Harlem is a mythical place, the birthplace of many African-American dreams, a cultural melting-pot, and fuel for the imagination from the “Cotton Club” or the “Apollo Theatre” all the way up to Sugarhill. Think of this neighborhood in Upper Manhattan and names like Billie Holiday, James Brown, or Jay-Z, films like “Across 110th Street” or “American Gangster”, plus Malcolm X, James Baldwin and Joe Louis will immediately come to mind.
Fortunately, Harlem is not just a thing of the past, but more and more a cultural hotbed for things to come. One of the most important and popular artists to have risen to international fame from the clubs and bars in Harlem in recent years is Gregory Porter. The Grammy-winning gentleman, a giant not just of stature but of voice and soul, was discovered at St. Nick’s Pub on Nicholas Avenue – the same place „The Soul of Harlem“ Donald Smith every friday sent out his musical magic and Mansur Scott performed some oft he most touchful songs ever.
This three giant vocalist recorded some classics on the NEW CD „Great Voices of Harlem“.
This album is also a documentary of its own in a series of concerts and further recordings to come, as the GREAT VOICES OF HARLEM continue to work, play, rehearse, cast and record the variety of elder-statesmen of true Harlem jazz together with the younger generation of most talented jazz vocalists the world deserves to discover. Watch out who’ll be the next after Gregory Porter to come ...!
