Wilbur Ware Institute

Louis Hayes and Randy Weston

Tafa  Charlotte Ka     

This Fine Arts Exhibition was the frist of our 2014 events. We encouraged you to DONATE and attend this wonderful exhibition. Thank you for sharing information with your contacts and friends. This first of our productions honoring Melba Liston and celebrating her 40-year musical collaboration with Randy Weston was exceptional, and we are extremely grateful to all who are made it possible. The Exhibition Opening was extremely well attended and a good time was had by all. The Exhibition Season is fully in progress. Support the artists!

For the concert event at Manhattan School of Music, we were absolutely delighted to have Special Guest Fostina Dixon on saxophones. Professor Geoffrey Bradfield in Chicago was instrumental in assisting us with obtaining Melba’s music, and he joined us for the important discussion, along with Melba Joyce, Sally Plaxsin, Janice Robinson, and Moderator Stephanie Crease. We  remain grateful to the Black Music Research Center where much of Melba’s music is located, for the Archivists there were extremely helpful. Moreover, the Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College Chicago has devoted its Spring 2014 Journal (Vol. 34, No. 1) to Melba Liston. We have a few copies left, so let us know if you would like one before we must return them to Chicago.

The Performance itself not only featured Fostina Dixon playing Melba’s music, but after intermission Randy Weston’s quartet performed with the students to the delight of all in attendance. With Randy were Musical Director TK  Blue, along with Neil Clarke on percussion and Santi Debriano on bass; they were joined for one tune by Bernie Williams on guitar. The students learned Melba’s arrangements of Randy’s music, and all enjoyed Justin DiCioccio as he conducted the student musicians.

The Artists’ Panel Discussion at Wilmer Jennings Gallery at Kenkeleba on Sunday, October 19, 2014, at 3 pm was very well attended, and our Panel gave us rare insight into visual and musical art:  C. Daniel Dawson, Maxine Gordon, Dick Griffin, Charlotte Ka, and Slide Hampton were our panelists with Special Guest Randy Weston.  The discussion was opened by Gloria and Janice Robinson was Moderator. Melba Joyce joined the panel, and we hope to have it here on this site soon.

We invite your donations for all events. We received a couple of small grants from LMCC, but most of the funds were donated. We always need your assistance as we move forward with 2015 plans. Harlem School of the Arts’ Artist In Residence, Arturo O’Farrill has agreed to join us in offering Workshops next year. We plan to continue our focus on Melba Liston by inviting K-12 and beyond music students to attend without cost. Please click on the DONATE button, and remember that you may use PayPal and by default credit cards. Year-end giving is strongly encouraged, so remember us on #GivingTuesday, and remember that all contributions are fully tax-deductible. Thank you for your support!

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