Burner” Hopson held record hops at the Arcade Ballroom, located at Broad and Erie.

Sundays were for teenagers. The record hops were promoted as “wholesome affairs that will help keep youngsters off the streets and out of trouble.”

The Arcade Ballroom was located in a two-story building constructed in 1920. There were retail stores on the ground floor and a dance hall on the second floor. The building is still there.

The finalists competing for the Percent For Art commission have been selected. OACCE invites the public to meet the artists and share their ideas for the BGE project. I plan to attend the community meeting to share this neighborhood history with the artists.

To reserve a spot for the community meeting, go here.

1st Annual Music Landmarks Virtual Fest

All That Philly Jazz was an official partner of the 1st Annual Music Landmarks Virtual Fest, organized by the American Music Landmarks Project. The virtual event celebrated the architectural legacy of American popular music.

The Douglass Hotel, former home of the Cotton Club, Show Boat and Bijou Café, was featured on Day 2.

The Aqua Lounge, future location of Lee Morgan’s historical marker, was featured on Day 4.

Ticket holders have access to all Fest content through November 30, 2023.

Happy Birthday, Monk

Thelonious Sphere Monk was born on October 10, 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

The legendary pianist and composer performed at several Philadelphia jazz clubs, including Emerson’s Tavern and the Showboat. He was a headliner at the 1st Quaker City Music Festival.

The bebop pioneer joined the ancestors on February 17, 1982. He bequeathed musicians a list of tips to make them better performers.

One of my most memorable experiences was attending Monk’s funeral service. The homegoing was held at Saint Peter’s Church in New York City. Musicians played version-after-version of “’Round Midnight.” With over 1000 versions of the jazz standard, Monk’s is still my favorite.

WKCR has a special 24-hour broadcast celebrating Monk’s heavenly birthday.

To listen online, go here.

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

Drummer and bandleader Max Roach’s music is at the intersection of art, activism and resistance. His groundbreaking “We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite” was influenced by the then-emerging Civil Rights Movement.

This week, American Masters will premiere Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes.

The documentary explores the life of the pioneering drummer and cultural activist who spoke truth to power. The film traces Roach’s epic musical journey from bebop to hip-hop. It features Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln; Philadelphians Jimmy Heath, Sonia Sanchez and Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson; and music legends Harry Belafonte, Abdullah Ibrahim, Quincy Jones, Sonny Rollins and Randy Weston.

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzespremieres Friday, October 6 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/americanmasters and the PBS App.

Black Music is Black History

During Black Music Month, Herb Spivak, co-owner of two of Philadelphia’s legendary jazz clubs, the Showboat and Bijou Café, and I lamented how the annual celebration is increasingly focusing on today’s popular music while ignoring the roots. Like all Black music genres, hip-hop flows from a tree with very deep roots.

I’m a doer so I suggested that we write an opinion piece. We did. Our op-ed was published online and in the print edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Here’s an excerpt:

There was a place outside in Washington Square known as Congo Square, where free and enslaved Black people would gather to sing and dance to the music of West African cultures. Bandleader, composer, and Philly native Francis Johnson performed across the United States and was the first Black musician to tour Europe with a band in the 1800s. Soon after, he was followed by singer Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, who also lived in Philadelphia.

The flood of Black music out of Philadelphia continued into the 1900s, as Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker improvised bebop at the Down Beat on South 11th Street, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff founded Philadelphia International Records, and the Roots played hip-hop on South Street.

[…]

Black music history matters. As Marcus Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Black music has always been more than entertainment. From the “sorrow songs” of the enslaved to the protest songs of the Black Lives Matter movement, Black music is a first draft of history.

Read more

Lee Morgan (1938-1972)

Edward Lee Morgan was born on July 10, 1938 in Philadelphia. Lee joined the ancestors on February 19, 1972.

A Google search returns 635,000,000 results about the legendary trumpeter. Bassist Ben Williams and emcee John Robinson tell Lee Morgan’s story in less than five minutes.

Join All That Philly Jazz and the Free Library of Philadelphia at a community celebration of Lee Morgan’s heavenly birthday.

To RSVP, click here.

Lee Morgan Birthday Celebration

Legendary jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan was born on July 10, 1938 in Philadelphia. To commemorate Lee’s heavenly birthday, All That Philly Jazz and the Free Library of Philadelphia are cohosting a community celebration.

The community is invited to share memories of Lee Morgan, West Philly’s famed commercial and entertainment district, “the Strip,” and the Aqua Lounge.

The Aqua Lounge is where Lee gave his last hometown performance before his tragic death four months later. Lee’s state historical marker will be installed in front of the former location of the jazz club (Date TBA).

The community celebration will be held on Monday, July 10, 2-4pm, at the Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library, 125 S 52nd St. To register for the free event, please go here.