2007-01-01
FROM THE CROSS RHODES (XR PROJECT) A DREAM IS REALIZED
In February, Harlem based “XR Project” will release their debut CD
Black History Celebration events will take place at Hughes House
Throughout February (see schedule below)
New York, NY – January 2007
ABSTRAKT BLAK, the first recording of the Harlem based group, XR PROJECT, will be released as an Enhanced CD on the Motema Music imprint on Feb. 6th. Abstrakt Blak, a pulsing amalgam of Jazz, Hip-Hop, Electronica and R&B, which is the first of many projects in the works from XR PROJECT, a production and performance entity formed by jazz pianist Marc Cary, who came up in the heavyweight bands of Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, Arthur Taylor and his partner, hip-hop emcee, poet and producer Shon “Chance” Miller. Release party for the CD will take place February 8th at Langston Hughes House as part of a month long Grand Opening celebration for Hughes House during Black History Month (see schedule below).
The name XR Project, is short for Cross Rhodes – with a two fold meaning: 1) The music lies at cross-roads of Jazz, Hip-Hop, Electronica, R&B, and 2) In addition to his jazz piano work, Cary is respected as one of the world’s foremost experts on the Rhodes Piano, which Cary used exclusively on his 1999 trend setting release Rhodes Ahead and also uses heavily on Abstrakt Blak.
The genesis of Abstrakt Blak, and the new Hughes House venue in Harlem was a Spring 2006, commission to XR Project to write a soundtrack for an exhibit at the Studio Museum of Harlem. As a part of the commission, Marc and Shon decided to breathe new life into Langston Hughes’ groundbreaking poem “A Dream Deferred”. By amazing coincidence, the same week they finished recording the Hughes track, an opportunity came up for them not only to breathe new life into the poet’s work, but to actually breathe new life into his landmark home, a brownstone on 127th Street which sat dilapidated for years and which had just come available for lease. They jumped on the opportunity, and have now transformed the building into a vibrant new studio, performance and gallery space teeming with artistic life.
The music of XR PROJECT and Abstrakt Blak draws upon all forms and influences of African American music especially as it has evolved through Harlem and it is a fitting soundscape for the new Harlem renaissance. Their new Hughes House venue promises to be an important new cultural institution presenting experimental Jazz, hip-hop and world music and other events and workshops. “When we walked into this place, there was a piano sitting in the parlor that belonged to Langston,” states Cary, “It was serendipity. I and others will be able to make music and be creatively expressive when coming to this house because Langston created so many gems and jewels for the world in this space.”
“After the lease was signed, we invited the jazz record label Motema Music to move their offices into the top floor and we all put our sweat, time and money into this space, to create a unique vertically integrated space that has studio and rehearsal space for the development, performing and recording of music and a space for Motema who distributes music. All of these spaces will join to create a haven for creative artists and honor the spirit of Langston Hughes in the process” states Chance.
It is in this spirit of Langston Hughes that Miller, Cary and Motema Music President Jana Herzen have come together to form a non-profit organization in the building that they share. The Langston Hughes House, Corp. (HH) has a two-fold mission: 1) To provide an opportunity in a safe and nurturing environment for artists to present their art with a special emphasis on creative development and exploration and 2) To serve as an educational resource to the Harlem Community with a special emphasis on youth.
HH will debut the Langston Hughes House Youth Ensemble led by Marc Cary and other jazz musicians who will instruct young school aged musicians and direct them in a weekly jazz performance on Sundays. The weekly Sunday Jazz Brunch series is slated to kick off with a concert by the Marc Cary’s FOCUS Trio on February 11th.
HH is also developing a community based virtual record label that will offer free downloads and web casts of live music recorded at the Hughes House as part of it’s online outreach. We are looking to benefit the local and virtual community through education, artistry, music and culture,” says Chance. André Kimo Stone Guess, formerly vice president and producer of Jazz at Lincoln Center and his firm GuessWorks, Inc. will provide business development and programming services to HH.
A host of events are planned for the Grand Opening during February, which is also Black History Month. The events kickoff on February 1, 2007 the 105th birthday of the late poet.
For interviews and more information on
Hughes House – XR Project/Cross Rhodes/Abstrakt Blak
events@motema.com
Full listing of events and performers is below:
Feb 1 Thursday 8pm - $20
“Remember Me to Harlem”
The Hughes House Grand Opening and
Langston Hughes 105th Birthday Celebration
Poetry Readings of poems written and inspired by Langston Hughes set to music.
Featured Poets: Sharrif Simmons, Morley, Queen Goddis, Mums and Chance.
Music by XR Project’s Marc Cary - piano, Camille Gainer - Drums and
David Jones - Bass
Hosted by Nuyorican Poet La Bruja
This event will be recorded as the initial release of Hughes Records.
Feb 2 Friday 8pm & 9:30pm - $20
Marc Cary: Rhodes Ahead
Rhodes Piano Trio Groove Jazz with Sameer Gupta - Drums & Tablas
And David Jones - Bass
Feb 3 Saturday 8pm - $10
XR PROJECT (at the cross-rhodes of Hip-Hop, Jazz and R&B)
Performance by Marc Cary and Chance
With Singers Anaya, YC Laws - percussion, Camille Gainer -Drums and David Jones - Bass.
Performing new music from their soon to be released “Cross Rhodes” Album
And a Guest DJ
Feb 8 Thursday 8pm - $10
XR Project: Vol 1. Abstrakt Blak Release Party
Party all night with live sets by XR Project with YC Laws - Percussion, Flute and
Base Clarinet, Camille Gainer - Drums and David Jones - Bass
and a Guest DJ
Feb 10 Saturday 5pm - $10 (Children under 12 free)
Allan Harris: Cross that River
Performance and Lecture
Experience the unique creative process behind a remarkable body of work - from a
Recording to a novel and a musical. Hook up with Allan Harris as he musically works to tell one of the great-unsung stories of the American West – Black Cowboys.
A Musical adventure for the whole family.
Feb 11 Sunday Brunch 2pm - $20 (Light Brunch included)
Marc Cary’s FOCUS Jazz Trio Performance and Lecture
Experience the unique creative process behind a remarkable body of work - from a
Recording to a novel and a musical. Hook up with Allan Harris as he musically works to tell one of the great-unsung stories of the American West – Black Cowboys.
A Musical adventure for the whole family.
Groove heavy, melodic, killer jazz. “Cary packs a devastating punch with his
Expansive vision of mainstream Jazz”, Entertainment Weekly.
With David Ewell - Bass and Sameer Gupta - Tablas & Drums
Feb 16 Friday 8pm & 9:30pm - $20
Babatunde Lea Quartet
Famed west coast drummer puts together a special Black History Month program, in honor of Langston Hughes.
“Not since Mingus & Blakey has Jazz bristled with a sense of message like this” wrote Downbeat.
Feb 17 Saturday 2pm - $10
Babatunde Lea Drum Workshop
Afternoon Workshop for kids
Feb 24 Saturday 8pm - $20
I Wonder as I Wander
Hosted by Motema Music Artist/Founder Jana Herzen
An international adventure in melody, rhythm and language featuring original music and poems inspired by travels around the world.
Jana Herzen - guitars, Marc Cary - keyboards, Samita Sinha - vocals,
Kevin Jones - percussion, Barry Kornhauser - cello, Claudia Beth-Hayden - flute and Ellen Weiss - vocals.
Feb 25 Sunday 2pm $10 (Light Brunch included)
Langston Hughes Resident Youth Ensemble
Some of today’s finest young talents perform under the direction of piano master,
Marc Cary. A light brunch will be provided.
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