Art-Full Abstract: Harlem Jazz Experience

Exploring the Harlem Jazz Scene

“It was a day I'll never forget and one of my favorite Women of Culture events so far. Good history, good food, and good music. What more could you ask for on a beautiful New York Saturday?”

On a gorgeous almost-fall-day the WoC crew headed out on a Harlem adventure. First, we started with history. The National Jazz Museum is a great little museum. It is a beautifully cozy, intimate, and casual space. There were a lot of great artifacts to marvel at like historic instruments, music, interesting facts, and movies. Duke Ellington's white baby grand piano was there IN PERSON along with some of his handwritten work for a song called "Harlem Air Shaft."

We then took a short walk to Sylvia’s Restaurant, “The Queen of Soul Food,” and it lived up to the name. The restaurant is seeped in a profound sense of distinctive history and the staff greeted us with a lovely, unforced welcome. We feasted on chicken, collards, ribs, and enough cornbread for a small army.

On our way to the Jazz Festival we had our photo taken by the "Instant 60 Seconds Photos" photographer with an old-school polaroid camera and barely anyone had greens in their teeth! :)

Finally, we listened to the sweet sounds of the Charlie Parker Jazz festival at Marcus Garvey Park. It definitely was a day I'll never forget and one of my favorite WoC events so far. Good history, good food, and good music. What more could you ask for on a beautiful New York Saturday?

— Joanna Matthews, Art-Full Ambassador